Accel-KKR, a technology-focused private equity investment firm, is to acquire Sage Nonprofit Solutions, a provider of accounting, donor and fundraising management, and grant management software solutions to non-profit organisations, from The Sage Group. Accel-KKR also announced that it is making a minority investment in Swiftpage, a digital marketing platform provider for the small business market, to help fund Swiftpage’s acquisition of Sage’s ACT! contact management and Sage SalesLogix customer relationship management (CRM) businesses. In the first transaction, Accel-KKR will acquire 100 per cent of Austin, Texas-based Sage Nonprofit Solutions, which helps more than 32,000 not-for-profit organisations, including government entities, universities,

KKR has acquired three solar photovoltaic (PV) energy projects, SSM Solar, from an affiliate of Starwood Energy Group. Terms of the transaction have not been disclosed. Located in Sault Ste Marie, Ontario, SSM Solar has a total capacity of 69MWdc and 60MWac, representing one of the largest PV facilities in North America and the second largest in Canada. SSM Solar is fully contracted to sell its energy output to the Ontario Power Authority (OPA) under 20-year power purchase agreements entered under the authority’s Renewable Energy Standard Offer Program (RESOP). SSM Solar powers approximately 7,000 households. “Ontario has been at the

HJ Heinz Company is to be acquired by an investment consortium comprised of Berkshire Hathaway and 3G Capital. Heinz shareholders will receive USD72.50 in cash for each share of common stock they own, in a transaction valued at USD28bn, including the assumption of Heinz’s outstanding debt. The per share price represents a 20 per cent premium to Heinz’s closing share price of USD60.48 on 13 February, a 19 per cent premium to Heinz’s all-time high share price, a 23 per cent premium to the 90-day average Heinz share price and a 30 per cent premium to the one-year average share

The aggregate value of technology mergers and acquisitions (M&A) declined 35 per cent worldwide in 2012 to USD114.1bn from USD175.7bn in 2011, according to Ernst & Young’s Global technology M&A update. Deal value in 4Q2012 was USD29.4bn, down four per cent year over year (YOY) from USD30.5bn in 4Q 2011. Nearly the entire full-year decline came from deals above USD1bn in value. For example, the largest deal of 2012 would have placed fifth in 2011 and only two 2012 deals would have made it onto the 2011 top 10 list. Companies were hesitant to engage in large, transformative, technology deals

The majority of fund managers (75 per cent) think the current environment is either “somewhat” or “very favourable” for private equity funds looking to invest, according to the fourth annual PErspective Private Equity Study by BDO USA. However, fund managers are not expecting a sudden boom in deal volume anytime soon. Fifty seven per cent of fund managers – regardless of fund size – expect to close between two and four new deals during the next 12 months, which is only a small increase from the 47 per cent of fund managers who closed between two and four new deals

Huron Capital Partners has invested in Six Month Smiles. Founded in 2006 by Dr Ryan Swain, Six Month Smiles is an economical approach to adult cosmetic orthodontics used by thousands of general dentists in the US, Canada, the UK, and Ireland.  Huron, in partnership with independent sponsor equity group Exium Partners, made the investment with a plan to continue growing the business through geographic expansion and new product offerings.  The Six Month Smiles transaction builds on Huron’s prior experience and success investing in the business services market and is the culmination of an active effort to identify investments specifically in

Manchester-based Palatine Private Equity has backed the management buyout of the amusement and gaming division of Midlands-based Inspired Gaming, in a deal introduced by Clearwater Corporate Finance. The deal is the second investment from Palatine’s Fund II. As part of the deal, the amusement and gaming division of Burton-upon-Trent-based Inspired Gaming, which has operations in Warrington, London and Burton, will be renamed Playnation.   Playnation is a supplier of amusement and gaming machines and supplies holiday parks, motorway services, bowling centres and airports, including Butlins, Haven, Parkdean, Park Resorts, Moto, Roadchef, Welcome Break, Tenpin and First Bowl. Turnover is expected