Author: Serkadis

John LaMattina, former president of Pfizer’s global R&D efforts, has joined PureTech Ventures as a senior partner. PureTech also announced the promotions of Eric Elenko and Steve Muniz to partner.

PRESS RELEASE

PureTech Ventures today announced that John LaMattina, Ph.D., former President, Pfizer Global Research & Development and Executive Vice President, Pfizer, Inc., has joined the firm as a Senior Partner. PureTech also announced the expansion of the firm’s operational leadership team with the promotions of Dr. Eric Elenko and Mr. Steve Muniz to Partner.

“John’s breadth of expertise across all aspects of drug discovery and development coupled with his extensive network and practical approach to translating innovative ideas will be a valuable resource for PureTech,” said Daphne Zohar, PureTech Founder and Managing Partner.

“The opportunity to work with world class scientists on cutting edge programs has always been my passion,” says Dr. LaMattina. “I look forward to having stimulating interactions in an entrepreneurial atmosphere with my colleagues at PureTech and to building programs that can truly impact the future of medicine.”

In addition to joining as a Senior Partner, Dr. LaMattina has been appointed to the PureTech Board of Directors. Dr. LaMattina joins other PureTech Senior Partners and Board members: Dr. Bennett Shapiro, (Chairman, former EVP Worldwide Basic and External Research, Merck); Dr. John Zabriskie (former CEO Pharmacia & Upjohn); Dr. Ronald Cape (Founder, Cetus); Dr. Frank Douglas (former Chief Scientific Officer, Aventis); Dr. Robert Langer (renowned MIT Professor); and Ms. Daphne Zohar (PureTech Founder and Managing Partner).

Dr. LaMattina is the former President, Pfizer Global Research and Development and Senior Vice President, Pfizer Inc. During his 30 year career at Pfizer Inc., Dr. LaMattina held positions of increasing responsibility for Pfizer Central Research, including Vice President of US Discovery Operations in 1993, Senior Vice President of Worldwide Discovery Operations in 1998 and Senior Vice President of Worldwide Development in 1999. During Dr. LaMattina’s leadership tenure Pfizer discovered and/or developed a number of important new medicines including Tarceva, Chantix, Zoloft (PTSD), Selzentry and Lyrica along with a number of other medicines currently in late stage development for cancer, rheumatoid arthritis and pain. He is the author of numerous scientific publications and U.S. patents. In addition, Dr. LaMattina is the author of “Drug Truths: Dispelling the Myths About Pharma R&D”.

Dr. LaMattina received the 1998 Boston College Alumni Award of Excellence in Science and the 2004 American Diabetes Association Award for Leadership and Commitment in the Fight Against Diabetes. He was awarded an Honorary Doctor of Science degree from the University of New Hampshire in 2007. During this same year he was the recipient of the Just One Break, Inc. Lifetime Achievement Award and the Legal Momentum Equal Opportunity Award. He will also be the recipient of the American Chemical Society’s Earle B. Barnes Award for Leadership in Chemical Research Management in 2010. Dr. LaMattina serves on the Board of Directors of Human Genome Sciences and Neurogen and serves as Chairman of the Strategic Advisory Committee for Bilcare. He also is a member of the Board of Trustees of Boston College. Dr. LaMattina received a B.S. in Chemistry from Boston College in 1971, and received a Ph.D. in Organic Chemistry from the University of New Hampshire in 1975. He then moved on to Princeton University as a National Institutes of Health Postdoctoral Fellow in the laboratory of Professor E. C. Taylor.

PureTech also announced the promotions of Dr. Eric Elenko and Mr. Steve Muniz to Partner. Dr. Elenko and Mr. Muniz will be joining Mr. David Steinberg as Partners on PureTech’s operational leadership team.

Since joining PureTech in 2005 Dr. Elenko has been instrumental in the development of PureTech’s portfolio companies and initiatives, including the founding of Solace Pharmaceuticals, Inc., Gelesis, Inc., Karuna Inc., and Tal Medical. Through his role at PureTech, he has also been a valued mentor to entrepreneurs, serving as one of the founding mentors for the Kauffman Foundation’s Entrepreneur Fellows Program. Prior to joining PureTech, Dr. Elenko was a consultant with McKinsey & Company where he advised senior executives of both Fortune 500 and specialty pharmaceutical companies on a range of issues such as product licensing, mergers and acquisitions, R&D strategy, and marketing. Dr. Elenko received his BA in Biology from Swarthmore College and his PhD in Biomedical Sciences from University of California, San Diego.

Since joining PureTech in 2007, Mr. Muniz has been responsible for all operational and legal aspects of the firm. Prior to joining PureTech, he was a Partner in the Corporate Department of Edwards, Angell, Palmer & Dodge LLP, where he practiced law for 10 years. Mr. Muniz’s practice at EAPD focused on the representation of life science venture funds as well as their portfolio companies in general corporate matters and in investment and liquidity transactions. Mr. Muniz has a BA in Economics and Accounting from The College of the Holy Cross and a JD from New England School of Law where he graduated summa cum laude.

About PureTech Ventures

PureTech Ventures (www.puretechventures.com) is a Boston-based venture firm specializing in creating innovative companies that will impact human health and wellbeing. PureTech leverages the knowledge, experience and networks of its Senior Partners and team of entrepreneurs to translate breakthrough research from top tier academic institutions into products that address critical unmet medical needs.

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AppNexus Inc., a New York-based maker of a virtualized cloud computing platform for online advertising applications, has raised $5 million in third-round funding. Kodiak Venture Partners led the round, and was joined by fellow return backers Venrock and First Round Capital. Previous investor was not listed.

PRESS RELEASE

AppNexus, provider of the most advanced platform for buying real-time online advertising, today announced it secured a $5-million round led by existing investor Kodiak Venture Partners with participation from other current investors Venrock and First Round Capital. The funding will be used to enable AppNexus to capitalize on momentum for its real-time advertising and cloud hosting platform.

Led by an accomplished management team from Yahoo/Right Media and Google/DoubleClick, AppNexus provides buyers of online ads with a proprietary gateway to leading ad exchanges and ad inventory aggregators, which collectively represent the largest audiences on the internet.

“Display advertising is undergoing a period of profound transformation. Ad inventory aggregators are opening up and embracing the auction-based model, creating a host of new challenges and opportunities for buyers,” said Brian O’Kelley, CEO of AppNexus. “AppNexus has developed the premier technology platform to support this next generation of display advertising, and this round will enable us to continue expanding the business and adding top industry talent.”

“AppNexus is uniquely positioned to capitalize on the rapid growth in the real-time bidding marketplace,” said Chip Meakem, Managing Director at Kodiak Venture Partners and AppNexus board member. “This extra capital allows AppNexus to further leverage its market leadership position. Plus, we wanted to own more of the company.”

About AppNexus

AppNexus is the most advanced platform for buying real-time online advertising. AppNexus’s clients include the largest ad networks and online advertisers. AppNexus offers a proprietary gateway to premier ad exchanges and ad inventory aggregators, and cloud computing capabilities for unrivaled scalability. AppNexus is based in New York City. The company is backed by investors including Venrock, Kodiak Venture Partners, and First Round Capital. More information can be obtained by visiting AppNexus online at www.appnexus.com.

