Investment banks Lazard and Messier Maris have been mandated to sell Maisons du Monde, a furniture store chain owned by private equity firms Apax and LBO France, writes Reuters. Lazard and Messier Maris, the boutique bank controlled by former Vivendi chief executive Jean-Marie Messier, were chosen last week to run the process, writes Reuters.

This morning find out what private equity’s comeback plan is, if it indeed needs one, how much Boston biotech has raised in offerings and what the lowdown is on 3i’s restructuring plans.

Dont’ forget to show your support of Hurricane Sandy’s victims by clicking on peHUB’s community group page – you can find the link in this morning’s First Read along with more on the Obama/Romney presidential race, LinkedIn on transforming biotech and pharma and find out which is America’s most expensive neighbourhood.

A consortium formed by a subsidiary of funds advised by Apax Partners and Stephan Cretier, founder, chairman and CEO of Garda World Security Corporation, a global security solutions and cash logistics business, is to acquire the company. The business is being sold for C$1.1 billion in cash, including assumed debt. PRESS RELEASE Garda World Security [...]

This morning’s First Read covers Dell Venture’s latest fundraising, a backlog of unsold deals that threaten to choke the industry and five start-ups to watch from 500 Startups demo day.

Two private equity consortia plan to bid for Direct Line, the insurer owned by Royal Bank of Scotland, writes Reuters. Interested parties include Blackstone Group and Bain Capital and Kohlberg Kravis Roberts, Apax and BC Partners. (Reuters) – Two private equity consortia plan to bid for Direct Line, the insurer owned by Royal Bank of [...]

Click on this morning’s First Read to find out everything you need to know about biotech this summer, Microsoft and NBC’s break-up and why Facebook has bought Spool.

As one of the first public pension funds to commit to private equity, Oregon continues singing the praises of the asset class.

If you can’t figure out lunch after reading this morning’s peHUB First Read, it sure isn’t our fault. See the biggest sandwich guide ever inside.

European private equity performance showed positive returns across all investment categories for the twenty year investment horizon for the period ending December 31, 2011, according to Thomson Reuters European Private Equity Performance Index (PEPI).