US-based private equity firm Avista Capital Partners has formed Avista Capital Europe as part of its strategy to expand its European presence. Avista Capital Europe will be based in London and the firm has recruited Newton Aguiar, Allen Yurko, and Kunal Pandit, to form the Avista office there.
Each of Avista’s new European team members come from DLJ Merchant Banking Partners (DLJMB), Credit Suisse’s private equity arm, from which Avista spun out in 2005.
Mr Aguiar will be a partner at Avista and head the firm’s activities in Europe. Mr Yurko joins the firm as an industry executive and Mr Pandit as a vice president.
The London office will be Avista’s third office. It currently has offices in New York, New York and Houston, Texas.
Thompson Dean, co-managing partner and co-CEO of Avista Capital Partners, said: “We are excited to welcome Newton, Allen, and Kunal to Avista as we take this significant and natural step in the growth of our firm.
“We are very pleased with the strength of our current portfolio in Europe, and believe a permanent office and the leadership, talent, and experience of our new colleagues will enhance the ability of Avista Capital Europe to capitalize on the compelling investment opportunities we see in the European region.”