Catch up on the latest headlines after the weekend with this morning’s First Read which reveals the latest Asian deals, how European venture is blooming and the bursting of the cleantech bubble.

Private equity investor Advent plans to make a formal takeover offer for Douglas after reaching a deal with the biggest shareholders of the German retailer, writes Reuters. Advent is joining forces with one of Douglas’s current shareholders in an effort to take the books-to-perfumes retailer private, writes Reuters.

Private equity firm Advent has agreed to buy Dutch medical supplier and pharmacy owner Mediq for 775 million euros ($1 billion) in cash, more than 50 percent above last week’s closing price, writes Reuters. Mediq’s management and supervisory board support the deal, and shareholders owning 20.2 percent of Mediq have already accepted the offer, according to Reuters.

Get up to speed with the latest happenings in PE and VC over the weekend with this morning’s First Read which features who you should be following in the life science space and where buyout firms are headed next.

M&A during the first half of the year slumps but PE-backed deals deliver a surprise.

Allianz Capital Partners has attracted a number of potential buyers in the sale of its European vending machine business Selecta, which is expected to fetch at least 700 million euros ($881 million). REUTERS: Allianz Capital Partners has attracted a number of potential buyers in the sale of its European vending machine business Selecta, which is [...]

It’s looking glum in the M&A world as deal values for first quarter transactions dropped 53%. But the value of PE-backed transactions actually rose, according to Thomson Reuters.

Hedge fund services firm GlobeOp Financial Services is in talks with buyout shops Advent International and TPG, Reuters reported Friday. The firm, which has $173 billion in client assets under administration, has been carrying out a strategic review to try and boost its share price, Reuters wrote.

Advent International said Thursday that it has opened an office in Bogotá, Colombia. The office will be Advent’s fourth in the region and its 18th worldwide.

Private equity firm Advent is the frontrunner in the bidding for the Carbon Black unit of German chemical maker Evonik, Reuters reported. Advent is among three investors who have made bids of about 1 billion euros ($1.39 billion) for the business, which supplies carbon particles used in tires, laser printer and photocopier toners, Reuters wrote.