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.
Taco Bueno said Tuesday that it opened its first location in Colorado Springs, Colorado. Taco Bueno, a Mexican quick service chain, is a portfolio company of Palladium Equity Partners LLC.
3 min read · 17 June 2015
GSI Health said Tuesday that it received an investment from Rittenhouse Ventures. Financial terms were not announced. Philadelphia-based GSI provides software and technology for patients, health care payers and care providers.
3 min read · 17 June 2015
Velocity Technology Solutions Inc. said Tuesday that Marc Vassanelli was named EVP and CFO, effective since May 31. Most recently, Vassanelli was interim CFO of the Towergate Group. CORRECTION: Vassanelli was hired away by Velocity and never served as Towergate's interim CFO, a spokesman said. Velocity is a portfolio company of Silver Lake Sumeru.
2 min read · 17 June 2015
GTCR has invested in Transaction Data Systems Inc., which does business as Rx30. Financial terms weren’t announced. Ocoee, Florida-based Rx30 develops and supplies pharmacy management software solutions to the independent, hospital, long-term care and specialty pharmacy markets. Macquarie Corp. and Asset Finance Lending, Golub Capital, ORIX Leveraged Finance, Ares Capital Corp. and Business Development Corp. of America provided financing for the transaction. William Blair & Company served as financial advisor.
3 min read · 17 June 2015
Actis said Tuesday that it elected Torbjorn Caesar as the firm’s new Senior Partner effective immediately. Torbjorn is succeeding Paul Fletcher, who becomes Non-Executive Chairman of the Firm. Torbjorn was previously Co-head of Actis’ energy business.
4 min read · 16 June 2015
Avalara Inc. said Tuesday it acquired VAT Applications NV. Financial terms weren’t announced. VAT, of Brighton, United, Kingdom, develops compliance software and services for businesses. Investors of Avalara include Sageview Capital, Battery Ventures, Warburg Pincus, Technology Crossover Ventures and Arthur Ventures.
4 min read · 16 June 2015
Verb said Tuesday it raised $2.3 million in seed funding. Austin-based Verb aims to connect large corporations and foundations with social entrepreneurs with competitions and a technology platform. Investors include Tom Meredith (Meritage Capital), John Thornton (Austin Ventures), Bobby Epstein (Circuit of the Americas), Matthew Dowd (Paradox Capital), David Hunt (Petro-Hunt L.L.C.), Herbert Simon (Simon Property Group), Zita Cassizzi (TOMS Shoes), Kurt Wilkins (HireBetter), Donna Wilkins (Charity Dynamics), Marc Winkelman (Calendar Holdings LLC), Andrew Bursten (Coastal Telephone Co.), Lance Fors (LFI Properties), Pamela Ryan (Tingari-Silverton Foundation), Dan & Lisa Graham (Graham Family Foundation), and Walter Wilkie (Philanthropist).
3 min read · 16 June 2015
Azimo said Tuesday that raised another $20 million in financing led by Frog Capital. Also participating were MCI Investments and existing investors such as e.ventures and Greycroft Partners. London-based Azimo provides online and smartphone-based money transfers. FT Partners advised on the round.
3 min read · 16 June 2015
Milestone Pharmaceuticals Inc. said Monday that it closed a $17 million series B financing led by Domain Associates. All of Milestone's existing investors including Fonds de solidarité FTQ , Pappas Ventures, BDC Capital, GO Capital and iNovia Capital participated in the round. Montreal-based Milestone Pharma is a clinical stage cardiovascular company.
5 min read · 16 June 2015
Syndax Pharmaceuticals Inc. said Tuesday that Briggs Morrison, M.D., is joining the company as CEO and a member of the Board of Directors, while Michael Metzger is joining as President and COO. Morrison was previously with AstraZeneca, where he was EVP, Global Medicines Development and Chief Medical Officer. Metzger was President and CEO of Regado Biosciences. Syndax, of Waltham, Massachusetts, is a biotech developing drugs for treatment resistant breast cancer. Syndax investors include Domain Associates, MPM Capital, Forward Ventures, Pappas Ventures and Avalon Ventures.
4 min read · 16 June 2015
