Apollo Global Management has agreed to acquire the education business of The McGraw-Hill Cos.(NYSE: MHP) for $2.5 billion. The deal is expected to close later this year or in early 2013. www.agm.com
Onex Corp. has agreed to acquire USI Insurance Services, a Briarcliff Manor, N.Y.-based insurance broker, from GS Capital Partners. The deal is valued at approximately $2.3 billion, with GSCP retaining a minority ownership position. GSCP took USI private in 2007 for approximately $1.4 billion, and since has made numerous add-on acquisitions. www.usi.biz
Kohlberg Kravis Roberts & Co. has agreed to acquire Alliant Insurance Services Inc., a Newport Beach, Calif.-based specialty insurance brokerage, from The Blackstone Group. No financial terms were disclosed. Blackstone acquired Alliant in 2007 for nearly $1.2 billion. www.alliantinsurance.com
Backyard Discovery, a Pittsburg, Kansas-based portfolio company of Baird Private Equity, has acquiredGoConfigure, a Lisle, Ill.-based provider of delivery, installation and maintenance services with a particular focus on such equipment as wooden swing sets and trampolines. No financial terms were disclosed. www.backyardadventures.com
The Blackstone Group has reached the second round of bidding for Australian poultry producerInghams Enterprises, according to Reuters. China’s New Hope Group also remains in the auction, which is expected to garner upwards of A$1.4 billion. www.inghams.com.au
Brockhaus Private Equity has acquired a majority stake in Eyivis, a German provider of large-screen systems for control rooms, monitoring centers and simulation platforms. No financial terms were disclosed. www.eyevis.de
H2 Equity Partners has acquired Hancocks Group Holdings Ltd., a British provider of confectionery supplies. No financial terms were disclosed. www.h2.nl
Investindustrial and Indian auto company Mahindra each have made offers to acquire a 50% stake inAston Martin from Investment Dar (Kuwait), according to the FT. The offers are believed to be valued at approximately $250 million. www.astonmartin.com
Kilmer Capital Partners has acquired a majority stake in Compact Power Equipment Centers Inc., a Fort Mill, S.C.-based specialty outdoor equipment rental company. No financial terms were disclosed, which included the participation of another, albeit undisclosed, Canadian private equity firm.www.compactpowercenter.com
NBTY Inc., a portfolio company of The Carlyle Group, has Balance Bar Co. from Brynwood Partners. No financial terms were disclosed. Balance Bar is a Valhalla, N.Y.-based nutritional bar maker that Brynwood acquired from Kraft Foods in 2009. www.balance.com
Platte River Equity has acquired The WellMark Co. LLC, an Oklahoma City-based maker of liquid and pneumatic flow controls and valves for the oil and gas and petrochemical markets. No financial terms were disclosed. www.wellmarkco.com
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