Luisa Beltran

Million named Operating Partner at Highland Consumer Partners

Smaiyra Million has joined Highland Consumer Partners as an Operating Partner. Previously, Smaiyra was the CEO of Millennium Partners Sports Club Management.

GE Ventures leads $17.2 mln round for BitStew Systems

Bit Stew Systems said Tuesday it raised an additional $17.2 million in a Series B funding round led by GE Ventures. Existing investors Cisco Investments and Yaletown Venture Partners participated while BDC Capital, a new investor, took part. Bit Stew, of Vancouver, British Columbia, provides a platform that aims to manage massive data sets in industrial environments.

Pomona Capital launches fund to give accredited investors access to private equity

Pomona Capital said Monday it has launched the Pomona Investment Fund which aims to give accredited investors access to private equity investing. The majority of the fund’s investments will be in secondary interests in PE funds with a supplementary focus on primary and direct commitments. The fund has a $25,000 minimum subscription requirement; Voya Investments Distributor LLC is the distributor.

Lonsdale Capital invests in Nutrisure

Praesidian Capital Europe said Monday that it provide a first lien debt loan to support Lonsdale Capital Partners' investment in Nutrisure Limited. Bath, England-based Nutrisure supplies “superfoods” like acai and cacao, which provide antioxidants, nutrients, minerals, or vitamins. Nutrisure said it also named Alison Levett its CEO and Michael Stainer as Chief Financial Officer. Martin Kemp, Nutrisure’s founder, will remain a substantial shareholder.

Pilgrim Quality names Lowrey CEO

Pilgrim Quality Solutions, a portfolio company of Riverside Partners, said Monday that its board named Richard Lowrey as its CEO and member of the board. Lowrey succeeds Thierry Durand in the role. Lowrey was previously Executive VP of Deltek Inc.

Autonomic Technologies raises $38 mln

Autonomic Technologies Inc. said Tuesday it raised $38 million in a series D round of financing led by led by Edmond de Rothschild Investment Partners, syndicated with Forbion Capital Partners. Existing investors Kleiner Perkins Caufield and Byers, InterWest Partners, Novartis Venture Fund, Aberdare Ventures and the Cleveland Clinic also participated. San Francisco-based Autonomic Technologies is a medical device company that is developing Pulsante, a microstimulator to treat severe headaches.

Auction starts for Citi's hedge fund administration business

Citigroup has launched the sale of its hedge fund administration unit, sources said.

Mission Bay Fund II raises $25 mln

Mission Bay Capital LLC said Monday it closed its second fund at $25 million. Fund II investors include several institutions and private individuals, including Jack Wadsworth, honorary chairman at Morgan Stanley Asia; Brook Byers, partner at venture capital firm Kleiner Perkins Caufield & Byers; the UCSF Foundation; the William K. Bowes, Jr. Foundation; Sobrato Capital; Capital Pacific; Novozymes; Chote Sophonpanich; Michael F. Koehn; and Leslie and Mac McQuown. Mission Bay Capital invests in life science companies emerging from the University of California and the San Francisco Bay Area.

JHL Biotech raises $45.6 mln

JHL Biotech Inc. said Monday it closed a $45.6 million Series C round of funding. Existing investor Milestone Capital and new investors Sungent BioVenture and Liwick Investment Management participated. JHL is a biopharmaceutical company.

American Capital invests $21.5 mln in Electronic Warfare Associates

American Capital Ltd. said Monday it invested $21.5 million in Electronic Warfare Associates Inc. The investment was led by American Capital Special Situations and takes the form of senior secured term loans. Herndon, Virginia-based Electronic Warfare provides electronic warfare, cyber security and advanced commercial test tool systems and solutions to the United States and allied-nation government agencies and commercial customers.