Fundraising

The debt fund management division of Duke Street Capital has closed Duchess II at E550m, meeting strong support from equity investors.

The US-based real estate group has closed its latest real estate fund on $335m, with a third of the fund's capital already invested.

Two new deals highlight the sustained level of interest shown by private equity firms in the growing care homes sector.

Vivendi Universal has chosen US venture capital firm Global Asset Capital to take over its struggling Viventures unit.

The transatlantic general partner, which pursues a buy-and-build strategy in the business services sector, has held a final closing of its debut fund on $500m.

The UK bank will retain a near-20 per cent stake in Montagu Private Equity, which will remain the bank’s primary vehicle for European private equity investment.

Now that prospective investors in private equity funds are approaching the due diligence process with the same rigour as GPs have applied to target portfolio companies, there are some important infrastructure issues a GP has to address. Steven Millner of DML looks at what a GP has to do to make sure an LP is going to be satisfied.

Carlyle, Bain Capital and Texas Pacific have reportedly joined forces to back oil billionaire Marvin Davis in his pursuit of Vivendi’s US media assets.

Kurt Björklund is to head up Permira’s new presence in the Nordic region, working alongside the newly appointed Ole Oftedal, who joins as an industrial partner.

The UK private equity house is aiming for a £175m final close for its third fund targeting UK mid-market opportunities.