I've been a business reporter for a while. I've covered Wall Street, venture capital and now private equity. I'm always looking for a scoop or something to talk about. I'm the eternal optimist and am still waiting for the Chicago Cubs to win the World Series. Yes, I believe.
Synlogic Inc said May 16 that it has agreed to merge with a subsidiary of Mirna Therapeutics Inc. Synlogic also recently closed a $42 million Series C preferred stock financing from investors including Aju IB Investment, Ally Bridge Group, Arctic Aurora LifeScience, CLI Ventures, Perceptive Advisors, Rock Springs Capital, and others. Existing investors, Atlas Venture, Deerfield, New Enterprise Associates, and OrbiMed also participated. Synlogic, of Cambridge, Massachusetts, is developing a class of living medicines.
9 min read · 16 May 2017
The Stephens Group LLC said May 16 that it acquired Pearlman Enterprises Inc, parent of GranQuartz and Pearl Abrasive. Financial terms weren’t announced. Pearlman, of Norcross, Georgia, develops and distributes supplies, tools, and equipment used in the fabrication and maintenance of hard surfaces for residential, commercial, and industrial end-markets.
3 min read · 16 May 2017
Philip Wack, a former director at KKR & Co, has launched Moonlake Capital, according to Private Equity News. Moonlake, of London, will target middle market companies, worth between 250 million euros and 300 million euros, in the industrial and consumer services sectors in the U.K. and German-speaking Europe, the story said. Wack left KKR in April along with other senior executives including Haroun van Hövell, the firm’s head of energy for Europe, the Middle East and Africa, Private Equity News said.
1 min read · 15 May 2017
Airy3d Inc said May 15 that it raised $3.5 million in a seed round co-led by CRCM Ventures and R7 Partners. Other investors include WI Harper Group, Robert Bosch Venture Capital, Nautilus Venture Partners as well as several angel investors affiliated with TandemLaunch. Airy3D, of Montreal, is developing passive single sensor solution for 3D computer vision.
3 min read · 15 May 2017
Spectrum Brands Holdings Inc said May 15 that it agreed to buy PetMatrix LLC. Financial terms weren’t announced. PetMatrix makes and markets rawhide-free dog chews. Mark Stern, an affiliate of Friend Skoler & Co is the seller. UPDATE: The deal is valued at about $255 million cash, according to an SEC filing. RBC Capital Markets acted as financial adviser, while Paul, Weiss, Rifkind, Wharton & Garrison LLP served as legal adviser to Spectrum Brands. J.P. Morgan and Friend Skoler & Co. advised PetMatrix, while Goodwin Procter LLP was their attorney.
6 min read · 15 May 2017
Battery Ventures has acquired Concurrent Real-Time, a business segment of Concurrent Computer Corp for $35 million in gross proceeds. Concurrent Real-Time produces software and systems for applications or simulations serving industries such as aerospace, defense, automotive, energy and financial.
3 min read · 15 May 2017
WinView Inc said May 15 that it raised a $12 million Series B round. Investors include Graham Holdings Co, Discovery Communications, Ted Leonsis' Monumental Sports & Entertainment and LionTree Partners. WinView provides an app that lets users place bets on live televised sports.
7 min read · 15 May 2017
Martin Clark, James Darlington and Jeremy Thompson have joined Maven Capital Partners. They will be investment managers and responsible for transacting new NPIF equity investments. Nikola Clarke, who also joined, will provide portfolio support to NPIF investee businesses.
3 min read · 15 May 2017
Rabobank said May 15 that it has launched the Rabo Food & Agri Innovation Fund, part of Rabo Private Equity. The size of the fund was not disclosed. The fund will invest in early-stage food and agriculture companies in the United States and Western Europe.
2 min read · 15 May 2017
Scientist.com said May 15 that it raised $24 million in equity financing co-led by Leerink Transformation Partners and 5AM Ventures. Heritage Provider Network, Bootstrap Ventures and Hollywood producer Jack Giarraputo also participated. Scientist.com, of San Diego, is a marketplace for outsourced research. Christian Atwood, private equity partner at Choate Hall & Stewart LLP, acted as legal advisor to Leerink.
4 min read · 15 May 2017
