Private equity investor Corestate Group has acquired a portfolio of 153 residential assets located in the Rhine Ruhr region of Germany valued at  EUR85 million. A German bank has provided financing on competitive terms for the portfolio which comprises over 2,100 units. As part of Corestate’s asset management strategy, the business plan includes a comprehensive investment and capex programme. Consistent with its strong track-record, Corestate’s asset management team intends to deliver its value enhancement plan quickly, with the aim of reducing vacancy across the portfolio and optimising overall asset performance. Phillip Burns (pictured), CEO of CORESTATE, says: “In line with CORESTATE’s

KPS Capital Partners’ portfolio company, HHI Group Holdings, LLC has completed a third successful recapitalization in the last twelve months. HHI raised USD425 million of new financing, including a USD100 million asset based revolving credit facility and a USD325 million term loan.   The proceeds of the recapitalisation were used to refinance outstanding debt, to fund a USD100 million cash distribution to stockholders and to fund the company’s continued growth. Following the recapitalization, HHI remains conservatively capitalised with the continued support of KPS, its majority stockholder.  KPS and minority stockholders, including MC Capital Inc. (a subsidiary of Mitsubishi Corp.) and

Venture capital and small business finance firm Advantage Capital Partners has provided USD5.7 million in financing to Barton Nelson, Inc. Barton Nelson is ranked as one of the top 25 manufacturers of specialty advertising products nationwide. The new funding, which provides the company with working and growth capital, will enable the company to retain 73 jobs in Kansas City and help to drive future job creation in Missouri. “Two innovative economic development programs enabled our investment in Barton Nelson,” says Louis Dubuque, managing director at Advantage Capital. “Thanks to the federal New Markets Tax Credit program and the Missouri New

Intertrust Group Holding SA has acquired Close Brothers (Cayman) Limited and Close Bank (Cayman) Limited (together Close Brothers Cayman). The acquisition is subject to regulatory approval and is expected to complete in the coming months. Close Brothers Cayman is a leading financial services provider in the Cayman Islands, with 60+ staff offering a comprehensive range of services including corporate services, fiduciary services, fund administration, private client, banking and asset management services. The company has a long and distinguished history in the Cayman Islands, having provided financial services for over 40 years. Intertrust, formerly part of the Fortis Group and now

Investment funds managed by Alinda Capital Partners are to invest over EUR300 million in agri.capital over the next three years to fund the anticipated growth of the business. As part of the transaction, Alinda will acquire a majority interest in agri.capital. The company’s existing common equity investors and certain other early-stage investors will continue to participate in the ownership of the business.    agri.capital is the leading biogas and biomethane company in Europe. The company is headquartered in Luxembourg, with operations throughout Germany.  Today, agri.capital controls over 400 gigawatt-hours per year equivalent of capacity in operation or construction at more

Global Investment House saw fee-based business – asset management, investment banning and brokerage – generate operating income of KWD20.7m and a profit of KWD10.6m in 2010, according to the company’s year-end results. During 2010 the Asset Management business remained resilient with USD5.1 billion of assets under management. Several funds managed by Global outperformed their respective indices and peers. Standard and Poor’s Fund Services assigned an “A” fund management rating to three of the funds managed by Global Kuwait: Global GCC Large Cap Fund, Global 10 Large Cap Index Fund and Global GCC Islamic Fund. The total assets managed by Global

Bruegger’s Enterprises an affiliate of private investment firm Sun Capital Partners, Inc (Sun Capital), has been acquired by Le Duff America, Inc, the North American subsidiary of Groupe Le Duff SA. Terms of the transaction have not been disclosed. Bruegger’s is a leading operator and franchisor of fast casual bakery-cafés specialising in bagels, breads, wraps, signature sandwiches, crisp salads, hearty soups, natural cream cheeses, gourmet coffee, and desserts. Headquartered in Burlington, Vermont, Bruegger’s was founded in 1983 with an emphasis on convenience in order to better serve customers with busy lifestyles. Bruegger’s was acquired by an affiliate of Sun Capital

Sir Nigel Rudd (pictured), chairman of Longbow Capital, the specialist VCT and EIS healthcare investor, is urging the Government to support British innovation by strengthening tax relief measures and tightening investment rules in the Budget on 23 March 2011. Longbow is a founding partner of the Boots Centre for Innovation, an innovation hub based in Swansea, Wales, which works closely with early stage companies or inventors to develop pioneering products for the shelves of Boots stores. Sir Nigel says: “Strong British business will be the catalyst for the UK pulling away from recession and into consistent, durable growth. Next week’s

Ingenious Ventures, a manager of VCTs in the entertainment sector, has completed a GBP1.5 million investment to launch two new music festivals in the UK. Ingenious is already well known as an investor in top dance festival, Creamfields (pictured), amongst others. This significant investment, which will be used to launch the ‘We the People’ music festival in Bristol and the ‘Shakedown’ Festival in Brighton, is the first investment to come out of Ingenious Entertainment VCT 1 & 2 D-shares. These Ingenious venture capital trusts give music and entertainment fans the chance to invest in their favourite music festivals, live events

Bowmark Capital, a mid-market private equity firm, has sold Advanced Childcare to GI Partners, a private equity firm focused on investments in asset-intensive businesses and real estate platforms, for GBP28 million.  Advanced Childcare, which is based in Stockport, Greater Manchester, provides care and education to young people with behavioural, emotional and social difficulties.   Since Bowmark acquired the business at the end of 2004, Advanced Childcare has expanded across the north of England and the Midlands, growing from a base of seven care homes with 40 residential beds to its current estate of 30 care homes with 123 residential beds and