Ken MacFadyen

Former healthcare hands from Carlyle, Mount Everest and MPM have linked up to launch NGN Capital, a US-German venture fund that closed $100m above target.

On the heels of its successful fundraise for its latest private equity fund, mid-market specialist Audax is preparing to head back into the market with a follow-up mezzanine fund that could aim for as much as $550 million.

After roughly six months of negotiations with Goldner Hawn Johnson & Morrison, ShopKo has agreed to be acquired by Sun Capital Partners in an $877m deal.

Wal-Mart is dedicating $25m for a private equity fund that will invest in women- or minority-owned businesses. The launch of the new investment vehicle follows years of criticism aimed at the company’s diversity efforts.

A final close for Kohlberg Kravis Roberts’s second European fund could be announced in the coming weeks, according to market sources. The fund is said to have corralled €4.5 billion in commitments.

Advent International has acquired Hipotecaria Casa Mexicana, a Mexican mortgage lender, in a deal aimed at the blossoming Mexican real estate market.

In a deal that will yield a more than three times return, North Castle Partners has agreed to sell drug and alcohol treatment centre CRC Health Group. Bain Capital acquired the business in a roughly $720m deal.

JH Partners and Berkshire Partners have executed their second dividend recap of MD Beauty, returning roughly 245 percent of the capital invested back to their limited partners.

Jeffrey Greenberg has rebounded following his departure from Marsh & McLennan, where he was chairman and CEO, and is reportedly set to launch a new private equity fund.

Greenwich, Connecticut-based Littlejohn & Co. has brought on two distressed vets to spearhead the group’s new focus on the asset class. The firm is just the latest of a growing number of firms to build distressed capabilities.