Private equity firms invested about USD2bn across 56 deals in India during the quarter ended March 2010, according to a study by Venture Intelligence. The amount invested during the latest quarter was the highest in the last six quarters. The figure was significantly higher than that during the same period

Graphite Capital, a UK mid-market private equity firm, has completed a further GBP24m development capital package to support a major expansion programme by Willowbrook Healthcare. Willowbrook is a nursing and dementia care home group for the elderly. The new funding takes the total commitment of Graphite funds, the management team

Lionsgate, a producer and distributor of motion pictures and television programming, has formed a partnership with private investment firm Saban Capital Group to operate and manage Tiger Gate, an operator of pay TV channels and a distributor of TV programming and action and horror films across Asia. Financial terms of

Prospect Capital has made a secured debt investment of USD35m in Shearer’s Foods, a manufacturer and distributor of snack food products based in Brewster, Ohio, to support the acquisition of Snack Alliance. Founded in 1974, Shearer’s is the largest producer of kettle cooked potato chips in the US. Shearer’s also

Energy Investors Funds and NTE Energy have formed EIF NTE Hybrid Renewable Energy, a joint venture created to develop, construct and operate large-scale hybrid renewable energy facilities throughout the US. Hybrid renewable energy projects combine different types of renewable and traditional energy technologies to generate sustainable sources of clean electricity

UK private equity firm Sovereign Capital has invested GBP10m in Brighton and Bristol Institute of Modern Music, a provider of modern music vocational and higher education. Run by musicians, BIMM offers its 1,150 students a broad range of qualifications in modern music through its colleges in Brighton and Bristol.  These

Starwood Capital Group has closed an aggregate USD2.8bn for its two newest funds: Starwood Global Opportunity Fund VIII at over USD1.8bn and Starwood Capital Global Hospitality Fund II at USD965m. Starwood Global Opportunity Fund VIII is the largest fund ever raised by Starwood in its 19-year history. The closing of

Global mergers and acquisitions deal value for the year to date stands at USD470.8bn, up 13 per cent from Q1 2009, according to a report by mergermarket. However the start of the year is down 19 per cent from Q1 2008 and 42 per cent from Q1 2007. Q1 2010

Insight Communications, a cable operator in the US, says an investor group led by Crestview Partners and MidOcean Partners has purchased a significant equity position in the company from certain existing shareholders, including The Carlyle Group. At the conclusion of this transaction and the related share repurchases by Insight referred

Private equity firm TA Associates has acquired a majority stake in Cath Kidston, a British lifestyle brand best known for its vintage inspired prints and household and fashion products. Financial details of the investment were not disclosed. As part of the transaction, founder and creative director Cath Kidston will retain