Sam Sutton

The $22.5bn pension fund appointed Wesley Gipson to oversee its $436m private equity portfolio.

As the investment funds of wealthy individuals get set to ramp up exposure to private equity, managers have also been seeking more and more capital from family offices, according to studies from Rothstein Kass.

The Dallas-based firm first invested in Latrobe Specialty Metals in 2006, injecting a combined $41m in the company along with private equity firm The Watermill Group.

With the Tom Dean-led firm’s acquisition of glass door maker Anthony International, Avista’s second fund, which closed on $1.8bn last year, is fully invested.

Gulf Credit Partners will launch its debut fund targeting $250m to $300m in September to meet a large demand for leverage, says Gulf CEO Karim El Solh.

The private equity firm continues to diversify its holdings, buying into a hedge fund group six months after its first foray acquisition in the space.

The US mid-market firm has expanded its fast-food portfolio, which includes Auntie Anne's and Seattle's Best Coffee, with the addition of popular sandwich chain Arby's.

The UK-based lower mid-market firm will invest up to €50m in Masotina, marking its second acquisition since August 2010.

German secondaries firm Paragon Partners has sold the remaining three companies from its 2006 fund as it works to raise a new fund.

Nigel McConnell (pictured), who was instrumental in orchestrating Cognetas’ spin-out from Electra Investment Trust in 2005, has left the firm over strategic differences.