In response to strong investor interest in private equity in microfinance following the launch of the Azure Global Microfinance Fund of Funds, Azure Partners announces is launching its second fund of funds targeting the microfinance industry. Azure Microfinance Private Equity Fund of Funds will aim to capture high growth in

HIG Capital has successfully closed HIG BioVentures II, LP, which was over-subscribed with total aggregate commitments of USD268 million, exceeding its USD250 million target. The funds were raised entirely from limited partners specific to HIG BioVentures II, including a diverse group of top-tier global investors, including public and private pension

Accordion Partners, a financial services firm delivering deal and project execution services to private equity firms and corporate development groups, has completed a capital raise led by a mix of institutional and high net worth investors. The capital raise was led by Eagle Proprietary Investments Limited, a Dubai-based investment firm

In the first quarter, US and European private equity funds held more closings and raised more capital than in the same period last year, but more than half the capital raised in each region went to a small contingent of firms. US private equity funds raised USD38.1 billion for 136

Piper, a private equity specialist in consumer brands, has taken a significant minority stake in Loungers, the operator behind the highly successful Lounge café-bar chain.   Loungers was founded in 2002 by a trio of longstanding friends, Alex Reilley, Jake Bishop and Dave Reid, who saw an opportunity to create a new chain of informal, neighbourhood

Mistral Equity Partners, a private equity firm focused on the consumer, retail and consumer media sectors, has invested growth capital in XpresSpa, a leading airport retailer of spa services and spa and travel related products, with thirty-eight locations in the United States and the Netherlands. "This concept pioneered and defined

Shoosmiths’ Birmingham corporate team has advised MML Capital Partners on the sale of Virginia-based Cableform Inc to Hubbell Inc. This is the fourth consecutive deal completed by Shoosmiths on behalf of MML within the last ten months, having simultaneously advised on the sale of  Rotary Precision Instruments to German manufacturer,

High Street Capital has partnered with the TLC Companies’ CEO Tim Coughlin and other members of the management team plus Cohesive Capital Partners, to fund the TLC’s growth plan and provide liquidity for its owners. High Street Capital will be working closely with the management team to acquire additional clients,

Maven Capital Partners has provided a GBP3m funding package in support of the MBO of Cat Tech International from US environmental services business Clean Harbors Inc. Operating from offices in UK, Bulgaria, Sweden, China, Singapore and Thailand, Cat Tech is a leading provider of industrial services to oil refineries and