Author: asormani

NeuroPhage Pharmaceuticals, a company developing breakthrough therapies for neurodegenerative diseases, has raised $6.4 million in a private equity financing round. Merieux Developpement led the financing with participation from all current Neurophage investors, including Shire LLC.

PRESS RELEASE

NeuroPhage Pharmaceuticals, Inc., a company developing breakthrough therapies for neurodegenerative diseases, today announced that it raised $6.4 million in a private equity financing round. Merieux Developpement led the financing with participation from all current Neurophage investors, including Shire LLC. The new funds will help support ongoing pre-IND studies for lead compound NPT002 and will advance the development of second-generation fusion proteins with the potential for treating several neurodegenerative conditions including Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s and Huntington’s diseases. Separately, NeuroPhage announced that current Director John F. Dee has been named Chairman of the Board and Kenneth A. Buckfire has joined as a Director.

“We are encouraged by NeuroPhage’s progress in further elucidating the mechanism of action of NPT002 and advancing the program toward clinical trials, as well as its discovery of new antibody-like fusion proteins with the potential to broadly address neurodegenerative disease markets with enormous unmet need,” said Dr. Valerie Calenda, Partner at Merieux Developpement. “We believe the company’s transformative approach to addressing protein misfolding could make a major contribution to achieving greatly improved treatments for these disabling conditions that affect millions of people worldwide.”

Deposits of misfolded proteins in the brain are associated with many neurodegenerative diseases. NPT002 has demonstrated the ability to safely and effectively mediate clearance of misfolded protein deposits (including amyloid-beta, tau and alpha-synuclein) in multiple animal models of neurodegenerative disease, resulting in cognitive and behavioral improvements. Following a successful pre-IND meeting with the FDA, NeuroPhage is conducting pre-IND safety studies and scaling-up cGMP manufacturing activities to support a planned IND filing next year.

“This supplemental financing demonstrates the continued confidence of our investors in the promise of our scientific platform targeted at neurodegenerative diseases,” said Jonathan Solomon, President and Chief Executive Officer of NeuroPhage. “We believe that the unique ability of our drug candidates to target multiple neurotoxic protein aggregates in the brain represents a breakthrough approach to slowing or preventing the devastating progression of neurodegenerative diseases.”

NeuroPhage scientists have recently shown that the NPT002 mechanism of action is based on a novel general amyloid interaction motif (GAIM). Motifs define distinctive and recurring components of protein structure and interaction that can have biological significance. The discovery of GAIM has allowed the creation of new antibody-like fusion proteins that have the broad neurodegenerative disease-targeting ability of NPT002.

In connection with the financing, NeuroPhage announced that John F. Dee has been named Chairman and Kenneth A. Buckfire has joined the Board as a Director. Mr. Dee brings a wealth of industry experience as the former CEO of several successful neuroscience-focused biotechnology companies that were acquired by major pharmaceutical firms. Mr. Buckfire brings extensive strategic and financial experience as Vice Chairman of Stifel Investment Banking and President of Miller Buckfire & Company, a Stifel Company.

Solomon added, “We welcome John Dee as Chairman and Ken Buckfire as a new board member. We expect their extensive experience in financing and growing successful biotechnology companies will be invaluable as we advance our unique product pipeline toward clinical testing.”

About NeuroPhage NeuroPhage is a pioneering biotechnology company, located in Cambridge, MA, whose mission is to advance the treatment of chronic neurodegenerative diseases associated with protein misfolding, including Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s diseases. The company is applying its unique technology platform to develop a pipeline of drug candidates consisting of broadly acting agents that simultaneously reduce levels of multiple pathogenic protein aggregates in the brain. This technology should provide significant therapeutic advantages over single target approaches and has broad applications for treating Alzheimer’s disease, Parkinson’s disease, and other indications associated with protein pathologies of the CNS. The company was founded in 2007 by a Cambridge-based team, together with inventor Professor Beka Solomon, Chair for Biotechnology of Neurodegenerative Diseases at Tel Aviv University. More information can be found at: www.neurophage.com.

About Merieux Developpement Merieux Developpement is the private equity arm of the French group, Institut Merieux, which has 12,000 employees worldwide and generated revenues of EUR 1.7B in 2011. Merieux Developpement invests in the healthcare sector on a global basis, working alongside entrepreneurs whose products and services can bring genuine advances to the health of patients and consumers worldwide, offering them access to its industry expertise and global network.

