Quarter two insolvency figures released by The Insolvency Service show administration figures for UK retail have dropped from the first quarter of 2012.   The retail trade sector alone (not seasonally adjusted) showed an eight per cent reduction in the number of administrations compared to the figures recorded for Q1 2012,

Bowside Capital has held final closing of Bowside Capital Fund II, a fund specialising in the US private equity, small capitalisation market. Bowside Capital invests in US private equity funds with less than USD100m in committed capital, makes secondary purchases of limited partner interests in funds that meet its target

Water Street Healthcare Partners, a private equity firm focused exclusively on the healthcare industry, has closed its third private equity fund, Water Street Healthcare Partners III. The fund closed at its cap of USD750m of investor commitments, exceeding the original target of USD650m when fundraising began in early June. Investors

Foresight Group has completed a growth capital investment of GBP3.5m in Blackstar Amplification, a UK-based designer and manufacturer of guitar amplifiers and effects pedals. The invested capital will be used to restructure the company’s shareholder base and support the forthcoming launch of the ID:Series.  Having been in technical development for

Investment manager Babson Capital Management has formed a Chicago-based middle market lending group to provide senior secured financing solutions to middle-market companies. The addition of the group will enable Babson Capital to offer a full suite of middle-market financing products, complementing the firm’s mezzanine and private equity group, a provider

The total number of trade acquisitions for quarter two 2012 is up 17.3 per cent on quarter two 2011 from 371 to 435, according to the latest results from BDO’s Private Companies Price Index and Private Equity Price Index. Over the last 12 months (to Q2 2012) private company deal

Independent private equity house Key Capital Partners has supported the GBP15m management buy-out of nursing and care staffing specialists Nurse Plus. Established in 2005, Nurse Plus specialises in staffing solutions for domiciliary care and the provision of temporary professionals to the healthcare sector, including learning disability and mental health units,

Hutton Collins Partners, a provider of preferred capital, has backed the management of Novus Leisure, the operator of 52 primarily London-based premium bars, in a deal worth GBP100m. Hutton Collins has invested alongside LGV Capital, supporting the existing chief executive Steve Richards. Hutton Collins and LGV will support Novus’ strategy

LLR Partners, a middle market private equity firm with more than USD1.4bn under management, and WellPoint have made a growth capital investment in Physicians Immediate Care LLC. LLR Partners, a middle market private equity firm with more than USD1.4bn under management, and WellPoint have made a growth capital investment in