Dave Keating

After making two initial investments from the fund, the Roy Disney-led Burbank, California firm has closed it oversubscribed.

In the world of academia, venture capitalists are often viewed with suspicion at best, and something more insidious at worst. However, Britain’s newly revamped tech transfer offices are making efforts to bridge the gap between investors and universities in order to foster more spin-out activity. Dave Keating reports.

Impress Group, a Dutch-based metal can producer created by Doughty Hanson in 1997, has been refinanced for €1bn after several acquisitions in the past six years.

The Bahrain-based firm has launched a $200 million venture fund that will make only ‘Islamically approved’ investments.

The New York-based private equity firm launched by Ripplewood veteran Ian Snow last year will acquire Excel Mining Systems.

Andrew Sossen, who represented KKR Financial in its $900m IPO last year while with Simpson Thacher, will become the REIT’s new general counsel.

The New York-based firm has closed its second fund oversubscribed, exceeding its initial target of $200 million.

Eliokem, a Paris-based manufacturer of niche specialty chemicals, will be exited to AXA Private Equity.

Genstar Capital has acquired OnCURE Medical Corp., which owns and operates radiation treatment centres in California and Florida.

The New York-based firm has sold its portfolio company Scientific Protein Laboratories for about 4.1x to a publicly traded buyout firm, says a source close to the deal.