Toby Lewis

Bahrain bank Ithmaar has recruited Andrew Pocock from Gulf One Investment Bank where he worked in infrastructure. The firm is looking to invest $5 billion in an undisclosed infrastructure project.

LGV Capital, the UK mid-market buyout firm, has exited the hospital group it bought from BUPA in 2005. Rival Cinven is reuniting the hospitals with a larger group it acquired from the UK private healthcare insurer.

The venture-backed DVD rental business Lovefilm International has increased its number of subscribers to nearly a million after it acquired Amazon’s rival German and UK businesses as part of the deal.

EQT, the Nordic alternative asset manager, has sold a five year old Finnish investment five months after wide-ranging departures from its Finnish office.

Global buyout firm The Carlyle Group has combined travel website Rumbo with Orizonia in a joint venture alongside Spanish telecoms giant Telefonica.

Middle Eastern private equity firm HBG Holdings has sold a management company stake to a private equity fund of The National Commercial Bank of Saudi Arabia, as Middle Eastern governments continue to buy into the asset class.

Ethos Private Equity has sold Tsebo Outsourcing Group having carried out a problematic disposal of a non-core on-flight catering business following the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001 and ridden out price inflation in South Africa.

Continuing the growing involvement of buyout firms in the oil and gas sector 3i and ABN Amro’s merchant banking arm have taken a £53 million stake in TSMarine.

The consortium backing Spanish inspection business Applus is adding to the rapid growth in the company’s chemical and energy inspection arm.

After reorientating Sanctuary Spa Covent Garden into a product focussed business in two years Hg Capital sold the company for £75 million.