Oliver Smiddy

Nordic Capital has booked its biggest ever return multiple following the sale of Point International to trade buyer VeriFone Systems in a deal understood to be worth about $1.1bn.

The specialist energy-focused firm has joined PAI Partners and Rhone Capital in the auction of French petrol pump company Trokheim, as owner Cognetas seeks to cap a tumultuous year by returning capital to its investors.

Equistone Partners Europe, which successfully completed its spinout from Barclays Capital on Friday, is understood to have held a first close for its first independent fund on about €500 million.

Citigroup has completed its two-part disposal of iconic music publisher EMI, home to the Beatles, after selling its recorded music and publishing units for a combined £2.6bn.

UK-listed 3i attempted to placate investors by announcing a substantially increased dividend during its half year results presentation Thursday morning, as it revealed its portfolio had fallen in value by £523m.

UK-based growth capital and lower mid-market firm Alcuin Capital Partners has held a final close for its third fund, having met its target of £100m.

UK-based retail specialist OpCapita has acquired struggling electrical goods chain Comet for £2 as its corporate owner Kesa Electricals looks to offload assets and retrench to its domestic market of France.

Sagard Private Equity Partners is set to acquire dough-maker EuroDough from parent Sara Lee for €115m. If successful, it will be the firm’s first new investment since June last year.

Private equity firms need to address ESG issues to create maximum value within their portfolios and meet LP expectations, a study by Doughty Hanson, the WWF and PwC has found.

French buyout firm PAI Partners has appointed Charles Bouaziz (pictured), former chief executive of drinks group PepsiCo, as a partner in its consumer group.