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.
Centre Partners Management LLC has sold Distant Lands Trading Company to Ito En Ltd. The deal is valued at $160 million. Renton, Washington-based Distant Lands supplies private label and branded specialty coffee to the U.S. grocery, foodservice and other retail channels. Moelis & Company advised Distant Lands.
3 min read · 05 February 2015
HomeLight said Wednesday that it closed $3 million in additional funding from Bullpen Capital, Montage Ventures, Crosslink Capital, Krillion Ventures, 500 Startups and Western Technology Investment. San Francisco-based HomeLIght matches homebuyers and sellers with the real estate agents. HomeLight said it has now raised a total of $4.85 million to date.
3 min read · 05 February 2015
Protector Holdings, a joint venture of Edgewood Partners Insurance Center (EPIC) and Dowling Capital Partners, has bought Peartree Insurance Services. Financial terms weren’t announced. Brea, California-based Peartree provides insurance services to Hispanic consumers.
2 min read · 05 February 2015
Summer Street Capital Partners said Wednesday that it recapped Dwellworks along with company management. Permal Capital Management also invested. Financial terms weren’t announced. Kirchner Group was the seller. Cleveland-based Dwellworks provides services for relocating employees and their families.
3 min read · 05 February 2015
SMG Holdings Inc, a portfolio company of American Capital, has acquired CGC Events Ltd. Financial terms weren’t announced. U.K.-based CGC provides catering concessionaire services venues throughout Northern England.
3 min read · 05 February 2015
Gary Loveman is stepping down as Chairman and CEO of Caesars Entertainment Corp. He will be replaced by Mark Frissora who is joining Caesars as CEO designee and will become CEO on July 1. Loveman will continue to serve as Chairman of Caesars Caesars Entertainment and of Caesars Entertainment Operating Co. Frissora is the former CEO of Hertz Global Holdings Inc.
7 min read · 05 February 2015
Natural Gas Partners has committed $400 million in equity financing to the formation of Prairie Storm Energy Corp., which is focused on acquiring, developing and exploiting oil and gas assets in select regions of Western Canada. Hugh Ross is President & CEO of Prairie, Ketan Panchmatia is VP Finance & CFO, Greg Groten is VP Exploration, while Rob Morrison is VP Operations and Julian Din is VP Business Development, a statement said.
3 min read · 05 February 2015
The California Public Employees’ Retirement System (CalPERS) said Wednesday that Paul Mouchakkaa was named CalPERS’ Senior Investment Officer for Real Assets. He takes over the position on March 2 and succeeds Ted Eliopoulos, who was named CalPERS Chief Investment Officer in September. Mouchakkaa joins CalPERS from Morgan Stanley Real Estate investing where he is currently an MD.
2 min read · 05 February 2015
TA Associates has finally launched the long-awaited fundraising of its twelfth private equity fund.
2 min read · 05 February 2015
ThinkingPhones said Wednesday it acquired Contactive. Financial terms weren’t announced. New York-based Contactive is an Android call management app that automates the process of Googling phone numbers and names. In December, Technology Crossover Ventures led a $56.7 million Series C round for ThinkingPhones.
3 min read · 04 February 2015
