VENTURE CAPITAL POST

The former head of ORIX USA, Jim Thompson, has launched Preston Hollow Capital, an investment company that will target fixed income, venture capital and hedge funds.

Houston, US-based firm Fieldwood Energy LLC, a portfolio company of Riverstone Holdings LLC, bought the Gulf Coast unit of Oklahoma-based firm SandRidge Energy Inc in a deal valued at $750 million.

Gaming group Codere, which sought protection from creditors last week, got a 30-day extension on a €127 million ($173 million)loan due on January 5. Codere had €1.27 billion of debt as of last September.

Texas, US-based private investment firm TPG Capital is in a tussle with two other potential buyers of the Australian assets of Netherlands-based petrol and refining firm Royal Dutch Shell, according to a report.

California, US-based clinical genomic startup Omicia has raised $6.8 million in a Series A round led by Artis Ventures for the expansion of its marketing efforts and optimization of its big data offerings.

Hyderabad, India-based tech incubator BitChemy Ventures poured in $6 million in three startups - 3LOQ Labs, Cafyne Inc, and Altiux Innovations, according to a report.

Private equity funds Carlyle Group LP and KKR & Co are in discussion to purchase troubled Brazil-based medical services provider Fleury SA in a deal worth BRL2.9 billion ($1.2 billion), according to three sources familiar with the matter.

Joseph Lieberman, a former US senator from Connecticut and onetime vice-presidential candidate, will join private equity firm Victory Park Capital Advisors LLC as chairman of its executive board.

Private equity firms are increasingly seeking to partner with U.S. companies rather than buying them outright, as they struggle to find ways to put their huge piles of money to work at a time when frothy markets have made takeovers expensive.

BlackRock, the world's largest manager, is seeking to raise up to $3 billion for a new hedge fund to invest in credit globally. BlackRock Credit Alpha Fund was created in October with an initial target capital commitment of $500 million.

US-based private equity firms Carlyle Group and KKR & Co and Australian investment firm Archer Capital have advanced in the sale of Transpacific Industries Group's waste management business. The three firms are working with banks to put together loan packages to back their bids.

The following bids, mergers, acquisitions and disposals were reported on Friday including ITC Holdings, Dave & Buster, Time Warner Cable, Banca Etruria, Cube Capital, Cargolux, Simon Property and Versace.

Hospitality Staffing Solutions said it had obtained approval from the court to sell its assets to HS Solutions Corporation. Financial details about the deal were not disclosed.

The following bids, mergers, acquisitions and disposals were reported on Wednesday, including Fortum, National Vision, Saipem, CTT, MTS, Southern Pacific, Warrnambool, Verbund, Bakkafrost, Popular and Marathon Oil.

KKR & Co LP and Carlyle Group LP are competing for National Vision Inc, the fourth-largest U.S. retailer of eyeglasses and contact lenses, in an auction that could fetch up to $1 billion, people familiar with the matter said this week.