Investors have rediscovered their risk appetite and are putting cash reserves to work across the equity markets, according to the BofA Merrill Lynch survey of fund managers for January. For the first time since January 2006 the survey shows investors are taking above average risk, relative to their benchmark. A

Cohen Asset Management has secured several new loans which have addressed nearly all of its 2009 and 2010 debt maturities. Throughout 2009, the private equity real estate investment firm accomplished this by retiring, refinancing or signing new lending commitments secured by several of its real estate assets. "We are pleased

UK mid-market private equity firm Phoenix Equity Partners has reached agreement for the sale of Acorn Care and Education to Teachers’ Private Capital, the private investment department of the Ontario Teachers’ Pension Plan. The consideration on the transaction is not being disclosed.   Acorn provides education and care for vulnerable

Citadel Capital, Africa’s largest private equity firm, plans to invest a further USD200m to USD400m over the coming two years in Kenya, Uganda and Tanzania. The announcement was made by Ahmed Heikal, Citadel Capital’s chairman and founder, and comes in the wake of the firm’s investments in Sudan. To date,

KupiVIP.ru, a Russian online shopping club, has raised USD20m in funding led by venture capital firm Accel Partners. Accel Partners was joined by existing investors Mangrove Capital Partners, Arlan, Direct Group and business angel, Oliver Jung. Sonali De Rycker (pictured) from Accel Partners will join KupiVIP.ru’s board as part of

Intuit has completed the sale of Intuit Real Estate Solutions to Vista Equity Partners, a private equity firm focused on investments in software and technology-enabled businesses. The transaction, announced on 2 December 2009, is valued at approximately USD128m. Intuit Real Estate Solutions, based in Highland Hills, Ohio, was part of

HarbourVest Private Equity’s net asset value per share was USD8.55 at 31 December 2009, representing a 1.8 per cent increase from the 30 November 2009 estimated NAV per share of USD8.40. This change was driven primarily by a positive valuation adjustment (approximately USD0.26 per share) taken by the HarbourVest funds

Private equity firm Guardian Capital Partners has completed the final closing of Guardian Capital Partners Fund I with slightly more than USD50m in aggregate capital commitments. The fund’s principal focus is to lead the acquisition of controlling interests in lower middle market manufacturing and service businesses in the US. “We

TelStar Hosted Services has purchased of the assets of TouchStar’s Hosted division with private equity funding from William & Gallagher and Grindstone Partners. TelStar Hosted Services is a communications-as-a-service organisation providing on demand contact/call centre solutions to over 200 corporate clients. Williams & Gallagher and Grindstone Partners acted as lead