Deals

New York-based specialty finance company Abacus Finance Group announced it was the sole lead arranger for senior debt to support the minority recapitalization of eSolutions—a revenue cycle management software company—by its management and the Boston-based WestView Capital Partners. The amount of the transaction wasn’t disclosed.

Advantage Partners, Bain Capital and Orix Corp. have moved into the final round of bidding for private equity-owned software developer Yayoi, Reuters reported. The deal is worth an estimated $800 million and would provide a strong exit for MBK Partners, which bought Yayoi in 2007.

Advent International

, Apollo Global Management and Bain Capital are among those bidding for Belgian chemicals company Taminco, which is owned by CVC Capital Partners. Buyout houses Rhone Capital and Carlyle Group are no longer in the process after their bids were deemed too low, Reuters wrote.

Middle-market shop Altus Capital Partners Inc. has acquired Models & Tools, a designer and manufacturer of tooling systems for the aerospace and defense industries. The firm is making the investment out of Altus Capital Partners II LP. Terms of the deal were not released.

Boston-based Bain Capital will acquire Medtronic Inc.’s Physio-Control, a provider of emergency medical response technology. The deal is worth $487 million. Non-equity financing for the transaction is being provided by Citigroup Global Markets Inc. and RBC Capital Markets. Goldman Sachs is acting as financial adviser, and Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP as legal adviser to Medtronic. Citigroup Global Markets Inc. and RBC Capital Markets are acting as financial advisers and Kirkland & Ellis as legal adviser to Bain Capital.

Blackstone Group and Carlyle Group are in exclusive talks with India’s Reliance Communications to buy its telecoms tower unit, Reuters reported, citing the Times of India. A consortium of Blackstone and Carlyle was likely to complete a deal by December that was expected to value the towers at more than $3.5 billion, the newspaper said, citing an unnamed source familiar with the process.

BlueMountain Capital Management has acquired a majority stake in Navitas Lease Corp. Financial terms weren’t announced. Jacksonville, Fla.-based Navitas is an equipment leasing company.

Connecticut-based Bluff Point Associates has made a multi-million dollar strategic investment in Connexin Software, a publisher of pediatric electronic health records and practice management systems. Bluff Point invests in information services companies supporting the banking, trust, securities, retirement and wealth management sectors of the financial services industry, as well as the health care information services sector.

Brazos Private Equity Partners

will acquire the stake in Vision Source, the optometric franchise, that was acquired by H.I.G. Capital and Charlesbank Capital Partners just 18 months ago. The sponsors reorganized TLC Vision after the company filed Chapter 11. Specifics on the deal were not made public.

Mid-market firm Centre Partners has acquired Den-Mat Holdings in partnership with medical and dental device investment adviser Mill Street Partners LLC. Den-Mat offers a range of professional dental materials and supplies. The business will be led by a new management team consisting of Chief Executive Officer Steve Semmelmayer, Chief Operating Officer Robert Cartagena, and Chief Administrative Officer Todd Tiberi.

Connecticut buyout firm Clearview Capital completed a merger between its portfolio company, Senior Care Centers of America, and Active Day Inc., that provides a network of care centers for adults in 11 states. Specifics on the deal were not publicized. The firm is currently investing from its second fund.

Clyde Blowers

, a U.K.-based buyout shop, is paying €100 million ($136 million) to buy Finnish wind turbine maker Moventas, Reuters reported. Moventas filed for bankruptcy for two of its subsidiaries earlier this year, Reuters said.

CVC Asia Pacific and its portfolio company Nine Entertainment TV network have asked for a two-and-a-half-year extension on refinancing $2.6 billion in senior debt, Reuters reported. The Australian company has about 80 lenders, with hedge funds holding between 20 percent and 40 percent of the debt.

Denham Capital has committed to invest $200 million to establish an African mining platform in partnership with Pangea Exploration. The group will review mineral investments in Africa, including gold, platinum group metals, iron ore, coal and copper.

Dockwise said it has agreed to sell subsidiary Dockwise Yacht Transport to Coby Enterprises. Private equity is supporting the deal along with management of DYT. Financial terms, and the name of the private equity investor, were not announced. DYT transports yachts and leisure craft between sailing regions around the globe.

