Independent financial advisory and investment banking firm Duff & Phelps is to be acquired by a consortium comprising controlled affiliates of or funds managed by The Carlyle Group, Stone Point Capital, Pictet & Cie and Edmond de Rothschild Group for USD15.55 per share in cash in a transaction valued at

Affiliates of US Joiner have acquired JCI Metal Products, a provider of maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO) services focused on habitability, fabrication, electrical and piping solutions to US Navy vessels.  JCI is headquartered in San Diego, California with additional operations in Pearl Harbor, Hawaii. The acquisition will enable US Joiner

Funds advised by Apax Partners have reached an agreement to sell LR Health & Beauty Systems to a consortium consisting of private equity firms Bregal Capital and Quadriga Capital. LR markets cosmetics, personal hygiene products, dietary supplements, perfumes and jewellery through the direct sales channel. The new shareholders will support

Business Growth Fund (BGF), established to help the UK’s fast growing smaller and medium sized businesses, has invested GBP2.5m of growth capital for a minority stake in Manchester-based Boost Juice Bars UK, a growing chain of retail stores specialising in the sale of freshly made smoothies and juices. Boost currently

PAI Partners has signed an agreement to acquire IPH Group, a European industrial supplies distribution business, from Investcorp for an undisclosed amount. The business services sector is a core area of investment focus and expertise for PAI. The firm’s previous investments in this sector include SPIE, Kiloutou, Kwik-Fit, FTE Automotive

Propel Equity Partners, a private equity firm focused on investing in consumer brands, has acquired Fundex Games, a maker of popular games. The assets of Fundex Games will be incorporated under the Ideal and POOF brands of POOF-Slinky, makers of iconic toys under the Slinky, POOF, Ideal, and Scientific Explorer

Private equity investment firm HIG Capital has sold Safe-Guard Products International to an affiliate of Goldman Sachs, a global investment banking, securities and investment management firm. Based in Atlanta, Georgia, Safe-Guard is a provider of finance and insurance (F&I) products to the automotive industry. “HIG has been a tremendous partner

Albion Ventures has invested GBP2.6m in Proveca, a pharmaceutical company that develops innovative and technically complex new pharmaceuticals largely for children. Proveca, which was established in 2010 by Simon Bryson and Dr Helen Shaw, focuses on the re-engineering of existing generic medicines to make them appropriate for use by young