Iris Dorbian

Benefitexpress, which is backed by LLR Partners, has acquired BenefitsCONNECT, a provider of benefits administration and online enrollment solutions. No financial terms were disclosed.

Worley Claims Service, which is backed by Aquiline Capital Partners, has acquired Orlando, Florida-based Nexxus Solutions Group, a managed repair network administrator that serves the property insurance sector in the U.S. and Canada. No financial terms were disclosed.

Safanad Limited has made an undisclosed "significant" investment in Silicon Valley-based CentralColo, an data centers operator. CentralColo is backed by Industry Capital.

Arlington Capital Partners has closed its oversubscribed fourth fund at a hard cap of $700 million, beating its $575 million target. The limited partners of Arlington Capital Partners IV LP include public pension funds, corporate pension funds, insurance companies, fund of funds and foundations. Fund IV will focus on government-related sectors, such as aerospace and defense. Evercore Private Funds Group was the placement agent.

Ardian has agreed to acquire Ascendi Group's stake in Ascendi PT II for a consideration of 600 million euros. Ascendi PT II is a joint venture in Portuguese motorways formed in June 2015 between Ardian Infrastructure and Ascendi. According to terms of the deal, Ardian will acquire five jointly held assets as well as two additional toll roads from Ascendi. Further, Ardian will also buy the operational and maintenance companies that connected to the motorways.

Jensen Hughes, which is owned by Gryphon Investors, has acquired Seattle-based Case Forensics Corp, a provider of forensic science and engineering consulting services. No financial terms were disclosed.

Velocity Fund Partners, a new private equity firm that targets products and healthcare services in the life sciences industry, has launched. Dr. Kenneth Melani and James M. Nolan are the founders. Also, Velocity has acquired an unidentified global contract research organization for an undisclosed amount and has made a "significant" investment in SkinJet, a skin cancer treatment provider.

Baird has hired Glen Clarke as a managing director for its global consumer team. Previously, Clarke worked at KeyBanc Capital Markets Inc where he served as a managing director and head of the firm's food and agribusiness group.

Beechbrook Capital has raised over 100 million euros for its third private debt fund. The investors include European Investment Fund and the British Business Bank Investments Ltd, the commercial arm of the British Business Bank. The fund is expected to close in 2017.