Luisa Beltran

LendingClub Asset Management, execs settle with SEC

The SEC charged LendingClub Asset Management LLC and its former president, Renaud Laplanche, with fraud for allegedly improperly using fund money to benefit its parent company, LendingClub Corp. LendingClub Asset Management, Laplanche, and ex-CFO Carrie Dolan were also charged with improperly adjusting fund returns. Lending Club Asset Management, Laplanche, and Dolan have agreed to settle the charges and will pay more than $4.2 million in combined penalties. The SEC also barred Laplanche from the securities industry although he can apply for re-entry after three years.

LLR to exit SICOM in $415 mln sale

Global Payments Inc said Sept. 27 that it acquired SICOM Systems Inc for $415 million. LLR Partners is the seller. SICOM, of Lansdale, Pennsylvania, provides SaaS services to quick service and fast casual restaurants.

Cultural issues stop a third of M&A deals from hitting targets: Mercer

KKR to sell United Group

BC Partners is buying a majority of United Group BV from KKR. Financial terms weren’t announced. United Group, of Amsterdam, is a media and communication services provider across South East Europe.

Blackstone weighs $3 bln sale of FXall: Crain's New York Business

Blackstone is considering selling FXall, a currency trading platform owned by Refinitiv, Crain's New York Business is reporting. A sale of FXall could be valued at $3 billion, the story said. Blackstone is buying a majority of Refinitiv, which is the new name of the division it’s buying from Thomson Reuters.

Fidelity leads $250 mln round for Butterfly

Butterfly has raised $250 million in funding led by Fidelity, according to a blog post from Gioel Molinari, president. Also participating were Fosun Pharma, the Gates Foundation and Jamie Dinan, along with returning investors. Butterfly, of Guilford, Connecticut, is a handheld whole-body ultrasound system.

Nautic Partners buys Mikart

Nautic Partners has closed its buy of Mikart Inc. Financial terms weren’t announced. Mikart, of Atlanta, is a contract development and manufacturing organization for the development, manufacturing and packaging of solid dose and non-sterile liquid pharmaceuticals. Michael Kallelis was named CEO of the company.

Goals101 raises $3.5 mln

Goals101 said Sept. 27 that it raised $3.5 million in a pre-series A round from Nexus Venture Partners. Goals101 is a fin-tech and big data analytics company.

LightPoint Financial raises Series A

LightPoint Financial Technology said Sept. 26 that it completed a Series A round led by Citco Group of Cos and Ares Management LP. Financial terms weren't announced. LightPoint, of Tarrytown, New York, is a trading, risk and analytics technology provider. TAP Advisors LLC advised LightPoint.

Papa John’s founder denies reaching out to PE: Bloomberg

John Schnatter, Papa John’s founder, is denying reaching out to private equity to help him take the pizza chain private, Bloomberg said. CNBC reported Wednesday that Schnatter had reached out to PE to discuss partnering in a bid to buy the company. Reuters reported that the company reached out to potential acquirers and asked them to submit bids.