Robert Venes

The French bank hired former Deutsche Bank leveraged finance specialist to its European high-yield capital markets team.

3i, Europe’s largest quoted private equity investor, has paid an undisclosed sum to acquire a 24% stake in AIM-listed toy company The Character Group.

Carlyle may opt to sell its stake in Avio, an Italian aerospace engine manufacturer, despite appointing three investment banks to arrange a flotation on the Milan stock exchange earlier this year.

Greylock Partners has raised $150m for its first fund dedicated to investing in Israel’s high-tech sector, which received $404m of venture capital funding in the second quarter.

The unprecedented churn rate of private equity lawyers continues with former Kirkland & Ellis associate Sam Pakbaz’s return to the firm after two years at a US hedge fund, while Lovells is rebuilding its private equity practice following the departure of Marco Compagnoni earlier this year.

Terra Firma, the UK private equity firm, will hold on to the waste-to-energy arm of Waste Recycling Group, which analysts say could be worth £650m, following a sale of the waste disposal business to FCC of Spain.

Blackstone and KKR are understood to be pursuing an interest in two retail units owned by GUS, despite a recent announcement by the UK retail group to demerge the businesses.

Emerging markets investor Actis has hired former Go and Virgin Nigeria Airways founder Simon Harford to pilot its Nigerian operation. Robert Venes talks to Peter Schmid, Actis’ managing partner for Africa, about Harford’s appointment and the firm’s activities in the region.

Chris Clark, an investment director at UK mid-market investor Hermes Private Equity, will leave the firm this Friday.

Swiss fund manager Partners Group has closed its fourth fund in the last three months, raising €282m for investing in global mezzanine funds and direct mezzanine investments in private equity transactions.