Robert Venes

Leisure parks in Europe attract customers from across the world. US and European private equity firms, it seems, are also along for the ride. By Robert Venes.

The former managing director of London-based mid-market investor Sovereign Capital, Peter Brooks, is to join investment network Pi Capital next month.

UK fashion retailer New Look, backed by private equity firms Apax Partner and Permira, has dropped five of its senior directors, while founder Tom Singh is to take on to a non-executive role.

Standard Life Investments’ investment trust, managed by Standard Life European Private Equity, has reported a busy six months of investment activity with £37.6m of drawdowns, the highest six-month figure since its listing in May 2001.

US-based real estate fund manager Starwood Capital has sold the French champagne interests that it acquired in its €1.2bn purchase of Groupe Taittinger last July.

Kenneth Allen, the former Australian Consul-General in New York and an investment banker with the World Bank and Macquarie, has joined New York-based secondary specialist and direct co-investor Lexington Parners.

StarParks, a European theme park operator owned by London-based growth investor Palamon Capital Partners, has sold six of its leisure parks but will retain its name, management team and a remaining facility in Germany

Helsinki Stock Exchange-listed investor CapMan has sold its 30 percent interest in listed information systems provider Sentera generating proceeds of €12.8m.

The Geneva-headquartered buyout firm has passed its €250m target for Euroknights V, raising €267m for its second closing.

Lawrence Dean has moved from the investment banking division of the NBGI Group to its London-based private equity subsidiary.