PE Week Wire — 10/12/06

Amyris Biotechnologies Inc., an Emeryville, Calif.-based synthetic biology company focused on the development of pharmaceuticals, fine chemicals and biofuels, has raised $20 million in Series A funding. Khosla Ventures led the deal, and was joined by Kleiner Perkins Caufield & Byers and TPG Ventures. In related news, Amyris appointed John Melo as CEO. He previously was president of U.S. fuels operations for British Petroleum. www.amyrisbiotech.com

Conduit Capital Partners of New York has retained BNP Paribas to help it sell the assets of its first two private equity funds