Nicole Idar Lee

The event-driven hedge fund has increased its long position in the London-listed private equity investor via contracts for difference, regulatory filings show.

Global investor demand for European assets turbo-charged the French investment firm’s latest fundraising, enabling it to close its sixth mid-market buyout fund in just four months, says Philippe Poletti, head of the Ardian Mid Cap Buyout team.

The Europe-focused buyout firm has agreed to sell its remaining 35% stake in Moleskine, completing its final exit from the luxury notebook maker.

Equita Fund V, which focuses on small and mid-cap companies in German-speaking Europe, has raised almost half its €400m target so far.

Under the City Code, the London-listed private equity investor has until 29 September to publish its defence document in response to HarbourVest’s 650p-a-share bid.

Andrew Feldman, former chairman of Britain’s Conservative Party and current chief executive of clothing business Jayroma, has joined the UK private equity firm’s senior advisory board.

SVG’s second-largest shareholder says it is ‘supportive of the SVG management’ as the UK private equity investor fends off an unsolicited bid from US rival HarbourVest.

The firm has collected about half its target of €400m for its third fund, Swan III.

The Italian buyout firm, which this month bought its first UK-based company, JD Classics, says premium classic cars are in high demand in markets like the US, the Gulf and Singapore.

Following its rebranding last September, the alternatives investment manager has named Georg Wunderlin as chief executive, Ernest Boles as vice-chairman, and Marcel Giacometti as senior advisor.