NBGI Private Equity (NBGIPE) has backed the GBP9m management buyout of Facilities Services Group (FSG) from Spice Ltd. FSG is a UK market leader in the provision of hard facilities management (HFM) services to large, multi-site operators in the retail and leisure sectors. NBGIPE is backing the existing FSG management team, led by George Lilley (managing director) and David Simmons (executive chairman). Lilley and Simmons are seasoned HFM professionals with a combined 44-years’ experience with the likes of GSH Group, WS Atkins, Broadgate Estates and Middleton Maintenance. Both joined FSG in late 2009 with a mandate to expand FSG’s range

DN Capital portfolio company Digital Chocolate Inc, a developer of social games on facebook and other platforms, has closed USD12 million in Series D financing. This round was led by Intel Capital and includes participation from prior investors DN Capital, Sutter Hill Ventures and Bridgescale Partners. The new funding comes on the heels of Digital Chocolate’s successful 2010 during which it became one of the top five global games publishers on Facebook. The company has also achieved more than 100 million mobile downloads, and has brought its social games to the smartphone and tablet platforms. With this additional growth capital,

Intermediate Capital Group (ICG) has agreed to acquire Gerflor, the international flooring specialist, from AXA Private Equity, with the support of Gerflor’s existing management team, headed by its CEO Bertrand Chammas.   Other minority shareholders (including Barclays Private Equity and NiXEN Partners) will also sell their stake in the company. This follows a period of five years where AXA Private Equity has actively supported the Gerflor management to expand the business through bolt-on acquisitions and investment in organic growth.   Over the course of AXA Private Equity’s 5 year ownership, Gerflor has accelerated its diversification into new, high value-added areas

Private equity firm GTCR has signed a definitive agreement with Silverfleet Capital and PPM America Capital Partners to acquire Sterigenics International, Inc, a leading provider of contract sterilisation and ionisation services for medical devices, food products, and advanced applications. The transaction will drive the continued expansion of Sterigenics’ service offering globally. Sterigenics is the sole provider of contract sterilisation and ionisation services on a global basis, with a network of 38 service centres across North America, Europe, and Asia. The company provides its customers with comprehensive sterilisation solutions, offering technology in all leading sterilisation modalities and complementary value-added services. Sterigenics

Cleary Gottlieb represented TPG in the sale of its majority shareholding in Mey İçki Sanayi ve Ticaret AŞ, Turkey’s leading spirits manufacturer, to the drinks group Diageo.   Diageo has agreed to acquire Mey İçki from TPG and Actera, a private equity group focussed on investments in Turkey, for approximately GBP1.3bn. As part of the transaction, management are re-investing in the company. The deal signed on Monday 21 February 2011. Closing is subject to regulatory approvals. TPG had initiated a dual track exit strategy, and Cleary Gottlieb also advised TPG in connection with a proposed partial floatation of Mey Içki

As 5 April approaches, some UK higher-rate taxpayers will be considering the benefits of investing in VCTs. With this in mind, the Association of Investment Companies (AIC) has surveyed VCT managers to hear their views on the prospects for the sector in 2011, covering fundraising, the role of VCTs, tax issues and where VCTs are finding investment opportunities.   Research published by the AIC this month highlights the key role which VCTs still have to play in plugging the funding gap for SMEs. Interestingly, Simon Rogerson, CEO of Octopus Investments, believes that VCTs are the only real funding solution for earlier