Catherine Badour

Independent UK-based infrastructure investment fund Ancala Partners has finalized its acquisition of Apache Corp’s interests in two North Sea gas pipeline assets for an undisclosed sum, it said on Monday.

Buyout firms Nordic Capital and KKR & Co (KKR.N) are competing to acquire Hyperion, a U.S. manufacturer of metal cutting and drilling equipment owned by Swedish engineering company Sandvik AB (SAND.ST), according to people familiar with the matter.

Affinion Group Holdings Inc, a U.S. provider of loyalty programs and insurance products, is exploring a sale of its accidental death and dismemberment (AD&D) business as it seeks to trim its debt pile, sources told Reuters.

Maria Contreras-Sweet, the former head of the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA), has submitted an offer to acquire the Weinstein Co, Reuters reported.

Internet giant Alibaba Group Holding Ltd (BABA.N) said on Monday it would invest HK$22.4 billion ($2.87 billion) for a major stake in China’s top hypermart operator, Sun Art Retail Group Ltd (6808.HK), part of a wider push into offline retail, Reuters reported.

Private equity firms are awash in cash, with nearly US$1trn of available capital, but the industry is facing internal competition as limited partner (LP) investors seek to play a more active role in buyouts, according to David Rubenstein, co-founder and co-CEO of the Carlyle Group, Reuters reported.

London-listed private equity firm 3i Group (III.L) said on Thursday it had no plans to dispose of its biggest asset, Dutch discount retailer Action, rebutting market speculation that a sale could be imminent.

Germany’s ProSiebenSat.1 (PSMGn.DE) has attracted bids from private equity firms for a stake in its ecommerce portfolio as it seeks cash to finance a shift away from its television advertising business, sources told Reuters.

Kari Stadigh, the chief executive of Nordic financial holding company Sampo (SAMPO.HE), has signed up as one of the largest investors in software company Efecte, which on Wednesday announced its plans for initial public offering, Reuters reported.

Varo Energy BV’s owners, U.S. private equity firm Carlyle Group (CG.O) and commodities trader Vitol, are looking at an initial public offering next year that could value the European oil refiner at about $2 billion, the Wall Street Journal reported on Wednesday.