A group of Eastman Kodak debt investors has hired Blackstone Group as a financial adviser, Reuters reported. The group is seeking to influence how the company handles a restructuring, Reuters wrote, and also recently hired law firm Akin Gump Strauss Hauer & Feld.

Charlotte, N.C.-based Falfurrias Capital Partners has invested an undisclosed amount in Dorsey Wright & Associates. Richmond, Va.-based Dorsey Wright provides technical investment research and money management services. Terms were not released.

First Reserve Corp. has invested $80 million against a commitment of an additional $100 million in equity in the global helicopter-services company CHC Helicopter. CHC announced the planned investment in September to help fund continued expansion in the midst of strong industry growth.

Atlanta-based Fulcrum Equity Partners has funded the $3.2 million acquisition of AAA Home Health by Partners Healthcare Group. Partners Healthcare Group is a platform entity to acquire home health and hospice agencies throughout the southeast as well as open offices throughout existing service areas. AAA Home Health is PHG’s first acquisition.

Genstar Capital is to acquire the LexisNexis Insurance Software Solutions business, a provider of software and services to the property and casualty insurance industry. The transaction is subject to customary government approvals and closing conditions and is expected to be completed in the fourth quarter.

Harvest Partners has completed its acquisition of TruckPro Inc., buying the auto parts distributor from Oaktree Capital Management. Oaktree will continue to hold a “significant ownership stake” in TruckPro, the firms said. Terms of the deal were not released. TruckPro is a distributor of heavy duty aftermarket truck parts and accessories.

H.I.G. Capital will acquire Next Generation Vending & Food Service Inc. The company provides vending service in the Northeast. Next Generation’s management team, led by its chief executive officer, David Mac Isaac, and chief operating officer, Joe Rogan, joined forces with H.I.G. to consummate the recapitalization. The private equity firm has a goal to expand Next Generation’s footprint.

Miami-based H.I.G. Capital has acquired a majority interest in Pro-Pet, a manufacturer of private label dry pet food for distribution domestically and worldwide. Pro-Pet is based in St. Marys, Ohio, and has operating facilities located in Owatonna, Minn.; St. Marys, Ohio; and Kansas City, Kan.

H.I.G. Capital portfolio company National Asset Recovery Services Inc. has acquired Integrity Financial Partners. Terms of the deal were not released. H.I.G. Capital has more than $8.5 billion under management.

H.I.G. Capital plans to acquire Teleflex Marine. The company has operations around the world and is a provider of aftermarket steering and control products, OEM, and accessories for the global recreational marine market.

Huron Capital Partners portfolio company Hughes Associates has bought Edan Engineering Corp. Financial terms weren’t announced. Edan provides electrical engineering services to the nuclear power and military markets.

Top shareholders of Hynix Semiconductor Inc. were to decide whether to pick sole bidder SK Telecom as the preferred investor, a lead shareholder said, raising hopes that the long-delayed sale may finally succeed, Reuters wrote.

Second round bids for British grocer Iceland Foods are expected early next year, Reuters reported. Private equity groups Bain Capital, BC Partners, Blackstone Group and TPG Capital all submitted first round bids, as did supermarket groups Asda and Wm Morrison Supermarkets, Reuters wrote.

Industrial Opportunity Partners, an operations-focused firm based in Evanston, Ill., has acquired Trantech Radiator Products, a manufacturer and supplier of radiators to the North American electric power transmission and distribution industry. Trantech represents IOP’s 10th platform investment in its current $185 million committed fund and its third platform investment in 2011.

Industrial Opportunity Partners has acquired two related businesses, Van Products and Unipro by its platform company Center Manufacturing. Senior debt was provided by Capital One Leverage Finance Corp. and junior debt was provided by Patriot Capital. Terms of the transaction were not disclosed. Van and UniPro represent IOP’s fifth acquisition in 2011. The firm has made three new platform investments and two strategic add-on acquisitions.

Kesa, Europe’s third-biggest electrical goods retailer, has become the second firm to announce a withdrawal from the cut-throat British market in October, agreeing to sell its loss-making British chain Comet for just £2 ($3.20), Reuters reported. Hailey Holdings Ltd and Hailey Acquisitions Ltd, entities advised by private equity firm OpCapita, are buying Comet.

