File this story in the "Things to Watch" category: University of Utah b-schoolers are the latest participants in an interesting opportunity presented by the University Venture Fund (UVF), which is a unique collaboration of real-lfe private equity firms, well-known banking institutions (UBS & Wells Fargo among them)  and some very lucky grad students.
Via Venture Intelligence India:
Created in [...]

Together with management, Audax Group has acquired Winchester Electronics, a global leader in the "design, development and deployment of interconnect technology," from Litton Systems, Inc. and certain of its affiliates, subsidiaries of Northrop Grumman Corp. (NYSE: NOC).
Kirkland & Ellis LLP advised Audax, while Sovereign Bank of New England provided senior debt financing.
Winchester Electronics, based in [...]

The 2nd Annual Summer Networking Event will take place in two weeks at the Boston Harbor Hotel, and will offer attendees a lively atmosphere to network with many of New England’s leading private equity professionals. Don’t miss this enjoyable and rewarding experience!
July 11, 6-8:30PM, Boston Harbor Hotel
Register here.

Harris Williams & Co. advised on the sale of one of the nation’s top three manufacturers of commercial and professional floor cleaning equipment and supplies, Castle Rock Industries. The buyer, Alfred Kärcher GmbH & Co. KG ("Kärcher"), is one  of the world’s leading providers of cleaning technology and equipment, with 6,000 employees in 40 countries [...]

ACG/Thomson Mid-Year 2006 DealMaker’s Survey Records High Confidence Level by Boston M&A Professionals; 2006 on Track for Record M&A Year – Corporate Cash, Active Buyout Firms Fuel Booming M&A Market
BOSTON, June 20, 2006 – As worldwide mergers and acquisitions are on pace to break the year 2000 record, dealmakers are again expressing great optimism with [...]

Summit Partners has completed an equity investment in IGEFI GROUP S.à.r.l., a world-leading software provider to the investment funds industry. IGEFI, based in Luxembourg, will use this investment to complete a partial recapitalization that will position the company for the next stage in its growth, further improve its service to customers and help it execute its [...]

Two lucky attendees of this year’s ACG Boston Growth Conference walked away from the event with more than a broadened professional network and unique education.
John Canfora of Wells Fargo won 4 tickets to a Red Sox vs. Yankees game at Fenway Park, and Ryan Kim Castle Island Partners won 4 tickets to the Red Sox vs. Yankees game at [...]

Harris Williams & Co. advised FleetPride Corporation in its sale to a diverse investor group that included Investcorp International, Inc., Banc of America Capital Advisors, and management. FleetPride is a portfolio company of Aurora Capital Group and Brentwood Associates. The deal was announced on June 6th.  
Based in Texas, FleetPride is the nation’s largest independent [...]

Gary B. Austin is bringing his 25 years of banking know-how to Manchester, NH-based R.E. Pinard & Co., where he will be responsible for the transaction services related to the merger and acquisition advisory engagements for the firm’s privately held business clients. Gary has extensive experience in business consultation/ relationship management. 

The latest ACG/Dow Jones European Dealmakers Survey reveals a consensus on strong M&A and private equity activity, with Germany leading the pack in providing a hospitable environment for such deals.
Sign of the times (from the release):
The biggest difficulty facing mergers and acquisitions in Europe today is too much competition (43%), followed by not enough good [...]