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Weekly Deals and Funds Roundup: 26 March 200826/03/2008. Source: AltAssets. 
 A selection of the latest deals and funds news from across the globe - essential reading for those who need to keep up-to-date with the industry's key developments.
Weekly Deals and Funds Roundup: 26 March 2008
A selection of the latest deals and funds news from across the globe - essential reading for those who need to keep up-to-date with the industry's key developments.
Venture capital firm Kestrel Capital has exited its investment in Catapult through a sale to Pfizer for an undisclosed amount. Catapult focused on developing DNA tests and gene markers to improve the quality of the global food chain. Sydney-based Kestrel Capital focuses on companies based in Australia or New Zealand.
Private equity firm Digital Power Capital has acquired a majority stake in EDSA Micro. Financial terms were not disclosed. EDSA Micro develops power analytics software for the design, simulation, deployment and preventive maintenance of electrical power systems. Digital Power Capital invests in digital technologies. As part of the deal, Mark A Ascolese, former advisor to DPC, will become the chairman and CEO of EDSA.
GLG Partners, Goldman Sachs, BlueMountain and Toscafund have invested $100m in UK-based SpinVox. SpinVox is a Voice-to-Screen messaging service that has signed deals with 12 carrier networks. This service can be rapidly deployed on any network or service at low cost. The funds will be used to further develop the expanding company, according to a statement.
US private equity firm Palm Beach Capital has invested an undisclosed sum in Florida-based North American Substation Services. NASS is an independent repair, maintenance and installation provider for electric utility substations founded in 2005. This transaction represents Palm Beach Capital's ninth investment from its Palm Beach Capital Fund II and its 26th since its inception in 2001. The firm has approximately $200m in total assets under management.
Tano Capital, through its Tano India Private Equity Fund I, has invested INR300m ($7.4m) in Anil Printers Limited. APL is an India-based printing company that manufactures prepaid scratch cards, pin mailers, airline tickets, cargo bills and stationery. APL plans to use this investment to manufacture smart cards and RFID labels in technical collaboration with German-based Mühlbauer High Tech International. Tano Capital is an alternative asset management firm that focuses on investments in growing private companies in India and China.
Chicago-based private equity group Linden has sold US oral care business Ranir to investment groupKayak Holdings for an undisclosed sum. Linden acquired Ranir in April 2005 and will retain a minority investment.
Mid-market private equity firm Lake Capital has invested in IT security solutions provider FishNet Security. Financial terms were not disclosed. FishNet Security, based in Kansas City, Missouri, focuses on information security that enables companies to integrate a secure business environment. Lake Capital currently manages $1.3bn in equity commitments, according to the firm.
Midwest US-based private equity firm Mason Wells, through its Mason Wells Buyout Fund II, has acquired Wisconsin, US-based packaging business Coating Excellence International from CEI's existing shareholders in an MBO. Financial terms of the transaction were not disclosed. Mason Wells focuses its investments in the engineered products and services, specialty packaging and paper and outsourced business services industries.
TPG Growth, the early stage and growth investment platform of TPG, has led a $17.5m Series C financing round in comparison shopping website Become.com. Become.com is a California-based web search engine that searches the internet for product reviews and guides. The firm has offices in the US, India and China. TPG Growth and TPG Biotechnology Partners have also led a $40m investment in chemical business, Elevance Renewable Sciences. Elevance is based in Illinois and manufactures chemicals made from natural oils.
Venture capital firm SV Life Sciences and private equity investorPolaris have led an undisclosed investment round in biotechnology company Adimab. Adimab focuses on the development of human antibodies, and is currently working on a human antibody discovery platform in yeast. Founded in 1996, Polaris invests in and partners with early stage and mid-market companies. SV Life Sciences is based in London and provides finance to the human life science sector, to businesses in any stage of development.
