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.
Cuba may be the next frontier for private equity, but dealmaking will likely have to wait.
3 min read · 26 January 2015
In Second Opinion, Box shares soar in their first day of trading, a drone carrying methamphetamine crashes in Mexico, Expedia buys Travelocity and Cerberus is in talks to buy Digital First Media, which owns the Denver Post.
1 min read · 23 January 2015
Incline Equity Partners has invested in BCI Burke Company. Financial terms weren’t announced. Fond du Lac, Wisconsin-based Burke designs, makes and markets commercial playground and leisure equipment.
3 min read · 23 January 2015
Box Inc. said late Thursday it raised $175 million when it priced 12.5 million shares at $14 each via joint book-runners Morgan Stanley & Co. LLC, Credit Suisse Securities (USA) LLC and J.P. Morgan Securities LLC. Underwriters on the deal have a 30-day option to buy an additional 1.875 million shares. Box will trade Friday on the NYSE under the ticker “BOX.” Box, the online storage company, is backed by venture capital firms including Draper Fisher Jurvetson, U.S. Venture Partners and Coatue Management.
2 min read · 23 January 2015
Caspian Private Equity LLC announced late Thursday the final close of its latest fund. Caspian Private Equity II LP on Dec. 31 collected over $242 million from 85 different Limited Partners, exceeding its initial target of $200 million. CPE II will seek to make non-control investments in lower middle market opportunities. Caspian is an affiliate of Natixis Global Asset Management LP, an asset manager.
2 min read · 23 January 2015
Revelstoke Capital Partners said Friday it has completed its investment in Encore Rehabilitation Services. Financial terms weren’t announced. Farmington Hills, Michigan-based Encore provides rehabilitative therapy services and associated compliance and revenue cycle support services mainly to skilled nursing facilities as well as assisted living facilities and home health agencies. Nexus Health Capital served as financial advisor to Revelstoke while Lincoln International provided financial advice to Encore.
3 min read · 23 January 2015
Berkshire Partners and New Balance Holding have agreed to buy The Rockport Company. The adidas Group is the seller. Financial terms weren’t announced. Canton, Massachusetts-based Rockport designs and markets footwear for men and women. Drydock Footwear, a New Balance affiliate, is joining with Rockport to form The Rockport Group. The transaction is expected to close later in 2015.
4 min read · 23 January 2015
In Second Opinion, Avon is reportedly in deal talks with TPG, Google wants Firefox users to change their search engine and the number of female partners in VC has dropped by nearly half since 1999.
1 min read · 22 January 2015
Look for a private equity firm to win the Orbitz Worldwide auction, two bankers said.
2 min read · 22 January 2015
Look for a private equity firm to win the Orbitz Worldwide auction, two bankers said.
2 min read · 22 January 2015
