South Bend Controls is a leading designer and manufacturer of highly engineered, solenoid-based components used in critical applications serving the aerospace and defence, industrial and medical markets. The business will operate within Curtiss-Wright’s Motion Control segment. "The acquisition of South Bend Controls by Curtiss-Wright validates the company’s unique strength in highly engineered valves and regulators and brings together two companies with outstanding histories in the aerospace industry," says Michael F Pound, CEO of Koontz-Wagner Holdings. “I want to thank Peter Hutchings, the General Manger of South Bend Controls, and his excellent team for their many years of service to Koontz-Wagner.”

Gresham Private Equity-backed ICR Integrity has acquired asset integrity specialists North East Corrosion Engineers Ltd (NECE Ltd), in the first phase of the group’s expansion since its formation in July. ICR Integrity was formed in July 2011 following the buy-out of Walker Technical Resources, the Aberdeen based specialist in engineered composite repairs for the worldwide oil and gas industry. Gresham’s investment commitment funded both the buy-out and the planned acquisition strategy, with acquisition debt facilities provided by HSBC. The acquisition of NECE is the first in an ambitious plan in the integrity, corrosion and repair niche, involving both acquisitions and

First Reserve Corporation, a private investment firm in the energy industry, has entered into an agreement to provide an equity commitment of USD100 million from its Energy Infrastructure Fund to a joint venture with Energy Corporation of America (ECA). Through the joint venture, First Reserve will own a 50% interest in two newly constructed gathering systems located in Pennsylvania’s Greene and Clearfield counties. Both systems service the Marcellus Shale which has been bolstered by strong drilling results for natural gas. The joint venture will operate under long-term contracts with a fixed take-or-pay structure.   In addition to the initial investment,

Investec Specialist Bank’s (Investec) Fund Finance team has provided a GBP14 million debt facility to the management of Clyde Blowers Capital (CBC), a leading investor in industrial businesses. The four year loan facility will enable the management of CBC to co-invest in the Clyde Blowers Capital Fund III (CBC Fund III). The target fund size of CBC Fund III is GBP350m with a hard cap of GBP400m. A second close is planned for later in the year. This will allow CBC to pursue the strong pipeline of deal opportunities it continues to build.   CBC Fund II, a GBP250m fund

Gresham Private Equity-backed James Grant Group (JGG) has acquired the entire issued share capital of Rabbit Vocal Management Limited, the leading London based Voiceover Management Company. JGG is a leading provider of management and professional services to clients within the broadcast media, music and sports sectors. Commenting on the deal, Mike Wallwork COO  of JGG, says: “This acquisition is another step forward in developing a broad range of marketing services under the James Grant Group. We will seek to add further complementary companies which focus on the music, sport and entertainment sectors as and when the appropriate opportunities arise.”  

Oak Hill Capital Partners has made a USD55 million strategic investment in Southern Air. The investment by Oak Hill Capital, which has been Southern Air’s majority investor since 2007, will support the completion of Southern Air’s fleet renewal and the company’s continued growth. Denis J Nayden, a Managing Partner of Oak Hill Capital, says: "We are very pleased to provide Southern Air with additional capital to support the ongoing transformation of the company. Southern Air’s new management team has done a great job of upgrading the company’s fleet and establishing relationships with some of the world’s outstanding cargo carriers.  We are excited

Sala International, the document archiving and records storage business backed by mid-market private equity house LDC, has merged with EDM Group, the document management business backed by ECI Partners. The GBP52m merger, which sees ECI Partners exit its investment, creates one of the UK’s largest providers of outsourced information management services.   LDC originally invested GBP11.5m in Sala International in December 2010 as part of a buy and build strategy. This was followed by an additional GBP4.2m funding package to acquire two complementary businesses, Arrow Imaging and Microstat.   To fund the merger, LDC has provided a substantial further injection

Private equity firm Eigen Capital’s portfolio company Plews, Inc, has completed the acquisition of Solon, OH-based Omega Hose Manufacturing Inc, a subsidiary of ATSCO Remanufacturing Inc. of Phoenix, AZ. Eigen Capital closed the acquisition of Plews, Inc less than six months ago, and the acquisition of Omega Hose Manufacturing is the first strategic acquisition completed by Plews. Terms of the sale have not been disclosed. The acquisition is expected to be meaningfully value-accretive to Plews’s customers, who will see an immediate enhancement of Plews’ SKU coverage of aftermarket power steering hoses; the consolidation of Omega is also expected to allow

FBL Financial Group has agreed to sell its subsidiary, EquiTrust Life Insurance Company, to controlled affiliates of Guggenheim Partners, LLC for a preliminary purchase price of USD440 million in an all-cash transaction. EquiTrust Life sells fixed and indexed annuities and life insurance nationally through independent agents and marketing organisations. Guggenheim Partners, LLC is a diversified financial services firm with more than USD125 billion in assets under management. In addition, FBL Financial Group is announcing several capital management actions including redemption of USD175 million of public senior notes, redemption of USD50 million of affiliate senior notes and a stock repurchase authorisation