Suzanne Weinstock

The South Carolina Retirement System Investment Commission has committed an undisclosed amount of capital to DE Shaw to be invested across a diverse range of investment strategies.

Fresh off the close of its $7.5bn sixth buyout fund, the distressed-focused private equity firm will buy the CDOs from Merrill Lynch for $6.7bn. The investment bank will finance 75 percent of the purchase price.

The middle market investor has sold its stake in AmeriCast Technologies to minority investor Bradken, formerly a portfolio company of Castle Harlan’s Australian affiliate CHAMP.

Following a 5 percent loss in the month of June, the $11.4 billion State Board of Investment has made a fresh round of commitments to three private equity funds.

The publicly-listed asset manager is the latest private equity firm looking to take advantage of the ‘significant dislocation in the secondary mortgage market’ with the purchase of a minority stake in Bayview Asset Management.

The Sowood Capital spin-out has agreed to invest in Vulcan Power Company to fund the development of geothermal energy properties. Denham is currently investing its first independently raised fund which closed on $2 billion in May.

The Middle East- and London-based investment manager has reported its second strongest year even as net income declined and the pace of private equity deals slowed.

The healthcare, secondaries, and venture fund of funds firm has promoted Ken Macleod to partner after four years sourcing healthcare investments in Europe and Asia. The firm has committed $395 million invested to 14 transactions those regions to date.

The global investment bank has reportedly raised $10bn to provide senior debt for private equity deals. In combination with the firm’s $20bn mezzanine fund, Goldman now has the ability to independently finance leveraged buyout of substantial size.

Battery Ventures, Second Avenue Partners and Pteranodon Ventures invested some $48m in the unmanned aircraft company, which has been sold to Boeing’s military aircraft division. Battery led its Series C and D rounds.