3i, the former powerhouse of Europe’s venture capital industry, has entered exclusive talks to sell a portfolio of 36 European venture capital investments to a consortium led by Coller Capital and HarbourVest Partners for about £100m. The talks follow 3i’s decision last year to abandon early stage investment in start-up companies, and focus on buy-outs, growth capital and infrastructure. Coller of the UK and HarbourVest of the US are key investors in the secondary private equity market.