Mbeach Software has engaged Wakabayashi Fund, LLC, a Japan and New York consulting firm, to provide investor and public relations services, capital funding services, and to present the company to institutional investors. These services will augment the funding commitment of Southridge Partners II LP to extend the company an equity line of up to USD10 million per the agreement signed in August 2011.  "Wakabayashi Fund, LLC is very pleased to have been retained by Mbeach Software Inc. and share with the company’s experienced management team the full scope of our services in the financial markets," says Tadaharu Wakabayashi, President of

Franco-Chinese private equity investor Cathay Capital has made an equity investment in fine chemicals manufacturer Minafin. Born out of the take-over, in 2005, of SEAC assets in Beuvry-la-Forêt by Frédéric Gauchet, Minafin group has grown rapidly through acquisitions and now boasts four manufacturing sites (Beuvry la Forêt and Dunkerque in France, Leuna in Germany, and Memphis in the USA). With the advanced pharmaceutical ingredients (API) market going through a period of consolidation, the group is looking to pursue a further acquisition strategy to establish itself as a worldwide leader servicing major pharmaceutical companies. Cathay’s involvement will help Minafin achieve its

Aligned Asset Managers, a portfolio company of private equity firm GTCR, has completed its investment in The Townsend Group. Townsend, established in 1983, is the largest global specialty real estate advisory and investment firm, with over USD100 billion of total advised assets. Townsend allocates real estate capital on a discretionary and non-discretionary basis for over 85 leading institutional clients from offices in Cleveland, London, San Francisco, and Hong Kong. Led by Terry Ahern and Kevin Lynch, Townsend has a focused real estate platform of 70 employees. In the Townsend transaction, Aligned purchased a majority equity interest in Townsend. An expanded

Niagara LaSalle Corporation (Niagara LaSalle) has entered into a definitive agreement to be acquired by strategic buyer Optima Specialty Steel, Inc.  Pursuant to the merger agreement, Optima Specialty Steel will acquire 100% of Niagara LaSalle, a portfolio company of US private equity firm Kohlberg & Company. Harris Williams & Co is acting as the exclusive advisor to Niagara LaSalle.  The transaction is being led by Mike Hogan, Ned Valentine, John Arendale, Dave Kennedy and Doug Kinard from the firm’s Richmond office along with Jeremy Eberlein from the firm’s Cleveland office.   Niagara LaSalle is North America’s largest independent manufacturer of high

A private equity sponsor group led by JH Partners and the Highland Consumer Fund, is acquiring a majority interest in J McLaughlin. The existing management team, which includes co-founders and brothers Jay McLaughlin and Kevin McLaughlin, as well as Steven Siegler, CEO, will continue in its current role and will retain a minority interest in the business moving forward. Headquartered in Brooklyn, New York, clothing retailer J McLaughlin, which only sells its own designs, currently has 52 stores in 18 states across the Eastern half of the United States. "We are delighted to make this investment in J McLaughlin. Its

Baird Capital Partners (BCP), the US-based buyout fund of Baird Private Equity, has acquired Digi-Star Holdings, Inc, an international manufacturer of agriculture scales and weighing equipment. Senior financing for the transaction is being provided by The PrivateBank and US Bank National Association with Fifth Street Finance Corp providing the mezzanine. The terms of the deal have not been disclosed. Digi-Star is headquartered in Fort Atkinson, Wisconsin, with an additional facility in Panningen, The Netherlands. The company’s customised weighing systems and software are incorporated into mobile farm equipment to provide precise control over input costs, monitor resource utilisation, enhance yield management

BeavEx Incorporated has secured a growth equity investment from Eos Partners and its affiliates, a New York based private investment partnership with approximately USD1.6 billion of capital under management. The equity investment will enable BeavEx to significantly accelerate its business expansion activities. The company’s management team will continue to own a significant portion of the company. This investment will be used to provide funding for BeavEx growth initiatives ranging from acquisitions to organic growth opportunities with existing and new customers. "Since its inception, BeavEx has become a leader in the local same-day, mission critical transportation services industry. Our success as

Middle market investment bank Harris Williams & Co has advised Crisis Prevention Institute, Inc (CPI), a portfolio company of The Riverside Company (Riverside), on its sale to Brockway Moran and Partners. CPI is a training organisation specialising in the safe management of crisis situations and disruptive behaviour.  The transaction closed on 18 November, 2011. Harris Williams & Co acted as the exclusive advisor to CPI. The transaction was led by Ned Valentine, Derek Lewis, John Arendale and Karl Kirkeby from the firm’s Richmond office.   Headquartered in Milwaukee, WI, CPI is the global leader and pioneer in providing crisis prevention, nonviolent

Odyssey Investment Partners has acquired TNT Crane and Rigging from MML Capital Partners. TNT is the leading mobile crane rental company serving the Texas, Louisiana and Oklahoma region. Financial terms of the transaction have not been disclosed. Headquartered in Houston, Texas, with eight additional branches in the region, TNT provides crane rental and rigging services primarily to the refinery, petrochemical, power, commercial and oil & gas end markets. The Company owns one of the largest and most diverse mobile crane fleets in the region, with cranes ranging in size from 15-tons to 800-tons. In addition, the Company offers full-service rigging