James Taylor

The listed Paris-based private equity group has wrapped up €500m in commitments for its first vehicle for third-party investors.

Charlie McCreevy, the European Union’s internal market commissioner, has reiterated his support for the private equity industry, while conceding that the industry has a lot of work to do to convince sceptics that it is a force for good.

The Sainsbury family seems to have triumphed in its bid to keep the UK retailer out of private equity hands, after the last remaining members of the buyout consortium admitted defeat in their battle to take the company private.

Shares in Sainsbury’s, a UK grocery chain at the center of a controversial £10bn private equity bid, slid this morning as two more of the buyout firms involved reportedly pulled out of the deal. The news followed continuing opposition from pension fund trustees and minority shareholders.

Shareholders in Partners Group, the Swiss alternative asset manager, are set for a €43 million payout after the company enjoyed a highly successful first year as a listed entity.

Property tycoon Robert Tchenguiz is trying to derail The Blackstone Group’s agreed £96 million bid for La Tasca, a UK tapas chain.

Mezzanine specialist Intermediate Capital has appointed a new head of investor relations, as it looks to enhance its transparency to institutional backers.

Charlie McCreevy, the European Union’s internal market commissioner, has leapt to the defence of the private equity and hedge fund industries, while criticising their public relations efforts.

Nikko Principal Investments has sold UK firm RoadChef to an Israeli real estate group for £375 m. Nikko had owned the motorway service station chain for nearly ten years.

UK retailer Marks & Spencer has ruled out an imminent bid for supermarket chain Sainsbury, removing a major obstacle to a potential offer from the CVC-led buyout consortium eyeing the company.