About Kodiak Venture Partners

Kodiak Venture Partners is an early stage venture capital firm that partners with world class teams to build market-leading companies. Founded in 1999, Kodiak manages three main funds totaling $681M and targets companies in Boston, New York and Eastern Canada. For more information, please visit www.kodiakvp.com

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Tyden Group Holdings Corp., a portfolio company of Crimson Investment, has acquired E.J. Brooks Co., a Livingston, N.J.-based provider of security seals and metering related products. No financial terms were disclosed.

PRESS RELEASE

Tyden Group Holdings Corporation, a portfolio company of Crimson Investment, announced on Wednesday, November 4th, the acquisition of E.J. Brooks Company, a leading provider of security seals and metering related products.

Ian Morton, a Crimson Partner, commented, “We are very excited about combining two such well established names in the security seals industry. The union between Tyden and E.J. Brooks should enable us to provide our global customers with enhanced service and reach, offer expanded opportunities for our employees, and capitalize on our innovative product portfolio.”

Putting these two organizations together immediately provides our customers with a broader product portfolio and access to a global sales and service network. This strong platform augmented with expanded new product development and manufacturing operations in Asia, Europe and North America should create new market opportunities and drive significant growth for the business, “said Gary Edwards, CEO of Tyden Group Holdings.

As a result of the acquisition, the company will be reorganized into the following three business units.

– Tyden Brooks Security Products Group – The two global security seal
companies, formerly TydenBrammall and E.J. Brooks, will be combined to
form the Tyden Brooks Security Products Group. The headquarters for this
group will be located in Livingston, New Jersey.
– Tyden Brooks Utility Products Group – The UPG division, a premier
supplier of metering-related products such as meter adapters, test
switches, meter sockets and seals sold to utilities, will continue to
operate as a standalone business with its headquarters in Farmington
Hills, Michigan.

– Telesis Technologies – The Telesis division that provides laser and
mechanical direct part marketing systems for product identification and
traceability applications will continue to operate as a standalone
business with its headquarters in Circleville, Ohio.

About Tyden Group Holding Corp.: Tyden Group companies have become leaders in their industries by serving customers around the world with innovative and customized security solutions and product identification technology. Through its two divisions, TydenBrammall (www.tydenbrammall.com) and Telesis Technologies (www.telesis.com) the Company provides products that ensure greater security for the transportation of goods and increased efficiency throughout the global supply chain.

About E.J. Brooks Company: E.J. Brooks’ (www.ejbrooks.com) innovative products have been used by a diverse number of industries to safeguard their revenue and assets. Brooks provides security seals and locking devices and metering related products to the transportation, retail, money handling, chemical, pharmaceutical, healthcare and utility industries.

About Crimson Investments: Established in 1993, Crimson is an international private equity firm focused on investments in manufacturing and services companies.

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DW Healthcare Partners has sold Global Physics Solutions Inc., a Cypress, Texas-based provider of provider of medical physics services to hospitals and radiation therapy centers, to Landauer Inc. (NYSE: LDR). The deal was valued at $22 million in cash.

PRESS RELEASE

Landauer, Inc. (NYSE: LDR), a recognized leader in personal and environmental radiation monitoring services, today announced the completion of two acquisitions in accordance with its long-term strategic priorities.

“We are pleased to announce the acquisitions of Global Physics Solutions, Inc. (GPS) and Gammadata Mattenknik AB (GDM),” said Bill Saxelby, President and CEO of Landauer. “These acquisitions position Landauer to execute on our long-term strategic priorities to drive competitive growth and pursue strategic expansion. These high quality companies complement Landauer’s competencies and the financial characteristics of our core business while providing entrance into new market segments.”

Global Physics Solutions, Inc. (GPS)

The acquisition of Global Physics Solutions, Inc. (GPS), completed on November 9, 2009, for $22 million in cash, initiates Landauer’s strategic expansion through the extension of services to ensure the safe utilization of radiation in the healthcare setting.

Based in Texas with operations throughout the Midwest, GPS is the leading nationwide provider of Medical Physics Services to hospitals and radiation therapy centers. Medical Physics Services is estimated to be a $1 billion domestic market that includes clinical physics support, equipment commissioning, accreditation support, imaging equipment testing and educational services. Medical physicists provide clinical and operational support in the safe application of radiation for diagnosis and treatment of patients.

Saxelby explained, “As we look to expand the scope of our core occupational health monitoring business, the Medical Physics Services sector is attractive to us because it is a service model that complements our core business focus of radiation safety and exhibits attractive growth characteristics. Global Physics Solutions is healthcare focused with the same customers as Landauer, has regulatory support, and has a recurring revenue model with high return characteristics. This large and expanding market opportunity provides us with a substantial growth platform and the current market is highly fragmented with no one company controlling more than two percent of the market.”

“The GPS leadership team is excited to join Landauer,” noted Len Wright, President and CEO of GPS. “Landauer’s leadership in radiation safety, combined with our leadership in medical physics will provide a compelling service offering to our shared customers.”

Saxelby added, “We chose GPS not only because they are the largest company in the market, but they are also recognized as thought leaders in the industry and have been able to attract expert medical physicists and a blue chip customer base. This move expands our leadership in the radiation science and services arena and helps us better address the desire of the medical community to understand the impact of increased utilization of radiation in medical procedures on patient safety.”

Landauer acquired GPS from DW Healthcare Partners, a leading private equity firm focused exclusively on the healthcare industry. Robert W. Baird & Co acted as financial advisors to Landauer on this transaction.

Gammadata Matteknik AB (GDM)

The acquisition of Gammadata Matteknik AB (GDM) completed on November 2, 2009, for $6.7 million in cash, aligns with the company’s competitive growth objective through expansion of the company’s international platform with the leading European provider of radon measurement services. Radon is a naturally occurring radioactive gas that can lead to the increased risk of lung cancer. The World Health Organization recently recommended that countries lower radon levels to control the presence of radon in homes and commercial settings.

GDM has operations outside of Stockholm Sweden and provides measurement services primarily in the Scandinavian region and throughout Europe. This transaction will leverage the Company’s recent acquisition of the Studsvik dosimetry service in Sweden, now called Landauer Persondosimetri AB.

“The stability of our core businesses and strong cash flow we generate is enabling us to execute on our three strategic growth priorities as planned,” explained Jonathon Singer, Chief Financial Office of Landauer, Inc. “We remain committed to approaching any strategic expansion opportunities in a thoughtful and measured manner, and are confident that we will be able to build upon our success in the coming years.”

Conference Call Details

Landauer has scheduled a conference call and webcast to discuss the acquisitions on Tuesday, November 10, 2009 at 9:00 a.m. Eastern Time (6:00 a.m. Pacific Time). To participate, callers should dial 877-941-9205 (within the United States and Canada) or 480-629-9835 (international calls), and reference the conference ID #4181265, about 10 minutes before the presentation. To listen to a webcast on the Internet, please go to the Company’s website at http://www.landauerinc.com at least 15 minutes early to register, download and install any necessary audio software. Investors may access a replay of the call by dialing 800-406-7325 (within the United States and Canada) or 303-590-3030 (international calls) passcode #4181265, which will be available until December 8, 2009. The replay of the call will remain available on Landauer’s website for 90 days.

