Private equity deals

Empire Investment Holdings has acquired CSS Studios LLC, a Tampa, Fla.-based postproduction sound company, from Discovery Communications Inc. (Nasdaq: DISCA). www.css-studios.com

Harvest Partners in in talks to acquire FCX Performance Inc.,  a Columbus, Ohio-based distributor of specialty flow control equipment, according to an FTC filing. The seller would be Sterling Investment Partners, which acquired FCX in October 2008 for an undisclosed amount. Read more

Golden Gate Capital, Blum Capital Partners and Wolverine Worldwide (NYSE: WWW) have completed their previously announced $2 billion take-private acquisition of Collective Brands Inc. Golden Gate and Blum will jointly own the Payless ShoeSource and Collective Licensing International businesses, while Wolverine will own Collective Brands’ Performance + Lifestyle Group.

Insight Global, an Atlanta-based provider of IT staffing solutions, has raised an undisclosed amount of private equity funding from Ares Management. Current Insight Global shareholders include AXA Private Equity, HIG Capital and Harvest Partners. www.insightglobal.net

Linden Capital Partners has acquired  (a.k.a. Gentle Dental Group), a provider of dental services in South Florida, from shareholders that included The Beekman Group. No financial terms were disclosed. Harris Williams & Co. managed the process. www.idealdentalcare.com

TPG Capital has agreed to acquire FleetPride, an aftermarket distributor of heavy-duty truck and trailer parts, from Investcorp and Ridgemont Equity Partners. No financial terms were disclosed.www.fleetpride.com

United Central Industrial Supply, a mining supply distribution company owned by American Securities, has acquired GHX Holdings, a Houston–based distributor of fluid transfer and sealing products, fromThe CapStreet Group. No financial terms were disclosed. www.ghxinc.com