Apax Partners, the global private equity house, is the latest private equity investor to expand its French operations, hiring five new associates across its sector teams to manage the increased volume of French deals.

Estimates from Barclays Private Equity France have said that the French private equity market is likely to treble in size by 2006 to €15.5bn ($13.6bn), and Apax is not alone in seeking to cash in on growth in the sector. Wizard Partners, the Italian private equity firm, recently opened a new Paris office, and Candover and Electra Partners both expanded their French teams in October.