About Landauer

Landauer is the world’s leading provider of technical and analytical services to determine occupational and environmental radiation exposure. For more than 50 years, the Company has provided complete radiation dosimetry services to hospitals, medical and dental offices, universities, national laboratories, nuclear facilities and other industries in which radiation poses a potential threat to employees. Landauer’s services include the manufacture of various types of radiation detection monitors, the distribution and collection of the monitors to and from clients, and the analysis and reporting of exposure findings. The Company provides its services to approximately 1.6 million people in the United States, Japan, France, the United Kingdom, Brazil, Canada, China, Australia, Mexico and other countries.

About DW Healthcare Partners

DW Healthcare Partners (”DWHP”) is a private equity firm providing growth capital for medical device and healthcare service companies. The firm manages over $250 million in committed capital and invests in profitable companies with proven management teams. DWHP provides the capital, strategic guidance, and acquisition expertise to help mid- to late-stage healthcare companies realize their potential for growth. DW Healthcare Partners is led by seasoned healthcare executives with more than 100 years of combined industry experience. For more information, please visit www.dwhp.com.

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Tennenbaum Capital Partners has secured over $330 million in capital commitments for its first fund focused on debtor-in-possession (DIP) financing.

PRESS RELEASE

Tennenbaum Capital Partners, LLC (”TCP”), a leading private investment firm with extensive experience in distressed investing, today announced the second closing of Tennenbaum DIP Opportunity Fund, LLC (the “Fund”), an over $330 million fund focused on debtor-in-possession (”DIP”) financing.

“With the closing of this Fund, the first of our funds to exclusively focus on DIP financing, TCP will be able to assist companies severely affected by this downturn,” said Howard Levkowitz, Managing Partner of TCP. “TCP will partner with management teams and other parties to provide loans to enable debtors sufficient time to reorganize properly.” The Fund will lead, structure, agent and participate in DIPs and DIP refinancings, using TCP’s unique experience with distressed investing to guide debtors through their restructurings.

Debtor-in-possession financing, or DIP financing, is a special form of financing provided to assist companies under Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection. DIP financing is generally senior to other debt, equity, and any other securities issued by a company. DIP loans are generally put into place at the beginning of bankruptcy cases to provide immediate cash as well as ongoing working capital to allow a company to reorganize. DIP financing assists companies by restoring vendor and customer confidence in the company’s ability to maintain its liquidity.

The Fund targets DIP loans of a minimum $10 million. TCP has extensive experience working with companies in energy and power, manufacturing, media and business services, retail and consumer services, real estate, technology, telecom, and transportation, but will consider loans in all industries.

“This new DIP fund, comprised primarily of large institutional investors, puts us among the handful of firms that are willing and able to provide DIP financing,” said David Hollander, a Partner with TCP. “In the recent past, companies who otherwise would have been able to reorganize in Chapter 11 have instead had to restructure before they have time to reorganize properly or liquidate due to a lack of available financing. DIP Financing is an unprecedented market opportunity.”

“TCP has deep experience not only in DIP financing, but also other forms of distressed investing, and over the years has shown the flexibility to invest up and down the capital structure. This Fund builds on TCP’s history of providing financing in complicated situations or when financing is in short supply to help distressed companies emerge from difficult circumstances and achieve future success,” Mr. Hollander continued.

About Tennenbaum Capital Partners, LLC

Tennenbaum Capital Partners(TM) is a Santa Monica, California-based private investment firm. The firm’s investment strategy is grounded in a long-term, value approach, and it assists — both financially and operationally — transitional middle market companies in such industries as technology, healthcare, energy, aerospace, business services, retail and general manufacturing. TCP’s core strengths include in-depth knowledge of equity and debt financing vehicles in the public and private markets, as well as a thorough understanding of special situations. These situations may include legal, operational or financial challenges; turnarounds, restructurings and bankruptcies; corporate divestitures and buyouts; and complex ownership changes. For more, see www.tennenbaumcapital.com.

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Chef Solutions Holdings LLC (a.k.a. Orval Kent), a Wheeling, Ill.-based manufacturer of fresh prepared foods for retailers and food service accounts, has raised $24 million from Mistral Equity Partners.

PRESS RELEASE

Mistral Equity Partners, a private equity firm focused on the consumer and media sectors, announced today that it has invested $24 million in Chef Solutions Holdings, LLC and its affiliates, which, through its operating subsidiary Orval Kent Food Company, Inc. (“Orval Kent” or the “Company”), is the second largest manufacturer in North America of fresh prepared foods for retailers and food service accounts.

“As consumers continue to live more time-pressured lifestyles and demand increased convenience without giving up quality and taste, traditional grocery, mass and club retailers are focusing on meeting these demands through expanded product offerings in the fresh prepared food area,” commented Robert Fioretti, Managing Director of Mistral Equity Partners. “This provides an exceptional opportunity for Orval Kent, which, as one of the only companies in this sector with national scale, is well positioned to benefit from this growing trend. In addition, this transaction shows our continued focus on investing in consumer businesses with strong management teams that capitalize on demographic or psychographic trends.”

Steve Silk, CEO of Orval Kent said, “I am excited about our partnership with Mistral. Having known the principals for 15 years, I know that their knowledge of the market, growth-orientation and marketing acumen will enable us to become America’s largest and most trusted fresh foods provider. Their talents, combined with those of Questor and our management team, sets us up for market-leading performance.”

Orval Kent’s parent company is currently majority owned by private equity funds managed by Questor Management Company, LLC, an investment firm headquartered in Birmingham, Michigan. The proceeds of Mistral’s investment, which will be in the form of Subordinated Debt and Preferred Equity, will be used to pay down debt, fund various cost savings initiatives and provide funds for growth.

“We are delighted that Mistral has made this investment in Orval Kent. Not only are they investing significant capital at a time when the company is experiencing meaningful top line growth, they are bringing to the company and its Board deep food industry experience,” noted Robert Denious, Managing Director of Questor Management Company.

About Mistral Equity Partners

Mistral Equity Partners is a private equity firm comprised of highly experienced investment professionals and seasoned industry executives. The firm specializes in the consumer, retail, and consumer focused media sectors, and is especially attracted to businesses that are supported by strong demographic trends and fundamental changes in consumer preferences. Mistral’s principals have a long history of working together and identifying successful investment opportunities with these characteristics.

About Orval Kent Food Company, Inc.

Orval Kent has over 50 years of expertise and knowledge within the fresh prepared foods industry with strong national brand recognition. Providing a complete line of quality prepared products, from side dishes to deli salads to fresh-cut fruit to hot meal additions, Orval Kent provides industry expertise and business solutions to all major food channels and customers.

The company operates 5 manufacturing facilities in North America and has approximately 2,000 employees. Orval Kent Foods is a division of Chef Solutions, Wheeling, IL, whose parent, Chef Solutions Holdings, LLC, is majority-owned by Questor Partners Funds. Further information can be found at www.orvalkent.com.

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SDI Health, a Plymouth Meeting, Penn.-based provider of healthcare analytics, has raised an undisclosed amount of equity funding from Tailwind Capital. SDI had previously raised funding from LLR Partners.

PRESS RELEASE

Tailwind Capital, a private equity firm focused on growing companies in the healthcare, business services, and media/communications sectors of the middle market, announced today that it has completed an investment in SDI Health (“SDI”). SDI is a leading healthcare analytics provider based in Plymouth Meeting, PA. Tailwind joins founder Andrew Kress and Philadelphia-based LLR Partners as investors in the Company.