About Shire Shire enables people with life-altering conditions to lead better lives. Through our deep understanding of patients’ needs, we develop and provide healthcare in the areas of: Behavioral Health and Gastro Intestinal conditions, Rare Diseases, Regenerative Medicine as well as other symptomatic conditions treated by specialist physicians. We aspire to imagine and lead the future of healthcare, creating value for patients, physicians, policymakers, payors and our shareholders.

Contacts:
Neurophage, Inc. Media
Jonathan Solomon BLL Partners, LLC
President and CEO Barbara Lindheim
(617) 714-4940 (212) 584-2276
[email protected] [email protected]

SOURCE NeuroPhage Pharmaceuticals, Inc.

The post NeuroPhage, Raises Additional Financing appeared first on peHUB.

HarbourVest Global Private Equity Limited has announced the retirement of Mr. Paul Christopher as non-executive director of the company and the appointment of Mr. Alan Hodson as a non-executive director. HarbourVest Global Private Equity Limited is a Guernsey-incorporated closed-end investment company which has a dual listing on both the London Stock Exchange and Euronext Amsterdam.

PRESS RELEASE

HarbourVest Global Private Equity Limited (“HVPE” or the “Company”), a closed-end investment company, today announces the retirement of Mr. Paul Christopher as non-executive director of the Company and the appointment of Mr. Alan Hodson as a non-executive director effective 30 April 2013. Sir Michael Bunbury, on behalf of the Company, expressed his thanks to Mr. Christopher for his contribution to the Company since joining the Board in October 2007.

Speaking for the Company, Sir Michael said:

“The Board of HarbourVest Global Private Equity is very pleased that Alan Hodson has agreed to become a director. His deep experience of listed markets will be very valuable in helping to guide the future development of the Company.”

Mr. Hodson is Chairman of Blackrock Commodities Income Investment Trust and a Director of JP Morgan Elect. He is also Chairman of Triodos New Horizons Limited and of the Board of Special Trustees of Great Ormond Street Hospital Children’s Charity. Mr. Hodson joined Rowe and Pitman (subsequently SG Warburg, SBC and UBS) in 1984 and worked in a range of roles, all related to listed equity markets. He became Global Head of Equities in April 2001 and was a member of the Executive Committee of UBS Investment Bank and of the UBS AG Group Managing Board. He retired from UBS in June 2005 and has since held positions on a variety of commercial and charity Boards.

Enquiries:
Anson Fund Managers Limited Tel +44 1481 722 260
Secretary
HarbourVest
Stuart Howard Tel: +44 (0) 20 7399 9815 [email protected]
Laura Thaxter Tel: +1 (617) 348 3695 [email protected]
Fishburn Hedges
Paul Farrow / Ben Lyons Tel: +44 (0) 20 7839 4321 [email protected]

Notes to Editors:

About HarbourVest Global Private Equity Limited:
HarbourVest Global Private Equity Limited (“HVPE”) is a Guernsey-incorporated closed-end investment company which has a dual listing on both the London Stock Exchange and Euronext Amsterdam. HVPE is registered as an investment company with the Netherlands Authority for the Financial Markets (AFM). HVPE is designed to offer shareholders long-term capital appreciation by investing in a private equity portfolio diversified by geography, by stage of investment, by vintage year, and by industry. It invests in and alongside HarbourVest-managed funds which focus on primary partnership commitments, secondary investments, and direct investments in operating companies. HVPE is advised by HarbourVest Advisers L.P., an affiliate of HarbourVest Partners, LLC.

About HarbourVest Partners, LLC:
HarbourVest Partners, LLC (“HarbourVest”) is an independent global private equity investment firm and an SEC registered investment advisor, providing vehicles for institutional investors to invest in the venture capital and buyout markets in the U.S., Europe, and elsewhere through primary partnerships, secondary purchases, and direct investments. The HarbourVest team began investing in 1982 and has committed more than $30 billion to investments over its more than 30-year history. Across its global investment platform, HarbourVest and its affiliates have more than 230 employees in Boston, London, Hong Kong, Tokyo, Bogotá, and Beijing.

