UK / Ireland
UK - Private equity to rescue Wolseley
Reports suggest that several private equity houses are among the potential investors in talks to save quoted building materials retailer Wolseley.
UK - 3i-led consortium to bid for Gatwick
According to reports, a consortium led by 3i and two Canadian pension funds is among at least five groups set to present their non-binding offers to Ferrovial for Gatwick airport, with analysts suggesting that the airport could be valued at £2bn.
GLOBAL - Blackstone to invest in South Korea
According to reports, Blackstone Group will open a unit in South Korea in January.
UK - Foresight injects £5m into 2K Manufacturing
Foresight Group has invested £5m into 2K Manufacturing, a waste recycling company.
UK - Octopus supports Zoopla.co.uk with £2m
Octopus Ventures has invested £2m in online property information website Zoopla.co.uk in a £3.75m series B-round.
UK - CVC interested in Royal Mail
Reports suggest that CVC Capital Partners is interested in taking a stake in postal operator Royal Mail.
EUROPE - Unigestion to raise two funds in 2009
According to reports, Geneva-based Unigestion will raise two new funds in 2009: a secondaries fund targeting EUR 150m, and a sustainable development vehicle with a USD 250m target.
IRELAND - Goverment takes Anglo Irish Bank into public ownership
The Irish government has decided to take control over Anglo Irish Bank Corporation, stating that the bank's viability is of systemic importance to the country.
UK - Paul Hastings appoints seven partners to London office
Law firm Paul, Hastings, Janofsky & Walker has hired seven partners in its London office.
IRELAND - Firecomms receives further backing
Swisscom and Alps Electric have supported Firecomms Ltd, a compound semiconductor company, with $5m, alongside existing investors Atlantic Bridge, ACT Venture Finance and Enterprise Ireland.
UK - Nova exits aia
Nova Capital Management has exited its investment in recruitment agency aia in a sale to TMP Worldwide Advertising & Communications in New York.
UK/CIS - Magisters opens office in London
CIS-based law firm Magisters will open an representative office in London.
UK - SEP will cap exposure to Permira IV
Standard Life European Private Equity Trust (SEP) has taken up the offer to cap commitments to Permira IV as part of a wider restructuring, which has also seen the group sell two of its other partnership interests.
UK - Hammonds elects new Leeds head
Hammonds has appointed is head of private equity Johnathan Jones to lead the firm's office in Leeds.
UK - Hilco considers Allied Carpet acquisition
Reports suggest that turnaround specialist Hilco is considering an acquisition of flooring retailer Allied Carpets.
UK - BVCA calls for banks to actively support businesses
Following the £20bn loan guarantee given by the government today, the BVCA said the package must involve a culture change in banking which encourages banks to actively support companies and back investors who would like to rescue failing businesses.
UK - BVCA reports on performance of portfolio companies
The BVCA and Ernst & Young have published its first annual report on the performance of portfolio companies.
UK - BIIF acquires Infrastructure Investors
Barclays Integrated Infrastructure Fund (BIIF), a new fund managed by Barclays Private Equity, has acquired Infrastructure Investors, a portfolio of 84 investments in operational PFI/PPP projects, for £558.6m.
GLOBAL - Advent International promotes 18
Advent International has promoted 18 members of its global investment team.
EUROPE - Credit Suisse sets up restructuring advisory division
It is understood that Credit Suisse has established a new division to provide restructuring advice to companies and private equity firms in Europe, the Middle East and Africa (EMEA).
UK - Intel leads $ 11m Tribold funding
Intel Capital has led an $11m funding round for management software provider Tribold, alongside existing backers DFJ Esprit and Eden Ventures.
UK - AFM supports £4m buyout of ISP
Alliance Fund Managers (AFM), through the MSIF Venture Fund, has invested £1.1m to support the £4m management buyout of International Safety Products (ISP), a manufacturer of inflatable marine lifejackets.
UK - RJD promotes three
RJD Partners has promoted Alex Hay and Frank Bulman to investment director and Jill Williams to investment manager.
UK - Investec-backed Telinet acquires Ipitomi
Investec Growth & Acquisition Finance has provided portfolio company Telient, an integrated communications and technology group, with a combined senior debt and mezzanine package to support the acquisition of ICT solutions provider Ipiomi.