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Actis Capital LLP of the U.K. invested $53 million in Gtex, a Brazilian-based cleaning products company that sells uner the Urcam USE and Amazon brands. Actis plans to initiate a growth plan for Gtex in the Brazilian market to include new product lines, geographical expansion and acquisitions.

Unitas Capital Pte. Ltd.’s Chief Executive Officer Andrew Liu expressed an interest in the auction of 3i Group’s PLC’s Hyva, Reuters said. Liu didn’t mention the Netherlands-based pump maker by name, but the comment was made when asked about Hyva’s auction at the AVCJ Private Equity Forum.

Billionaire investor Carl Icahn increased his stake in Dynegy Inc. to 12.9 percent from about 9.95 percent and will offer a $2 billion credit to the Houston,Texas-based electricity producer, Reuters said. Icahn also plans to oppose Blackstone Group LP’s offer to acquire the Dynegy for $543 million, or $4.7 billion including debt.

Graham Partners completed a majority investment in Strata Products Worldwide, an Atlanta, Ga.-based provider of products and services used for infrastructure and miner safety. Graham Partners is a Pennsylvania-based private equity firm that specializes in middle market manufacturing companies.

Silk Invest plans to launch a private equity fund that will invest in African food-related industries, Reuters said. The fund will operate in Egypt, Ethiopia and Nigeria and other markets. The vehicle will have a target of 150 million euros ($206.8 million).

Hercules Technology Growth Capital Inc.’s public offering of 6.25 million common shares was priced at $10 each. This represents gross proceeds of $62.5 million for the Palo Alto, Calif.-based specialty finance company. The offering’s underwriters have an over-allotment option to purchase up to 937,500 more shares. The offering is expected to close on Nov. 16.

Racebrook Capital LLC of New York plans to auction a portfolio of 150 U.S. consumer products and retail brands on Dec. 8. The brands cover 13 business categories including personal care, food & beverage, corporate, apparel, home, consumer goods, technology, financial institutions, toys, travel, magazine, environmental and sports. Some of the brands on the block include: American Brands Inc., Handi-Wrap and Meister Brau.

Health & Safety Institute, a platform company of Riverside Co., acquired a health care app maker called GoToAID. Financial terms were not disclosed. Health & Safety Institute is a privately held emergency response training organization based in Eugene, Ore.

Rockland Capital of The Woodlands, Texas hired that Terry E. Everett as chief financial officer. She will also serve as chief compliance officer. Everett has worked in private equity industry since 2003, and has worked for both Perseus LLC and The Carlyle Group.

Michael C. Arnold plans to leave Timken Co. at the end of 2010. Arnold holds the post of executive vice president and president of the Bearings and Power Transmission Group. He is leaving after more than 31 years with the Canton, Ohio-based company to become president and chief executive officer of a private equity-owned firm.