Western Europe

Advent bolsters life sciences team(2)

London-based Advent Venture Partners has expanded its life sciences team with the recruitment of two new partners – both former biotech entrepreneurs.

Capman consortium buys biofuel energy company(2)

A consortium of three companies has bought biofuel combustion plant supplier KMW Energi, as buyout firms look to invest in the growing biofuel sector.

Cohen: large buyout firms should pay more tax

Sir Ronald Cohen, Apax Partners founder and a confidant of future UK prime minister Gordon Brown, has called for a review of the tax paid by partners at large buyout firms, but not at smaller firms like his own Bridges Ventures.

French regulator in buyout probe

The AMF is reportedly investigating possible instances where hedge funds have colluded with private equity funds to force listed companies into buyouts, as the industry continues to come under greater political scrutiny across Europe.

Hewetson quits Hg after restructure(2)

HgCapital’s Ben Hewetson, the head of the mid-market firm’s leisure team, is leaving in the next few weeks. The departure follows Hg’s decision to merge his team with Richard Matthews’ consumer team six months ago.

Capman consortium buys biofuel energy company

A consortium of three companies has bought biofuel combustion plant supplier KMW Energi, as buyout firms look to invest in the growing biofuel sector.

KRG doubles partner roster, eyes fund(3)

Denver-based KRG Equity Partners announced the addition of five new managing partners this week, as it prepares to invest its current fund and raise a new one.

Blackstone in $1bn insurance deal

Investment firm Lindsay Goldberg has agreed to sell US insurance broker Alliant to Blackstone, after having purchased the company from GTCR Golder Rauner two years ago. Sources say the deal is worth roughly $1.2 billion.

Barclays Private Equity sells Webhelp to Astorg Partners(3)

French private equity firm Astorg Partners has bought a 35 percent stake in Webhelp, France’s third biggest provider of client communication services, from Barclays Private Equity for about €40 million.

Pension funds join private equity’s critics

The UK-based National Association of Pension Funds wants the Treasury to encourage greater transparency and disclosure about the fees that its members pay to private equity fund managers.