Private equity firm Sycamore Partners is in talks to buy apparel retailer Chico's FAS Inc and is trying to secure debt financing for a deal that could reach $3 billion, sources told Reuters News.
Actis said Wednesday it committed $230 million to Ostro Energy, an Indian renewable energy platform. Ranjit Gupta was named CEO of Ostro. The platform’s first project is Tejuva, a 50.4MW wind project, already under construction in the Jaisalmer district of Rajasthan. London-based Actis, with $7.6 billion in funds under management, invests in emerging markets such as Asia, Africa and Latin America.
H.I.G. Capital said Wednesday that it invested through an Italian securitization in a portfolio of non-performing loans originated by Group Cassa di Risparmio di Cesena. Financial terms of the deal, which closed Jan. 29, weren’t announced. The portfolio comprises 52 non-performing loans backed by a mixture of residential and commercial real estate, mainly in the regions of Emilia-Romagna and Marche in Northern Italy. The transaction is H.I.G.'s fourteenth real estate investment in Europe since 2013 and its second NPL investment in Italy.
PWP Growth Equity has invested in BuildASign.com. Financial terms weren’t announced. Austin-based BuildASign.com is an online custom printed provider of signs and home decor items. Vaquero Capital LLC advised BuildASign.com. PWP is the growth affiliate of Perella Weinberg Partners.
Bailey International LLC, a portfolio company of U.S. private equity firm Pfingsten Partners, has bought Sure Grip Controls Inc. No financial terms were disclosed for the deal. Based in Saanichton, British Columbia, Sure Grip is a maker of joysticks, control grips and controllers for use on forestry, construction and other mobile hydraulic equipment. Update: Based in Chicago, Bailey is a manufacturer and distributer of fluid power components. Its acquisition of Sure Grip is the first since the company was bought by Pfingsten Partners in April 2012.
The Harbor Group has invested in Air Monitor Corp. Financial terms weren’t announced. Santa Rosa, California-based Air Monitor designs and makes differential pressure and thermal mass flow meters, coal flow measurement systems, instrumentation, and related products.
The current deal environment has caused a partial shift in the way many private equity sponsors view deployment of fund capital.
Sysomos has separated from Marketwired Inc, a portfolio company of OMERS Private Equity. Going forward, Sysomos will operate as an independent business led by former Microsoft Corp executive Lindsay Sparks as its CEO. With the support of OMERS Private Equity, it plans to accelerate growth by expanding the company's global team, releasing new product innovations, and making major investments in research. Founded in 2007, the Toronto-based Sysomos is a provider of social media analytics and monitoring. It has grown its revenue more than 1500 percent since the company was acquired by Marketwired in 2010, Sysomos said. OMERS Private Equity is an investment arm of the Ontario Municipal Employees Retirement System.
Vector Capital has agreed to acquire Saba for $9 per share in an all-cash transaction. Morgan Stanley & Co. LLC is serving as financial advisor to Saba on the deal. Based in Redwood Shores, California, Saba is an intelligent talent management solutions provider.
Sequel Holdings has acquired Delphos, Ohio-based Lakeview Farms, a maker and seller of refrigerated desserts, dips and sour cream. No financial terms were disclosed. Falcon Investment Advisors LLC and WP Global Partners provided additional financing for the transaction. Previously, Sequel had an ownership stake in Lakeview from 2004 to 2011.