Dell Inc. reportedly has issued a new $27.50 per share buyout offer for Quest Software Inc. (Nasdaq: QSFT), topping an already-revised $25.75 per share offer from Insight Venture Partners and Vector Capital. The new bid would value Quest at approximately $2.3 billion.
AXA Private Equity and Astorg Partners are among those expected to bid for aluminum companyKerneos, which is being sold by French construction group Materis, according to Reuters. The deal could be valued at around €680 million. www.kerneos.com
Cinven has agreed to acquire Prezioso Technilor, a French provider of coating and insulation services to the energy and infrastructure sector, from Indigo Capital. No financial terms were disclosed.www.prezioso.fr
eResearchTechnology Inc. (Nasdaq: ERT) shareholders have approved a $400 million, or $8 per share, buyout offer from Genstar Capital. ERT is a Philadelphia-based provider of health outcomes research services to biopharma sponsors and contract research organizations. www.ert.com
Freepoint Commodities LLC, a commodity trading and marketing company backed by Stone Point Capital, has completed its previously-announced acquisition of J.P. Morgan Metals & Concentrates LLC from an affiliate of JPMorgan Chase & Co. No financial terms were disclosed. JP Morgan Chase originally acquired the business from RBS and Sempra Energy in 2010. www.freepointcommodities.com
Lightyear Capital has agreed to acquire the Healthcare Benefit Solutions group of Fidelity National Information Services (NYSE: FIS) for $335 million. www.lycap.com
MBK Partners has been chosen as the preferred bidder for a 65.25% stake in Hi-Mart, a South Korean wholesaler and retailer of home appliances, according to Reuters. The deal could be valued at more than $1 billion, with MBK edging out rival bidder Lotte Shopping. Hi-Mart is currently owned by Eugene Group.www.himart.co.kr
Net Health Systems, a Pittsburgh-based provider of clinical information systems for the wound care space, has received a “significant investment” from Spectrum Equity Investors. No financial terms were disclosed. www.woundexpert.com
The Ontario Teachers’ Pension Plan has acquired a 9.9% stake in South Korea-based Kyobo Life Insurance from Korea Asset Management Corp. The deal was valued at US$400 million. Losing bidders included The Carlyle Group. www.otpp.com