ClariPhy Communications, an Irvine, Calif.-based developer of signal processors for optical networking, has raised $24 million in Series C funding. Oclaro Inc. and other undisclosed strategic backers were joined by existing shareholdersNorwest Venture Partners, Allegis Capital, ONSET Ventures and Pacific General Partners. The company previously raised just over $20 million.
New Mountain Capital has agreed to buy the Specialty Chemicals business of Covidien (NYSE: COV) for $280 million. The Phillipsburg, N.J.-based group makes chemicals under the J.T.Baker and Mallinckrodt brands.
Rob Glaser, chairman and former CEO of RealNetworks, has joined Accel Partners as a venture partner.
VC Deals
ReVision Optics Inc., a Lake Forest, Calif.-based maker of implantable products to correct and maintain vision, has raised $35 million in fifth-round funding. ProQuest Investments led the round, and was joined by return backers Domain Associates, Canaan Partners and InterWest Partners. The company previously raised $40 million.
Phreesia Inc., a New York-based provider of a free patient-intake solution for the physician waiting room, has raised $16 million in Series D funding. Ascension Health Ventures led the round, and was joined by return backers BlueCross BlueShield Venture Partners, Sandbox Industries, Polaris Venture Partners, HLM Venture Partners and Long River Ventures. The company previously raised around $25 million.
Funxional The! rapeutics Ltd., a UK-based developer of anti-inflammatory therapies, has raised €10 million in Series B funding. Ventech was joined by return backers Index Ventures and Novo AS.
GuardTime, a data integrity service provider, has raised $8 million in Series A funding. Horizons Ventures (Hong Kong) was joined by Ambient Sound Investments, the Infocomm Development Authority of Singapore, FITOne Capital andJoi Ito.
Innova Dynamics Inc., an advanced meterials spinout from the University of Pennsylvania, has raised $5! .5 million in Series A funding. Rho Ventures led the round, and was joined by MentorTech Ventures.
Vanksen, a European viral and buzz marketing communications agency, has raised $5 million from Quilvest Group. Proceeds will be used, in part, for U.S. expansion.
Expressor Software, a Burlington, Mass.-based provider of semantic data integration, has raised $4.5 million in Series C funding. Return backers include Commonwealth Capital Ventures, Globespan Capital Partners and Sigma Partners. The company previously raised $15.6 million.
Wirescan AS, a Norway-based company focused on the diagnosis and condition monitoring of cables, has raised NOK 25 million ($3.85m) in new VC funding co-led by Siemens Venture Capitaland Procom Venture.
AuctionPoint, a Marina Del Rey, Calif.-based online auction platform for the commercial real estate market, has raised an undisclosed amount of funding from MySpace co-founder Tom Anderson. Anderson also will join the company’s board of directors.
Buyouts Deals
EDF (Paris: EDF) has set a June 21 deadline for offers on its UK power grid assets, which are expected to garner upwards of $5.7 billion.
Fidelity National Information Services (NYSE: FIS) said its board has approved a plan to buy back up to $2.5 billion of its shares, following failed buyout talks with a consortium of private equity firms.
First Data Corp. announced three senior management departures, sparking weakness in the company’s bonds. First Data is a portfolio company of KKR.
HgCapital has acquired SimonsVoss Technologies AG, a German provider of digital radio-based locking and access control systems. The deal reportedly is valued at around £100 million.
High Road Capital Partners has acquired Advanced Sleep Medicine Services Inc., a Los Angeles-based provider of sleep disorder diagnostics and related durable medical equipment in Southern California. No pricing terms were disclosed. Fifth Third Bank provided debt financing.
PAI Partners is in talks to buy a majority stake in lab testing company Cerba European Lab from IK Investment Partners.
RoundTable Healthcare Partners has formed Renaissance Pharma Inc., a Montreal-based pharmaceutical platform company. No financial terms were disclosed. Renaissance Pharma will be led by Pierre Frechette, former president and CEO of Sandoz Canada Inc.
Thoma Bravo has completed its take-private acquisition of PLATO Learning Inc. (Nasdaq: TUTR), a provider of online learning solutions for K through adult. The deal was valued at approximately $143 mi! llion, or $5.60 per share.
PE-Backed IPOs
NewPage Group Inc., a Miamisburg, Ohio-based coated paper manufactuer, has withdrawn plans for an $805 million IPO. It originally filed in May 2008, and planned to trade on the NYSE with Goldman Sachs serving as lead underwriter. No reason was given for the withdrawal. The company was formed in 2005, when Cerberus Management bought the coated paper operations of MeadWestvaco Corp. Last year it reported a $23 million net loss on $2.17 billion in net sales.www.newpagecorp.com
PE Exits
Duke Street Capital is planning to put retailer The Original Factory Shop up for sale with a £200 million asking price, according to The Daily Telegraph.
McAfee Inc. (NYSE:MFE) has agreed to acquire Trust Digital, a McLean, Va.-based provider of enterprise mobility management solutions. No financial terms were disclosed. Trust Digital raised VC funding from Summerhill Venture Partners, Fairhaven Capital, Core Capital Partners, Avansis Ventures, MMV Financial and Square 1 Bank.
Palladium Equity Partners is in talks to sell Wise Foods, according to Bloomberg. Piper Jaffray is running the process.
Teradata (NYSE: TDC) has acquired Xkoto Inc., a Waltham, Mass.-based provider of data virtualization technology. No financial terms were disclosed. Xkoto had raised $13 million in VC funding from investors like GrandBanks Capital and GrowthWorks Canadian Fund. www.xkoto.com
PE-Backed M&A
Certiport, an Atlanta-based portfolio company of Spire Capital Partners, has acquired MeasureUp LLC, a provider of IT practice tests and assessment services. No financial terms were disclosed.
Firms & Funds
KBC has ended talks to sell its private equity unit to AXA Private Equity and Belgium’s Sofina.
Human Resources
Fred Terrell has rejoined Credit Suisse as vice chairman of investment banking, effective next week. He has spent the past 12 years as co-founder, managing partner and CEO of Provender Capital Group.
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