Suzanne Weinstock

In a move to shift away from equity risk, The State of Wisconsin Investment Board has raised its private equity and real estate targets 1% each and doubled the target of its tactical multi-asset allocation.

Belgian private equity firm Gimv has exited its 2004 investment in Sfinc by selling its majority stake to an AXA-led consortium. Sfinc produces and distributes spices, marinades and food ingredient blends for food processing companies.

The Vietnam-focused private equity firm has exited its investment in Saigon Gas Holding, made from the firm’s debut fund, which closed on $18.5m in 2002.

Publicly listed energy producer Reliant Energy has concluded the termination of a $350m agreement for a sale of stock to the energy specialist. Reliant also called off a $650m loan agreement with Goldman Sachs.

The $850m Chicago Firemen’s Annuity and Benefit Fund will make a third secondaries investment by the end of the month.

Corporate finance lawyer Jacques Demers will lead OMERS Strategic Investments, a new investment division tasked with making very large investments for the pension in 'global asset companies' including airports, real estate and energy projects.

Better Place, backed by Morgan Stanley and VantagePoint Venture Partners, will begin building charging ports and battery exchange stations throughout the California Bay Area in 2010.

AxleTech International will join the armament and technical products division of defense industry contractor General Dynamics.

The Sao Paolo-based alternatives firm has held a final close for its third private equity fund targeting the consumer and infrastructure sectors.

The global financial services firm is considering funds focused on Latin America, China and India as follow-ons to its debut private equity fund targeting the Middle East and North Africa, launched this week. The private equity division is an extension of UBS' infrastructure group.