Luisa Beltran

Natura Cosmeticos approached Avon Products: Wall Street Journal

Avon Products Inc was approached by Brazil's Natura Cosmeticos SA, the Wall Street Journal reported. The companies aren’t in serious talks; Avon is focused on turning itself around and reviving its shares, the story said.

Apprentice.io raises $8 mln

Apprentice.io said Sept. 18 that it raised $8 million in series A funding led by Pritzker Group Venture Capital. The Venture Reality Fund and GFR Fund joined the round as new investors. Also participating were existing investors, Silverton Partners and Hemi Ventures. Apprentice.io, of Jersey City, New Jersey, provides an enterprise AR for the pharma/biotech industries and, by extension, lab, line and suite environments.

Providence-backed Blackboard puts Cashnet on the block

Emplify raises $7.5 mln

Edison Partners said Sept. 17 that it led a $7.5 million growth investment in Emplify, of Fishers, Indiana. Emplify is an employee engagement measurement company.

Blackstone will seek $18 billion for latest real estate fund: Bloomberg

Blackstone Group is looking to raise $18 billion for its latest real estate fund, Bloomberg is reporting. The fund will have a strategy similar to its last real estate pool, which gathered $15.8 billion in 2015, the story said. BX will start marketing the flagship property later this year, Bloomberg said.

TPG, Rockbridge Growth look to sell stakes in AXS: Wall Street Journal

TPG and Rockbridge Growth Equity are exploring strategic options for their stakes in AXS, the Wall Street Journal reported. The two firms hold 62 percent of AXS, which values the ticketing company at $250 million, the story said. Anschutz Entertainment Group, which holds the remaining 38 percent of AXS, isn’t interested in selling its stake, the WSJ said.

Fiat to consider other offers for Magneti Marelli: Bloomberg

Fiat Chrysler Automobiles NV has decided to consider other offers for its Magneti Marelli parts unit since KKR’s bid came in too low, according to a report from Bloomberg. KKR offered less than the 6 billion-euro ($7 billion) minimum valuation sought by Fiat, the story said. KKR wanted to pay about 5 billion euros for Marelli, Bloomberg said.

Duko, Singh join Ares Management

Ares Management LP said Sept. 17 that Jason Duko and Kapil Singh have joined the firm as partners and portfolio managers in the Ares Credit Group. Duko will be primarily responsible for managing U.S. bank loan strategies, while Singh will be primarily responsible for managing U.S. high yield bond strategies. Duko recently served as a portfolio manager at PIMCO, while Singh was a portfolio manager in the global developed credit group at DoubleLine Capital.

MortgageGym raises 3.8 mln pounds

MortgageGym said Sept. 17 that it raised 3.8 million pounds ($4.98 million) from investors, including LSL Property Services plc. GoCompare Group plc also increased its stake with the round. MortgageGym, of London, is a regulated mortgage robo-adviser.

Thompson Street buys LifeSpan Biosciences

Thompson Street Capital Partners said Sept. 17 that has acquired LifeSpan Biosciences Inc. Management is also investing. Financial terms weren’t announced. LifeSpan Biosciences, of Seattle, distributes antibodies and related reagents primarily to the academic and pharmaceutical research markets via its e-commerce platform. BroadOak Capital Partners served as LifeSpan Biosciences’ exclusive financial adviser. Achelous Partners acted as Thompson Street’s financial adviser.