GSO Capital Partners LP, the credit arm of The Blackstone Group is providing $150 million as part of a land banking arrangement to Beazer Homes USA. Funds managed by GSO will acquire new land parcels identified by Beazer Homes.

Rahul Agarwal has joined CIFC Corp as chief financial officer. Agarwal brings 19 years of financial industry experience, having spent the last eight years with The Blackstone Group where he served as the co-head of finance for the private equity business.

European powerhouse CVC Capital Partners takes the crown in this week’s battle of the U.S. and European mega-buyout houses, securing first place in our list of top 10 funds based on private equity performance figures from California State Teachers’ Retirement System. U.S. and European firms both account for five of the top-10 spots with The Blackstone Group coming in a close second place.

Liberty Distribution has been sold to Vistar, a subsidiary of Performance Food Group Company and a portfolio company of The Blackstone Group. Liberty is based in Chandler, Arizona with additional locations in Mechanicsburg, Pennsylvania and Memphis, Tennessee.

The Blackstone Group has invested $100 million for a 12.5 percent stake in India’s International Tractors Ltd, writes Reuters. ITL, which manufactures tractors, is the flagship company of India’s Sonalika Group.

Arrohead Mezzanine is seeking $500 million for its latest fund, its first since spinning out of Gleacher & Co. , as sponsor use of sub debt is on the rise.

John Menzer has resigned from his position as CEO of Michaels Stores, to enable him to focus on recovery and rehabilitation from the stroke he suffered in April. The company has commenced a search for a new CEO. Michaels Stores is backed by Bain Capital Partners and The Blackstone Group. PRESS RELEASE Michaels Stores, Inc. [...]

GSO Capital Partners Founder Bennett Goodman pulled back the curtain on life as part of The Blackstone Group, saying that the potential for conflict looms but that the firm has put certain measures in place to prevent them.

Industrial Opportunity Partners is planning to wrap up fundraising on its second fund in the coming weeks, Buyouts reported earlier today, citing a source familiar with the firm’s fundraising process. The Evanston, Ill.-based buyout shop expects to hit its hard cap of $275 million, the source said. The firm’s target for the fund, Industrial Opportunity [...]

Rive Technology, a provider of materials-based solutions for catalytic and separations processes for refining, chemicals, and biofuels, has appointed David C. Aldous as chief executive officer. Aldous brings over 30 years of experience in the refining, chemicals and catalyst industries, including over 20 years at Royal Dutch Shell where he was executive vice president of [...]