Oliver Smiddy

RBS has appointed JP Morgan’s former head of financial sponsors to oversee realisations within its strategic investment group, which manages assets acquired through debt for equity swaps or restructurings.

Fund of funds manager Pantheon Ventures has acquired a portfolio of fund investments from private markets investor Hermes GPE in a deal valuing the assets at more than €600m.

Standard Chartered's first Saudi private equity deal is for a minority stake in the country's largest building materials manufacturer.

KKR posted a surprise decline in earnings during Q2, with economic net income falling by 27% despite the group growing assets under management to $61.9bn as of 30 June, up from $54.4bn at the same point last year.

Private equity interest in the shipping and port logistics sector is on the rise, with more than $2bn of recent deals suggesting firms are increasingly drawn to infrastructure-related assets.

Barclays Private Equity is to re-brand as Equistone Partners Europe when its long-expected spin-out completes later this year.

NBGI Private Equity has acquired a Turkish drugs company, the latest in a spate of investments, particularly in healthcare, by firms drawn to the country’s compelling fundamentals.

Buyout firm Permira has appointed Max Biagosch (pictured), a member of its consumer team, to replace the retiring head of its financing group.

MENA heavyweights Citadel Capital and Abraaj Capital failed to agree a deal which was expected to result in Egypt-listed Citadel selling a stake to its Dubai-based peer.

French private equity firm Qualium, led by Jean Eichenlaub (pictured), is nearing its target for its sixth fund after a move to diversify its investor base.