“We look forward to working with Tailwind and LLR to build the foremost healthcare information and services company,” said Andrew Kress, CEO of SDI. “Tailwind’s expertise and experience in working with growth businesses in the healthcare and business services industries will be invaluable as we continue to broaden our industry coverage and expand the breadth and depth of data and services we provide our clients.”

SDI is the leader in healthcare data integration, custom analytics, and reporting of patient-level data including de-identified, longitudinal patient-level information. The Company provides a wide range of near real-time healthcare informatics and market research to its clients, which include all of the top 50 pharmaceutical/biopharmaceutical manufacturers, medical and surgical device manufacturers, retailers and manufacturers of consumer packaged goods, the federal government, financial institutions, media groups, and other top healthcare companies.

“SDI is well-positioned to benefit from the changes in healthcare over the next decade, building on its strong market position collecting, analyzing and evaluating complex data on behalf of pharmaceutical, healthcare, and government clients. We are pleased to have the opportunity to provide capital for future growth and expansion by investing with SDI and its founders,” said Douglas Karp, Managing Partner of Tailwind Capital and Howard Ross, Partner of LLR Partners.

About SDI

Since 1982, SDI has been delivering innovative healthcare data products and analytic services to the pharmaceutical, biotech, healthcare, medical device, financial services, and consumer packaged goods industries. SDI is the leading provider of de-identified patient-level data analytics and offers a broad array of solutions and insights across the continuum of care. These include custom and syndicated patient-level data studies; localized disease and treatment surveillance and projection; market research audits; healthcare profiles; comprehensive managed care offerings; clinical trial optimization; direct-to-patient pharmacy programs; marketing effectiveness; sales targeting and compensation products; data integration, warehousing, and mining; list services; and direct marketing services. Its current roster includes the top 50 pharmaceutical/biotech companies. www.sdihealth.com

About Tailwind Capital

Tailwind Capital is a leading private equity firm investing in growth-oriented middle market companies in the healthcare, business services, and media/communications sectors. Tailwind partners with management teams to build businesses through organic growth, strategic acquisition, and operational improvement. The firm currently has over $1 billion under management. Representative Tailwind investments include VersaPharm (generic pharmaceuticals), Aircast (orthopedic devices), Freedom Innovations (prosthetic devices), TowerCo (wireless infrastructure), Archway (marketing logistics), and Trover Solutions (insurance services). www.tailwind.com

About LLR Partners

LLR Partners, a leading private equity firm based in Philadelphia, PA, provides capital to middle market growth companies with proven business models in a broad range of industries including healthcare, financial, and business services, information technology, and education. With over $1.4 billion under management, LLR is flexible in its approach, taking minority or control positions, and leading transactions ranging from expansion and growth capital to shareholder recapitalizations and buyouts. www.llrpartners.com

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ElectraTherm Inc., a Carson City, Nev.-based developer of waste-heat recovery technology, has raised $5.4 million in new funding from undisclosed investors. It has now raised around $10 million in total funding.

PRESS RELEASE

ElectraTherm, Inc. (www.electratherm.com) today announced the successful completion of additional funding totaling $5.4 million. The company has now raised nearly $10 million since its inception in 2005.

ElectraTherm’s enhanced waste-heat recovery technology dramatically improves energy efficiency alongside such applications as generator sets, biomass, geothermal and solar thermal. Over the last few months, the Company successfully completed its first field test at Southern Methodist University, shipped several units for installation by year-end, and is expanding its capacity for additional production.

“We have received an incredible response to our technology worldwide – in the form of dealers, investors and customers,” said Steve Olson, President of ElectraTherm. “Deployed on a large scale, the ElectraTherm Green Machine has the capacity to make a significant contribution to reducing CO2 emissions and increasing energy security. On top of that, increasing efficiency is simply good business.”

“Electratherm provides clean, inexpensive electricity to any producer of waste heat, which is both abundant and cheap. In fact, it’s free fuel,” said Charles Finnie, ElectraTherm investor and Managing Partner of Greener Capital Partners, a venture capital firm based in San Francisco. “The payback on Electratherm’s Green Machine is extraordinary – often less than two years. I am excited to be involved with this remarkable company and its impressive management team.”

The ElectraTherm Green Machine takes heat or pressure, and turns it into usable power. ElectraTherm’s Twin Screw Expander technology represents an important innovation in responsible energy usage, enabling industrial customers around the world to generate more electricity without consuming additional fuel or creating more emissions – the very definition of energy efficiency.

“ElectraTherm’s technology is unique, and customers worldwide are quickly discovering how easily they can hook a 5 foot by 5 foot Green Machine onto their waste heat source to produce clean electricity,” said John Davison, ElectraTherm board member. “This is a first-to-market, proven product that can increase energy efficiency immediately in industries such as geothermal, biomass, and oil and gas.”

For more information about the ElectraTherm Green Machine, visit http://www.electratherm.com/products.html.

About ElectraTherm, LLC

ElectraTherm, Inc. delivers renewable energy solutions for a sustainable future, now. The company’s proven, patented Twin Screw Expander enables its line of energy generators to make electricity from waste and geothermal heat or pressure instead of fossil fuel. ElectraTherm’s fuel-free, emission-free and low-cost technology offers the industry’s shortest payback period on investment. For more information on ElectraTherm and its cleantech, green power products, please visit www.electratherm.com.

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Fixing Call of Duty Modern Warfare 2 Errors, Freeze problems, Crashes and Install problems

One last note before proceeding to the list of Call of Duty Modern Warfare 2. If you encounter errors or issues with Call of Duty Modern Warfare 2 that are not included in the list below, issues which the solutions listed does not resolve, Tell us about it by Posting it in the comment box at the bottom of this page (No registration required). Include details about the Call of Duty Modern Warfare 2 error and the specifications of the system you are running Call of Duty Modern Warfare 2 on. It doesn’t have to be a fullblown dxdiag log, just the Video Card, Processor and amout of RAM and of course the Operating System (and service pack versions) you are playing Call of Duty Modern Warfare 2 on. check the comments at the bottom of this post.

List of Known CoD MW2 errors and solutions/workarounds

Problem #1 : Call of Duty Modern warfare 2 “Steam – Error This game is currently unavailable.

Please try again at another time.” and ‘Steam Error – 55′

Solution : Restart Steam. If that doesnt fix it restart your computer

credits:

Problem #2 : Call of Duty Modern Warfare 2 Crashing to desktop at startup/launch

Solution :

# Set your desktop to a resolution of 1024×768, 32 bit True Color.

For Windows XP

1) Right-click on your desktop and select Properties.

2) Click the Settings tab.

3) Set your screen area to 1024×768.

4) Set the colors to Highest (32 bit).

5) Click Apply and OK.

For Windows Vista\Windows 7

1) Right-click on your desktop and select Personalize.

2) Click on Display Settings

3) Set the resolution slider to 1024X768

4) Set the colors to Highest (32 bit).

5) Click Apply and OK.

# All background applications should be shut down prior to running the game.

1) Go to the Start bar and select Run. (If you are on Vista or Windows 7, hit the Windows key and the R key at the same time)

2) In the Run window, type in msconfig and hit enter.

3) Once the utility comes up, go to the Startup tab and hit the Disable All button.

4) Next go to the Services tab and check the “Hide All Microsoft Services” checkbox and then hit the Disable All button.

