Western Europe

HIG Capital opens Paris, Hamburg offices(4)

The US lower mid-market private equity firm has extended its reach in Europe with new bases in France and Germany highlighting renewed interest in the lower mid-market.

Auditor says UK Government undersold defence asset

The UK Ministry of Defence has been criticised by the National Audit Office for underselling a stake in defence research company Qinetiq to US buyout firm The Carlyle Group.

Sainsbury’s family demands adequate pensions settlement(2)

Qatari investment company Three Delta may be thwarted in its attempts to buy UK supermarket Sainsbury’s by the founding Sainsbury family. The family has reiterated in a statement that its acceptance of any bid is conditional on the Qatari firm providing an adequate pensions settlement.

Falfurrias buys Bojangles(4)

Fresh from its first fund close, North Carolina-based Falfurrias Capital has bought chicken-n-biscuits chain Bojangles.

Barclays Private Equity makes £75.5m energy play(3)

The European buyout manager of UK bank Barclays has joined the throng of firms looking to profit from the boom time in the oil and gas industy.

Schwarzman defends sovereign funds

Speaking on a World Economic Forum panel dedicated to sovereign funds, the Blackstone chairman and chief executive praised the funds and likened them to US state pensions as institutional investors.

CDC, Ronny John part company(3)

Former Asian Development Bank executive Veronica John is leaving CDC, just six months after having joined the emerging markets private equity group earlier this year.

BarCap hires Morgan Stanley leveraged finance director(2)

The investment banking arm of UK bank Barclays has appointed Ramon Walsh to its leveraged finance team confident the loan market will recover in 2008.

Lightyear lines up Lloyd’s membership for its first UK acquisition(2)

Lightyear Capital has acquired the UK operations of German insurance company Württembergische Versicherung, after ensuring the company could become a member of Lloyd’s of London.

West LB settles Boxclever dispute with Terra Firma

Terra Firma’s settlement with the German bank over the disputed Boxclever securitisation allows the UK buyout firm to defend charges of fraud on only one front against French bank Natixis.