Investment funds advised by Levant Capital Limited and Citi Venture Capital International (CVCI) have jointly acquired a controlling stake in Al-Raya For Foodstuff Company Limited (Al-Raya), a leading supermarket chain in Saudi Arabia. The transaction, valued at USD100 million, presents an opportunity for Levant Capital and CVCI to capitalise on the growth in consumer-driven demand and the increasingly attractive middle income segment of the Gulf region’s largest economy. The transaction closed on 21 February, 2012. Based in Jeddah, Al-Raya operates a fast-growing chain of 25 supermarkets across 14 cities of the western and southern regions of Saudi Arabia. The company

Resilience Capital Partners, a Cleveland-based private equity fund, has acquired the Heavy Duty Division of Vista Pro Automotive through its newly-formed entity, Thermal Solutions Manufacturing. Michael Barbee, the President of Thermal Solutions Manufacturing, says: "We are excited that Resilience Capital has acquired the Heavy Duty Division of Vista Pro Automotive. Leveraging Resilience Capital’s strong financial commitment and exceptional operational expertise, we will rapidly achieve our goal of becoming the undisputed leader of the heavy duty heat exchange industry through a combination of market share gains, new product introductions and strategic acquisitions." "We look forward to partnering with the management and employees

New York-based Blue Wolf Capital Partners’s Blue Wolf Capital Fund II is to acquire Standex International Corporation’s Air Distribution Products Group (SADP), a designer and manufacturer of galvanised steel duct products which distribute conditioned air throughout HVAC systems in residential and light commercial buildings. Blue Wolf will acquire substantially all of the assets and assume certain operating liabilities of SADP. Terms have not been disclosed. The Company’s executive management team, led by CEO Tom Smid, will remain with SADP and are investing in the company alongside Blue Wolf. Headquartered in Philadelphia, PA, SADP operates five facilities in the US and

Venture capital and small business finance firm Advantage Capital Partners has been awarded a USD80 million allocation in the highly competitive federal New Markets Tax Credit program. This latest allocation brings the firm’s total awards since the program began in 2002 to USD524 million. Through prior state and federal New Markets program allocations, Advantage Capital has invested more than USD650 million in private capital into 147 businesses, which, in the aggregate, employ more than 8,000 people and have attracted more than USD900 million in follow-on capital to support their growth. Announcing the New Markets Tax Credit (NMTC) program allocation awards

Catella has acted as adviser and arranger for Sefyr Värme AB, the parent company of the district heating company Värmevärden AB, in the issue of a senior secured note in excess of SEK 900 million, directed at selected Nordic institutional investors. The bond carries a 7% coupon and has a tenor of five years. 

“This is the first major transaction resulting from Catella’s endeavours within the financing area. We see clearly that companies nowadays have a major need for alternatives to traditional bank financing,” says Johan Ericsson, CEO Catella AB. 

“We are witnessing strong interest in the corporate bond market

Agribusiness and food company Bunge Limited is to acquire Climate Change Capital Limited (CCCG), a UK-regulated sustainable asset manager and advisor.

 The transaction was approved by the UK’s Financial Services Authority (FSA) on 20 February, 2012, and CCCG has obtained the required shareholder approvals to proceed. The transaction is expected to close in the coming weeks; financial terms will not be disclosed. 

Daniel Rudolph, Managing Director, Bunge Financial Services Group, says: "Bunge’s Financial Services Group has been active in carbon markets since their inception, both as a buyer of carbon credits and an advisor to other market participants. The transaction

Blackstar has entered into a conditional agreement for the sale of 72,989,078 ordinary shares in Litha Healthcare Group Limited to Paladin Labs Inc. The Disposal, for a cash consideration of GBP16.6 million, represents 50% of Blackstar’s interest in Litha and equates to ZAR2.75 per Litha share. On completion, the Disposal proceeds will represent a 4.58 times return on investment in South African Rand and 5.36 times return in Pounds Sterling, which equates to a 32% IRR and 36% IRR, respectively, over the five year holding period. The Disposal proceeds will be applied against the Investec Bank Limited debt facility that

High Road Capital Partners’ portfolio company Advanced Sleep Medicine Services, Inc has completed the acquisition of Pacific Sleep Medicine Services, a provider of sleep disorder diagnostic services with laboratory facilities throughout Southern California. The acquisition closed on 17 February, 2012.     Pacific Sleep will become part of Advanced Sleep’s existing network of California-based sleep disorder diagnostic facilities.Advanced Sleep was acquired by High Road in May 2010.  “The addition of Pacific Sleep’s facilities is part of our overall strategy to expand Advanced Sleep’s presence throughout California both organically and through acquisitions,” says Bill Connell (pictured), the High Road Partner who led