Toby Lewis

The alternative assets investment firm and advisory group is hitting the fundraising trial to find investors interested in businesses servicing the art industry.

3i has provided growth capital to help Unión Radio, the Latin American and Spanish radio operator, on its path to an initial public offering.

Richard Allsopp, head of UBS’ placement business, which he helped establish, is the latest to leave banking. He is joining Babcock and Brown, one of his clients.

The oil and gas giant is compiling due diligence on Expro, the FTSE 250 oil and gas company, although it will need to trump a large premium offered in an agreed bid by Candover.

The global firm has closed the second largest fund in the Central and Eastern European region swiftly on the back of raising its €6.6bn global fund.

The publicly traded US firm has exited its remaining stake in Gerresheimer after the share price has fallen off its initial public offering level last year.

The South African mid-market outfit has closed its second fund, after returning the majority of its first fund to investors from just one exit.

The Swiss alternative asset manager has opened in Luxembourg, where it will use an investor-friendly funds regime to structure products. The firm has already set up some of its funds in the country.

The FTSE 100 investment firm is positioning itself in the first wave of investors needed by India to meet its target of $450bn infrastructure investments by 2012.

The French special situations firm has made two senior hires following the departure of two employees to form rival firm Perceva Capital.