5) Hit the OK button and close the utility, and restart your computer when prompted to.

credits: BurtonJ

Problem #3 : Call of Duty 4 Modern Warfare 2 Crashing / Freezing ingame

Solution #1 : just disable Steam community in-game.

credits: icc

Solution #2 : just go in Steam\SteamApps\common\call of duty modern warfare 2\Redist\DirectX and run DXSETUP.

credits: Fulger

Solution #3 :

# Set your desktop to a resolution of 1024×768, 32 bit True Color.For Windows XP

1) Right-click on your desktop and select Properties.

2) Click the Settings tab.

3) Set your screen area to 1024×768.

4) Set the colors to Highest (32 bit).

5) Click Apply and OK.

For Windows Vista\Windows 7

1) Right-click on your desktop and select Personalize.

2) Click on Display Settings

3) Set the resolution slider to 1024X768

4) Set the colors to Highest (32 bit).

5) Click Apply and OK.

# All background applications should be shut down prior to running the game.

1) Go to the Start bar and select Run. (If you are on Vista or Windows 7, hit the Windows key and the R key at the same time)

2) In the Run window, type in msconfig and hit enter.

3) Once the utility comes up, go to the Startup tab and hit the Disable All button.

4) Next go to the Services tab and check the “Hide All Microsoft Services” checkbox and then hit the Disable All button.

5) Hit the OK button and close the utility, and restart your computer when prompted to.

# Turn your sound acceleration down for Windows XP

1) Click the Start button > Settings > Control Panel.

2) Double-click the Sounds and Audio Devices icon.

3) Click the Volume tab.

4) Under Speaker settings, click the Advanced button.

5) Click the Performance tab.

6) Reduce the Hardware acceleration to Basic, the 2nd notch from the left.

7) Click Apply and then OK 2 times. Run the game now. Don’t forget to turn the acceleration back up to restore the high-end features for your sound card when using other applications.

credits: BurtonJ

Problem #4 : Modern Warfare 2 sound skipping/stuttering in cutscenes/intro/ingame

Solution : Turndown direct sound acceleration

# Turn your sound acceleration down for Windows XP

1) Click the Start button > Settings > Control Panel.

2) Double-click the Sounds and Audio Devices icon.

3) Click the Volume tab.

4) Under Speaker settings, click the Advanced button.

5) Click the Performance tab.

6) Reduce the Hardware acceleration to Basic, the 2nd notch from the left.

7) Click Apply and then OK 2 times. Run the game now. Don’t forget to turn the acceleration back up to restore the high-end features for your sound card when using other applications.

Problem #5 : Call of Duty Modern Warfare 2 IW4SP.EXE error / “No IW4SP.EXE error”

Solution : In the game list in steam, right click on the Call of Duty Modern Warfare 2 then click “Verify Game Cache”

credits: Phatfish

Problem #6 :Modern Warfare 2 Text and Texture problems / distorted

Solution :

If you are having problem with blury text (you can’t read anything) do this!!

First update graphic drivers (even if there isn’t new/updated drivers download current version and install it again)

Than go to this site and download this codec.http://www.majorgeeks.com/Win7codecs_d5959.html

Restart your computer and try the game

credits: M3do

Problem #7 : Modern Warfare 2 Install error “Failed to run install script” (common on Modern Warfare 2 error on Windows 7)

Solution :Start -> my computer -> right click dvd drive -> explore -> right click on setup.exe -> run as administrator

credits: Vinny

Solution

1. Launch STEAM and click the ‘My Game’ Tab.

2. Right click on Empire: Total War and click ‘Delete local content’. The non-installed information will appear next to the game.

3. Insert Disk 1 into your DVD drive and close Steam (File, Exit).

4. From the Windows Desktop, click on the Start Button, (XP) click Run (Vista) type Run into the Start Search box and choose Run from the list.In the window Run box enter the following:

c:\program files\steam\steam.exe -install E:

– If your CD/DVD drive is not E: please change it accordingly.

– If Steam is not installed within c:\program files\steam, change the path accordingly.

5. Press OK, Steam should now start the installation from the Disk 1 and will ask for Disk 2 a bit later on.

6. At the end of the installation process, Steam will connect on Internet to download a small update which should take no more than few minutes.

credits: szpar

Problem #8 : How to Backup saved games and profiles for Modern Warfare 2 (Call of Duty)

Solution :

If you are having trouble with the Game or you have to format your PC and don’t know if your Savegame is still there after reinstalling Modern Warfare 2, here is the solution:

Just go into the Modern Warfare 2 folder:

D:\Steam\steamapps\common\call of duty modern warfare 2

and just mack a Backup from the folder named “players”

Thats the whole savegame from the Singleplayer.

credits: Thormod

Problem #9 : Modern Warfare disk 2 cannot be read

Note : Many review companies have been stating that the second disc (which apparently contained bonus content) will not run in most drives.

credits: Sir

Problem #10 :How to enable console for Modern Warfare 2

Note : Modern Warfare 2 does not have a console terminal… sucks

Problem #11 : Modern Warfare 2 error Create2DTexture(3_cursor3, 64, 64, 0, 861165636) failed:

8876086c = Invalid call

Solution : In the steam game menu, Right-click the game, go to properties, click the “Local Files” tab, and verify.

credits: Freyar

Problem #12 : Modern Warfare 2 error “code_post_gfx_mp.ff failed to load:

Solution : Reinstall the game, or verify the game cache in stead (check solution to problem #11)

credits: Freyar

Problem #13 : Call of Duty Modern Warfare 2 locks up and need to reboot to recover

Solution : i reinstalled punkbuster and i have not had any problems

credits: SouthSide

Problem #14 : MW2 error “Could not find zone ‘localized_common_mp.ff’ error”

Solution : Right click on the game in Steam > Properties > Local Files > Verify Local Cache

credits: Adrian

Problem #15 : Modern Warfare 2 Zone bug. (or if you can’t tell it’s the error sound and black screen).

Solution : You can first try verifying game files under the game properties from My Games tab in steam. This found a bad file and “replaced” it without really replacing it.

Go to Steam/steamapps/common/modern warfare/zone/ and delete the .ff causing the problem. Then reverify. This will really download a new version and decrypt it. Everything should run fine.

credits: Craig

Problem #16 : Modern Warfare 2 DirectX audio problem on Windows 7 Pro (64 bit) Error says “C:\Windows\system32\XAudio2_1.dll is either not designed to run on Windows or it contains an error. etc…” that comes up on install (fatal) AND at program launch (not fatal).

Solution :

Workaround for Installing (found elsewhere online)

1 – install Steam if you don’t already have it

2 – exit steam (File > Exit)

3 – in a run box (windows key + r) type the following:

“C:\Program Files (x86)\Steam\Steam.exe” -install D:

Include the quotes and change ‘D:’ to be your DVD drive if you have toWorkaround for running once installed

1 – the game will run after steam tries and fails to install DirectX again… probably because you’ve already got DX11 installed. It’s just a PITMFA having to wait.

credits: Kyle’s mom

Problem #17 : Modern Warfare 2 error message “ran out of memory”

Solution : changing the “Texture Quality” to “Automatic”.

credits: zaninif

Problem #18 : Post Your error at the comment box below if you are experiencing errors that are not listed here

Solution : Help out and post solutions to Modern Warfare 2 errors at the comment box below if you know one

credits: YOU!

