Investment manager Babson Capital Management has formed a Chicago-based middle market lending group to provide senior secured financing solutions to middle-market companies. The addition of the group will enable Babson Capital to offer a full suite of middle-market financing products, complementing the firm’s mezzanine and private equity group, a provider

The total number of trade acquisitions for quarter two 2012 is up 17.3 per cent on quarter two 2011 from 371 to 435, according to the latest results from BDO’s Private Companies Price Index and Private Equity Price Index. Over the last 12 months (to Q2 2012) private company deal

Independent private equity house Key Capital Partners has supported the GBP15m management buy-out of nursing and care staffing specialists Nurse Plus. Established in 2005, Nurse Plus specialises in staffing solutions for domiciliary care and the provision of temporary professionals to the healthcare sector, including learning disability and mental health units,

Hutton Collins Partners, a provider of preferred capital, has backed the management of Novus Leisure, the operator of 52 primarily London-based premium bars, in a deal worth GBP100m. Hutton Collins has invested alongside LGV Capital, supporting the existing chief executive Steve Richards. Hutton Collins and LGV will support Novus’ strategy

LLR Partners, a middle market private equity firm with more than USD1.4bn under management, and WellPoint have made a growth capital investment in Physicians Immediate Care LLC. LLR Partners, a middle market private equity firm with more than USD1.4bn under management, and WellPoint have made a growth capital investment in

Harris Williams has advised Harmar Mobility on its sale to private equity firm Cortec Group. Harmar was previously a portfolio company of Seidler Equity Partners. The transaction closed on 20 July and was led by Turner Bredrup, James Clark, Geoff Smith and Whit Knier from the firm’s healthcare and life

Private Equity Group is purchasing a portfolio of undeveloped parcels totalling 5,187 acres in Lee County from Alico-Agri, a subsidiary of Alico Inc. The properties are generally bounded on the west by Florida Gulf Coast University and Miromar Outlets; to the north by Alico Road and the Southwest Florida International

Private equity firm BC Partners and alternative asset manager The Carlyle Group have signed a definitive agreement to acquire Hamilton Sundstrand Industrial, a manufacturer of pumps and compressors for the industrial, infrastructure and energy markets, from United Technologies Corporation for USD3.46bn. The transaction is expected to close in the fourth

Private equity firm Resilience Capital Partners completed the final close of The Resilience Fund III on 31 May with USD222.5m of committed capital. Fund III exceeded its target of USD200m through the participation of a global institutional investor base that includes pension funds, insurance companies, foundations and endowments, fund of