The Great Courses, a developer and marketer of video and audio courses for lifelong learners, has appointed Charles Davis executive chairman of the company’s board of directors. The Great Courses is the premier brand of The Teaching Company, a portfolio investment of private equity firm Brentwood Associates.

Veggie Grill said Monday it has secured $20 million in funding from current and new investors. Brentwood Associates provided a substantial part of the capital raise and has a “substantial minority” position in the company. Santa Monica-based Veggie Grill is a West Coast restaurant concept that provides plant-based food.

Brentwood Associates has sold Pacific Island Restaurants to Nimes Capital. Financial terms weren’t announced. Honolulu-based Pacific Island is the sole franchisee of Pizza Hut and Taco Bell throughout Hawaii, Guam and Saipan.  Harris Williams provided financial advice to PIR.

Brentwood Associates will start raising its fifth fund in the next few weeks, seeking $500 million.

Soft Surroundings has sold a majority stake to Brentwood Associates. Financial terms weren’t announced. The company will continue to be managed by CEO Tom Wilcher and President Robin Sheldon. St. Louis-based Sof Surroundings is a direct marketer and specialty retailer of apparel, accessories, beauty products and home furnishings. PRESS RELEASE Soft Surroundings, a leading direct [...]

Riordan Lewis & Haden used a RIDEA partnership to achieve a cash return of more than 10x its investment, while retaining a significant minority stake in one of its healthcare portfolio companies, says PE attorney Chris Manderson.

Brentwood Associates, a consumer-focused private equity investment firm based in Los Angeles, has acquired a majority stake in Sundance Holdings Group. Sundance Catalog, founded by Robert Redford in 1989 and headquartered in Salt Lake City, Utah, is a multi-channel direct marketer and specialty retailer of women’s accessories, jewelry and home furnishings. Selling shareholders, including ACI [...]

Brentwood Associates said Tuesday that it has completed its second dividend recap of The Teaching Company Holdings. The deal was financed through a $170 million credit facility. Brentwood, a consumer focused PE firm, said it has realized a return in capital in excess of its original investment. Ares Capital Corp. provided the incremental financing for [...]

Private Equity is disorganized in its fight against baseless attacks, says William Barnum, a partner with Brentwood Associates. He also confirms that Brentwood will be fundraising later this year for its fifth fund.

Santa Monica, Calif.-based Veggie Grill has raised $11 million in new equity funding. As part of the deal private equity firm Brentwood Associates also agreed to provide additional funding over the next year-and-a-half. Veggie Grill is a restaurant chain focused on American comfort food.