Important!: If you are experiencing errors with Call of Duty 4 Modern Warfare 2 that are not listed above or is not solved by the specified fixes, Tell us about it by posting in the comment box below (include system specs, OS, and description of the error you encounter in Call of Duty 4 Modern Warfare 2), NO REGISTRATION REQUIRED TO POST/ASK QUESTIONS/POST SOLUTIONS

 

Following KDDI’s announcement three weeks ago, Japan’s biggest cell phone carrier NTT Docomo today unveiled [JP] its winter-line up of cell phones (SoftBank, the No.3, did the same). And here are all the new models announced by Docomo for the Japanese market today.

There have been many debates over whether or not it’s appropriate to blog or Twitter from the courtroom — in fact, just last week I attended a short conference at the US courthouse in San Francisco about how the court system is dealing with such things. While you might understand why it’s barred for jury members or participants in the trial to use such things, it does seem a bit excessive for a judge to bar reporters from Twittering as well, but that’s exactly what’s happened. The judge ruled that it was a form of a “broadcast,” which is prohibited (why broadcasts are prohibited is a separate topic for a separate day, though it doesn’t really make any sense).

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Motorola Canada have today announced the launch of their first Android powered handset, the Motorola Milestone.

The Motorola Milestone (aka the Motorola DROID), will be available from early 2010 exclusively to TELUS customers.

TELUS’ new 3G+ network gives Canadians access to a world-class selection of mobile devices such as the Motorola Milestone,” said David Neale, senior vice-president of Product and Services at TELUS. “It is TELUS commitment to offer Canadians the most comprehensive and advanced smartphone line-up available so that we can meet their needs to stay connected, informed and entertained wherever they go. That’s why the Motorola Milestone will fit perfectly in our TELUS smartphone selection.

Powered by Android 2.0, the Motorola Milestone features a 3.7-inch touch-sensitive display (854 x 480 pixel resolution), a 5.0 megapixel camera with auto focus and video recording capabilities, GPS navigation, media player with support for AMR-NB/WB, MP3, PCM / WAV, AAC, AAC +, eAAC +, WMA audio files and MPEG-4, H.263, H.264, WMV video files, and a microSD / microSDHC memory card slot.

The smartphone also includes a USB 2.0 port, 3.5mm audio jack, Bluetooth 2.0 + EDR, Wi-Fi connectivity, and 512MB of ROM and 256MB of RAM.

The Motorola Milestone joins a growing collection of Canadian Android handsets. Last week Rogers Wireless announced the launch of the LG Eve priced at $49.99 as part of a 3-year voice and data contract.

Currently there is no pricing information available for the TELUS Motorola Milestone.

[via newswire.ca]

If you’re looking for more info on the new Verizon Android phones, then be sure to check out Droid Forums & Droid Eris Forums

TELUS Motorola Milestone Officially Announced

BioVex Inc., a Woburn, Mass.-based drug company whose lead candidate is designed to help treat advanced melanoma, has raised $30 million in new Series F funding. This brings the round total to $70 million, including a $40 million first close back in March. Morningside Venture, Ventech and MVM Life Science Partners co-led the new tranche, and were joined by fellow new backers Sectoral Asset Management and Ysios Capital Partners. Forbion Capital Partners had led the initial tranche, alongside Credit Agricole Private Equity, Harris & Harris Group, Innoven Partners, New Science Ventures, Triathlon Medical Venture Partners and Scottish Equity Partners. BioVex has now raised around $180 million.

PRESS RELEASE

BioVex Inc, a company developing new generation biologics for the treatment and prevention of cancer and infectious disease, announced today that it has concluded a $70 million private financing, raising $30 million in addition to the $40 million announced in March. The proceeds of the financing will primarily be used to complete the ongoing Phase III pivotal study of OncoVEX (GM-CSF) for the treatment of recurrent and metastatic melanoma and to fund pre-commercialization activities.

The second close placement was co-led by Morningside Venture, Ventech and MVM Life Science Partners who were joined by other new investors including Sectoral Asset Management and Ysios Capital Partners. Reenie McCarthy for Morningside, Mounia Chaoui of Ventech and Steve Reeders of MVM Life Science Partners will join the BioVex board of directors.

“Securing this financing is a significant milestone that puts BioVex in a strong financial position to complete its first pivotal study with OncoVEX in metastatic melanoma, with a view to submitting a Biologics License Application filing in mid 2011,” said Philip Astley-Sparke, President and CEO of BioVex. “We believe this over-subscribed funding round is the largest for a private clinical stage biotech company this year and is a validation of our clinical and regulatory achievements. We have generated encouraging data in four tumor types and beyond melanoma have agreed to an additional Phase III pivotal protocol with the FDA under the Special Protocol Assessment procedure in head and neck cancer.

“Pending the successful conclusion of its first pivotal study, OncoVEX is positioned to become the first cancer destroying virus to reach the market in the United States,” said Steve Reeders of MVM Life Science Partners. “Given the strength of the Phase II data in melanoma, we are optimistic that OncoVEX will meet its primary endpoint in the current Phase III study and that its potential will be realized in melanoma and subsequently many other hard to treat solid tumors.”

“We were impressed by the number of durable complete remissions following OncoVEX therapy in both metastatic melanoma and head and neck cancer,” said Reenie McCarthy of Morningside. “OncoVEX is an extremely promising treatment for many hard to treat solid tumor types and we look forward to working with management to fully realize the potential of this first-in-class biologic.”

About BioVex

BioVex is a privately held biotechnology company based in Woburn, MA where it also has an operational launch grade manufacturing facility. The Company is developing a new class of potent biologics for the treatment of cancer and prevention of infectious disease.

The Company’s lead cancer treatment, OncoVEX(GM-CSF), is a first-in-class oncolytic, or cancer destroying virus, that works by replicating and spreading within solid tumors (leaving healthy cells unaffected), thereby causing cancer cell death and stimulating the immune system to destroy un-injected metastatic deposits. Both modes of action have been clearly validated in the clinic, where multiple patients with metastatic disease progressing at enrollment have been declared disease free. BioVex believes OncoVEX(GM-CSF) has the potential to become a leading standard of care in the treatment of many solid tumors based on the strength of clinical data so far generated coupled with the relatively benign side effect profile noted to date. Previous clinical trials have enrolled patients with breast cancer, melanoma, head and neck cancer and pancreatic cancer, with indications of clinical activity being observed in each. The Company recently commenced a Phase III study in metastatic melanoma following the achievement of an unprecedented proportion of durable complete remissions in a Phase II study using OncoVEX (GM-CSF) as a stand alone therapy. An overview of the Phase II melanoma results is available on the BioVex website. In September 2009 the Company received approval under the SPA procedure in relation to a second Phase III study in head and neck cancer.

The Company’s second program is a vaccine for genital herpes, ImmunoVEX (HSV2), which provides complete protection in animal models of the disease. The vaccine has been authorized to commence clinical testing in the United Kingdom.

For further information, please go to www.biovex.com.

About Morningside

Morningside is a diversified investment group founded in 1986 by the Chan family of Hong Kong. It is engaged primarily in private equity and venture capital investments. The group has investments in North America, Europe, across Asia-Pacific, and since 1992, in Mainland China. Morningside was one of the earliest institutional investors in China’s internet industry and in recent years has been an active investor in China’s emerging biotechnology sector. More information is available at www.morningside.com.

