Global merger and acquisitions activity in the first three quarters of 2012 added up to USD1,426.5bn, down by 19.4 per cent on the same period in 2011 (USD1,769.3bn), and representing the second lowest total since Q1-Q3 2009 (USD1,142bn), according to mergermarket. Q3 2012 totalled USD433.5bn, down 20.2 per cent from

An affiliate of private equity firm Roark Capital Group has acquired Massage Envy, the largest provider of massage therapy and facial treatments in the US. "We are thrilled to have Roark as a partner as we continue to grow the Massage Envy brand," says Dave Crisalli, Massage Envy’s president and

Merger and acquisition deal flow into Europe is set to grow towards the end of 2012 and into 2013 as overseas buyers, including those in Asia Pacific, North America and South America, target discounted European M&A opportunities, according to Clifford Chance. Arndt Stengel, M&A partner in Frankfurt, says: "We expect

Gresham, the UK mid market private equity firm, has completed the GBP25m management buyout of Investis, a UK provider of digital corporate communications for public companies. At the same time, the investor relations business of Hemscott has been acquired by Investis from Morningstar.   Gresham intends to use its investment

Loss adjusting and claims management firm Cunningham Lindsey Group and a CVC Capital Partners-led investor group including Allied World Financial Services have agreed to a recapitalisation by which funds affiliated with CVC will acquire majority ownership of Cunningham Lindsey.  Founded more than 100 years ago, Cunningham Lindsey has grown organically

Mexcian restaurant group Tortilla, which is backed by private equity firm Quilvest, has secured GBP2.25m in new bank financing from Santander Corporate Banking to fund expansion. The new credit facilities will further enhance Quilvest’s original GBP3.5m investment in Tortilla in December 2011. The financing comes as Tortilla secures three additional

Middle market private equity firm The Sterling Group’s affiliated investment fund, Sterling Group Partners III, is to acquire all of the equity interests that comprise the Dexter Axle business from Tomkins Industries, a subsidiary of Pinafore Holdings. The Dexter Axle business manufactures trailer axle, brake and suspension assemblies and related

AXA Private Equity has agreed to acquire a majority 70 per cent stake in Bruni Glass, a European provider of glass containers for spirits, food, pharmaceutical products and related accessories. Alongside AXA Private Equity, the founding members and the management of Bruni Glass took part in the deal with a