Staff Writer

The San Francisco-based placement agent, advisor and secondaries broker has hired ex-AIG Investments executive Edwin Chan to lead its first Asian office.

The New York-based investment bank has hired two former Bear Stears private equity secondaries executives, Jeff Hammer and Paul Sanabria, to run its new advisory service.

The San Francisco-based secondary specialist estimates some $5bn in venture secondary assets are up for grabs.

The UK private equity firm has made its debut Spanish and solar investments with the acquisition of stakes in three photovoltaic plants in a secondaries transaction.

Euronext-listed fund of funds Lehman Brothers Private Equity Partners is changing its name to NB Private Equity Partners and will help its bankrupt parent company unload 14.5 million shares in secondary transactions beginning in mid-2010.

The London-listed private equity giant is trying to sell some of its European venture capital portfolio in an attempt to reduce its debt load.

The UK-based secondaries firm has hired Eric Pathé as an investment director just months after it appointed Matthew Arkinstall and Robert Savage.

New York firm SecondMarket says it has attracted more than $500m worth of secondaries for its new LP fund interest trading platform.

Secondaries specialist Coller Capital was the largest investor in the listed fund of funds’ recent rights issue, having picked up 50 million shares. The investment was made from Coller's fifth fund, which is around 55% deployed; the firm is expected to raise up to $6bn for Fund VI later this year.

Cogent has hired former Ernst & Young transaction manager Briac Houtteville as an associate and promoted Bernhard Engelien to managing director.