The Aureos Latin America Fund (ALAF) has completed the acquisition of a majority position in Handell, a Mexican company specialised in importing and distributing some of the world’s leading toy brands in Mexico. Handell has been in the Mexican market for seven years and has a world-class management team with proven experience in supplying department stores and retailers.  It has been Mexico’s exclusive representative and distributor for several leading international toy manufacturers, including Jakks Pacific, MGA, Moose, Giochi Preziosi, Playmates, Nikko, and Meccano, whose licensed products include toys for Disney, Hello Kitty, Bratz, Little Tikes, Sponge Bob, Smurfs, World Wrestling

SUSI Partners AG has acquired three 1 MWp photovoltaic power plants in the Province of Mantova developed by SOLON S.p.A. for the SUSI Sustainable Euro Fund I.   SOLON, a world leading integrated photovoltaic supplier, built these free-standing fixed installations in July 2011 using its own SOLON Blue modules and PowerOne inverters. The Chief Investment Officer of SUSI Partners AG, Otto von Troschke, says: “We are very happy to announce this investment, more so since our partner is one of the leading players in the field of photovoltaic energy. We have secured financing for 3 MWp and are confident to

Lyceum Capital portfolio company Compact Media Group, an independent rights administrator and distributor of royalties for TV, film and music, has acquired its first add-on company Rights.tv, a leading consultancy that provides business affairs and commercial guidance. Backed by Lyceum in October 2010, Compact provides a broad range of collection and administration services which maximise royalty income for intellectual property rights owners such as producers, distributors and broadcasters, as well as government-backed agencies and financial institutions.   Since Lyceum’s GBP17 million investment, the mid-market growth investor has implemented a programme of operational enhancement and organic growth, resulting in a number

Amakem has raised EUR18m with a syndicate of leading life sciences investors to advance its ophthalmology drug development portfolio and progress its lead candidate, AMA0076 for glaucoma, to clinical proof of concept.   The Series A round was led by Forbion Capital Partners and also included Crédit Agricole Private Equity, Vesalius BioCapital, as well as the existing investors LRM, PMV and Life Sciences Research Partners. AMA0076 is a novel, highly potent Rho Kinase (ROCK) inhibitor for the treatment of glaucoma, a condition which damages the optic nerve resulting in vision loss and ultimately blindness. AMA0076 has been proven in preclinical

Global alternative asset manager The Carlyle Group has filed a registration statement with the US Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) for a proposed initial public offering of its common units.   The number of common units to be offered and the price range for the offering have not yet been determined. Carlyle intends to use the net proceeds from the offering to repay indebtedness and for general corporate purposes, including general operational needs, growth initiatives, acquisitions and strategic investments and to fund capital commitments to, and other investments in and alongside of, its funds.   JP Morgan Securities LLC, Citigroup

Ashurst LLP has advised the Amundi group and its subsidiary Amundi Private Equity Funds, in relation to the sale of the secondary fund SGAM Al Kantara LP. The fund was sold to Abraaj Capital which has taken over the management of the USD161m fund as well as absorbing the 11 member Amundi investment team. The transfer of the management of the fund was made by the Amundi group’s sale of its holding in Société Générale Investment Advisor (Tunisia) and Kantara Investment Limited (Jersey). Amundi also sold its holding in the Carried Interest vehicle, Kantara Carried Interest SLP (Scotland). With five

The business of Brintons Limited, a global manufacturer of specialist woven carpets for residential and commercial premises, has been bought out of administration by Brintons Carpets Limited (Brintons), a new company set up by The Carlyle Group (Carlyle).   Brintons has received a significant cash investment from Carlyle as part of the transaction, which stabilises the business and allows management to re-position Brintons for a return to profit and future growth.   Carlyle’s investment will enable Brintons to implement its strategic plan to extend its international expansion. As a fully integrated and global organisation, Brintons will be better positioned to