Scott Mead, the former Goldman Sachs heavyweight who spearheaded the world's largest hostile takeover, has joined buyout firm Apax Partners as it initiates fundraising for its largest investment vehicle, making him eligible for profits generated by the new fund.

Mead's timing means he will share so-called "carried interest", or managers' share of profits, from the new fund, Apax's seventh. Financial News revealed in June that that the company will start raising the fund next summer with a target of between €7bn ($8.9bn) and €10bn.