Iris Dorbian

Archer Daniels Midland Co plans to buy Specialty Commodities Inc for $170 million in its second deal for a health-focused ingredient supplier in three months, the agribusiness company said on Monday.

TIAA-CREF's Covariance has hired Kevin Nee as CEO. Prior to joining Covariance, Nee worked at Wilshire Private Markets. He is also a former managing director at BlackRock Alternative Advisors.

Welsh, Carson, Anderson & Stowe has sold TransFirst to Vista Equity Partners. No financial terms were disclosed. Based in Hauppauge, NY, TransFirst is a provider of of payment tech solutions to merchants in the U.S.

Accela, a portfolio company of Bregal Sagemount, has bought Government Outreach. No financial terms were disclosed. Based in Pleasanton, Calif., Government Outreach is a provider of citizen relationship management and code enforcement solutions to cities and counties across the U.S.

Citadel, which is owned by HGGC and Charlesbank, has agreed to buy The Composites Group from Highlander Partners. No financial terms were disclosed. The deal is expected to be completed by November. William Blair provided financial advice to The Composites Group in the transaction. Headquartered in Highland Heights, Ohio, The Composites Group is a maker of engineered composite compounds.

AssuredPartners, a portfolio company of GTCR, has acquired Hukill Hazlett Harrington Agency, a Cincinnati-based insurance agency that specializes in business coverage. No financial terms were disclosed.

Asia-based financial services group Nomura has expanded its investment banking division with 15 senior appointments. Among the hires are Frank Kinney who joins Nomura as a managing director and head of industrials, Americas; Michael Rintoul, who is now managing director and head of business services; and Christopher Harned, who has become managing director in M&A, specializing in consumer products.

Bethesda, Maryland-based investment management firm Calvert Investments has hired John Streur as its next CEO. Streur will join the company on October 27, 2014 and "assume full responsibilities" on January 1, 2015. Currently, Streur is the president, director and principal of Portfolio 21.

International law firm Fried, Frank, Harris, Shriver & Jacobson has appointed Graham White as head of the firm's private equity practice in Europe. He has also been named partner in Fried Frank's corporate department and managing partner of the firm's London office. Prior to joining Fried Frank, White was a senior partner in the London office of Kirkland & Ellis.