Nomura Securities has hired Michael Johnson to join its London-based venture capital arm in a bid to capitalise on Europe's burgeoning leveraged buy-out market.

Johnson left Donaldson, Lufkin & Jenrette last December as head of European leveraged finance after joining the firm in 1996 from Credit Suisse First Boston, where he had been for 12 years. As a transactions director he will report to Guy Hands, managing director of Nomura Principal Finance Group.