Hedge fund Och-Ziff has backed a 26m (39m) buy-in/management buyout of headhunter Whitehead Mann in a deal that sees the company delist from the London Stock Exchange.

Hedge fund Och-Ziff has backed a £26m buy-in management buyout of headhunter Whitehead Mann in a deal that sees the company de-listed from the London Stock Exchange.

Turnaround specialist Rutland Partners has made a recommended cash offer for AIM-listed Scott Tod, a company which provides cash machine services throughout the UK.

HgCapital has made a recommended cash offer for 41.3 per cent of Norwegian accountancy software company Visma. The bid values the business at NKr4.3bn (555m) and trumps an earlier 482m offer made by Vismas UK rival Sage.

HgCapital has made a recommended cash offer for 41.3 per cent of Norwegian accountancy software company Visma.

Apax Partners, the Blackstone Group, Kohlberg Kravis Roberts, Permira and Providence Equity Partners have tabled a 10.2bn offer for Danish telco TDC. If successful, the long-awaited deal, will be Europes largest ever buy-out.

Deutsche Venture Capital has lead a 4m second round of financing for security solutions provider Innominate Security Technologies. Existing investor TecVenture Partners also participated in the round,contributing 25 per cent of the funding. Innominate plans to use the capital to expand its product range and broaden its international sales network.

3i and Electra Partners Europe have acquired the remaining 40 per cent of UK rail freight operator Freightliner from private shareholders. Financial details were not disclosed but the purchase price is understood to be based on a company valuation of 96m. Some new debt was also provided by Barclays Capital.

Apax Partners and energy investor Good Energies have co-led a consortium investing 24m to support the development of German solar energy technology producer CSG Solar. Existing investors including solar cell producer Q-Cells, solar energy company Renewable Energy Corporation and German regional investor IBG Beteiligungsgesellschaft also participated.

Cinven and Royal Bank Private Equity have exited their investment in thebrickbusiness following its 98.9m acquisition by Vienna-based Wienerberger, the world's largest brick group. Thebrickbusiness is the UKs third-largest producer.

Dunedin Capital Partners and Northern Venture Managers have completed a 25m refinancing of glass manufacturer CGI International. Bank of Scotland provided 14m of new senior debt for the transaction.

Dunedin Capital Partners has completed a 25m refinancing of glass manufacturer CGI International. Bank of Scotland provided 14m of new senior debt for the transaction.

Apax Partners and JPMorgan Partners have sold their investment in Merlin Entertainments to Hermes Private Equity for 72.5m. HypoVereinsbank and Royal Bank of Scotland funded the deal.

UK and Irish newspaper group Trinity Mirror has sold its Irish titles to 3i for 46.3m, plus a repayment of 600,000 debt to Trinity. 3i has not disclosed its equity investment in the company, but may follow its money if acquisition opportunities arise. The subsidiary, Century Press & Publishing, includes seven titles in the Irish Republic and Northern Ireland, including the Derry Journal, the Donegal Democrat, and the News Letter in Belfast. The move by Trinity is part of a rationalisation programme introduced by chief executive Sly Bailey, who joined the group in February 2003.Other parties reported to be interested in the titles included private equity group HgCapital, Dublin-based Independent News & Media, privately-owned publisher Archant, and buy-out firm Kleinwort Capital, which teamed up with Simon Robinson, former boss of the Mirror Groups Northern Ireland titles.

Danoptra, an amusement machines and leisure facilities management group backed by Electra Partners Europe, has acquired Rank Leisure Machine Services and Rank Seasonal Amusements businesses (RLMS) from gaming and entertainment company Rank Group. The consideration of 30m comprised 16m in equity from Electra and 14m of debt facilities from Royal Bank of Scotland, Bank of Scotland and HSBC Bank. The transaction, which is subject to certain regulatory clearances, is expected to close by the end of the year. The Electra European Fund has a 50m investment in Danoptra and will be providing a further 16m, with the balance coming from Danoptras resources and debt facilities. After the acquisition, Electra will hold just over 80 per cent of the equity in Danoptra.

Financial bidders showed a strong interest in the sale of the healthcare and assistance businesses of Royal & Sun Alliance Insurance, according to Angus Winther of Lexicon Partners, who advised R&SA on the disposal. Barclays Private Equity has financed the 147m buy-out of the division, taking a 90 per cent stake for 87m. The FirstAssist Group and R&SA Healthcare Administration businesses provide private medical insurance, personal accident cover and related services, generating annual income of 300m. They made a profit of 45m last year, including a 13m one-off contribution. The sale was part of a disposal programme by R&SA, which aims to plug a 700m gap in its finances. The group is also floating its Australian arm.

Matrix Private Equity has invested 500,000 in the 2m buy-in/buy-out of Envelopes Plus Holdings, a manufacturer of envelopes.Debt has been provided by HSBC Bank and HSBC Invoice Finance UK. Envelopes Plus has been supplying the greeting card industry since it was set up in 1987.

Partek Corporation, part of industrial group Kone, has sold Nordkalk to a group of Nordic investors, including CapMan and Ahlstrom Capital, for 270m, debt-free.Nordkalk produces limestonebased products used in the pulp and paper, steel and building materials industries. Its crushed, grounded and screened limestone and burned and hydrated lime is marketed in Finland, Sweden, Poland and Estonia. Bjorn Mattson, chairman of Nordkalk, said it has grown through acquisitions and investments, totalling 180m from 1997 to 2001. It plans further growth, partly from the production of refined coating pigments and fillers, which are used in magazine paper, packaging and copying paper.Nordkalk is planning an IPO.

After a three month auction process involving up to 20 corporate and private equity bidders, Cinven has led a 820m buy-out of NCP, an operator of UK car parks, from Cendant of the US. NCP owns 535 car parks in the UK. Cinven plans to syndicate the equity element of the deal to Royal Bank Private Equity.