UK / Ireland
WORLD - Blackstone opens Beijing office
The Blackstone Group will open a representative office in Beijing and has appointed Shan Fu, a former official with various economic bodies within the Chinese government, as its chief representative.
UK - CVC close to buying Lombard
CVC Capital Partners is believed to be close to buying European wealth manager Lombard from Friends Provident after talks at the end of last week.
UK - CVC interested in Punch Taverns
CVC Capital Partners is reportedly interested in acquiring listed Punch Taverns.
UK - Hotbed appoints Julius Gottlieb
Investor syndicate Hotbed has appointed Julius Gottlieb as non-executive director.
UK - LDC puts National Accident Helpline up for auction
LDC has reportedly hired PricewaterhouseCoopers to run an auction process to sell the National Accident Helpline, a legal services provider.
UK - Noble hires Mould and Beamont for sales trading team
Investment bank Noble has hired Laura Mould and Paul Beamont to run its sales trading team.
UK - RJD invests £6.1m in Raphael Healthcare
RJD Partners has invested £6.1m in Raphael Healthcare, a provider of specialist mental health services for women. The deal values the company at £30m.
UK - Lincoln hires Julian Tunnicliffe
Investment bank Lincoln International has hired Julian Tunnicliffe as managing director specialising in industrials M&A.
UK - Inflexion appoints two and promotes three
Inflexion Private Equity has appointed two new members to its investment team and has made three internal promotions.
UK/CANADA - CBPE-backed ASG acquires Eco Tech
Alex Stewart Group, a provider of metals and minerals inspection and testing services backed by Close Brothers Private Equity, has acquired Eco Tech Laboratory, a Canadian provider of assay and geochemical services to the Canadian mining and exploration...
UK - Noble hires Michael Blakemore
Investment bank Noble has hired Michael Blakemore as a senior oil & gas analyst.
UK - Greenhill invests in TEG
Greenhill Capital Partners Europe has invested an undisclosed sum in Travel Entertainment Group Ltd (TEG), a provider of in-flight entertainment.
UK - Dunedin backed etc.venues records 51% EBITDA growth
etc.venues, a provider of non-residential training facilities backed by Dunedin, has reported a 36% increase in turnover to £14m and an increase in EBITDA of 51% to £3.4m for the year-end June 30th 2008, with capital investment in new and existing venues...
EUROPE – LODH Euro Choice IV holds first close on EUR 300m
Zurich-based LODH Private Equity Limited has closed LODH Euro Choice IV on EUR 300m.
UK/US - Noble opens office in Texas
Noble Group has opened a subsidiary, Noble Corporate Advisory Inc, in Houston, Texas.
UK - Platina refinances wind farm portfolio
Platina Finance Ltd has closed the €24.6m refinancing of Burton Wold and the €9.4m refinancing of Winscales Moor, two windfarms. Nord/LB will provide the new debt.
UK - Smith & Williamson hires head of food and agriculture
Smith & Williamson has hired Steve Ellwood as head of food and agriculture.