Firms & Funds

Aramark Holdings, one of the big club deals from the last decade, completed its initial public offering on Dec. 12, and its private equity sponsors likely more than doubled the money they invested, sister news service peHUB reported.

Ikaria Inc, a specialty drug company that is seeking to sell itself for as much as $2 billion, received final bids this week from private equity firms American Securities LLC, GTCR LLC and Madison Dearborn Partners LLC, according to people familiar with the matter, sister news service Reuters reported.

Restaurant and arcade chain Dave & Buster’s Inc is exploring a sale or initial public offering that could value the company at more than $1 billion, according to people familiar with the matter, sister news service Reuters reported.

Joe Dear, the chief investment officer of the California Public Employees’ Retirement System who was sidelined earlier this year after being diagnosed with prostate cancer, has returned to work, a CalPERS spokesperson told sister publication peHUB.

Strategic Value Partners has held a first close on $322 million for its third fund, which has been targeting $1 billion, according to a person familiar with the situation, sister news service peHUB reported.

Sun Capital Partners, which is out marketing for its sixth fund, stands to make an impressive 8x its money with the sale of Captain D’s Seafood Restaurant, a source familiar with the transaction told sister news service peHUB.

Pharos Capital Group, the Dallas-based private equity firm founded by Fortune 500 company director Kneeland Youngblood and two Goldman Sachs veterans, is nearing a final close of its third growth equity/buyout fund, with an expected total of $500 million after more than two years in the market, according to a person familiar with the firm.

Shares of food services provider Aramark Holdings Corp rose 3 percent in their market debut, valuing the company at about $4.75 billion, sister news service Reuters reported.

The chief investment officer of the Pennsylvania State Employees’ Retirement System, one of the oldest and most prolific public system limited partners in the private equity industry, has resigned effective Dec. 31, sister news service peHUB reported.

Private equity firms Hellman & Friedman LLC and JMI Equity are exploring a sale of human resources management software firm Kronos Inc, which could be valued at more than $4 billion, people familiar with the matter told sister news service Reuters.