Business school isn’t always a requirement for candidates seeking careers at private equity firms. Some buyout shops promote their most talented associates/analysts into more senior positions without their having an MBA, several sources tell peHUB.

Calypso Technology held talks to sell itself late last year but those discussions broke down, sources tell peHUB. Calypso hired Qatalyst Partners, the investment bank founded by Frank Quattrone, to find a buyer last year.

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.

The auction of Eze Castle, which is owned by ConvergEx Group, has hit the final stages, sources tell peHUB. TPG is still vying for Eze Castle as well as Hellman & Friedman, persons say. Advent International, which had teamed up with Advent Software, has dropped out, sources say.

Hurricane Sandy is expected to cause about $20 billion in property damage so an insurance deal seems appropriate. Goldman Sachs Capital Partners is selling USI Holdings, an insurance broker, sources say. The auction started after Labor Day; Goldman Sachs is advising on the process, the persons say.

The auction of TransFirst gears up and bids are due Oct. 1. Welsh Carson is the seller. Also, BluePay is on the auction block. Goldman Sachs is an investor.

The Ancestry.com sale drags on, as a herd of PE bidders try and close the gap between their offers, and the seller’s expectations.

Technology M&A slowed down in August, as the summer lull continues. But PE-backed tech mergers remain respectable.

Getty Images sale leads a slow week for M&A.

Private equity firm Hellman & Friedman is pushing ahead with a $4 billion sale of Getty Images, a supplier of stock photos, video and other digital content, two people familiar with the matter said on Tuesday, writes Reuters. Hellman bought a majority stake in Getty in 2008 in a $2.4 billion deal. (Reuters) – Private [...]