Audax Group has recapitalized Phoenix Children’s Academy, a Scottsdale, Ariz.-based operator of preschool centers. No financial terms were disclosed. BB&T Capital Partners, and existing lender to PCA, provided subordinated debt to sponsor the recap. Www.audaxgroup.com
Bain Capital, The Carlyle Group and Pamplona Capital Management are bidding for Auburn Hills, Mich.–based auto parts supplier T1 Automotive, according to Reuters. The deal could be worth upwards of $1.5 billion. Www.t1automotive.com
Friendly’s, a Wilbraham, Mass.-based casual restaurant chain owned by Sun Capital Partners, is considering a bankruptcy filing, according to the WSJ. Www.suncappart.com
KPS Capital Partners has acquired the assets of United Copper Industries Inc., a Denton, Texas-based maker of construction wire and cable, from Organización IUSA SA de CV. No financial terms were disclosed. GE Capital Corporate Finance provided debt financing. Www.unitedcopper.com
Silverfleet Capital has agreed to acquire a majority stake in Aesica Pharmaceuticals, a German
pharma contract manufacturer, from firms like LDC. No financial terms were disclosed. Debt is being provided by Lloyds, HSBC and Yorkshire Bank. Www.silverfleetcapital.com
THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 29
Battery Ventures has acquired Detcon, a Houston, Texas-based provider of fixed gas detection products. No financial terms were disclosed. Www.battery.com
China XD Plastics Company Ltd. (Nasdaq: CXDC), a Chinese maker of modified plastics primarily for automotive applications, has secured a $100 million equity investment from Mo r gan Stanley Private Equity Asia. Www.chinaxd.net
Headland Capital Partners has acquired a 26.45% stake in Miclyn Express Offshore Ltd., a Singapore-based provider of offshore vessels to the oil and gas industry in Southeast Asia. No financial terms were disclosed. Www.headlandcp.com
North Street Capital has agreed to acquire the Spyker sportscar business of Swedish Automobile, the troubled owner of Saab, for approximately € 32 million.
Unison eTech Co. Ltd., a portfolio company of Headland Capital Partners, has acquired HKR Co. Ltd., a South Korean maker of expansion joints, crossovers and intercoolers for use in lower plants, petrochemical plants and LNG vessels. No financial terms were disclosed. Www.headlandcp.com
Vision Capital has agreed to acquire Speyside Equity’s positions in two companies: A majority stake in United Initiators, a German maker of organic peroxides and persulfates; and a minority stake in Sweet Ovations, a provider of custom formulated food ingredients to North American food companies. No financial terms were disclosed. Www.visioncapital.com
WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 28
Astorg Partners has agreed to acquire Microconnections, a maker of flexible tape materials for smart cards, from FCI, a French portfolio company of Bain Capital. No financial terms were disclosed for the deal, which is expected to close by the end of October. Microconnections generated €202 million in revenue last year, and has 670 employees in France and Singapore. Www.astorg-partners.com
Atlanta Equity Investors has acquired Marshall Emergency Services Associates, a provider of emergency department and hospitalist physician contract management services in Kentucky. Babson Capital Management also participated via a $5.5 million mezzanine debt facility and $750,000 equity commitment. No overall pricing terms were disclosed. Www.mesaer.com
Bruckmann, Rosser, Sherrill & Co. Has acquired Magpul Industries Corp., an Erie, Colo.-based maker of accessories for firearms. No financial terms were disclosed. Www.magpul.com
Cooper Investment Partners has sponsored a recapitalization of Ventech Engineers, a Pasadena, Texas-based company focused on plant relocation and the design and construction of modular refineries. No financial terms were disclosed. In related news, CIP and Ventech’s founding Stanley family have formed a $200 million fund (Ventech Project Investments) to invest in energy-related infrastructure projects globally.Www.ventech-eng.com
