Cinven, the European buyout firm, has reached an agreement to acquire SLV Group (SLV) from HgCapital. Founded in 1979 by Franko Neumetzler, SLV Group is one of the fastest growing and most successful providers of lighting products in Europe. The value of the transaction has not been disclosed. SLV, headquartered in Übach-Palenberg near Aachen, Germany, provides innovative residential and technical lighting products for indoor and outdoor use. Based on a unique vertically integrated business model which delivers competitive advantage in development, sourcing, logistics and distribution, the Company combines German innovation and European design with cost-efficient production via selected high-quality suppliers,

Private equity (PE) owned companies have continued to grow turnover and staff numbers during the recession, says a new report and survey published by PwC. ‘Looking to the future – Private equity backed company survey, 2011’ finds that growth is back at the top of the corporate agenda for PE backed companies, overtaking cost cutting as the main priority. Nearly 60% of PE backed companies believe they will grow in the coming year, and a similar number believe they will generate greater profits than during the recession. Indeed, acquisitions are firmly on the agenda for the vast majority of management

Global alternative asset manager The Carlyle Group has acquired ADA Cosmetics (ADA), an integrated supplier of hotel amenities and cosmetics, from Halder Private Equity (Halder). The management will continue to retain a minority stake. Financial terms of the transaction have not been disclosed. Headquartered in Kehl, Germany with approximately 270 employees, ADA has established itself as the largest supplier of cosmetics and accessories to premium hotels in Europe and expanded its offering across Asia and the Middle East. Hotel customers include well-known luxury hotels such as Brenners Park Hotel (Baden Baden), Etihad Tower (Abu Dhabi), Badrutt’s Palace (St Moritz) and

Acacia Pharma, a pharmaceutical company specialising in the development of drugs for cancer supportive care, has successfully closed a funding round, raising a total of USD10 million. New investor Lundbeckfond Ventures joins Gilde Healthcare in this Series A financing. Acacia Pharma will use the proceeds to complete Phase II development of its two lead product opportunities, APD421 for the prevention of nausea & vomiting in post-surgical patients and APD515 for the treatment of xerostomia (dry mouth) in advanced cancer patients. As a consequence of the investment, Associate Professor Johan Kördel of Lundbeckfond Ventures will join the Board of Acacia Pharma.

Rockspring Property Investment Managers LLP has acquired 22 neighbourhood grocery stores and standalone units from Spanish food retailer, Eroski, on a sale and leaseback basis on behalf of one its single-client accounts.   Purchased for approximately EUR45.5 million, the entire portfolio is let to Eroski on a new 20-year lease. The portfolio, which comprises 22 assets totalling 95,000 sq ft of lettable area, mainly located in the Basque country and Mallorca, benefits from strong and resilient local economies and demographics. This transaction represents the second Eroski portfolio acquisition, following the purchase of 21 assets in August 2010 for circa EUR45

Alternative investment firm Bernheim, Dreyfus & Co has partnered with with the French Foundation for Disabled (APSH 34), a charitable association which helps the psychiatrically disabled through their rehabilitation and the process of reintegration into society. For over 30 years APSH 34, together with the Fondation de France and the Montpelier Public Hospital, has also worked to reintegrate the disabled into formal employment (and also to meet their housing needs).    Amit Shabi, co-founder of Bernheim, Dreyfus & Co, says: We are very proud to be able to help APSH 34 in its noble mission which also underlines our total commitment

Movik Networks, a company focused on developing wireless networking products aimed at enabling an Intelligent Radio Access Network (RAN) for high value content delivery, has received USD25 million in funding. Oak Investment Partners led the round while previous investors Highland Capital Partners and Northbridge Venture Partners continued to participate in company financings. Movik’s products enable wireless operators to more efficiently deliver the ever increasing volume of data resulting from subscriber demands for content on mobile devices. In deployments and field trials, Movik’s market leading technology dramatically improves the mobile broadband experience for subscribers by intelligently delivering content over the RAN.