Oliver Smiddy

Scott Schoen, vice chairman of US buyout group Thomas H Lee Partners, has stepped down from his position but will remain an advisor to the Boston-based firm.

The New York-headquartered placement agent is partnering with Korean bank Daewoo Securities to access LPs in the country. In a further sign of its desire to expand geographically, it is also planning to open a Dubai office next month.

The sale of travel payment services company Global Blue to Silver Lake Partners and Partners Group means Equistone has returned almost two-thirds of Fund III to investors after just eight exits.

Terra Firma's chairman has opened his wallet in a bid to retain executives unlikely to receive carried interest.

AnaCap Financial Partners has met its £350m hard cap for its second credit opportunities fund, which raised almost six times as much capital as its first 2010-vintage debt investment vehicle.

Less than a year after The Blackstone Group was roundly blamed – somewhat unfairly – for the troubles at former portfolio company Southern Cross, Terra Firma has acquired another care homes group, Four Seasons Health Care, for £825m.

The David Bonderman- and James Coulter-led firm has raised more capital over the last five years than any other group, meaning it tops the PEI 300 for the second year in succession.

The Bank of America Merrill Lynch placement spinout has undergone a restructuring, bringing in new talent to replace outgoing personnel having earlier made changes to its economic structure.

Christopher Flowers, the founder of FIG-focused buyout group JC Flowers, spoke to Private Equity International to explain why he is moving to London.

LBO France’s debt arm has raised its second fund, meeting its hard-cap of €200m. The successful close comes after the firm delayed the launch of its latest mid-market buyout fund.