Blue Coat Systems, a provider of Web security and WAN optimisation solutions, has entered into a definitive agreement to be acquired by an investor group led by San Francisco-based private equity investment firm Thoma Bravo, LLC, in a transaction valued at approximately USD1.3 billion. The Blue Coat Board of Directors

Lyceum Capital has closed its 14th deal this year with the acquisition of Kent-based commercial drainage specialist Drain Control by its portfolio company UKDN. The deal is the second major transaction in as many months for UKDN which has so far invested over GBP15 million in its market consolidation strategy.

DiGiCo Europe Limited (“DiGiCo”) has announced a GBP50 million management buyout funded by ISIS Equity Partners (ISIS). The deal allows Matrix Private Equity Partners (Matrix) to substantially realise its investment in DiGiCo in which it invested in 2007. Since that transaction, the business invested heavily in R&D, creating the highly

Caledonia Investments has invested GBP24 million in cash to acquire a 20% preferred equity interest in B&W Group Limited (“Bowers & Wilkins” or the “Company”), a well-established and rapidly growing British company which designs, manufactures and distributes high-end audio equipment.  Bowers & Wilkins has been led by Joe Atkins, its

International law firm Eversheds has advised Isis Equity Partners and management on the sale and secondary buy out of Wiggle, the online cycling and tri-sports retailer, to Bridgepoint Capital for GBP180m. Wiggle was founded in 1999 initially to sell cycling accessories but by 2003 had expanded its offer to include

An affiliate of Sun European Partners, the European adviser to Sun Capital Partners, Inc, has reached an agreement to acquire shares in German retail chain Strauss Innovation (Strauss) from The EQT Opportunity Fund. The Geringhoff family will also sell its stake. The value of the transaction has not been disclosed.

The Mezzanine team at AXA Private Equity has arranged and subscribed the financing for the acquisition of Unither Pharmaceuticals by Equistone Partners Europe. Unither is being acquired by Equistone, alongside historical shareholders ING Parcom Private Equity, CM-CIC Investment and Picardie Investment. Unither Pharmaceuticals was originally purchased in 1993 from a

Patron Capital, the pan-European private equity group, has acquired, together with its new joint venture partner, Halcyon Hotels and Resorts, over 30% of the Von Essen Group portfolio from its administrators; the acquired assets formed a sub-brand within Von Essen known as the Luxury Family Hotels collection. Four of the

Vinci Partners, a Brazilian Investment Management firm headquartered in Rio de Janeiro, has selected SunGard’s Investran to help automate partnership accounting and performance reporting across its private equity investment portfolios. SunGard’s Investrant supports the entire investment lifecycle, from fundraising through reporting and portfolio monitoring. It automates front-, middle- and back-office

Investment Management Group (IMG) has completed its acquisition of an approximately 70% per cent stake in a retail park to be built in Tver, Russia, on behalf of its Russia Development Fund. The retail park, developed by Normal Asset Management (NAM), will be the largest modern shopping centre of its