Global automotive industry merger and acquisition activity slowed during the first half of 2012, according to PwC. In H1 2012, 264 deals closed with a disclosed value of USD10.6bn, reflecting a sizeable decline compared to H1 2011, which totalled 303 completed deals with a disclosed valued at USD18.8bn. "Europe is

Benihana, the US chain of Japanese theme and sushi restaurants, has been acquired by funds advised by the private equity group of Angelo Gordon.  Each outstanding share of Benihana common stock was acquired for USD16.30 per share in cash, valuing the acquisition at approximately USD295m.  The company is now a

Rutland Partners, a turnaround and restructuring investor, has sold NoteMachine, an independent automated teller machine (ATM) business in Europe, to funds managed by private equity firm Corsair Capital and NoteMachine’s management, who are retaining a significant shareholding in the company. Founded in 2006 by chief executive Peter McNamara, NoteMachine operates

Axel Springer Digital Classifieds, a strategic partnership between Axel Springer and the global growth investor General Atlantic founded in the spring of 2012, has signed an agreement to acquire allesklar.com, which operates Germany’s local portal meinestadt.de. The company is being sold by the founding Stegger family (56.1 per cent) and

New York-based private equity firm Lightyear Capital, has acquired Healthcare Benefit Solutions from Fidelity National Information Services (FIS) in a deal worth USD335m. “FIS has built a market leading position in healthcare account processing and payment services, and this business continues to perform very well,” says Gary Norcross, president and

MSC Care Management, a company backed by private equity firm Monitor Clipper Partners that serves post-discharge and post-injury workers’ compensation claimants, has completed its merger with One Call Medical, a provider of services that lead to faster, more efficient and more cost-effective resolution of claims. MCP invested in MSC in

The brisk acceleration in middle-market private equity deal volume seen in the last half of 2011 and the first quarter in 2012 stalled out somewhat in the second quarter of 2012, according to GF Data’s second-quarter report.  "Despite an unprecedented availability of capital, improved corporate performance in many sectors and

Raptor Consumer Partners, a consumer-focused growth equity firm, has partnered with obstacle racing series Spartan Race. John Burns, managing director at Raptor Consumer Partners, will join Spartan Race’s board of directors. In connection with RCP’s investment, Spartan Race will also work closely with Raptor Accelerator and Raptor Sports Properties, gaining

Interface, a worldwide floor coverings company, has completed the previously announced transaction to sell its Bentley Prince Street business segment to an affiliate of Dominus Capital, a private equity investment firm.  The transaction was closed on terms and conditions consistent with those previously disclosed. Interface is the world’s largest manufacturer