The Regard Partnership has achieved the coveted ‘Investors in People’ Silver Award. The Silver Award has been awarded to fewer than 600 organisations in the country, and less than 3% of all organisations involved in the Investor in People initiative.

MML Capital Partners has raised its first dedicated fund for Ireland. MML Growth Capital Partners Ireland had a first and final close at a hard cap of €125m. Investors in the fund include Enterprise Ireland, AIB Group, GoldPoint Partners, two US subsidiaries of Cigna Corporation and the European Investment Fund. The investment team will be co-led by Neil McGowan and Rory Quirke, both based in Dublin.

On October 10, 2013, MML Capital exited its minority investment in French portfolio company Carré Blanc through a sale to NiXen Private Equity.

MML Capital Partners (www.mmlcapital.com) has led the acquisition of Apache Industrial Services, Inc. (www.apacheip.com) for an undisclosed amount. Apache’s management team co-invested in the transaction, as did two of MML’s limited partners: GoldPoint Partners and Cigna Investment Management. Senior financing for the deal was provided by PNC Bank, N.A.

MML has invested €10m into Tournus Equipement, based in France, through a mix of bonds and shares, taking a 21% stake in the company.

MML portfolio company Instant (www.instantoffices.com) has appointed Tim Rodber as its Chief Executive Officer.

MML has successfully sold its minority stake in Clyde Bergemann (‘Clyde’), the leading global provider of components and engineering solutions for thermal power plants, industrial boilers and related combustion processes.

MML Capital Partners has appointed a new investment manager, hiring Edward Baker from KPMG. Edward will support the existing investment team in investing MML’s fifth fund which was raised in May 2011.

The Arena Group, a UK-based international provider of event infrastructure, has acquired Asia Tent International Sdn. Bhd. This follows closely on the heels of the Group’s acquisition of US-based Karl’s Event Services in April.

MML portfolio company the Arena Group has acquired US-based Karl’s Event Services.