US

EagleTree taps Gray as operating partner

New York City-based EagleTree Capital, a private equity and investment firm, has appointed Robert A. Gray as an operating partner for its investment funds and portfolio companies. Gray is a former CEO of PR Newswire.

Home insurance firm Luko snags Series A

Luko, a Paris-based home insurance company, has raised 20 million euros in Series A funding. Accel led the round with participation from Founders Fund and Speedinvest.

Walter Capital to acquire stake in Athos

Walter Capital Partners has agreed to acquire a significant stake in Athos Services Commémoratifs, a Quebec-based funeral services company. No financial terms were disclosed. Walter Capital is backed by investors that include the Bourgie-Bovet family.

Winklevoss backed Gemini Trust buys Nifty Gateway

Gemini Trust Co LLC said Nov. 19 that it has acquired Nifty Gateway. Financial terms weren’t announced. Nifty Gateway is a platform for non-fungible tokens. Gemini Trust is the cryptocurrency exchange founded by the brothers Cameron and Tyler Winklevoss.

Tailwind buys Banner

Tailwind Capital has acquired Kansas City, Missouri-based Banner, a wholesale distributor of mechanical door hardware, electronic access controls, and security products primarily for repair and replacement applications in the commercial/industrial and residential end markets. Banner was backed by High Road Capital Partners. BB&T Capital Markets served as financial adviser to Banner.

Kinzie acquires Colony Display

Kinzie Capital Partners has acquired Elgin, Illinois-based Colony Display LLC, a provider of highly customized fixtures and displays servicing the home improvement, retail and hospitality industries. No financial terms were disclosed.

SBJ-backed ALS Resolvion and TZP's Del Mar merge

ALS Resolvion, which is backed by Spanos Barber Jesse & Co and Del Mar Recovery Solutions, a portfolio company of TZP Group, have merged. The combined company will operate under the Resolvion name and form a automotive collateral recovery solutions provider. No financial terms were disclosed. Michael Levison, CEO of ALSR, will remain CEO while Del Mar CEO Josh Elias, will become president. Both SBJ and TZP have rolled all of their ownership in the merger.

BlueVine raises $102.5 mln

BlueVine said Nov. 19 that it raised $102.5 million in a Series F round of funding led by ION Crossover Partners. New investors included MUFG Innovation Partners Co Ltd, O.G. Tech - Eyal Ofer’s VC, Vintage Investment Partners, ION Group, Maor Investments and additional private investors. Also participating were all major existing investors, including Lightspeed Venture Partners, Menlo Ventures, 83North, SVB Capital, Nationwide, Citi Ventures, Microsoft’s venture fund, M12, and private investors. BlueVine provides small business banking.

NexPhase invests in Surgent

NexPhase Capital LP has made an investment in Radnor, Pennsylvania-based Surgent, a provider of end-to-end professional education from pre-licensure to continuing education for accounting, finance and healthcare professionals. No financial terms were disclosed.

PE-backed THG buys EBA

The Hilb Group, a portfolio company of Abry Partners, has acquired North Carolina-based Employee Benefit Advisors of the Carolinas LLC, a employee benefits agency for small to mid-market businesses in the Southeast region. No financial terms were disclosed.