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.
Gemspring Capital said July 25 that Donald Gerne joined the firm as a managing director on the investment team, while Charles Fraas joined as a managing director and head of portfolio operations.
2 min read · 26 July 2019
2 min read · 26 July 2019
The London Stock Exchange is in talks to merge with Refinitiv, the provider of financial markets data that’s owned by Blackstone and Reuters, the Financial Times reported July 26. Financial terms weren’t disclosed. Blackstone acquired a 55 percent stake in Thomson Reuters’ Financial & Risk business in 2018. The deal valued the total F&R business at $20 billion, Reuters said.
1 min read · 26 July 2019
McNally Capital said July 24 that it invested in Altamira Technologies. Financial terms weren’t announced. ClearSky and Nio Advisors LLC invested in the deal alongside McNally. Altamira provides analytics and engineering solutions to the U.S. national security community.
3 min read · 25 July 2019
Toast said July 24 that it acquired StratEx. Financial terms weren’t announced. StratEx provides HR and payroll software for restaurants. In April, Toast raised $250 million in VC funding. Bill Mone, Amanda Holt and Aaron Harsh of Ropes & Gray advised Toast.
2 min read · 25 July 2019
Wealth Enhancement Group, a portfolio company of Lightyear Capital, said July 25 that it closed its buy of Planning Solutions Group LLC. Financial terms weren’t announced. Planning Solutions, of Fulton, Maryland, is an independent financial advisory business with more than $1.3 billion in combined client assets as of June 30.
2 min read · 25 July 2019
Amp Americas said July 25 that it raised $75 million in a round led by EIV Capital. Existing Amp investors participated in the round. Amp Americas, of Chicago, builds and operates on-farm RNG projects, sources and markets RNG to supply fuel to some of the country’s largest fleet customers, and partners with dairy farmers across the country to bring more ultra-low CI gas to market.
3 min read · 25 July 2019
Sofinnova Partners said July 25 that it has sold Breath Therapeutics to Zambon for up to 500 million euros ($556.9 million), including 140 million euros up front. Breath Therapeutics provides inhalation therapies for severe respiratory diseases.
4 min read · 25 July 2019
Jollibee Foods Corp is buying Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf for $100 million, according to press reports. Sellers include Advent International and other investors such as Sassoon family, Reuters said. Jollibee is the largest food service network in the Philippines. Coffee Bean, of Los Angeles, has 1,189 outlets spread across the United States, Southeast Asia and the Middle East, Reuters said. UPDATE: Total consideration for the deal is $350 million, according to an SEC filing.
1 min read · 25 July 2019
Stonepeak Infrastructure Partners is advanced talks to buy a minority stake in Altice USA Inc’s Lightpath fiber unit, Bloomberg reported. A deal would value the unit at $3 billion, the story said.
1 min read · 25 July 2019
