Private Equity

Barclays Private Equity has closed its third European mid-market buyout fund, Barclays Private Equity European Fund III, with total commitments of €2.4 billion ($3.3 billion).

Mark Woodward has joined Blackstone Group as a senior advisor in the firm's private equity group. Woodward will be responsible primarily for sourcing and evaluating software and information technology related transactions, and will be based in San Francisco.

The $34 billion Pennsylvania State Employees’ Retirement System last week approved six private equity commitments totaling some $181 million. 

Barclays Private Equity has closed its third European mid-market buyout fund, Barclays Private Equity European Fund III, with total commitments of €2.4 billion ($3.3 billion).

The $80 billion Ohio Public Employees Retirement System is revamping its $13 billion healthcare fund to include a 5% allocation to private equity.

During its July meeting, the system’s investment committee decided to shift its allocation to a 60% equity plus alternatives and 40% fixed income mix.

Private equity giant Thomas H. Lee Partners has become the latest alternatives firm to make a run at the troubled credit markets with a new offering.

Greenwich, Conn.-based Stone Point Capital recently held a final closing for its latest private equity fund, Trident IV, L.P., with capital commitments of $2.25 billion.

The Blackstone Group has appointed Vikrant Sawhney as a managing director in the firm’s private equity group.

One private equity fund is making its investors a happy bunch: Baar-Zug, Switzerland-based Partners Group has held a final close on its latest vehicle, Partners Group Global Value 2006, at €400 million (US$554.5 million), and is already cashing out on some of its investments.

Private Equity firm Texas Pacific Group has hired Mary Ma, the former chief financial officer of computer manufacturer Lenovo Group, as a partner and managing director.