_____________________________________________

Join us at our next event: What’s Next… for collaboration on corporate responsibility?

Ben Lyons

FISHBURN HEDGES
77 KINGSWAY
LONDON WC2B 6SR
t +44 (0) 20 7839 4321
d +44 (0) 20 7544 3092
f +44 (0) 20 7242 4202

The post HarbourVest Global Private Equity Changes Directorate appeared first on peHUB.

Brothers Edmund and Danny Truell have completed a substantial growth capital investment in Imagine Publishing to support its next phase of global expansion. Imagine Publishing is a UK-based multimedia content publisher.

PRESS RELEASE

Brothers Edmund and Danny Truell have completed a substantial growth capital investment in Imagine Publishing to support the next phase of the multimedia publisher’s global expansion.
Imagine Publishing is one of the UK’s fastest-growing multimedia content publishers. Formed in May 2005, it now publishes 19 regular print magazines, 50 digital apps, more than 250 bookazines, 29 websites and thousands of articles every month in the technology, videogames, photography and knowledge/science markets. An Imagine magazine is purchased every ten seconds, and the Company this month won a Media Pioneer award at the Specialist Media Show for the successful ‘Content is King’ digital strategy that has brought its content to all major mobile smartphone and tablet devices worldwide.
In the financial year to March 2013, Imagine delivered revenue of nearly £20m, and was recently named in the Sunday Times Profit Track 100 of the UK’s fastest-growing companies (with 63.04% profit growth in FY 2009-12). The latest investment from the Truell brothers will be used to accelerate Imagine’s global rollout into the major international markets, notably India, the US and Australia, and to cement its position as the leading global multimedia content provider.
The Truells have been investors in Imagine since inception, and following significant new investment will assume the majority shareholding, which sees the Company’s co-founders Damian Butt (Group Managing Director), Steven Boyd (Group Finance & Commercial Director) and Mark Kendrick (Group Creative Director) each retain significant stakes in the business. HSBC has for the third time also provided debt facilities to give further balance sheet strength.
Imagine is now strongly capitalised and well positioned to develop further its pioneering approach to content delivery on a global scale.
Edmund Truell commented: “I’m delighted to continue to back and at a bigger scale an innovative management team who are true mobile device pioneers, being one of the first to put their content on the iPad, and the first to publish all their titles on every platform. The team is now ideally positioned to lead and transform the migration of published content to digital platforms worldwide.”

-ENDS-

For more information:
Equus Communications
James Culverhouse
[email protected]
+44 (0)20 7223 1100

Notes to Editors
Edmund Truell has 28 years of financial services experience in private equity and debt markets. Edmund trained at Bankers Trust Co in New York, following which he was appointed a director of the Hambros Bank in 1991; Chief Executive of Hambro European Ventures in 1994; led the 1998 buyout and formation of Duke Street Capital; and was responsible in 2000 for creating and building Duke Street Capital Debt Management. He was Chairman of the British Venture Capital Association from 2001 to 2002. With his brother Danny Truell, in 2006 he co-founded Pension Corporation, a leading provider of risk management solutions to defined benefit pension funds. Its FSA-authorised and regulated insurance company, Pension Insurance Corporation, has over £4 billion in assets under management and has insured 50,000 pension fund members and amongst other achievements was the first to insure the benefits of a public sector pension scheme, as well as transacting the largest ever UK corporate pension insurance buyout. He is qualified as a Chartered Financial Adviser and a Trustee of The Truell Charitable Foundation and the Charles Darwin Foundation. Danny Truell serves as the Chief Investment Officer at Wellcome Trust and is Chairman of the ALM Operating Committee at Pension Insurance Corporation Limited.

The post Truells Back Imagine Publishing Group Limited appeared first on peHUB.

Ziggo has completed the acquisition of Esprit Telecom. The Dutch Authority for Consumers and Markets (ACM) gave its approval for the takeover in April.

PRESS RELEASE

Ziggo’s previously announced takeover of Esprit Telecom will take effect from 1 May 2013. The company’s results will be consolidated into Ziggo’s on the same date. The Dutch Authority for Consumers and Markets (ACM) gave its approval for the takeover in April.

