Luisa Beltran

First Reserve to buy Gas Natural for $196 mln

First Reserve has agreed to buy Gas Natural Inc for $13.10 a share or about $196 million. Mentor, Ohio-based Gas Natural, a holding company, distributes and sells natural gas to residential, commercial, and industrial customers. Janney provided financial advice to Gas Natural, while Kohrman Jackson & Krantz LLP is serving as legal counsel. Lazard served as financial advisor and Simpson Thacher & Bartlett LLP was legal counsel for First Reserve.

EQT U.S. mid-market fund closes with $726 mln

EQT said Oct. 10 that its first US-dedicated fund has closed with $726 million in commitments. The fund, EQT Mid Market US, fell short of its $1 billion target, according to press reports. The pool will make control and co-control investments.

Ashland Capital buys Dedoes Industries

Ashland Capital Partners has acquired Dedoes Industries. Financial terms weren’t announced. Walled Lake, Michigan-based Dedoes designs and makes equipment that supports the automotive refinish market. Graycliff Partners provided subordinated debt and equity financing to Dedoes.

Providence Equity exits Learfield Communications

Atairos Group Inc has agreed to buy Learfield Communications Inc. Providence Equity Partners was the sellers. Learfield is a college sports marketing company. Moelis & Company acted as financial adviser and Weil, Gotshal & Manges LLP acted as legal adviser to Providence. Deutsche Bank provided financial advice, while Davis Polk & Wardwell LLP and Latham & Watkins LLP were the attorneys to Atairos.

Deutsche Bank may sell part of asset-management unit in IPO: Financial Times

Lulalend raises new round of funding

Lulalend said Oct. 6 it raised a new round of financing led by Accion Venture Lab. Newid Capital and Hallmann Holding International Investment GmbH also participated in the round. Lulalend, of Cape Town, provides funding for small and medium enterprises (SMEs) throughout South Africa.

American Securites buys Henry Company

American Securities LLC said Oct. 6 that it closed its buy of Henry Company LLC. Financial terms weren’t announced. El Segundo, California-based Henry Company makes energy efficient building envelope solutions. Weil, Gotshal & Manges LLP served as legal counsel to American Securities, and Dechert LLP served as legal counsel to Henry. Moelis & Company acted as financial advisor to the Company.

Equistone Partners Europe buys majority of United Initiators

Equistone Partners Europe said Oct. 6 that it acquired a majority of United Initiators. Vision Capital and Speyside Equity were the sellers. Pullach, Germany-based United Initiators produces specialty chemical initiators.

New State Capital fund closes at $131 mln

New State Capital Partners said Oct. 6 that its first institutional investment fund has closed with $131 million in committed capital. New State Capital Partners Fund LP will target investments in the healthcare services, business services, and industrials sectors. Steve Larned has also joined New State as a partner. Larned was previously a Senior Operating Executive at Welsh, Carson, Anderson & Stowe.

Vista-backed Misys to go public in November: Bloomberg

Misys, a portfolio company of Vista Equity Partners, expects to go public on the London Stock Exchange in November, according to Bloomberg. The U.K. financial software maker plans to sell about 500 million pounds ($635 million) in the IPO. Vista acquired Misys in March 2012.