Private equity

Damon Buffini of Permira was brought up on a Leicester council estate and is now managing partner at Permira. Dragged into the public eye through its takeover of AA, which encouraged a union to parade a camel outside his church to draw attention to his wealth. Also bought New Look, Homebase and Bird's Eye. Photograph: Fiona Hanson/PA

A close advisor of Gordon Brown, Sir Ronald Cohen was born in Egypt and came to the UK as a child following the Suez crisis. He is seen as the founding father of Britain’s private equity industry, having founded Apax Partners in 1972. He hit the headlines in June for saying that large private equity firms should pay more tax. Photograph: Eamonn McCabe/Guardian

Jon Moulton of Alchemy has 30 years experience in the industry, setting up the private equity arm of Schroders [now Permira] before founding Alchemy Partners. Vilified as a 'ruthless asset stripper' after trying, and failing, to buy MG Rover in 2000. Famously outspoken, he accused those in the industry who have admitted it is undertaxed, such as Sir Ronald Cohen, of being 'the enemy within', but told MPs that some wealthy people are abusing the tax system. Photograph: Eamonn McCabe/Guardian

Peter Taylor of Duke Street Capital studied economics with accountancy at the Loughborough University of Technology, before qualifying as a chartered accountant with PricewaterhouseCoopers. Admitted to MPs in July that Duke Street had loaded too much debt onto the Focus DIY chain, which it eventually sold for £1 shortly after receiving a special dividend. Photograph: PA

David Blitzer, a graduate of the prestigious Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania, joined Blackstone in 1991. As its European senior managing director, he involved Blackstone in a consortium that bought Scottish and Newcastle’s retail estate and Spirit Group for £2.5bn. He also handled the acquisition of Orangina. Photograph: PA

Dominic Murphy has been managing partner of KKR for less than two years, but helped win the £11.1bn takeover battle for Boots. Studied at Liverpool University, and previously worked at 3i. Admitted to MPs in June that he is domiciled in Ireland for tax purposes. Photograph: Fiona Hanson/PA

Philip Yea is chief executive of 3i, which racked up profits of £1bn in May thanks to several lucrative deals. This included a £267m profit on National Car Parks, which lead to accusations of asset stripping by the GMB union. Photograph: PA

Donald Mackenzie, the co-founder of CVC, is seen as publicity-averse, even within the secretive world of private equity. Previously worked for 3i. Under his management, CVC teamed up with Permira to buy the AA, but failed in an attempt to take over Sainsbury's. Photograph: PA