About MVM Life Science Partners

MVM Life Science Partners LLP manages three venture funds totaling more than $500 million and invests in companies that discover, develop and commercialize innovations in biotechnology, pharmaceuticals and medical devices for the life science and healthcare markets. MVM has offices in London and Boston, making investments predominantly in Europe and the US, and has a growing team with wide-ranging experience across the life science and private equity markets. More information is available at www.mvmlifescience.com.

About Sectoral Asset Management

Sectoral Asset Management is an SEC-registered investment advisor based in Montreal whose focus is managing global equity portfolios by industry. Sectoral has one of the world’s longest track records in managing biotech equities and is a sub-advisor of numerous healthcare and biotech funds offered by partners in Europe, USA, Canada, Japan, Taiwan and Korea. Sectoral has also launched an alternative investment fund that offers an attractive exposure to the growing healthcare/biotech sector through both long and short positions. The firm’s assets are US$4.0 billion as of September 30, 2009. More information is available at www.sectoral.com

About Ventech

Ventech is a venture capital firm with more than Euro 360 million ($540 million) under management. Created 10 years ago Ventech invests in innovative companies in both the Information Technology and Life Science sectors. Originally based in Paris, Ventech is now also present in China. In the Life Science sector, the objective is to invest primarily in Europe and the US with a specific focus towards drug discovery, diagnostics and medical device technologies. More information is available at www.ventechvc.com.

 

About Ysios

Ysios Capital Partners is a new Spanish venture capital firm that launched its first fund of $100 million in 2008 and invests in innovative life science companies. Ysios has offices in Barcelona and San Sebastian (Spain), making investments globally with a special focus on the Spanish market. Ysios has a team of nine professionals with diverse backgrounds in life sciences and healthcare, venture capital, managing start-ups, and corporate finance. With this investment, Ysios has three portfolio companies: Cellerix (Cell therapy-Madrid), EndoSense (Medical devices–Geneva) and BioVex (Oncology–Boston). More information is available at www.ysioscapital.com.

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(Reuters) – Real-estate private-equity giant Lone Star Funds is cutting some of its fees as it tries to raise $20 billion to buy pools of troubled mortgages and other kinds of distressed debt, the Wall Street Journal reported on its website on Tuesday.

Lone Star, led by John Grayken, reduced the minimum management fee it will charge in the two new funds to 0.35 percent from 0.75 percent in its previous fund, in a move to win new commitments from big investors like the state of Oregon, the paper said.

Oregon’s board, which oversees $51 billion public-employee pension fund’s investments, recently agreed to put $400 million into two new Lone Star funds after the firm agreed to reduce its fees, the Journal said.

Lone Star could not be immediately reached for comment. (Reporting by Supantha Mukherjee in Bangalore; Editing by Valerie Lee)

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(Reuters) – Private equity firm BC Partners is staking up to $331 million on strong growth in U.S. career training, buying Texas-based ATI Enterprises from middle-market rival The Riverside Company.

BC will invest the money from its current fund, alongside roughly $250 million of debt, to buy ATI, which offers courses in subjects such as welding, dental assisting and personal training.

London-headquartered BC said on Tuesday said it saw an “attractive market opportunity supported by underlying demographics, economics and government attention on education.”

It expected ATI to generate revenue of $245 million in 2009.

The deal is the fourth undertaken by BC this year, after it invested $350 million in Office Depot (ODP.N), bought and merged two laboratory testing companies, and put new money into Baxi as part of a merger of the boiler-maker with a Dutch rival.

Goldman Sachs advised BC Partners and arranged the financing. Robert W Baird and Piper Jaffray advised the Riverside-led consortium.

Based in Dallas, ATI Enterprises operates vocational schools and training centers in Texas, Florida, Oklahoma, Arizona and New Mexico.

Management will keep a 12 percent stake and the deal is expected to close around the end of this year, BC said.

(Reporting by Quentin Webb; additional reporting by Ajay Kamalakaran in Bangalore; Editing by Hans Peters)

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Norvestor has agreed to sell Intelecom Holding AS, a Norway-based provider of communications solutions in Western Europe, to Carrot Communications AS. No financial terms were disclosed. Norvestor acquired Intelecom in December 2008, taking it private from the Oslo Stock Exchange. This represents the first exit for Norvestor’s fifth fund.

PRESS RELEASE

Opplysningen 1881 AS, through its wholly owned subsidiary Carrot Communications AS, has entered into a Sale and Purchase Agreement with Intelecom Holding AS (the acquisition vehicle) for the acquisition of all shares in Intelecom Group AS (“Intelecom”).

Since the acquisition of Intelecom by Norvestor V, L.P., and the delisting of the company from the Oslo Stock Exchange in December 2008, Intelecom has continued its strong growth in revenue and profitability. The delisting has enabled the management to focus entirely on growth factors and strategic issues, and by doing so, the company has demonstrated its value potential. The conditions precedent for the Closing of the transaction includes approval by the Norwegian Competition Authorities.

Intelecom Group AS is a leading company in development, integration, delivery and operation of communication solutions to the enterprise market. The group has subsidiaries in Norway, Sweden, Denmark and the UK and supplies services and solutions that are adapted to the individual customer’s business and requirements. Intelecom customers regard communication as business critical and Intelecom addresses this by combining business understanding with advanced communication technology.

Norvestor Equity AS is a leading private equity company with the most experienced private equity team in Norway. The team has worked together since 1991 and has a combination of operational and private equity backgrounds. Norvestor Equity provides investment advice to funds that invest in growth companies in Norway and the Nordic region with the potential to become leading players in the Nordic market or internationally. Read more at www.norvestor.com

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The Prime Minister revealed the next stage of NHS reforms at his regular press conference this morning.

Gordon Brown was joined by Health Secretary Andy Burnham to outline key changes which aim to create a “patient-centred service”.

The plans include a guarantee that everyone between 40 and 74 will have the legal right to a five-yearly NHS Health Check. Patients will also be legally entitled to treatment within 18 weeks of referral by their GP and will be able to see a specialist within two weeks if they have suspected cancer.

Gordon Brown said that the new reforms will give power back to patients:

“It is part of the move away from a target-led approach that was needed to raise standards and to give more power to patients and frontline staff. But now frontline staff who are essential to deliver these reforms are able to be held to account by the general public with the guarantees.”

During the press conference the Prime Minister also paid tribute to the nation’s fallen soldiers and answered questions on topics such as the economy, a letter that the PM sent to the mother of a soldier killed in Afghanistan and climate change.

Speeches and transcripts: Prime Minister’s Press conference

Catherine Lewis La Torre has been named a partner with Fondinvest Capital, a French fund-of-funds manager. She previously was a founding partner of Proventure, a fund-of-funds manager focused on the European middle markets. www.fondinvest.com

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SandForce Inc., a Santa Clara, Calif.-based developer of flash solid-state drive processors, has raised $21 million in Series C funding. TransLink Capital led the round, and was joined by fellow new investors UMC Capital, LSI Corp., Red Maple Ventures, Darwin Ventures and A-Data Technology. Return backers included DCM, Storm Ventures and unnamed “tier-1 storage OEMs.”

PRESS RELEASE

SandForce. Inc., the pioneer of SSD (Solid State Drive) Processors that enable commodity NAND Flash deployment in enterprise and client computing applications, today announced that it has closed $21 million in Series C funding. Led by new investor TransLink Capital, the round also included new investors UMC Capital, LSI Corporation, Red Maple Ventures, Darwin Ventures, and A-Data Technology as well as all of the existing SandForce investors .DCM, Storm Ventures, and Tier-1 storage OEMs.