The acquisition enables Ziggo to further expand its services for the business market. Esprit Telecom is a leading provider of voice and data services for the SME market in the Netherlands, and has an active sales channel of dealers across the country. The acquisition includes Zoranet, an ICT service provider that focuses on the retail sector.

About Ziggo
Ziggo is a Dutch provider of entertainment, information and communication through television, Internet and telephony
services. The company serves around 2.9 million households, with almost 1.8 million Internet customers, more than 2.2 million customers for digital television and 1.5 million telephony subscribers. Business-to-business customers use services such as data communication, telephony, television and Internet. The company owns a next-generation network capable of providing the bandwidth required for all future services currently foreseen. More information on Ziggo can be found on: www.ziggo.com

About Esprit Telecom
Esprit Telecom was founded in 1993, and provides voice and data services to the SME market in the Netherlands. The company has 5,000 clients and an extensive sales channel of 150 resellers and account managers. It is located in Almere, and has 75 employees. Zoranet became a part of Esprit Telecom in 2011. It is a business IT service provider that focuses on the retail sector, with sales driven through resellers and account managers. Located in Zwolle, the company has 23 employees.

Not for publication

For more information please contact:

Press
Erik van Doeselaar
Senior Media Relations Officer
+31 (0)88 717 3414 | [email protected]
Analysts and Investors
Wouter van de Putte
Director Corporate Finance & Investor Relations
+31 (0)88 717 1799 | [email protected]

Christian Berghout
Manager Corporate Finance & Investor Relations
+31 (0)88 717 1051| [email protected]

The post Ziggo Acquires Esprit Telecom appeared first on peHUB.

NXT Capital Venture Finance has appointed Joseph Porten as a director. Based in NXT Capital’s Silicon Valley office, Porten will focus on identifying investment opportunities among emerging and late-stage growth companies.

PRESS RELEASE

NXT Capital Venture Finance today announced that Joseph Porten has joined the group as a Director. Based in NXT Capital’s Silicon Valley office, Porten will focus on identifying investment opportunities among emerging and late-stage growth companies.

“Joe is an outstanding addition to the NXT Capital Venture Finance team,” said Jan Haas, Group Head. “His broad network and expertise deploying growth capital to later stage technology companies will help NXT Venture Finance further its mission of accelerating innovation with efficient capital.”

“I’m excited to join the NXT Capital Venture Finance team,” said Porten. “As emerging companies stay private longer and continue to invest heavily ahead of growth, there is increasing demand for late-stage capital. NXT’s platform is ideally positioned to provide efficient, flexible growth capital to meet that demand.”

Porten was most recently a Vice President at Battery Ventures, where he focused on technology business models in B2B and B2C software, tech-enabled business services and information services. While at Battery, Porten’s investments included Avalara and DrillingInfo.

Previously, Porten was an associate with Spectrum Equity Investors, a technology-focused private equity firm with $4 billion under management. His experience also includes roles at Concert Capital Partners and LaSalle Bank Corporation.

Porten earned an M.B.A. in finance and entrepreneurship from the University of Chicago Graduate School of Business and a B.A. in economics from the University of Chicago.

About NXT Capital Venture Finance: NXT Capital Venture Finance serves entrepreneurs by providing less dilutive, more flexible forms of capital. With offices in Boston and Silicon Valley, NXT Capital Venture Finance has more than $500 million of committed capital to invest in emerging growth companies backed by venture capital and private equity firms, particularly those in the technology and life science sectors. Target clients range from pre-revenue companies led by dedicated entrepreneurs to late-stage, proven businesses seeking $1 million to $20 million of growth capital. For more information, see www.nxtcapitalvf.com.

About NXT Capital: NXT Capital provides structured financing solutions to middle-market and emerging growth companies, as well as real estate investors, through its Corporate Finance, Equipment Finance, Venture Finance and Real Estate Finance groups. Based in Chicago with offices in New York, Atlanta, Boston, Dallas, Phoenix, Newport Beach, San Francisco and Silicon Valley, NXT Capital targets senior financing opportunities up to $150 million with a hold size up to $50 million.