Buyout firms including Kohlberg Kravis Roberts & Co. and TPG Capital are mulling the purchase of a minority stake in Yahoo, Reuters reported. The firms are reportedly looking to buy stakes of up to 20 percent. The firms have signed confidentiality agreements with Yahoo.

LBC Credit Partners provided $19.5 million in debt financing to private equity-backed Heat Transfer Products Group. The company, a manufacturer of commercial refrigeration equipment, is a portfolio company of Monomoy Capital Partners. The loan will be used to provide a dividend to the equity holders.

Maranon Capital provided debt financing and an equity co-investment to support the acquisition of Emergency Communications Network Inc. by The Riverside Company. Ormond Beach, Fla.-based Emergency Communications Network provides software-as-a-service products to allow state and county governments communicate warnings, information about natural disasters and other information.

Chicago-based Monroe Capital, which provides senior and junior debt and equity co-investments to middle-market companies, announced a $26 million senior secured unitranche credit facility to support one Chicago Growth Partners, a provider of on-demand software and services.

Morgan Stanley’s Asia private equity arm is in talks to buy a majority stake in Chinese packaging firm HCP Holdings Inc., according to Reuters sources. The deal that could value the company at about $500 million, Reuters wrote.

Morgan Stanley Credit Partners announced it provided a $46 million mezzanine loan to help finance the acquisition of BarrierSafe Solutions International by Odyssey Investment Partners. As part of the transaction, Morgan Stanley Credit Partners also completed an equity co-investment in BarrierSafe.

Nordic Capital Fund VII

portfolio company Britax Group Ltd has acquired BOB Trailers. Terms of the transaction were not disclosed. Capstone Partners, a Chertsey, U.K.-based investment banking firm, announced it advised BOB Trailers on its sale.

ORIX Leveraged Finance and Chatham Capital have provided debt financing to support the acquisition of Z Wireless by Atlantic Street Capital. ORIX announced that it had closed a combined $23.1 million facility to Z Wireless. Sioux Falls, S.D.-based Z Wireless markets Verizon Wireless products and services.

Pacific Equity Partners has offered to pay $709 million for Australian services firm Spotless Group, Reuters reported.

Palladium Equity Partners has recapped ABRA Auto Body & Glass, a provider of vehicle damage repair services based in Minneapolis. Terms of the deal were not released. ABRA was formed in 1984.

Chicago-based Prospect Partners, which invests in smaller lower-middle-market companies has acquired 11 of the company-owned dealers of Culligan International, a Rosemont, Ill.-based global provider of household, commercial and industrial water treatment products and services. In the acquisition, Prospect Partners partnered with two Culligan operating executives and independent equity sponsor Stone Pointe of Naperville, Ill.

Providence Equity Partners led a group of investors that acquired Istituto Marangoni, the provider of educational services primarily to students in fashion and design fields. Specifics on the deal were not disclosed. Listed, Illinois-based Career Education Corp. was the seller.

Regions Financial Corp. has re-opened talks with rival Stifel Financial Corp. to bolster the unit’s auction, Reuters reported. Regions resumed talks with Stifel after bids from two potential private-equity groups came in lower than expected. Thomas H. Lee Partners and a consortium that includes Blackstone Group and Carlyle Group submitted bids in the $750 million range that included financing from Regions, Reuters wrote.

Sara Lee Corp. is considering a €115 million ($159 million) offer by Sagard Private Equity Partners for its EuroDough business. Based in France, EuroDough sells chilled baking dough across Europe. Sagard is a French investment firm.The management of Seitz Corp. and principals of private investment and management firm Andlinger & Co. have acquired the business. Financial details of the transaction were not disclosed. The acquisition was supported by a senior loan facility from Berkshire Bank and mezzanine capital from Stonehenge Growth Capital and CMS Mezzanine Fund. Thoma Bravo portfolio company PLATO Learning, a provider of online education solutions for kindergarten through adult learners, is acquiring Educational Options, an education technology firm.

