Ambienta SGR has agreed to invest in FoundOcean Ltd, a leading contractor of subsea and offshore foundation grouting services to the oil & gas and offshore wind sector. FoundOcean has experienced exceptional growth in recent years, leveraging its reputation for technical and processing excellence in a critical segment of the offshore energy production value chain.  Building on a strong client base in the North Sea, the Company has developed into a global leader, with activities spanning from the Gulf of Mexico to the Indian Ocean. The surge in offshore wind development, notably in Germany and the UK, is providing further

North Castle Partners is to sell Cascade Helmets Holdings, a manufacturer and distributor of men’s and youth lacrosse helmets in North America, to Bauer Performance Sports Ltd (TSX: BAU) for a purchase price of USD64 million, payable in cash and subject to adjustment. The Acquisition is expected to close on or about June 29, 2012, subject to satisfaction of customary closing conditions. Cascade is the leading designer, developer, manufacturer and marketer of lacrosse helmets and eyewear in North America, and is a leading and well-recognised brand in the broader lacrosse equipment industry. In addition to Cascade’s lacrosse business, the acquisition

Valeant Pharmaceuticals is to acquire OraPharma, a specialty oral health company that develops and commercialises products that improve and maintain oral health, from Water Street Healthcare Partners, a private equity firm focused exclusively on the health care industry. Total consideration is approximately USD312 million and up to USD114 million in potential contingent payments based on certain milestones, including revenue targets. OraPharma’s lead product is Arestin, a locally administered antibiotic for the treatment of periodontitis that utilises an advanced controlled-release delivery system and is indicated for use in conjunction with scaling and root planing for the treatment of adult periodontitis. OraPharma

Munich-based venture capital firm Target Partners has made a seven-figure investment in doo GmbH (www.doo.net). doo’s main objective is to make the paperless office a reality by means of a cloud-based platform that organises documents intelligently. Equipped with apps for the relevant operating systems, doo is geared toward consumers and smaller businesses. The Bonn-based company will use the funding to support its market entry. Frank Thelen, Marc Sieberger and Alex Koch, managing directors at doo, have set out to “revolutionise the way we use paper every day.” doo automatically identifies and sorts document types, analyses and structures content, and intelligently

In a review of 1,350 deals done between 2007-2011, CMS’ fourth annual M&A Study highlights some key differences in the legal provisions used in merger & acquisition agreements across Europe and the US. Thomas Meyding, Head of CMS Corporate Group, says: "2011 was a good year for sellers. The fact that there are a few more buyers looking to do deals, and particularly private equity houses with funds to invest, means that sellers can be more robust in their negotiations. However, our analysis of the deal structures used illustrates some fascinating variations in international markets. For businesses looking to do

Encore Capital has completed an investment into Technical Software Consultants Limited (TSC), a designer and manufacturer of non-destructive testing equipment. The transaction was supported by Octopus Investments (Octopus), which provided a GBP3m facility to enable the acquisition. Encore has acquired a majority shareholding, providing a partial exit for TSC’s two owners, David Topp and Martin Lugg, who will continue as directors and shareholders in the business.   TSC uses its proprietary electromagnetic ACFM technique to detect and size cracks in metals. Established in 1984, TSC is highly profitable, selling its equipment globally via an international network spanning over 40 countries.

Balance Water Inc has closed on a Series A financing round from Emil Capital Partners, Thomas H Lee and Hugh Jackman. Balance is a non-flavoured functional beverage bottled locally in California, New York, Sydney, Australia and next month in Cologne, Germany. Its point of difference is the use of wild harvested Australian flowers that it infuses into its five main products, Mind, Relax, Refresh, Digest and Travel. Similar in function and benefit to certain herbal teas, though without any flavour, the Balance range is expanding out of specialised natural products channels into mainstream retail. "We’ve worked hard over several years

Norwest Equity Partners (NEP) has acquired Pentech Holdings, Inc (Pentec) from DW Healthcare Partners, Frazier Healthcare and Pentec management. Pentec is a national provider of specialty infusion services to patients who require access to complex pharmaceutical products and services outside of the hospital setting. Pentec Chairman and CEO, Joe Cosgrove, says: “I am extraordinarily pleased to embark on a new phase of Pentec’s growth strategy with such an outstanding partner as NEP. We are fortunate to have forged a relationship with an organisation that shares our commitment to patient-centric healthcare as well as our vision for continued pursuit of excellence and

Hipmunk has closed a USD15 million Series B financing round led by Institutional Venture Partners (IVP). Todd Chaffee (pictured), General Partner at IVP, will join Hipmunk’s board of directors. Existing angel investors and the Series A lead, Ignition Partners, also participated in the round. "IVP has a highly successful 31 year track record of investing in innovative technology and travel companies,” says Adam Goldstein, CEO and co-founder of Hipmunk. "We’re very excited to work with IVP, and Todd in particular. He brings tremendous experience, relationships and strategic sense to our crazy, competitive industry.” Todd had led venture capital investments in well

Middle market private equity firm Centre Partners has acquired Taylor Precision Products from Homedics.  Taylor, based in Oak Brook, Illinois, is the leading North American marketer of a wide range of consumer and foodservice precision measurement products, including kitchen scales, thermometers and timers; bath scales; and outdoor weather measurement products, under a variety of owned and licensed brand names including Taylor, HoMedics and Salter. Taylor’s heritage dates back over 160 years and the company boasts a reputation for providing accurate and high-quality products to a diverse spectrum of retail customers, ranging from high-end specialty stores to mass merchandisers, hardware stores,