99-Cent Only Stores completed its acquisition by affiliates of Ares Management, Canada Pension Plan Investment Board and the Gold/Schiffer Family. RBC Capital Markets, BMO Capital Markets and Deutsche Bank Securities provided committed financing for the transaction.

Crystal Financial has provided financing to The Gores Group to support its recent acquisition of Mexx International, a mid-market apparel retailer in Europe and Canada, from Liz Claiborne.

According to AdMedia Partners’ results of its annual survey of executives at media and marketing services companies, respondents are generally optimistic about prospects for their industries and their own businesses in 2012.

CI Capital Partners announced that it has acquired the operations of The IntraPac Group, a manufacturer of specialty plastic packaging. GE Antares Capital, BMO Capital Markets, Madison Capital Funding and Audax Mezzanine provided financing for the transaction.

H.I.G. Capital announced the sale of Vantage Specialty Chemicals, a provider of specialty chemicals for a diverse set of global end markets, to private equity firm The Jordan Company.

Levine Leichtman Capital Partners has partnered with management to complete the acquisition of Lawn Doctor, a franchisor of lawn care services. Fifth Third Bank provided senior debt financing.

Granite City Food & Brewery has acquired the assets of three Cadillac Ranch All American Bar & Grill restaurants for $3.3 million. Fifth Third Bank provided a $5 million delayed draw term loan, which Granite City drew in full to fund the acquisitions.

Olympus Partners said it has acquired NPC International, the largest Pizza Hut franchisee and the largest franchisee of any restaurant concept in the U.S.

The Sterling Group announced that its affiliated investment fund, Sterling Group Partners III, completed the acquisition of Liqui-Box from DuPont. The acquisition was financed with equity from Sterling Group Partners III. BNP Paribas and BMO provided senior debt financing, and Oaktree Capital Management provided mezzanine debt.

North Mill Capital has acquired PrinSource Capital Companies, a provider of factoring and asset-based loans in the Midwest. North Mill received an equity investment from its current shareholders, led by Monitor Clipper Partners, and a material increase in its debt credit facility led by IDB Bank of New York.