MiddleGround Capital (MiddleGround), a new private equity firm that makes control investments in business-to-business (B2B) industrial and specialty distribution companies in the North American lower middle market, has closed the second transaction for its inaugural private equity fund – the acquisition of Peterson Spring, a specialty spring manufacturer with thirteen facilities throughout North America and the United Kingdom. “We are honoured to continue the legacy that the Peterson family began over 100 years ago,” says John Stewart, co-founder of MiddleGround. “Companies like Peterson have historically invested in North American manufacturing and have provided critical manufacturing jobs that have benefited the

Montage Partners, a Scottsdale, Arizona-based private equity firm, has acquired Advanced Manufacturing and Development (METALfx) from a subsidiary of Avista Corporation. METALfx’s existing management team will continue to lead the company and will own a meaningful equity stake in the business. Founded in 1976 and headquartered in Willits, California, METALfx is a leading provider of precision sheet metal fabrications, enclosures, assemblies, and complex wood composite components across a variety of industries, including technology, healthcare, industrial, and others. The company is strategically focused on serving customers who demand quick turnaround times, prototype collaboration, engineering support, and rigorous product standards, and whose

Duncan and Todd has become the largest independent optical provider in Scotland following the acquisition of nine branches from optometrist Black & Lizars.  The acquisition – completed for an undisclosed sum – is the sixth to take place since Duncan and Todd secured a GBP15million investment from LDC, the UK’s leading mid-market private equity investor, in March 2018.    56 Black & Lizars staff have transferred to Duncan and Todd as part of the deal, which will see the group move into seven new towns and cities across Scotland and increase its headcount to 405   Black & Lizars’ two

Colony Capital (Colony) has closed its acquisition of Abraaj Group’s private equity platform in Latin America. The transaction was first announced on 23 January, 2019.  The Company has been renamed Colony Latam Partners and will continue to be headed by its senio rmanagement team, led by Miguel Olea, Hector Martinez, Gerardo Mendoza and Eduardo Cortina. The Company currently manages over USD700 million and has made 22 investments across Latin America since its establishment in 2006. “Colony is thrilled to complete this acquisition and to partner with the premier private equity investment team in Latin America. The growth opportunity in these markets

Activa Capital has acquired a majority position in Medisys, together with Turenne Santé, the entrepreneur and new CEO Guillaume Bouillot and the management team. Bernard Chevalier, founder, is supporting the operation and remains a shareholder. Medisys is a software publisher in the home-care field and for institutions specialised in dependent persons.   After nearly 30 years at the head of the company based in Aix-en-Provence and created in 1991, its founder Bernard Chevalier hands over the management to Guillaume Bouillot, a software entrepreneur.   The new management team will build on values that have made the company successful while providing

Amerborgh has sold a part of its stake in fintech company Ohpen to NPM Capital to finance ongoing and future projects, including the arts and culture centre “het HEM” in Zaandam. The Ohpen SaaS, cloud native core banking platform administers retail investment and savings accounts for banks and other financial institutions. Rutger Ruigrok, managing director at NPM Capital, says: “The technology sector is an increasingly important focus point in our investment portfolio. Already, we have had Ohpen in sight as one of the most promising technology companies that we have seen in the past few years. We are impressed with