Funds advised by HIG European Capital Partners LLP and its debt affiliate, Bayside Capital, have acquired Bezier, the UK’s largest provider of integrated point of sale marketing services.   The transaction was facilitated by the acquisition of Bezier’s senior debt with a face value of over GBP70 million, and will see HIG inject significant new capital into the business.   In the past several years, Bezier, with revenues of approximately GBP100 million, has transformed itself from a traditional manufacturer of point of sale products to become a full service marketing agency with a track record of enhancing sales and saving

Vector Capital is to acquire Motorola Solutions’ Point-to-Point (PTP or Orthogon) and Point-to-Multipoint (PMP or Canopy) Wireless Broadband Networks businesses for an undisclosed amount. The transaction is expected to be completed as early as the end of September and is subject to customary closing conditions. The Motorola PTP and PMP businesses are leaders in the wireless broadband industry. They are renowned for their extensive portfolios of unlicensed and licensed solutions that address key industry verticals, as well as a strong technology base that supports the broadest range of applications of any business in their market segments. With extensive technical expertise

Signal Peak Ventures, a newly-established venture fund manager, is forming a new fund focused on early-stage investment opportunities in the Intermountain region. The fund is backed by a syndicate of limited partners led by StepStone Group. Simultaneously with its formation, Signal Peak acquired substantially all of the venture capital assets of The Canopy Group, a technology venture firm based in Lindon, Utah. The Signal Peak team will be led by Ron Heinz and Brandon Tidwell—both formerly Managing Directors at Canopy. Heinz and Tidwell confirmed the acquired portfolio consists of venture equity and debt interests in 10 companies. In the 15

The MENA Private Equity Association has launched a free directory aimed at entrepreneurs and businesses looking for venture capital funding. Over 50 VC firms, angel investors, business incubators and technology parks are represented in the online directory, which will be continuously updated as the venture capital ecosystem expands. 

 MENA’s young VC industry has grown substantially in recent years. Deal volume tripled in 2009 and 2010 from the previous two years, while fundraising in 2010 hit a record USD300m. However, the asset class remains relatively underdeveloped, and until now it was difficult for entrepreneurs to find reliable, consolidated information and guidance

European private equity firm, Cinven, has completed the sale of Phadia Group, the leading in-vitro allergy diagnostics company based in Uppsala (Sweden), to Thermo Fisher Scientific Inc. Cinven announced the agreement to sell Phadia Group in May 2011 for an enterprise value of EUR2.47 billion. Cinven’s Healthcare team led the acquisition of Phadia in early 2007 for an enterprise value of EUR1.285 billion. T he sale of Phadia will return a 3.4x multiple to its fund, representing a capital gain of around EUR1bn. This marks the successful execution of the investment thesis pursued by Cinven and management, which resulted in

Olswang has advised the shareholders of Pathway Care Group Limited, including funds managed by ISIS Equity Partners (ISIS), on the sale to Fostering Solutions Limited. After a six year investment in the organisation, which saw significant expansion across the UK and involved increasing the foster carer base from 210 to 570, the shareholders have sold the UK’s fourth largest independent fostering agency. Adam Holloway of ISIS says: “This has been a very intensive and rewarding investment. Our approach to supporting growth and reinvesting cashflow has helped to build a quality business that has consistently delivered for all its stakeholders, including

George Little Management (GLM) and Providence Equity Partners have signed a definitive merger agreement under which affiliates of Providence will acquire GLM from Daily Mail and General Trust plc (LSE: DMGT.L) for approximately USD173 million in cash. GLM creates face-to-face and online buying, selling and networking platforms for designers, product developers, manufacturers, reps, retailers and operators through tradeshow and event production, online community development and association management. GLM currently produces 15 tradeshows, serving industries as diverse as giftware, home furnishings, social stationery, home textiles, tabletop, gourmet housewares, contemporary furniture, personal care, art & design, antique jewellry, beach, board sports, fashion