Chris Witkowsky
French investment firm Ventech has invested in Germany-based Picanova, which manufactures a broad range of fully customized well decor products. To date, Picanova was financed by Cologne, Germany-based DuMont Ventures.
Quadria Capital has acquired a majority stake in Medica Synergie Private Limited, a hospital chain in Eastern India. Quadria bought the stake in partnership with European development finance institution DEG and Swedfund, a Swedish development finance institution. The investment will be used to facilitate the growth of Medica's hospital network to more than 1,300 beds and provide greater access to high quality medical care in the region.
Nordic Capital has closed its Nordic Capital Fund VIII on its hard cap of EUR 3.5 billion ($4.8 billion). MVision Private Equity Advisors worked as the placement agent on the fundraising. Ropes & Gray worked as legal counsel to Nordic Capital during the fundraising.
Charlesbank Capital Partners has sold Tecomet, a manufacturer of components used for medical devices, aerospace and defense markets, to Genstar Capital. The deal closed on Dec. 19. Harris Williams & Co. worked as lead advisor to Charlesbank.
Apax Partners have agreed to sell Dealer.com, a provider of digital marketing and operations software and services to the automotive industry, to Dealertrack Technologies for $620 million. The deal is subject to customary closing conditions, including regulatory approval, and is expected to close in the first quarter. Apax acquired about 30 percent of the shares in Dealer.com in July 2011.
Eos Partners has participated in a management-led buyout of RCG Global Services, a provider of technology solutions for business initiatives. RCG's management team will lead the company. RCG was previously owned by Reliance Insurance.
Sycamore Partners has agreed to buy The Jones Group for $15 per share, or a total of about $1.2 billion. The deal is valued at about $2.2 billion including net debt. Upon completion of the transaction, The Jones Group, which makes, markets and wholesales more than 35 brands in apparel, footwear, jeanswear, jewelry and handbags, will become a private company.
The Florida State Board of Administration is considering increasing its target to private equity by 1 percentage point as it reduces its target to fixed income, according to sister publication peHub.
The California Public Employees' Retirement System is reducing the number of GP relationships in its private equity portfolio, which could mean bigger checks to those firms it chooses to work with.
The Private Equity Growth Capital Council has elected Kohlberg Kravis Roberts' global head of public affairs Ken Mehlman as chairman of the Council's board of directors. Mehlman replaces Mark Tresnowski, managing director and general counsel at Madison Dearborn Partners.