Private investment firm Cerberus Capital Management is to sell its stake in Freedom Group, the manufacturer of the AR-15 rifle used in the attack at a primary school in Newtown, Connecticut last week that left 20 children and seven adults dead. Affiliates of Cerberus made their investment in Freedom Group

Alternative asset manager The Carlyle Group has completed the sale of Metaldyne, a manufacturer of metal-based components for light vehicle engine, transmission and driveline systems, to an affiliate of American Securities. Financial terms of the transaction have not been disclosed. Carlyle Strategic Partners II, a USD1.35bn distressed investment fund, led

Energy group Winch Energy has invested in Sicily-based energy trader Onda Energy and its subsidiary Energit, based in Sardinia. The Onda Energy Group is the largest gas and electricity broker in both Sicily and Sardinia, with some 35,000 commercial customers in Sicily, Sardinia and Italy. The combined group has turnover

Private equity firm TA Associates has completed a majority investment in DigiCert, a provider of enterprise security solutions. Terms of the investment were not disclosed. Founded in 2003, DigiCert provides online authentication and encryption services primarily through Secure Socket Layer (SSL) certificates to companies, government agencies, financial institutions, and educational

Moonray Healthcare has acquired Lexum, a provider of ophthalmology in Czech Republic and Poland. The deal will see a phased transfer of ownership from current investors ARX Equity Partners and founder Professor Martin Filipec, who will remain with the group. Lexum operates 10 hospitals across Central Europe including the European

Silverfleet Capital, the European private equity firm, has acquired La Fée Maraboutée, a French wholesaler and retailer of women’s fashion, for EUR65m. The founder of the company and its joint-chief executives are also making a significant investment alongside Silverfleet Capital.   Founded in 1996 in Roanne, which is located west

GI Partners, a middle market private equity firm, has acquired a data centre and office building in San Diego. The investment was made through DataCore, a fully discretionary core real estate fund managed by GI Partners that was launched earlier this year with the California State Teachers’ Retirement System (CalSTRS).

Graycliff Partners has completed a mezzanine investment in Naumann Hobbs Material Handling. Headquartered in Phoenix, Arizona, Naumann Hobbs is a full-service material handling equipment distributor and aftermarket service provider. Graycliff provided subordinated debt financing in support of a recapitalisation of the company. Graycliff, a middle market investment firm, was founded