Venture capital firms Breakaway Ventures and General Catalyst Partners have sold their stakes in Retail Convergence to GSI Commerce. GSI is a provider of e-commerce and interactive marketing services, while RCI is an operator of the e-commerce business companies SmartBargains.com and RueLaLa.com. GSI signed a definitive agreement to acquire RCI

UNX, a provider of trading technology solutions, has secured funding from Goldman Sachs and Vernon & Park Capital to develop its electronic trading products. The firm has also appointed Thomas Kim as chief executive officer. The new funding will support the enhancement of UNX’s broker-neutral electronic trading products and services,

International legal practice Norton Rose Studio Legale has advised Gio’Style Lifestyle on the acquisition of Plastic Art’s Ordinett division, which specialises in the production, sale and distribution of PVC plastic containers. Gio’Style is based in Bergamo, Italy, and produces plastic outdoor, travel and home products, as well as plastic products

Golub Capital has provided a senior debt facility to Breyers Yogurt, a portfolio company of Catterton Partners. Breyers Yogurt is the largest independent yogurt company and one of the most widely recognised yogurt brands in the US. Its products include Breyers Fruit-on-the-Bottom, Breyers Light, Breyers Disney and the recently launched

The British ex-Prime Minister Tony Blair says Sierra Leone is ready for substantial international investment. Blair was speaking at the Sierra Leone Conference in London. Following seven years of stability, steady growth and ongoing economic reforms, the country offers many opportunities to committed investors. Such investments are starting to come

Matrix Private Equity Partners, the small buyout specialist, has sold its investment in Pasta King, a provider of pasta-based quick service meal alternatives. Pasta King has been sold to a management buy in team funded by NBGI Private Equity for GBP13m.  The GBP5.7m proceeds for Matrix VCT shareholders represent a

Following several consecutive years in which private equity compensation had been on an upward trajectory, growth across all segments of the market has come to a halt with total compensation now trending down, according to a report by Glocap Search and Thomson Reuters. The 2010 Private Equity Compensation Report, an

Thomson Reuters, a provider of integrated information-based solutions, has entered into a definitive agreement to acquire Sabrix, a provider of transaction tax management software applications and related services. Both Thomson Reuters and Sabrix are based in the US. Following the acquisition, Sabrix offerings, which cover rates and rules for 170

Norwest Venture Partners, a venture and growth equity investment firm, has formed its most recent fund, Norwest Venture Partners XI. The USD1.2bn fund will target early to late stage venture and growth equity investments across a wide range of sectors and geographies. The addition of this new fund, the largest