Private Exits

Aspen Insurance Holdings Ltd. (NYSE:AHL) has agreed to repurchase approximately $156 million worth of its ordinary shares, representing approximately 5.9 million shares, from founding shareholders The Blackstone Group and CSFB Private Equity. The shares are to be repurchased at a price per share of $26.50, representing a 1.7% discount to the closing price on November 30, 2006. Following the share repurchase, Blackstone will hold approximately 11.4 million shares and CSFB Private Equity will hold approximately 4.4 million shares.

DDJ Capital is in talks to sell its majority stake in Austin, Texas-based fine jewelry retailer Samuels Jewelers Inc. to an undisclosed suitor in India.

The Riverdeep Group of Ireland reportedly has agreed to acquire Boston-based publisher Houghton Mifflin Co. for approximately $3.4 billion. Alchemy Partners and MSD Capital backed a 2003 management buyout of Riverdeep, while Bain Capital, Thomas H. Lee Partners and The Blackstone Group bought Houghton Mifflin from Vivendi for around $1.68 billion in 2002.

Terra Firma Capital Partners is considering a £800 million IPO or sale of portfolio company Infinis, a U.K.-based renewable energy company, according to The Telegraph. Terra Firma has retained advisors Merrill Lynch, Climate Change Capital and Deutsche Bank.