Toby Lewis

The syndicating banks are now reconsidering the amount they want to sell as the planned £1bn syndication is over-subscribed at the discounted rate of 91 percent to face value. Some of the selling banks are reluctant to meet the demand.

KKR has recruited George Bilicic, a Lazard banker, who advised the firm on its $45bn TXU buyout, as it plans to launch a $5bn infrastructure fundraising, according to a report.

The European Capital deal follows its share buy-back and increased dividend this week, as it reported a first quarter earnings loss related to its introduction of 'fair value' accounting.

The group continued to grow in the last year, although the group’s discount to NAV remained at 18.2 percent. Philip Yea hopes 3i's diversification sees it in a position of strength in troubled markets.

The energy investment firm has continued its rapid growth by recruiting George Coelho, a venture capital veteran. Good Energies has an approximate €3bn holding in Q-Cells, a solar energy company.

The West and Central African buyout firm founded by Nigerian executives, was largely backed by local investors as well as CDC, the UK government fund of funds.

The UK bank has ruled out financial sponsors as bid candidates for its sale of insurance assets such as Direct Line and Churchill. The bank is thought to be worried about buyout firms’ ability to finance such a bid.

The group had substantial rises in reported sales at Europcar, a car rental company and at ANF, a real estate company.

The underwriting banks have provided buyers of quantities of more than £100m with a financing package which could secure them an internal rate of return of around 20 percent over four years.

Jean Eric Salata, the Asian firm’s chief executive, said investor demand had been particularly strong because of its low-leverage growth focus.