PRIVILEGED AND CONFIDENTIAL
This e-mail message and/or any attachments thereto (the “Communication”) are intended only for the use of the individual or entity to which it is addressed and may contain information that is privileged, confidential and exempt from disclosure. If you are not the intended recipient, or believe that you have received this Communication in error, please do not disseminate, distribute, print, copy, retransmit (except as set forth in the next sentence), or otherwise use this Communication. Instead, please notify the sender of the Communication immediately by return e-mail (including the original message in your reply) and by telephone (you may call NXT Capital toll-free at 1-877-698-6111) and then delete and discard all copies of the e-mail. Thank you.

This message has been scanned for malware by Websense. www.websense.com

The post Joseph Porten Joins NXT Capital Venture Finance as Director appeared first on peHUB.

Saudi Aramco Energy Ventures, the corporate venturing subsidiary of Saudi Aramco, has made an investment in AnTech. The company is a UK-based developer of directional coiled tubing drilling (DCTD) products and services.

PRESS RELEASE

Saudi Aramco Energy Ventures LLC (“SAEV”), the corporate venturing subsidiary of Saudi Aramco, today announced an investment into AnTech Ltd, a UK-based developer of directional coiled tubing drilling (DCTD) products and services.

AnTech has developed and successfully tested two proprietary DCTD products, COLT™ and POLARIS™. These tools promise to provide better performance, ease of deployment, and lower cost of operation in directional coiled tubing drilling applications.

SAEV’s investment in AnTech has been made in partnership with Calculus Capital, the specialist UK private equity investor. Both parties have invested similar amounts and these injections will help AnTech take advantage of numerous growth opportunities.

SAEV CEO Ibrahim Buainain stated “We are delighted to announce this investment into AnTech. Saudi Aramco is today a significant user of directional coiled drilling tubing services and we believe that AnTech’s products will allow DCTD methods to be applied to a wider variety of applications with lower costs and improved outcomes. We expect that SAEV’s engagement with AnTech will accelerate the commercialization of its products and their adoption in the Saudi Arabian market”.

AnTech Managing Director Toni Miszewski said “We are delighted to have received the financial support of SAEV and Calculus to help us achieve our aggressive growth plans. In addition, the Middle East is a critical target market for our business and the backing of SAEV will help provide the credibility and support we need to bring our tools, services and skills to the region. We can now truly demonstrate the full potential and advantages of DCTD”.

About Saudi Aramco Energy Ventures – Saudi Aramco Energy Ventures LLC (SAEV) is the corporate venturing subsidiary of Saudi Arabian Oil Company (Saudi Aramco), the world’s leading integrated energy company. Headquartered in Dhahran with offices in North America and Europe, SAEV’s mission is to invest globally in start-ups and high growth companies with technologies of strategic importance to its parent, Saudi Aramco.

About Calculus Capital Ltd – Calculus, founded in 1999, is a specialist in creating and managing private equity funds for individuals. The firm’s range of Enterprise Investment Scheme (EIS) and Venture Capital Trust (VCT) funds invest in UK unquoted companies. Calculus launched the UK’s first approved EIS fund in 2000 and its entrepreneurial flair, combined with experience and sound commercial judgment has resulted in an impressive track record of investment success.

About AnTech Ltd – AnTech has been designing and manufacturing innovative products for the oil & gas industry for over 15 years. Throughout this time the company has developed significant expertise in coiled tubing, drilling and downhole measurement and sensing technologies. It is currently commercializing its proprietary COLT™ and POLARIS™ directional coiled tubing drilling tools, which have been successfully trialled in the field. The company is headquartered in Exeter, UK.

The post Saudi Aramco Energy Ventures Invests in Antech appeared first on peHUB.

Saudi Aramco Energy Ventures, the corporate venturing subsidiary of Saudi Aramco, has closed an investment into Sekal AS. The business offers real time decision support and automation software, together with related consultancy and support services to the oil and gas industry.

PRESS RELEASE

Saudi Aramco Energy Ventures LLC (“SAEV”), the corporate venturing subsidiary of Saudi Aramco, today announced the closing of an investment into Sekal AS, a company that offers real time decision support and automation software, together with related consultancy and support services to the oil and gas industry.

