Glimcher Realty Trust has closed on its previously announced joint venture with The Blackstone Group for the acquisition and management of two regional malls. An affiliate of Blackstone will acquire 60 per cent of the joint venture and an affiliate of Glimcher will retain the remaining 40 per cent interest.

Pacific Century Group, an Asia-based private investment firm, has acquired PineBridge Investments from American International Group.  PineBridge operates as a multi-strategy investment manager in 31 countries with USD87.3bn in assets under management as of 31 December 2009.  The firm focuses on listed equity, fixed income and alternative investments strategies.  PineBridge

RBC Capital Markets, the corporate and investment banking arm of Royal Bank of Canada, is managing lead arranger and sole bookrunner of the acquisition facilities supporting Ontario Teachers’ Pension Plan’s bid for UK National Lottery operator Camelot. The acquisition facilities were underwritten by RBC Capital Markets. Royal Bank of Scotland

LeapFrog Investments, the world’s first micro-insurance fund, has passed its USD100m target capitalisation months ahead of schedule. The fund invests in high-growth, high-impact insurance and financial services companies in countries including India, the Philippines, South Africa, Kenya, and Ghana.  LeapFrog’s dual aims are to deliver strong returns for its investors

Synova Capital, a UK private equity firm focused on the lower mid-market, has acquired The Dental Buying Group, a provider of dental services and products. DBG operates a membership model providing services to over 4,500 dental practices across the UK. Members pay an annual fee to gain access to DBG’s

The US dominates the global venture capital investment market in the area of payments, according to a report by Mercator Advisory Group. China and India attract considerable attention from global venture capital investors as well. The general trend in the venture capital market is toward more diversified solutions with heavier

Productivity software solutions provider RedPrairie Holding has been acquired by New Mountain Partners III, a private equity fund sponsored by New Mountain Capital. Financial details of the deal were not disclosed. RedPrairie offers supply chain management, workforce management and in-store productivity solutions. Following its acquisition by New Mountain the company

Fundraising and private equity investment in Latin America set new records in 2009, according to a report published by the tax and accounting business of Thomson Reuters, under its WorldTrade Executive brand. The Venture Equity Latin America’s 2009 Year-end Report shows that fundraising for the region reached a total of