FBL Financial Group has agreed to sell its subsidiary, EquiTrust Life Insurance Company, to controlled affiliates of Guggenheim Partners, LLC for a preliminary purchase price of USD440 million in an all-cash transaction. EquiTrust Life sells fixed and indexed annuities and life insurance nationally through independent agents and marketing organisations. Guggenheim

Private equity investment firm HIG Capital has acquired certain assets of WhiteHorse Capital, a Dallas-based CLO manager with experience managing over USD1.7 billion of capital, and formed HIG WhiteHorse to provide flexible financing solutions to profitable and performing small and middle market companies. With more than USD1 billion of capital

GenNx360 Capital Partners has sold SiVance, LLC to Milliken & Company. Financial terms of the transaction have not been disclosed. SiVance, LLC is a leader in silicone chemistry, focused on the development and manufacture of specialty silicone technologies and intermediates required to modify basic silicone polymers. GenNx360 Capital Partners, LP

Holland Private Equity (HPE) has invested substantial primary capital in Synova SA (Synova) in a capital increase of up to CHF20 million to become the firm’s largest outside shareholder. The expansion capital will allow Synova to further execute its internationalization, sales expansion and fuel further product development of its unique

The total value of UK mergers, acquisitions, flotations, rights issues and placements was GBP181.4 billion in the first nine months of 2011, an increase of 15.7 per cent on the same period in 2010, according to Experian Corpfin. This was despite the overall volume of deals falling by 6.7 per

Blackboard has completed its acquisition by an investor group led by affiliates of Providence Equity Partners in an all-cash transaction valued at approximately USD1.64 billion in enterprise value, plus the assumption of approximately USD136 million in debt.   As previously announced, the transaction was approved by Blackboard stockholders at a

Monroe Capital has funded a USD27.5 million unitranche facility to support the acquisition of Fabco Automotive Corporation Partners by Wynnchurch Capital, Ltd. Based in Livermore, CA, Fabco is a leading North American supplier of highly engineered, specialty gearbox, axle and transfer case products for all-wheel drive, medium and heavy duty

Velocis Fund has met its first fund closing target. The real estate private equity fund accepted USD36.5 million in capital commitments and an additional USD4.7 million of co-investment equity for a total of USD41.2 million of equity under management. Incorporating maximum leverage of 60 per cent, this first closing will