Fundraising

American Securities sold its El Pollo Loco fast food chicken chain in a secondary deal, realizing a roughly six times return on its invested capital.

The Omaha, Nebraska energy company has raised an $838m private equity fund to acquire energy and power assets.

The Nordic buyout firm has acquired boating electronics company Simrad Yachting from Norwegian technology group Kongsberg Gruppen.

The Warsaw private equity firm has entered the Slovakian retail sector with its acquisition of a stake in white and brown goods retailer NAY.

The managers of Tailwind Capital have informed limited partners that the group intends to split from Thomas Weisel, ending a sometimes rocky relationship with the San Francisco financial services group.

Paul Capital’s third Top Tier venture fund has gotten larger while most VCs get smaller.

Dubai-based private equity firm Shuua Partners has held a final close of its first fund $50m above its initial target.

Roy Disney’s Shamrock Holdings investment arm has been active fundraising, having closed on $104m for an LA-focused real estate fund and seeking as much as $150m for an Israeli growth capital vehicle.

OCM/GFI Power Opportunities Fund II is more than double its predecessor.

Bear Stearns Merchant Banking has set a $1.75bn target for Fund III, a seemingly modest goal considering its stellar track record.