Firms & Funds Briefs

Amboise Investissement, a France-based affiliate of Apax Partners, has priced a €114.07 million IPO on the Eurolist C of Euronext.

Arlington Capital Partners has closed its second fund with $575 million in capital commitments. New limited partners include the Hewlett Foundation, Liberty Mutual Insurance, Northwestern Mutual Life and the BP Pension Fund. Returning LPs include Goldman Sachs, Credit Suisse, SVG Capital, Boeing, Verizon and Metropolitan Life.

The Carlyle Group is looking to raise $1.5 billion for its second Asia fund, according to a regulatory filing. It already has secured nearly $780 million in commitments.

Clifford Chance, a U.K.-based corporate law firm, is considering the formation of a fund to co-invest alongside private equity clients.

Fenway Partners is raising $1 billion for its third private equity fund, according to a regulatory filing. It already has secured around $205 million.

The Festus and Helen Stacy Foundation is alleging that TH Lee Putnam Ventures and Merrill Lynch Alternative Investments inflated TH Lee Putnam portfolio values in reports to limited partners. The foundation filed its complaint with the NASD, which is expected to hold an arbitration hearing next month.

Gadsby Hannah LLP has agreed to merge with McCarter English LLP. The combined law firm would have 430 attorneys with offices, in Boston, New York, Philadelphia, Baltimore, Wilmington, Del., Hartford, Newark and Stamford, Conn.

Goldsmith Agio Helms

has formed a group that will provide M&A advisory services to sellers of businesses in the lower end of the middle-markets. It will be led by managing director Gary O’Brien. In other Goldsmith Agio Helms news, the firm has admitted four new shareholders: Joseph Conte, Barry Freeman, David Santoni, and William Sharpe III.

The Halifax Group of Washington, D.C. is looking to raise up to $300 million for its second lower middle-market private equity fund, according to a regulatory filing. It already has secured around $160 million from LPs like Parish Capital and the Bell Atlantic Master Trust. Cue Capital is serving as placement agent.

IDFC Private Equity has raised $430 million for its second fund, which is focused on Indian infrastructure. Its previous fund was capped at $190 million in 2004, with portfolio companies including GRM Energy, Gujarat State Petroleum and Delhi International Airport. IDFC also said that it has expanded its team, with new hired Prakash Karnik (previously with JF Elektra’s private equity fund in India) and Shivani Bhasin (previously with Lightyear Capital).

Intermediate Capital Group has raised $500 million for its first Asia-Pacific mezzanine fund, according to reports.

JPMorgan Chase & Co. (NYSE: JPM) has agreed to acquire The Bank of New York Co.’s (NYSE: BK) consumer, small-business and middle-market banking business. In exchange, The Bank of New York will receive $150 million in cash and JPMorgan Chase’s corporate trust business.

Black Diamond Capital Management announced plans to open a London office. It will be run by Peter Cannon, who joins Black Diamond as a managing director. He previously served as senior portfolio manager with RMF Investment Management (part of the Man Group).

AnaCap Financial Partners has closed its first private equity fund with ?300 million in capital commitments. It will focus on European financial services companies. Limited partners include Allianz, Goldman Sachs, Rothschild, Honeywell, Kodak, Westlake Investments Global Inc. and Adam Street Partners. Credit Suisse served as placement agent.

UBS AG has agreed to acquire the private client business of Piper Jaffray for $500 million in cash and up to $75 million in performance milestones. UBS also will assume $300 million in client loans.

Flag Capital Management is raising up to $400 million for its third private equity fund-of-funds, according to a regulatory filing. It already has secured around $136 million.