Cairngorm Capital Partners’s portfolio company, Independent Builders Merchant Group (IBMG) has acquired Merkko Builders Merchants Ltd (Merkko), extending its network of branches in Oxfordshire and Berkshire. Merkko is a highly successful independent heavyside builders’ merchant supplying trade and retail customers across Oxfordshire and Berkshire. Headquartered in Abingdon, it has two branches in Kingston Bagpuize, Abingdon and Aldermaston, both stocking a comprehensive range of construction materials for building and civil engineering projects. Merkko has demonstrated strong organic growth since its formation.

BGF has completed a multi-million-pound investment in Harnham, a specialist in data and analytics (D&A) recruitment. Founded by Simon Clarke (Executive Chairman) and David Farmer (CEO) in 2006, Harnham has over 150 sales consultants worldwide with key hubs in the UK (London), US (New York, San Francisco, Phoenix), and Germany (Berlin). The business places candidates into both permanent and contracted roles across a range of companies from fast-growth startups to global blue chip businesses.   The substantial investment from BGF will support Harnham’s plans to scale further into the US and Europe as it seeks to expand its sales force

Quin AI, a predictive AI startup founded by two sisters, Gonca Gulser and Gulsah Gulser, has raised £582k in a seed funding round led by SFC Capital.

Suntera Global has completed its acquisition in the Channel Islands of specialist fiduciary services provider, Nedgroup Trust following the receipt of regulatory approvals. Nedgroup Trust has a 70 strong team of staff across the Channel Islands, with 50 of those based in Guernsey.  As well as enhancing Suntera’s global presence with the addition of Guernsey, and bolstering its existing Jersey office, the completion of the acquisition also brings additional expertise to Suntera’s wider international footprint in the Bahamas, Cayman Islands, Hong Kong, Isle of Man, Luxembourg, Malta, Switzerland and the US.  Nedgroup Trust provides a full suite of fiduciary services

Private equity firm PAI Partners (PAI) is to acquire HKA, a global consultancy in risk mitigation and dispute resolution, from Bridgepoint. Headquartered in the United Kingdom, HKA provides a comprehensive set of specialist offerings, including Expert, Claims and Advisory services for the capital projects and infrastructure sector. The Company has over 130 partners and more than 1,000 experts, consultants and advisors across 40+ offices in 18 countries.   HKA works with law firms, contractors, owners, operators, and other professional service providers across the breadth of the risk mitigation and dispute resolution market.  PAI will support HKA’s management team in delivering

European private equity investo Nordic Capital is to become become the majority owner of the German-based Industrial Internet of Things (IoT) company ProGlove. In close partnership with ProGlove’s management and founders, Nordic Capital will enable the company to accelerate its future growth plans, further expand its customer base and invest in product development. The financial terms of the transaction have not been disclosed.   ProGlove is a technology specialist that provides integrated hardware and software solutions that are built around wearable barcode scanners with multiple IoT sensors allowing for hands-free data capture.    The investment in ProGlove will be made

Lonsdale Capital Partners (Lonsdale), a private equity firm focused on the lower mid-market in the UK and Europe, has acquired Todays Dental Group Limited (TDGL), a UK-focused dental platform currently comprising eight dental practices. The Richardson family business, advised by RCL Partners, is investing alongside Lonsdale.   Lonsdale is backing CEO, Rob Paxman, and his team, which has significant commercial, clinical and operational experience as a result of their previous extensive tenures within larger dental corporates.

Ironwood Capital has made subordinated debt and equity investments to support Lorraine Capital’s acquisition of ICM Controls, Inc, and its affiliates (ICM). Headquartered in Syracuse, New York, ICM is a leading, ISO-Certified manufacturer of electronic control solutions.

Nest, the pension scheme representing a third of the UK workforce and £24 billion worth of assets, has confirmed its appointment of Schroders Capital to help its savers invest in private equity.

Compass Group Equity Partners, a St Louis-based private equity firm, has held the closing of Compass Group Fund II at its hard cap of $255 million, exceeding an original target of $200 million. The firm secured commitments from a broad array of high-quality limited partners, including university endowments, family offices, pension funds, insurance companies, funds of funds and other institutional and high-net-worth investors through a significantly oversubscribed fundraising process that took just over six months to complete.