ABS Group of Companies has concluded its acquisition of Safetec Nordic AS, with a signing ceremony attended by senior ABS, ABS Group and Safetec management in Trondheim, Norway, on 5 January, 2012. ABS and ABS Group Chairman, Robert D Somerville, ABS Vice President David Weinstein, ABS Group CEO and President

Kelso Place Asset Management, a UK-based special situations investor, has acquired a significant stake in OpenGate Capital’s fashion label Nicole Fahri. Under the terms of the agreement, Kelso Place will use its strong track record in the luxury brand space with brands such as Smythson and Anya Hindmarch, to provide

Tom Behlau has founded Tarpon Hill Capital, a private equity firm that will exclusively invest in next-stage companies that develop innovative technologies for regulated industries such as Life Sciences, Financial Services, and Healthcare. Tarpon Hill will form partnerships with entrepreneurs at companies that have revenue of at least USD1 million

TrueBridge Capital Partners, a boutique alternative asset investment firm, has closed its second venture capital and growth equity fund-of-funds, TrueBridge-Kauffman Fellows Endowment Fund II, at USD342 million, exceeding both its initial target and the size of its first fund. TrueBridge currently manages over USD700 million in assets across its funds-of-funds.

The Karma Communications Group has acquired the Crayon group, a leading UK-based digital communications agency, to work alongside Karmarama, an independent integrated advertising agency. Karma Communications aims to grow into an international challenger agency group, providing clients with best-in-class creative solutions across every step of the customer journey. The Karma

Earthrise Capital Fund has completed an investment in the Series B securities of Charlotte, North Carolina-based Forest2Market, Inc. Earthrise was joined in the Series B financing by Zephyr Investment Management, F2M’s existing lead investor. In conjunction with this transaction, Ann Partlow, Partner of Earthrise Capital, will take a seat on

Biomass Engineering Limited (BEL), manufacturer of renewable energy biomass plants, has secured a EUR6m growth equity investment from a US-based investor. The investment was made by Excelestar Ventures of Massachusetts, confirming Biomass Engineering’s sector leading biomass cogeneration energy and heat plant technology. “Excelestar believes in BEL’s combined heat and power

Hutton Collins Partners has supported the acquisition of a majority interest in Wellington boot maker Hunter Boot Limited by Searchlight Capital Partners LP. Under the terms of the investment, Hutton Collins will provide GBP32 million of PIK and equity financing. Searchlight’s acquisition, backed by Hutton Collins, will provide valuable support

Newly formed DNV Nemko Presafe has agreed with DS Certificering A/S to acquire their DGM (Danish Medical Devices Certification) unit to form a new and focused entity within the Medical device certification field.   Through this acquisition, DNV Nemko Presafe is significantly expanding its position in the area of certification for