Luisa Beltran

KnowBe4 raises $300 mln

KnowBe4 has raised a $300 million round of funding led by KKR. Existing investors Elephant and TenEleven Ventures participated in the round. The transaction values KnowBe4, a provider of security awareness training and simulated phishing platform, at $1 billion.

KKR offers to buyout Axel Springer's minority investors: Reuters

KKR pitched a 40 percent premium to buy out Axel Springer’s minority investors, Reuters reported. The proposal values the company at 6.8 billion euros ($7.7 billion) and would guarantee Axel Springer’s 76-year-old widow Friede a say over strategy even if KKR secures a majority stake, the story said.

Leeds-backed Exterro buys Jordan Lawrence Group.

Exterro, a portfolio company of Leeds Equity Partners, said June 11 that it acquired Jordan Lawrence Group. Financial terms weren’t announced. Jordan Lawrence is a software and services company that provides privacy and information governance solutions to more than 1,000 corporations to help them manage corporate data.

Monroe Capital expands direct originations team

Monroe Capital LLC added seven investment professionals to its direct originations team. They include David Fischer and Nick McDearis in the firm’s Atlanta office; Dan Letizia and Tommy Ryan in the firm’s Chicago office; and Jack Bernstein in the firm’s New York office. Monroe recently hired Stewart Hanlon in the firm’s San Francisco office and Alex Patil in the firm’s Los Angeles office.

EQT to exit Press Ganey

EQT said June 11 that it agreed to sell Press Ganey to a group that includes Leonard Green & Partners, Ares Management Corp and other co-investors. Financial terms weren’t announced by press reports pegged the deal at more than $4 billion. Press Ganey, of South Bend, Indiana, develops and distributes patient satisfaction survey.

Mounce joins GTCR

GTCR said June 11 that it hired Melissa Mounce as managing director – leadership talent. Mounce previously worked at Baird Capital, where she had the role of principal of human capital.

Scoutbee raises $12 mln

Scoutbee said June 11 that it raised $12 million in a funding round that included prior investors. Scoutbee provides an AI-driven supplier discovery suite.

L2 Capital exits LSC Environmental Products

L2 Capital Partners LP said June 11 that it sold LSC Environmental Products LLC to Ancor Capital Partners LLC. Financial terms weren’t announced. LSC, of Apalachin, New York, is a soil stabilization products platform.

Hudson Bay shareholders form group to take retailer private: Wall Street Journal

A consortium comprised of Hudson Bay shareholders has made an offer to take the retailer private, the Wall Street Journal reported. The group includes Chairman Richard Baker, Rhône Capital LLC, WeWork Property Advisors and other shareholders that together control 57 percent of Hudson Bay shares outstanding, the story said. The deal values Hudson Bay at 9.45 Canadian dollars ($7.12) a share.

Ares, Leonard Green near buy of Press Ganey: Bloomberg

Ares Management Corp is leading an investor group, which includes Leonard Green & Partners, to buy Press Ganey Associates from EQT Partners, Bloomberg is reporting. The deal is valued at $4 billion, the story said. Press Ganey provides surveys that hospitals use to measure patient satisfaction and the quality of care.