Kevin Ley

Former GMAC chief financial officer Robert Hull will take over the role at the media -and communications-focused firm from Raymond Mathieu, who will move to a managing director position.

US investors in offshore private equity and hedge funds will not have to make potentially time-consuming FBAR filings for their interests in 2009 and earlier, but whether they will get a similar reprieve for 2010 and beyond is still up in the air.

The globally focused buyout firm is establishing a presence in the US financial capital for the first time in order to deepen its investment platform and expand its list of contacts.

Though private equity managers are currently focused on fighting the draft AIFM directive, a campaign to force insurance companies to hold more capital against their investments could be just as harmful to the private equity industry.

The US asset manager has appointed former Citigroup finance head Bill Arnold to oversee financial operations for the firm, which began the transition to independence last year after being bought out of bankruptcy by its management.

In relation to the pay-to-play scandal, Ares and Freeman Spogli have signed on to New York Attorney General Andrew Cuomo’s code of conduct that prohibits the use of placement agents.

CFOs in the US were recently spared the burden of having to conduct time-consuming sensitivity testing on their investments, but as greater alignment is sought with international standards, the issue may be revived during this year.

The First Boston spin-out has promoted its corporate chief financial officer, as well as a member of its resources group to managing director.

The marriage of Mourant du Feu and Ozannes will create the third-largest offshore law firm, and give the combined entity an expanded presence in a region that is seeing the arrival of more funds and managers.

US private equity funds should take another look at their annual privacy disclosure notices following recent amendments by the Federal Trade Commission.