The latest trends to look out for in Investment sectors

Ropes & Gray informed equity capital company Metalmark Capital on their purchase of a large equity interest in Collagen Matrix, a top healthcare technology provider. Oakland, N.J.-based Collagen Matrix designs, develops, manufactures and markets top quality collagen and mineral-based products to be used in tissue and organ repair and regrowth. The deal was revealed in October but fiscal conditions have not been disclosed.

The Ropes & Gray agreement group consisted of equity finance associate Anthony Norris (New York), finance associate Steven Rutkovsky (New York), IP rights associate Melissa Rones (Boston), property & ecological partner Peter Alpert (Boston), tax associate Leo Arnaboldi (New York), biological lawyer Kellie Combs (Washington, D.C.), and executive remuneration & staff benefits counsel Alexandra Alperovich (NY).

Lazard Asset Management just announced the expansion of its international Multi Asset solutions with the help of Rupert Hope as a Director and Portfolio Manager.

Based in NYC, Hope will help grow the company's Emerging Market and Global Multi Asset solution system.

"With over two decades of experience, Hope has the distinct set of talents needed to transform client expectations into investment objectives and active allocation judgements," explained Jai Jacob, which leads the Multi Asset investment crew. "His expertise in, and views on developing economies will assist us continue to provide extensive customer solutions."

Private equity company Golden Gate Capital is in the lead to acquire Angus Chemical Co, a speciality chemical compounds child company of Dow Chemical Co, for upwards of $1 billion , based on 3 people familiar with the agreement.

Golden Gate has thus far outbid various acquisition companies, such as Onex Corp and Metalmark Capital Holdings LLC, with the auction for Angus, sources mentioned. The discussions are continuing and the outcome could always vary.

In Europe, Ex-Arcandor Chief Exec Karl-Gerhard Eick is to aid the New York businessman Vincent Mai's Cranemere in establishing a office in Germany. The firm will invest principally in medium-sized companies in the US and Germany.

The ex-Lehman Brothers investor, Mai, devoted more than twenty years at the leading edge of the United States investment business AEA before founding the commercial holding Cranemere. With this vehicle, that has offices in London, New York, Frankfurt and South Africa, the South African-born Mai earns approximately $1 billion investment.