The company is commercializing two software solutions, DrillScene and DrillTronics, used in drilling operations where rigs have real time data streaming capabilities. DrillScene is a self‐calibrating system that provides real‐time early warnings of impending problems in drilling operations. The driller can respond quicker to take corrective actions, reducing down‐time and improving performance. DrillTronics provides added automation and safeguard features to existing drilling control systems and actively controls key elements of the operation, such as draw‐work, top‐drive and mud pumps.

CEO of SAEV, Ibrahim Buainain said: “We are delighted to announce SAEV’s latest investment. We believe Sekal’s technology is truly superior to competing alternatives in the market, and will have a significant impact in increasing efficiency, reducing downtime and reducing costs in Saudi Aramco’s drilling operations.”

About Saudi Aramco Energy Ventures ‐ Saudi Aramco Energy Ventures LLC (SAEV) is the corporate venturing subsidiary of Saudi Arabian Oil Company (Saudi Aramco), the world’s leading integrated energy company. Headquartered in Dhahran with operations in North America and Europe, SAEV’s mission is to invest globally in start‐ups and high growth companies with technologies of strategic importance to its parent, Saudi Aramco.

For more information about SAEV, please visit www.aramcoventures.com

About Sekal – Sekal supplies solutions that employ real time data from a rig to perform advanced monitoring and automated drilling by utilizing advanced models. The solutions provide value by early detection of downhole condition deterioration, either as a monitoring service or as a fully integrated solution with the drilling control system. The result is a safer and more efficient drilling process. The company was incorporated in 2011 with headquarters in Sandnes, Norway, and offices in Aberdeen and Houston. The main owners are IRIS, Statoil Technology Invest, SåkorninVest and now Saudi Aramco Energy Ventures.

For more information about Sekal, please visit: www.sekal.no

The post Saudi Aramco Energy Ventures Backs Sekal AS appeared first on peHUB.

Law firm WilmerHale has appointed two high tech lawyers David Gammell and Edwin Pease as partners in the corporate group. Together, Gammell and Pease have more than 30 years of experience focusing on emerging companies, venture capital, mergers and acquisitions and related matters.

PRESS RELEASE

WilmerHale is pleased to announce that two leading high tech lawyers, David Gammell and Edwin Pease, have joined the firm as partners in the Corporate Group. Together, Mr. Gammell and Mr. Pease have more than 30 years of experience focusing on emerging companies, venture capital, mergers and acquisitions and related matters.
“We are pleased to welcome Dave and Ed to the firm,” said Susan Murley, co-managing partner of WilmerHale. “Each is an established figure in providing legal representation to entrepreneurs, and they will fit seamlessly into our full-service corporate practice.”
Mr. Gammell, who began his legal career 16 years ago, specializes in advising start-ups and venture-backed companies, venture capital firms, buyers and sellers in mergers and acquisitions, and both private and public companies in tech transfer and licensing matters, joint ventures and partnerships. Mr. Pease focuses his practice on advising start-ups and venture-backed companies, venture capital funds, and buyers and sellers in mergers and acquisitions. Between 1997 and 2005, he was an associate with Testa, Hurwitz & Thibeault, LLP. Mr. Gammell and Mr. Pease join WilmerHale from a Boston-based law firm, where they were co-chairs of the Emerging Technologies and Venture Capital Practices.
Mark Borden, chair of WilmerHale’s Corporate Group, added, “Dave and Ed have built impressive emerging technology and venture capital practices and we are excited that they have chosen to continue to grow their practices by leveraging our broad-based platform.”
WilmerHale’s corporate lawyers are renowned for their work in initial public offerings, venture capital, mergers and acquisitions, strategic alliances, corporate governance matters and the representation of emerging companies. These lawyers draw on the resources of WilmerHale’s intellectual property, tax, labor and employment, employee benefits, litigation, real estate, bankruptcy and antitrust practices to provide a one-stop solution to its corporate clients. The firm’s Corporate Group is consistently ranked by Chambers USA, having most recently been recognized in its 2012 edition as “superb” with “outstanding quality at all levels” and specifically acknowledged as a tier-one firm in the Corporate/M&A category in Massachusetts.
“WilmerHale is a leader in the start-up and venture capital market,” said Mr. Gammell. “Its deep corporate expertise, coupled with the breadth of practice areas it offers, are unmatched.”
Mr. Pease added, “Being able to leverage WilmerHale’s full range of services adds a significant amount of value to the work we do and the way in which we are able to meet our clients’ needs.”
About Wilmer Cutler Pickering Hale and Dorr LLP
WilmerHale provides legal representation across a comprehensive range of practice areas that are critical to the success of its clients. The law firm’s leading intellectual property, litigation/controversy, regulatory and government affairs, securities, and corporate and transactional groups participate in some of the highest-profile legal and policy matters. With a staunch commitment to public service, the firm is renowned as a leader in pro bono representation. WilmerHale is 1,000 lawyers strong with 14 offices in cities in the United States, Europe and Asia. For more information, please visit www.wilmerhale.com.
The following files are available for download:
Gammell Dave
Pease Ed
Contact Information
Contact information
Lauren G. Coppola
Senior Public Relations Specialist
WilmerHale
1 (617) 526 6998
[email protected]

