Paradigm has appointed Arshad Matin as the company’s president and CEO and a member of the board of directors. He will be based in Houston, Texas. Apax Partners is the majority owner of Paradigm.

Buyout firm Apax Partners and Morgan Stanley’s private equity arm are exploring a sale of Chicago-based insurance brokerage Hub International that could be valued at around $2 billion, two people familiar with the matter said this week.

Private equity firm Apax Partners will cut a tenth of its investment staff and shrink its London headquarters as it struggles to raise capital for a new fund, a source familiar with matter said on Friday.

Private equity deals in Israel declined by 10 percent to $2.6 billion in 2012, with more than half of the investment in software companies, according to the IVC Research Center writes Reuters. The buyout of software firm Paradigm Geophysical by Apax Partners and JMI Equity for $1 billion accounted for 39 percent of the total annual deal value.

Apax Partners has completed the previously announced acquisition of Cole Haan, a designer and retailer of premium footwear and related accessories, from NIKE. Jefferies & Company acted as financial advisor and provided financing to Apax. Kirkland & Ellis LLP provided legal advice and Ernst & Young provided accounting and tax advice.

European powerhouse CVC Capital Partners takes the crown in this week’s battle of the U.S. and European mega-buyout houses, securing first place in our list of top 10 funds based on private equity performance figures from California State Teachers’ Retirement System. U.S. and European firms both account for five of the top-10 spots with The Blackstone Group coming in a close second place.

Private equity deals in Israel fell dramatically in value if not in terms of pace in the third quarter, according to new data out of the IVC Research Center. Sixteen deals, valued at $272 million, were completed, according to the firm’s data. Meanwhile, in the second quarter of this year, 14 deals were sewn up at a collective value of $1.6 billion.

Garda World Security Corporation, a security solutions and cash logistics firm is to be taken private. A consortium formed by Stephan Cretier, founder, chairman and CEO of Garda and a subsidiary of funds advised by Apax Partners will acquire each Class A share of Garda for C$12.00 in cash.

Euro-denominated buyout funds, which play a prominent role in CPP Investment Board’s portfolio, have provided some solid returns over the years. But there is one player that shines above the rest, according to the Buyouts performance database.

Fox Paine, the Woodside, Calif.-based private equity firm, has completed its sale of Paradigm, maker of geoscience softwae, to Apax Partners and JMI Equity in a $1 billion cash merger trasnaction. Fox Paine Fund II acquired then publicly traded Paradigm in August 2002. The firm says it is realizing a 7.8x return with Paradigm’s sale. [...]