Managed Pressure Operations (MPO), an oilfield services and technology company, has been acquired by Aker Solutions, a global oilfield services provider. MPO, a company that provides continuous circulation and managed pressure drilling (MPD) systems, was an NGP Energy Technology Partners portfolio company. NGP ETP, a private equity firm that manages approximately USD500m in capital commitments, focuses on investments in energy technology and service companies. MPO was advised by investment bank Tudor, Pickering, Holt and the law firms of BoyarMiller and Schjodt. Terms of the deal have not been disclosed. The acquisition places Aker Solutions at the forefront of technology development

Private equity and venture capital firms committed USD7.9bn to investments in Latin America in 2012, representing a five-year high and a 21 per cent increase over 2011, according to data released by the Latin American Private Equity and Venture Capital Association (LAVCA). The USD7.9bn total reflects 237 investments, a 37 per cent increase in the number of deals from the previous year. Seven large firms that had raised over USD11bn for pan-regional and Brazilian funds in 2010 and 2011 put that money to work in new deals across a range of markets and sectors. Investments in consumer-related sectors dominated in

Sverica International Management’s Fund III has acquired Dexmet Corporation, a developer and manufacturer of highly engineered expanded foils and polymers used in a variety of end markets. The company provides solutions for a range of mission critical applications, including lightning strike protection for major composite aircraft manufacturers, anodes and cathodes for advanced battery technologies and supportive materials for filtration and automotive applications. “This partnership with Sverica comes at an exciting time for Dexmet,” says Bob Bochman, president of Dexmet. “Sverica shares our long-term view of the considerable market opportunity for Dexmet’s products and will help us become even better strategic

Albion Ventures has sold Nelson House, a mental health rehabilitation hospital, to a joint venture formed by Care UK and Sussex Partnership NHS Foundation Trust for GBP8m. The transaction is the first to involve a joint venture between the NHS and a private healthcare provider to acquire a hospital.   A new hospital, Nelson House opened in May 2012 and was backed by Orchard Portman Hospitals and Albion Ventures. As a result of the sale funds managed by Albion have generated a GBP2m profit, equating to a return of approximately 1.4x their investment and an IRR of 18.3 per cent

Octopus has made a further investment into Metrasens, a technology company that manufactures detection products for a number of security and healthcare markets across the world. Octopus first invested into the company in 2009.   Headquartered in Great Malvern in the UK, and with offices in Lisle, Illinois, US, Metrasens has designed the most portable full body scan system available. This is being used in prisons, police operations, police custody suites, embassies, hotels and other commercial venues that require highly-sensitive, quickly deployable and portable detection solutions.  Metrasens has also developed a product for use in the healthcare market. Through its

Merger and acquisitions (M&A), private equity and tax professionals from the technology, financial services and healthcare sectors expect an increase in their companies’ or clients’ deal activity in 2013 compared to 2012, according to a survey conducted by KPMG. Of the more than 400 survey respondents, 60 per cent said that they would do more deals this year than last year. The simpler financing terms associated with smaller deals, as compared to both large transactions and the megadeals, will drive middle-market M&A activity in the balance of 2013, according to 24 per cent of the poll population. However, 49 per

An affiliate of Sun European Partners has acquired 171 Dreams stores, its head office, its two UK manufacturing facilities and supply chain network from the administrators Ernst & Young.  All customer deposits and orders will be honoured following the sale. The remaining 93 stores not included in the sale will remain in administration. Founded in 1985, Dreams is a UK bed and mattress specialist which now has 171 retail locations and a growing online presence.    Jordan Wadsworth, vice president at Sun European Partners, says: “Dreams is a well-recognised brand known for its wide product range of beds, headboards, mattresses

GCP Capital Partners, a middle market private equity firm, has sold its interests in Acrisure to Genstar Capital. Based in Grand Rapids, Michigan, Acrisure is the 50th largest privately owned retail insurance agency in the US. The company was co-founded in 2005 by chief executive Greg Williams to acquire independent insurance agencies across the Midwest and since then has completed 26 acquisitions.  The sale was a successful outcome for GCP following its USD20m investment in Acrisure in 2010 in order to support the company’s acquisition growth plan. Williams says: "I am very pleased with the partnership we developed with GCP

Link•age Ventures has closed its investment in the Alliance Healthcare Investment Fund. Link•age is a private equity firm focused on investing in companies that provide products, services and technology to the aging marketplace and is based in Mason, Ohio. The transaction, which was agreed to in December of 2012, enables Link•age to participate in investment opportunities presenting themselves in the broader healthcare market. The fund will be managed by Alliance Healthcare Partners Management. The manager is comprised of three healthcare entrepreneurs, Joseph Mayernik, Tim Einwechter and Ricardo Ferreira. The fund will invest in early-stage and growth-stage companies in the industry.