Western Europe

HMV sells off Japan arm to DSM(3)

DSM Investments has won the battle to buy the 62-store Japanese operation of UK-listed music and books retailer HMV Group, which decided to sell the division following a strategic review.

Rutland makes 2.7 times return from pawnbroking(2)

Rutland has ended its three year investment in pawnbroking, making a 2.7 times return from the sale of Svensk Pantbelaning to Preato Capital a year after larger European business Harvey & Thompson was floated on AIM.

Charterhouse Group to make 7x logistics exit(3)

New York-based Charterhouse Group will sell waste management logistics company Oakleaf Global to New Mountain Capital for $655 million.

3i infrastructure fund goes into oil tank storage

3i said today it had already invested half of the £700 million listed infrastructure fund it raised in March, after buying a minority stake in three oil tank storage operations.

Morgan Stanley expands, re-brands PE division

The US investment bank is continuing to strengthen its private equity team, now called Morgan Stanley Private Equity, as it raises a $6 billion debut fund just three years after spinning out its in-house PE group.

3i makes second US growth capital investment

The UK-listed private equity group has made a growth capital investment in a Canadian plastic manufacturer – its second North American deal since opening a US office last year.

JP Morgan chief lays into equity bridges(3)

Jamie Dimon of JP Morgan has hit out at the proliferation of equity bridge facilities used on large buyout deals, suggesting that they are not good for the lending banks or the private equity sponsors.

Moulton puts £12m into drugs clinic

UK private equity contrarian Jon Moulton has personally funded a purpose-built private drug addiction treatment centre in Kent.

Anson quits Hermes for US return(3)

Mark Anson, one of the biggest names in alternative investment, has unexpectedly quit as chief executive of Hermes, the manager of BT’s pension fund assets, just 18 months after taking the job.

VSS backs US e-commerce business

The New York and London-based media and communications specialist has backed SureSource, a US provider of outsourced e-commerce services for consumer product businesses.