New York-based Sentinel Capital Partners will acquire WellSpring Pharmaceutical Corp., a maker of specialty prescription and over the counter drugs. Ancor Capital Partners, an independent sponsor with extensive health care expertise, also participated in the deal.

Sterling Financial Corp., which is backed by Warbug Pincus and Thomas H. Lee Partners, said it would buy First Independent Bank to boost its presence in Portland and Vancouver in the U.S. Pacific Northwest, Reuters reported. Under the terms of agreement, Sterling Savings Bank would initially pay a premium of $8 million to the net value of the acquired assets and assumed liabilities of the 100-year-old bank, Reuters wrote.

TA Associates

has completed its investment in Senior Whole Health, a Cambridge, Mass.-based health plan provider. Terms of the deal were not released. Formed in 2004, Senior Whole Health focuses on individuals who qualify for both Medicare and Medicaid.

TPG Capital has agreed to buy the North American operations of CARDONE Industries. Financial terms weren’t disclosed. TPG will be the controlling shareholder. Philadelphia-based CARDONE is a remanufacturer of auto parts.

Tulip Telecom is in talks to raise up to $75 million from buyout firms. Tulip, of India, is a corporate data services provider.A portfolio company of Ventizz Capital Fund IV LP, Danish firm SSP Technologies Holding ApS, has ended a legal dispute with PNE Wind AG via an amicable settlement. The dispute, which began in 2009, was in relation to the acquisition of SSP in 2008. Ventizz IV has also announced it is taking over the Nautilus II wind farm, located in German territory in the North Sea, from PNE Wind AG.

Vision Capital has completed the debt refinancing of BrightHouse, a British rent-to-own retailer, with more than £100 million ($159.5 million) of senior debt facilities. The financing was provided by a consortium of Lloyds Banking Group, GE Capital and Ares Capital Europe and will be used for repayment of existing financing and working capital.

Vivendi’s Universal Music Group and Sony won the auction for EMI’s recorded music and music publishing operations, trumping bids by archrivals Warner Music Group and BMG Music Publishing at the 11th hour. Universal said it would buy EMI’s recorded-music unit for $1.9 billion, while two people familiar with the matter said a consortium led by Sony was expected to buy the publishing operation of the British music company for $2.2 billion. Buyout firm Terra Firma lost EMI to creditor Citigroup earlier this year.

Warburg Pincus and GS Capital Partners will acquire the majority position in Endurance International Group, a hosting service for online businesses, from investor Accel-KKR, which will retain a stake in the company. Specifics on the deal were not publicized. Credit Suisse acted as the financial adviser to Warburg Pincus and provided the debt financing for the transaction. Cleary Gottlieb Steen & Hamilton LLP acted as legal adviser to Warburg Pincus and Goodwin Proctor LLP acted as legal adviser to GS Capital Partners. Morgan Stanley served as financial adviser and Kirkland & Ellis LLP served as legal adviser to Endurance and Accel-KKR.

Wells Fargo Business Credit is undertaking the recapitalization of U.S. frozen vegetable processor and packager Smith Frozen Foods. Investment banking firm Livingstone acted as the exclusive financial adviser to the company. Terms of the deal were not disclosed.

Welsh Carson Anderson & Stowe has committed $85 million to San Diego, Calif.-based DriveCam Inc., a developer of video-based driver safety technology, to support the company’s acquisition of RAIR Technologies, a provider of compliance technology for DOT-regulated fleets.

WL Ross & Co. is buying up to 19.4 percent of Navigator Holdings Ltd‘s common stock for a total of $62.5 million. Navigator Holdings provides international seaborne transportation services to producers, traders and consumers of liquefied petroleum gas, petrochemical gases and ammonia.

Woodstream Corp., which is is backed by Brockway Moran & Partners and Code Hennessy & Simmons, has acquired the assets and certain liabilities of Iron Stop Inc., the company announced. Terms of the deal were not released. Iron Stop is a manufacturer of home and garden decor products.

Global investment management company WP Carey & Co. has completed a €41 million ($57 million) construction financing package for Austrian developer BOP through one of its publicly held non-traded REIT affiliates. The financing will deliver 100 percent of the funds needed for the construction of three modern big-box retail sites in Croatia.