Suzanne Weinstock

The state pension has approved 11 commitments including $675m across seven private equity funds.

Verizon Wireless has agreed to purchase the telecom company less than a year after it was taken private for $27.5bn.

Investment bank Barclays Capital has provided a ‘substantial’ anchor commitment for the credit-oriented vehicle which will focus on the North American primary issue market.

The Service Employees International Union is organising simultaneous protests in 100 cities across 25 countries as part of its ongoing campaign against the private equity industry.

Sapphire Energy, founded in part by ARCH, has rounded up funding for the production of algae-based gasoline.

The middle market-focussed mezzanine firm has closed its rapidly raised fourth fund as demand for mezzanine financing rises.

Airline industry veteran Rakesh Gangwal will advise the pension’s private equity arm on tech and business service deals amid its push into infrastructure.

The emerging markets specialist’s Latin America Fund has taken a majority stake in leasing concern Analistas de Recursos Globales.

Although investment guidelines have not yet been set, people familiar with Brazil’s proposed sovereign wealth fund say it may favour ‘politically related’ investment mandates over the alternative investment allocations embraced by peers.

The investment management company for University of Texas and Texas A&M Systems has sold its interests in 14 funds after unsuccessfully shopping 25 funds last year.