Oliver Smiddy

A group of activist shareholders led by the chairman of LMS Capital have successfully lobbied the UK-listed group’s board to pursue the break-up of the company in a bid to realise value for shareholders.

Alternatives managers the Blackstone Group and HIG Capital have both acquired debt management businesses in a bid to further expand their debt capabilities.

Listed vehicles have been successful in strengthening their balance sheets during the financial crisis and are ready to deploy capital once markets settle, according to research from Deloitte.

Central and Eastern Europe-focused buyout firm Mid Europa Partners has established an advisory board in a bid to improve access to deal opportunities, following similar moves by European peers over the last few years.

The dramatic increase in exit activity last year in both the North American and European markets illustrates private equity’s ability to weather economic storms, according to Ernst & Young.

Global private equity firm Advent International has appointed James Westra (pictured), co-head of private equity at law firm Weil Gotshal & Manges, as its chief legal officer.

Guy Hands' firm has begun another round of legal proceedings over former portfolio company EMI, petitioning the UK courts to grant it access to documents held by PricewaterhouseCoopers.

State-backed lender Royal Bank of Scotland has promoted Richard Roach (pictured) to managing director of its UK financial sponsors team.

French buyout firm Astorg has sold optical equipment maker Photonis back to AXA Private Equity for €510m, double the amount it paid its peer in 2008 when it acquired the company.

A group of shareholders in London-listed private equity group LMS Capital, including its chairman Robert Rayne, have called for the business to be broken up.