Cortview Capital Securities LLC, a Richmond, Va.-based broker-dealer focused on the middle-markets, announced that it has secured an undisclosed amount of new funding from existing backer Warburg Pincus – a firm that helped launch Cortview last year with a $125 million equity commitment.Www.cortcap.com
General Atlantic has invested an undisclosed amount in TenFu’s Tea (HK: 6868), a retailer of tea products in China. Www.generalatlantic.com
Pipp Mobile Storage Systems Inc., a shelving and space management company owned by Prospect Partners, has acquired the International Retail Services Group (IRSG) division of Capsa Solutions LLC. IRSG is a Columbus, Ohio-based provider of hanger management solutions. No financial terms were disclosed. Www.pippmobile.com
Summit Partners has sponsored a spin-out of the Managed Services business of Zenith Infotech. No financial terms were disclosed. Www.summitpartners.com
Turnbridge Capital has sponsored a recapitalization of Flare Industries Inc., an Austin, Texas-based maker of combustion and pollution control technology and equipment. No financial terms were disclosed for the deal, which was done in partnership with company management. Www.flareindustries.com
TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 27
Permira has increased buyout offer for Renaissance Learning Inc. (Nasdaq: RLRN), a Wisconsin Rapids, Wis.-based provider of tech-based school improvement and student assessment programs for K-12 schools. It originally bid $14.85 per share, but has now upped the offer to $16.60 per share (or $15 per share for founder shares) – for a deal total of around $455 million. This matches a rival bid from Plato Learning, a portfolio company of Thoma Bravo. Www.permira.com
ABRY Partners and Berkshire Partners have acquired The Telx Group Inc., a New York-based provider of global interconnection and colocation services. No financial terms were disclosed. Www.telx.com
Westview Capital Partners has acquired a minority stake in Resource Interactive, a Columbus, Ohio–based interactive marketing agency focused on social media marketing, mobile and digital commerce. No financial terms were disclosed. BlackArch Partners advised Resource Interactive on the deal.Www.wvcapital.com
Seamless, a New York-based digital service for ordering delivery and takeout food, has agreed to acquire MenuPages, an online provider of menu content, from New York Media LLC. No financial terms were disclosed. Spectrum Equity Investors acquired a majority stake in Seamless earlier this year from PE-backed Aramark (which retained a minority position). Www.seamlessweb.com
Wynnchurch Capital and Stone River Capital Partners have acquired Fabco Automotive Corp. From Accuride Corp. No financial terms were disclosed. Fabco Automotive is a Livermore, Calif.-based maker of steer drive axels, transfer cases and other parts for the commercial severe-duty industry.Www.fabcoautomotive.com
MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 26
The Carlyle Group has acquired ITRS Group, a global provider of trading infrastructure monitoring software for financial institutions. No financial terms were disclosed. Www.itrsgroup.com
Francisco Partners has acquired a majority stake in eFront SA, a Paris-listed provider of business software for the alternative investment and risk management markets. The deal is valued at nearly €41 million in upfront payments plus another €10 million in deferred payments. Sellers include CDC Innovation, Odyssée Venture and OTC Asset Management. Www.efront.com
Cognetas, a European mid-market buyout firm, has rejected a proposal from Charterhouse Capital Partners to acquire the portfolio companies in Cognetas’ second fund at a 20% discount, according to the FT. The offer came as part of larger restructuring at Cognetas, which will include the wind-down of its London and Frankfurt offices.
ReNew Wind Power, an Indian maker of wind energy turbines, has raised approximately $201 million in funding from Goldman Sachs. Www.gs.com
Star Capital Partners is in talks to acquire Blohm & Voss, a German shipbuilding unit of ThyssenKrupp, according to a local newspaper report.
Vista Equity Partners has agreed to acquire the trade and risk management business of Thomson Reuters (NYSE: TRI). No financial terms were disclosed. Thomson Reuters was advised on the deal by Barclays Capital. Www.vistaequitypartners.com
