Robert Venes

Hogan & Hartson, an international law firm, has appointed Uwe Steininger, who resigned as head of SJ Berwin’s German funds practice last December, as a partner.

The UK’s Legal Services Bill could pave the way for private equity investments in law firms. By Andy Thomson.

European Capital, a buyout and mezzanine shop with offices in London and Paris, has made four hires, including two directors from Credit Suisse Private Equity.

Edmond de Rothschild Investment Partners has partnered with Belgian investor Adrien Invest SCRL to purchase a minority stake in France’s Sparflex Group.

Jens Dienstbach, previously at IKB Deutsche Industriebank, has joined Allied Irish Banks to focus on acquisition finance activities in Germany.

3i, Europe’s largest quoted private equity manager, appointed Citigroup Europe vice chairman Robert Swannel at its annual general meeting yesterday. The board also approved a £700m return of capital to shareholders, reported earlier in the year.

Chequers Capital, a mid-market buyout firm based in Paris, has raised €600m for Chequers Capital XV, double the size of its predecessor.

VNU, owned by a private equity consortium including KKR, Blackstone and Carlyle, plans to raise $1.67 billion of new debt to finance the acquisition.

UK lower mid-market firms Sovereign Capital and Palamon Capital Partners have had a busy week, with Sovereign completing two deals, while Palamon closed its €670m second fund and invested in a German corporate gift certificate company.

The Blackstone Group, US manager of the world’s largest buyout fund, is in talks to acquire seven Center Parcs Europe properties.