The quarter ending 31 March, 2011, was the eighth in a row to yield positive returns for private equity and venture capital funds, according to Cambridge Associates LLC. Private equity continued to outperform venture capital over the five- and 10-year periods ending 31 March, while the situation remained reversed for

Vulcan Capital, the private investment group of Paul G Allen, and a group of investors led by LKCM Capital Group, LLC (LKCM), the alternative investment vehicle for Luther King Capital Management, have launched Ascentium Capital, a lender focused on the important but underserved market for small-balance commercial loans and leases

Innovative and creative digital businesses based in East London’s ‘Tech City’ are taking up the opportunity today (10 August 2011) to pitch for funding from leading venture capitalists, business angels and other potential investors.   The day long investor workshop, organised by the government-backed Technology Strategy Board as part of

Halyard Capital, a New York-based private equity firm, has made a growth investment in Practice Insight, a leading provider of software-as-a-service (SaaS) based revenue cycle management solutions to healthcare providers.   The company’s solutions automate every stage of a physician practice’s reimbursement workflow, providing a high ROI by helping practices

GMT Communications Partners (GMT), the European TMT-focused private equity group, has acquired Sverige Bygger AB and Norge Bygges AS through its portfolio company, DOCUgroup, for a total consideration of EUR15.2 million. This acquisition is DOCU’s thirteenth bolt-on since GMT acquired the platform in 2004. The combined business is expected to

Golden Gate Capital has acquired EP Management Corporation and its sole operating subsidiary, EP Minerals, a producer of diatomaceous earth (DE) filter aids, functional additives and absorbents. Middle market investment bank Harris Williams & Co acted as the exclusive advisor to EP Minerals on the sale with the transaction being

Valeo Foods has reached an agreement to acquire the business of Jacob Fruitfield Food Group for an undisclosed consideration. The deal is subject to regulatory approval. Valeo was formed in 2010 and comprises a growing portfolio of leading Irish consumer brands which it supplies to Irish and international retail customers.

Carbon reduction management agent Climate Energy has acquired low carbon smart home provider ecoTECH in a bid to expand its portfolio. Climate Energy is an award winning, multi disciplined energy agency which provides innovative advice and funding solutions to local authorities, registered social landlords, homeowners and businesses. Andrew Holmes, MD

Rakuten, Inc, Japan’s biggest Internet service company, has closed an all cash transaction to acquire an 80% stake in Tradoria (www.tradoria.de), one of Germany’s leading online ecommerce platforms. In January 2010 Seventure became the lead investor in Tradoria as part of Seventure’s strategy to back emerging high growth national and