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.
Things Remembered said Wednesday that its President and CEO Lisa Gavales was named chairman. Michael Anthony, who had been Chairman, President and CEO for eight years, has stepped down from the board. Cleveland-based Things Remembered is a personalized gift retailer that is backed by Madison Dearborn Partners.
3 min read · 26 February 2015
LandFund Partners said Wednesday it has launched its second private investment fund with more than $5 million in commitments. Nashville, Tennessee-based LandFund develops and manages closed-end private equity funds that acquire row crop farmland in Arkansas and Mississippi. Fund II has agreed to buy farmland of about 2,500 acres near Helena, Arkansas. Fund I accepted $7 million in capital commitments.
2 min read · 26 February 2015
AXA said Wednesday it has launched AXA Strategic Ventures, a 200 million Euro (US$227.1 million) venture capital fund. The pool will invest in start-up companies in insurance, asset management, financial technology and healthcare service industries. In the U.S., AXA Strategic Ventures will have offices in San Francisco and New York.
3 min read · 26 February 2015
Monroe Capital said Thursday it acted as sole lead arranger and administrative agent on a $27 million loan that provided growth capital to The Sandbox Group LLC. Chicago-based Sandbox is a marketing communications agency specializing in the healthcare, agriculture, and financial services industries.
2 min read · 26 February 2015
E. Thomas Massey and Marc van der Lubbe have joined Evercore’s investment banking business. Both executives are joining Evercore in May and will be based in London. Massey will be a senior MD and will lead Evercore’s Chemicals advisory franchise globally, while van der Lubbe will be an MD in the Chemicals Group focusing primarily on Europe. Massey was most recently Citgroup’s head of European M&A and van der Lubbe was an MD at Citi where he headed the investment banking franchise for the bank's chemicals clients in the EMEA region.
3 min read · 26 February 2015
Norwest Equity Partners said Thursday it invested in Old Hickory Smokehouse LLC. Financial terms weren’t announced. Lewisberg, Tennessee-based Old Hickory makes, markets and distributes food like rib tips and pulled pork, as well as beverages that are sold in retail grocery and foodservice channels. Norwest Equity’s investment was made in partnership with Wayne Wolf, Old Hickory’s CEO.
3 min read · 26 February 2015
Wigo said Tuesday it closed a $1.5 million extension of its seed round led by Great Oaks Venture Capital. Other investors in the round include Greylock Partners, GGV Capital, Blade, KEC Ventures, as well as angel investors including Jean Pigozzi and Brian Guttman. This extension follows an initial seed round of $550,000 Wigo raised over the summer. Boston-based Wigo is an app geared for college students that lets them figure out who is going out and where.
3 min read · 25 February 2015
BlackLine, which is backed by Silver Lake Sumeru, said Tuesday that it hired Mark Partin as its CFO. Partin recently served as CFO of Fiberlink communications which was sold to IBM. Charles Best, BlackLine’s former CFO, will remain with the company as Chief Accounting Officer.
3 min read · 25 February 2015
Solis Capital Partners has invested in ICOM North America. Financial terms weren’t announced. New Hudson, Michigan-based ICOM makes and assembles propane vehicle systems.
2 min read · 25 February 2015
Hanesbrands Inc. has agreed to buy Knights Apparel Inc., which is owned by Merit Capital Partners. Financial terms of the deal, which is subject to antitrust review, were not announced. Spartanburg, South Carolina-based Knights Apparel designs and supplies licensed sports apparel. Knights Apparel said its Alta Gracia business subsidiary, a fair trade/socially-conscious clothing brand, will not be a part of the transaction and will remain independent. Guggenheim Securities LLC provided financial advice to Knights Apparel.
3 min read · 25 February 2015
