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.
CEC Entertainment, which is backed by Apollo Global Management, has acquired Peter Piper Pizza. Financial terms weren’t announced. The seller is ACON Investments. Peter Piper is a pizza and entertainment restaurant chain that operates 32 company-owned locations and 115 franchises in the southwestern U.S. and Mexico. North Point Advisors provided financial advice to Peter Piper.
4 min read · 17 October 2014
H-D Advanced Manufacturing Company said Friday it has acquired Crown Precision Machining. Financial terms weren’t announced. Irwindale, Calif.-based Crown makes and assembles high precision machined components used in commercial aerospace and defense applications. H-D Advanced Manufacturing is backed by Hicks Equity Partners, The Riverside Company and Weinberg Capital Group.
4 min read · 17 October 2014
Dick LeBlanc was named President of Flow International Corp. effective immediately. LeBlanc will report directly to the Waterjet Holdings President & CEO David Savage. LeBlanc most recently served as the EVP of Global Sales and Marketing for Flow, which develops and makes industrial waterjet machines for cutting applications. Waterjet Holdings, which is backed by American Industrial Partners, acquired Flow in January.
2 min read · 17 October 2014
In Second Opinion, Whisper is tracking the locations of its users and the new Apple iPads support multiple carriers on the same device. Plus, CBS follows HBO and announces a new subscription Internet streaming service .
1 min read · 16 October 2014
The Blackstone Group expects to begin fundraising for its seventh global buyout fund by the end of the year, said President and COO Hamilton “Tony” James.
2 min read · 16 October 2014
Ironwood Capital has closed its investment in Pharmaceutic Litho & Label Co. Saugatuck Capital Co. also invested. Financial terms weren’t announced. Simi Valley, Calif.-based Pharmaceutic prints labels and inserts for the pharmaceutical, biotech, and medical device industries.
1 min read · 16 October 2014
AnaCap Financial Partners said Thursday it has bought a €1.9 billion (US$2.4 billion) portfolio of non-performing loans from UniCredit Group. The portfolio primarily consists of secured and unsecured bankruptcy and other enforcement claims, AnaCap said. London-based AnaCap, a specialist PE firm, invests in the European financial services sector.
2 min read · 16 October 2014
AssuredPartners, a GTCR portfolio company, has acquired Casualty Assurance of Chaska. Financial terms weren’t announced. Chaska, Minn.-based Casualty Assurance specializes in commercial insurance, employee benefits, and personal insurance, and serves clients throughout that state.
2 min read · 16 October 2014
KKR has made a minority investment in arago AG. Financial terms weren’t announced. Frankfurt, Germany-based arago provides IT automation.
4 min read · 16 October 2014
In Second Opinion, Apple is unveiling it's new iPads tomorrow, Netflix didn't add as many streaming customers in third quarter as it expected and HBO will start selling next year a digital version of its service that won’t require a pay-TV subscription.
1 min read · 15 October 2014
