Paris-based investment firm Tikehau Group is to become a 35 per cent shareholder in Duke Street and provide committed capital to accelerate the firm’s deal-by-deal model.   In partnership with Tikehau, Duke Street will have the capacity to underwrite any new deals in its target range.   Both firms are

Strand Equity Partners, a growth equity fund focused on consumer brands, has acquired a minority ownership stake in Bai, a 100 per cent natural beverage that is only five calories, infused with coffeefruit and flavoured with exotic fruit juices.    Terms of the transaction have not been disclosed.   Ben

UltraSoC has closed a funding round of USD2.3m by securing further investment from Octopus Investments, bringing the total investment in the business to date to USD7.5m.   The investment will help fund the expansion of the company as it takes its debug and optimisation silicon IP technology to market, licensing

XConnect, a specialist in Federation-based next generation interconnection and Registry services, has secured USD10m of equity funding from Young Associates, the London-based private investment firm headed by Lord Young of Graffham, and existing investor Crescent Group. This significant cash injection will enable XConnect to grow its portfolio of products and

Specialist executive search and intelligence consultancy Armstrong Craven has secured a GBP3.5m investment from ISIS Equity Partners to complete a management buy out.   The deal, led by Armstrong Craven’s founder Sue Craven, chief executive Matthew Mellor and chief operating officer Rachel Davis, will establish the business as a separate

James Briggs, a supplier of aerosols and speciality chemicals, has been acquired by its management team in a deal backed by Endless, an investor in non-core assets and special situations.   The transaction sees Jim Sumner, an experienced chief executive in the manufacturing sector, join James Briggs as executive chairman.

Edmond de Rothschild Investment Partners’ BioDiscovery 4, its fourth fund dedicated to life sciences, has made its second investment through the series B financing round of Complix, which it co-leads with GIMV.   Complix, formed in 2008, was founded in Hasselt, Belgium. Edmond de Rothschild Investment Partners led alongside GIMV

Segulah III’s portfolio company PMC Group has entered into an agreement to divest its Norwegian activities, Servi (PMC Group Norway AS1), to Ferd Capital.   The transaction is subject to competition clearance.   Servi’s business activities are focused on the Norwegian offshore industry, with a range of blue chip customers

Nordic Capital Fund VII is to sell EG A/S, a Scandinavian IT software and service provider, to Axcel IV.   During Nordic Capital’s five year ownership period, EG has developed ahead of the initial strategic plan, driven by a clear focus on offering market leading solutions for selected industry verticals,