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Bowmark backs Leaders buy-out

Lettings and property agency Leaders has been acquired in a £48 million management buy-out backed by Bowmark Capital.

Green light for Friends Reunited deal

Online information business Brightsolid has been given the official go-ahead for the acquisition of Friends Reunited Group for £25 million.

Hotbed backs Wheatley MBO

Wheatley Associates, a specialist software company, has undergone a management buy-out backed by private investor syndicate Hotbed.

NVM buys stake in Lanner as 3i exits

Mid-market investor NVM has bought a minority stake in software developer Lanner Group as the company's previous backer 3i exits the business.

Barclays Private Equity sells Deb Group

Charterhouse Capital Partners has acquired Deb Group, a maker of skin safety products, from Barclays Private Equity for £325 million.

Sovereign backs Euro Environmental MBO

Drain and sewer company Euro Environmental Group has been sold in a £20 million management buy-out backed by Sovereign Capital.

Investors celebrate ApaTech sale

ApaTech, a specialist in bone repair technology, is to be sold for up to $330 million (£220 million) in a big win for its investors.

Synseal Extrusions in MBO

Private equity house HIG Europe has acquired Synseal Extrusions, a supplier of doors, windows and conservatories.

3i-backed SLR buys Heggies

Environmental consultancy SLR, in which private equity investor 3i holds a minority stake, has acquired Australian firm Heggies.

Driving school in administration

Insolvency firm MCR has been appointed to find a buyer for LVG, a driving school and instructor training business.

Endless and NorthStar exit Excelsyn

Chemical specialist Excelsyn has been sold to US-based Albany Molecular Research for £12 million, providing an exit for its investors.

Alchemy Partners sells COA Solutions

Private equity investor Alchemy Partners has sold software supplier COA Solutions to Advanced Computer Software for £100 million.

YFM backs Fishawack acquisition

Medical PR agency Fishawack Communications has made an acquisition in the US with backing from existing investor YFM.

Air Energi in global growth spurt

Oil and gas recruitment business Air Energi Group has made its first acquisition since its private equity-supported buy-out last year.

LGC changes hands for £257 million

Chemical analytics group LGC has been acquired by private equity firm Bridgepoint from LGV Capital in a deal valuing the company at £257 million.

Big boost for company valuations

Valuations of both public and private companies shot up in the course of last year, according to research from BDO.

Government propping up regional venture capital

Venture capital (VC) investing outside London and the South East depends heavily on public sector funds, according to a study.

Investor confidence improves

A majority of active investors plan to increase their exposure to the stock market over the coming months, according to research.

Institutions hold on to AIM stakes

Investment houses such as BlackRock, Invesco and Prudential collectively hold a larger share of AIM than they did before the financial crisis.

Analytics is top priority for CIOs

Making better use of data in business decision making is the top priority for chief information officers (CIOs), according to a global survey from IBM.

Punch above your weight

Jos White, who sold his company MessageLabs for $695 million, on why it's so important to act like a bigger business than you really are.

Meeting menaces: The Waffler

More tips from John Cleese, who reveals how to stop a waffler in full flow.

Reducing energy usage

Ian Cheshire, chairman of B&Q, explains how the store has saved 10,000 tonnes of carbon emissions.