Matilda Battersby

The UK Competition Commission has demanded that BAA sell three airports in England and Scotland as it tries to foster competition between once monopolistic operators. BAA has not said whether it will carry out the Commission's demands.

A consortium led by the Bahrain-based listed private equity firm has acquired a 70% stake in L’Azurde, a Saudi Arabian jewellery company valued at $300m. The demographics underpinning MENA's demand for jewellery are encouraging, said co-head of Investcorp’s Gulf growth capital business, Azmat Taufique.

Peter Moon will retire next year from the UK’s University Superannuation Scheme, an influential limited partner in private equity, infrastructure and real estate funds.

The UK private equity firm has made its debut Spanish and solar investments with the acquisition of stakes in three photovoltaic plants in a secondaries transaction.

As loans taken out during the market’s boom cycle come due, the UK buyout market faces a challenge as ‘any company that fails to approach its lender from a position of strength may leave with a bloody nose’, according to law firm Trowers & Hamlins.

The private bidders vying for the UK’s second largest airport have been given an extra month to complete their offers. The move comes a month after a 3i-led consortium retracted its bid amid reports that a £2bn price tag was too high.

KKR has acquired five co-investments worth $211m, including hospital group HCA, from its listed Euronext affiliate, which it is winding down and will de-list. The absorption of KPE’s assets was last year described as a key element preceding the firm’s NYSE flotation, though KKR has said it is rethinking its IPO plans.

The UK buyout firm has paid a reported A$425m for Australian billionaire James Packer’s network of 17 beef ranches.

Apax Partners is downgrading its resources in Sweden as part of its efforts to ‘rebalance’ its existing resources.

The listed private equity firm is one of five companies to be removed from the UK Financial Times Share Index 100 due to insufficient market caps.