PJ United, the Birmingham, Ala.-based franchisee of Papa John’s Pizza stores, has acquired 26 Papa John’s Pizza stores from Gaunce Management of Glasgow, Ky., for undisclosed terms. PJ United is a portfolio company of the Washington, D.C.-based middle market private equity firm Halifax Group.

The Halifax Group said Monday that its third buyout fund collected $393 million in commitment, which is more than its $350 million target. Investors of Halifax III include public and private pension funds, endowments and foundations, funds of funds, family offices, and insurance companies. Halifax targets lower middle-market businesses in health and wellness, infrastructure, business and government services and franchising. The firm’s second fund raised $305 million in 2006.

On the heels of the merger of two Virginia-based companies — XL Inc, a global acquisition, grants, and professional services company, with Alon, which assists federal customers with program management and other financial management services — the combined company, XL, has appointed a new president and COO: William Weber, who joins from Kaseman, a government-services [...]

XL Inc., which is backed by The Halifax Group, has merged with ALON. Financial terms weren’t announced. Springfield, Va.-based ALON is a program management, strategic acquisition planning and financial management services business. PRESS RELEASE XL, Inc., (“XL”) a global acquisition, grants and professional services company based in McLean, VA, announced today it has merged with [...]

The Halifax Group has sealed about $150 million in commitments for its middle-market private equity fund Halifax Capital Partners III, L.P., according to a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The Raleigh, N.C.-based firm is targeting $350 million for the fund, according to the filing.

The Halifax Group has recapitalized K2 Industrial Services Inc., a provider of outsourced industrial maintenance services to refineries, petro-chemical and power generation facilities, among other companies. Terms of the deal were not released. UPDATE: K2 is a portfolio company of Capital Resources Group.