The number of private equity fund bidders eyeing Arcandor’s Karstadt department stores in a deal that could merge Karstadt with Metro’s Kaufhof has dropped to four from six. Blackstone Group, widely noted as one of the original bidders, is not interested, according to the report by Dow Jones Newswires. Permira is also unlikely to make a bid for a combined Karstadt and Kaufhof, two people familiar with the matter said. A total of six private equity bidders from the US and the UK were invited to look at Karstadt’s books in February, and tours of some Karstadt branches have since

Caritas Christi Health Care has signed an agreement to be acquired by Steward Healthcare System, a newly formed affiliate of Cerberus Capital Management. Under the terms of the acquisition, CCHC will continue to be managed by its current Massachusetts-based executive team, including president and chief executive Ralph de la Torre. The agreement also stipulates that the six Caritas Christi hospitals will retain their Catholic identities and their existing policies on charitable and pastoral care, community benefits, and approach to labour relations from a social justice perspective. The transaction is subject to customary closing conditions, including approvals from the Massachusetts Attorney

Private equity firm 3i Group invested a total of GBP311m in the 11 months ended 28 February 2010, compared with GBP898m in the equivalent period last year.  Of this investment, GBP130m was cash invested in the existing portfolio, while the balance related primarily to capitalised interest. Realisation proceeds received by 3i totalled GBP998m in the 11 months ended 28 February 2010, compared with GBP1,123m the previous year. Total realisations do not include Ambea and Apatech, which together will generate approximately GBP250m of further realisation proceeds. Realisations for the 11 month period have been achieved at aggregate uplifts over 31 March

Chaparral Energy, an independent oil and gas production and exploitation company, has entered into a definitive agreement with affiliates of CCMP Capital Advisors under which CCMP will invest USD345m to acquire a significant ownership stake in the company. Since its inception in 1988, Chaparral has increased reserves and production by acquiring and enhancing properties in its core areas of the Mid-Continent and the Permian Basin. Beginning in 2000, the company expanded its geographic focus to include Ark-La-Tex, North Texas, the Gulf Coast and the Rocky Mountains. “We are extremely pleased to be partnering with CCMP,” says Mark Fischer (pictured), chairman

QVT Financial’s QVT Fund has tendered approximately 60 per cent of its shareholding in Galatasaray Sportif in connection with the tender offer for Sportif’s shares by its majority shareholder, Futbol, and realised the economic value under its existing swap arrangements based on the tender offer price. Dan Gold, chief executive officer of QVT Financial, says: “Our decision to make a partial tender into the offer by Futbol for Sportif was made with great reluctance. However, given the grievous harm already inflicted on minority shareholders in Sportif, the failure of the Turkish regulators and courts to protect minority shareholders by preventing

Wachovia Capital Partners, a private equity firm focused on investments in growth companies, has become independent from Wells Fargo and been renamed Pamlico Capital. Pamlico will continue to manage its portfolio of over USD2bn in assets, including unfunded commitments available for new investments, on behalf of its existing limited partners. The entire team of investment professionals will remain with Pamlico Capital. “Pamlico’s path to becoming an independent firm is a natural step in the evolution of our business as we look toward future growth,” says managing partner Scott Perper. “Over the last 22 years, we have built a cohesive team,