“We have made rapid progress into the marketplace since our launch just six months ago, and we are now shipping silicon to top-tier SSD OEM customers,” said Alex Naqvi, president and CEO of SandForce.“ This new funding will help us through our expansion phase as well as accelerate our new products development that will help us maintain our market leadership.”

The patent-pending SandForce DuraClass. technology is a set of flash memory management features that enable MLC-based SSDs that deliver world-class reliability, performance, and power efficiency. Current SandForce SSD Processor products include the SF-1500 for Enterprise applications and the SF- 1200 for Client applications.

“SandForce has a breakthrough product that has enabled it to rapidly secure top-tier OEM customers in the enterprise and client computing markets for SSDs,” said Jackie Yang, managing director of TransLink Capital and new member of the SandForce Board of Directors.“ We believe that the SandForce DuraClass technology will open the door to high-volume use of SSDs in business computing, and we are very bullish about the company’s future.

“SandForce is making it practical to use low-cost multi-level cell flash memory in enterprise-class devices,” said Ross Katchman, head of corporate development at LSI. ” As a leading provider of storage and networking technologies, we believe that flash has an important role to play in the enterprise and that SandForce is well positioned to further the deployment of flash-based solutions.”

We’re Hiring Exceptional Talent Today!

SandForce is actively expanding its technical, business, support and operations staff with qualified individuals looking to transform data storage in a world-class organization. If you’re looking to further your career in a dynamic start-up environment with significant growth opportunities, please view our current list of openings and apply at: http://www.sandforce.com/go/careers.

About SandForce

SandForce is transforming data storage by pioneering the use of commodity flash memory in enterprise and client computing applications with its innovative SSD (Solid State Drive) Processors. By delivering unprecedented reliability, performance, and energy efficiency, SSDs based on patent-pending SandForce DuraClass technology unleash the full potential for mass-market adoption of SSDs using NAND flash

memory. Founded in 2006, SandForce is funded by leading venture capital investors and first tier storage companies.

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As the focus of health overhaul efforts move to the Senate, abortion issues have become hot topics. 

Current ‘Death Panel’ Uproar Echoes Decades-Old Controversy
It was early summer. A senior federal health official wrote a memo suggesting that living wills — documents that can convey patients’ wishes about when to end life support — could help curb health-care costs. The memo leaked to the media. By August, a New York Times’ column said the official “likes euthanasia.” Sound like this year’s angry August? Well, this story unfolded in 1977, and the official in question was Robert Derzon, the first administrator of the Health Care Financing Administration, now the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (Kaiser Health News).

Democrats Raise Alarms Over Costs Of Health Bills
As health care legislation moves toward a crucial airing in the Senate, the White House is facing a growing revolt from some Democrats and analysts who say the bills Congress is considering do not fulfill President Obama’s promise to slow the runaway rise in health care spending (The New York Times).

Effort To Assist Older Voters May Raise Costs For The Young
A provision in the House health-care bill sets up a stark choice for Democrats between the interests of younger voters and older ones (The Wall Street Journal).

Political Memo: Trick For Democrats Is Juggling Ideology And Pragmatism
Democrats have displayed a striking degree of pragmatism in seeking to push the health care bill through Congress, embracing or rejecting ideological considerations as needed to keep the legislation moving (The New York Times).

For Left, House Bill May Be As Good As It Gets
Saturday night’s House vote on health care reform was the most significant liberal legislative triumph in years, and progressives are now scrambling to capitalize on the fast-fading momentum. There’s only so much they can do (Politico).

Senate Abortion Foes Take Aim At Overhaul
A key Democratic senator said Monday he will follow House colleagues in insisting on tough antiabortion language before he votes for a health overhaul bill, causing new headaches for Senate leaders even before debate on a final bill begins (The Wall Street Journal).

Senate Faces Abortion Rights Rift
Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid found his health reform efforts seriously complicated Monday by the explosive issue of abortion, as key centrist senators said they wanted to see airtight language in the bill blocking federal funding for the procedure (Politico).

Obama Seeks Revision Of Plan’s Abortion Limits
President Obama suggested Monday that he was not comfortable with abortion restrictions inserted into the House version of major health care legislation, and he prodded Congress to revise them (The New York Times).

Abortion Battle Moves To The Senate
Liberals furious over a last-minute deal that secured passage of healthcare legislation in the House by restricting abortion coverage threatened Monday to derail the massive overhaul bill (Los Angeles Times).

Breaking Down Abortion Language In Health Bill
The health care overhaul passed by the House of Representatives over the weekend was almost scuttled by one issue: abortion (NPR).

Liberals Threaten To Sink Health Bill Over Stupak Abortion Amendments
More than 40 lawmakers vowed to oppose the final healthcare bill if the House language on abortion is not removed (The Hill).

Coakley Decries Health Care Bill
Opening up a major fissure in the US Senate race, Attorney General Martha Coakley said yesterday that she opposes the landmark health care bill approved by the House Saturday because it contains a provision restricting federal funding for abortion (The Boston Globe).

Groups Redirect Health-Care Ads To Cheer And Jeer Democrats
The House’s passage Saturday of a sweeping health-care bill has pushed the advertising battle over reform into a new phase, as competing groups have taken to the airwaves to thank or punish Democrats for their votes (The Washington Post).

Five Flash Points As Healthcare Reform Move To The Senate
Passing comprehensive healthcare reform in the House on Saturday took a lot of sweat – and a few tears. But passage in the Senate will be even tougher, raising questions about the effort’s ultimate viability (The Christian Science Monitor).

Senate Democrats Look To Start Health Reform Debate Next Week
Senate Democratic leaders expect their long-awaited healthcare bill to hit the chamber floor as early as Monday (The Hill).

Bill Clinton Meets With Senate Dems On Health Care
Former president Bill Clinton knows just how high the political stakes are in the fight to overhaul America’s health care system. His failed attempt to revamp the delivery of medical care contributed to the Republican takeover of the House and Senate in 1994. Now, with the fate of health care legislation in the Senate’s hands, Clinton is heading to Capitol Hill where he’s expected to speak to Senate Democrats about health care legislation during their weekly caucus on Tuesday, officials said. They spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to discuss his schedule (The Associated Press/USA Today).

For Doctor, The Senate Is A Bitter Pill
Tom Coburn is a Southern Baptist deacon, a family man married to a former Miss Oklahoma, a white-coated physician back in Muskogee who has delivered more than 4,000 babies and sees patients free of charge every Monday. But there’s a darker side of the story, something that Coburn, a Marcus Welby type in ostrich-skin boots, confesses is his less honorable side. He’s a member of the United States Senate (The Washington Post).

Med Schools Offer Doses Of New Reality
When Aaron Laviana started medical school at Georgetown University in 2007, he dissected a cadaver in his first week, in anatomy class. Today, classes such as “Physician-Patient Communication” and “Social and Cultural Issues in Health Care” come first. Dissection doesn’t begin until month four at Georgetown — as part of a unit on limbs — and anatomy class no longer exists (The Washington Post).

Dutch View Of Choice In U.S. Care: It’s Limited
The health system in the United States may be twice as expensive as those in Europe, and the population may be less healthy, but at least Americans have access to many more choices of doctors and insurers. Right? (The New York Times).

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