Private equity firm Sun Capital Partners has acquired Ontario-based Timothy's Coffees of the World. Financial terms were not disclosed. Timothy's is an operator and franchisor of 166 retail stores throughout Canada. Sun Capital specialises in LBOs, equity, debt, and investments in a wide range of companies. Last month, Sun Capital acquired Kellwood Company for $767m.
Edmond de Rothschild Capital Partners has obtained a majority stake in French firm Sotralu from AXA Private Equity and former CEO Jean Prunet. As part of the deal, management will also increase its stake. Sotralu specialises in accessories for aluminium sliding windows. Edmond de Rothschild's ERLF I and ERLF II funds focus on growth buy-outs in French mid-market companies with enterprise values between €30m and €200m. Recently, ERLF II closed on €300m. Sotralu is the first investment from the fund.
Munich-based Nordwind Capital has acquired German-based ISE Innomotive and ISE Industries. The deal concludes a regulated bidding process which had been running since 2007. ISE Innomotive, which produces bodywork and chassis components and rollover protection systems for the automotive industry, filed for bankruptcy in 2007. ISE Industries, which also filed for bankruptcy in 2007, produces hinges, transmission parts and tubular frame components. Private equity firm Nordwind specialises in investments in larger mid-sized companies and corporate spin-offs with sales revenues between €100m and €2bn in Germany, Austria and Switzerland. This investment is Nordwind's second in a German automotive supplier.
Private equity firms Centre Partners Management and Centre Southwest Partners have sold Nexus Gas Holdings to Regency Energy Partners for $85m. Nexus is a midstream provider of natural gas gathering, dehydration and compression services for producers in the active exploration and development regions of East Texas and Northern Louisiana. As part of the transaction, Regency acquired Nexus' agreement to purchase 136 miles of pipeline from Southern Natural Gas Company. New York and Los Angeles-based Centre Partners focuses on mid-market acquisitions and equity investments in energy, consumer, healthcare, industrial products and services, media, restaurants, retail and aviation services sectors. It is currently investing in its fifth fund. Dallas, Texas-based Centre Southwest Partners makes investments in mid-market companies in the Southwestern US, with a focus on energy and energy-related industries.
Versant Ventures has led an $18.5m Series G financing round in Washington-based medical device company Spiration. Other existing investors include Olympus Medical Systems, New Enterprise Associates, New Leaf Venture Partners, InterWest Partners, Investor Growth Capital and Three Arch Partners.
US private equity firm Henderson Equity Partners has invested $21.5m in Indian agrochemical company Sharda Worldwide Private Exports Pvt.. Sharda registers and markets off-patent agrochemicals across the fungicide, herbicide and insecticide sectors. Henderson Equity Partners is the private equity operation of Henderson Global Investors.
Massachusetts-based OpenService has raised an undisclosed amount of Series D financing. OpenService provides enterprise event management solutions. It will use the financing to expand marketing, sales and engineering programmes. Previous investors in OpenService include Advent International and Hudson Ventures. Advent led an $8m Series C financing round in 2003 while Hudson participated in a $4.6m financing round in 2000.
Sequoia Capital US, Sequoia Capital India, Comcast Interactive and NCD Investors have invested $14m in mobile phone messaging business Bubble Motion. As part of the deal Comcast principal Deepak Sindwani has joined Bubble's board of directors. Sequoia focuses on providing funding to start-up firms. Comcast is a venture capital fund focused on broadband, enterprise and interactive technologies.
Early stage technology venture capital firm SPARK Ventures has sold UK-based Identum to internet content security firm Trend Micro Incorporated. Financial terms of the deal were not disclosed. SPARK was a founding investor in Identum. Under its new name, Trend Micro Encryption, the company will integrate its encryption technology into existing Trend Micro solutions. Tokyo-based Trend Micro focuses on securing the exchange of digital information for businesses and consumers. SPARK focuses on investments in the technology, media, telecom and healthcare and life sciences sectors. SPARK and Beringea have also invested $8m in London-based Isango, an online company that specialises in travel experiences including tours and activities.
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