The post High Tech Lawyers Join WilmerHale as Partners appeared first on peHUB.

Infinity Augmented Reality director, Moshe Hogeg, has co-founded a new venture capital fund, Genesis Angels. Led by former Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert, Kazakh industrialist Kenges Rakishev, the other co-founder behind Genesis Angels, and Israeli entrepreneur, CEO of Mobli, and Director of Infinity AR, Moshe Hogeg, this new venture capital firm will be focusing on early stage investment in startup companies in augmented reality, artificial intelligence, robotic innovations and similar cutting edge technologies.

PRESS RELEASE

Infinity Augmented Reality, Inc. (“Infinity Augmented Reality” or “Infinity AR”) (OTCQB: ALSO) — Infinity AR, the pioneers and developers of proprietary augmented reality software, is pleased to announce that our Director, Moshe Hogeg, has co-founded a new venture capital fund, Genesis Angels. Headed by former Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert, leading Kazakh industrialist Kenges Rakishev, the other co-founder behind Genesis Angels, and Israeli entrepreneur, CEO of Mobli, and Director of Infinity AR, Moshe Hogeg, this new venture capital firm will be focusing on early stage investment in startup companies. The main focal point for the firm will be investing in augmented reality, artificial intelligence, robotic innovations and similar cutting edge technologies.
Israel has always been considered a hotbed for technology startups including computer firewall technology, Wi-Fi, and instant-messaging. In a recent interview, Hogeg said that, “It is clear to everyone that the next layer of technology will be augmented reality, artificial intelligence, and robotics. So we see a huge opportunity to invest in upcoming technologies in a very early stage right now.” According to the Associated Press, Rakishev stated that Genesis Angels has already raised “tens of millions” of dollars and that if a project is already strongly developed that the venture capital fund would act quickly toward funding it. “An investment in augmented reality technologies will only benefit the future of Infinity AR,” says Hogeg. “As a Director with Infinity AR, I know the incredible possibilities that exist with this technology.”
“This is incredibly exciting news,” says Avrohom Oratz, CEO of Infinity AR. “For this diverse group to put together a fund with the sole purpose of funding such dynamic new technologies speaks volumes for their foresight and business acumen. It only hastens the development of augmented reality products such as Infinity AR’s Augmented Reality Eyewear, online gambling, and image and facial recognition platforms, just to name a few. We know that a boost in any of the new augmented products under way will only benefit Infinity AR because of our focus on developing augmented reality platforms.”
About Augmented Reality
Augmented reality is a medium in which real sensory inputs are enhanced, or augmented, with relevant digital information from the Internet. Using specially equipped eyewear, virtual images, video, and sound are superimposed for the user over what is actually seen and heard, heightening the real-life experience with additional information that is pertinent, informative, practical, and/or entertaining. The individual user may also be fully immersed in a virtual world, temporarily blocking out real surroundings. With augmented reality, sensory inputs are no longer limited to what is within eyeshot or earshot, but may incorporate, in real-time, all that the network has to offer.
Augmented reality requires an interface, such as digitally-enhanced eyewear, that can instantaneously overlay virtual images and video on top of what is actually experienced. Companies like Google and Lumus are in the process of developing augmented reality glasses that will change the way users see and interact with the world. Infinity AR will utilize its augmented reality applications through these glasses and/or through other mobile devices such as smart phones. As the individual turns his or her head in various directions and looks at different people or objects through the eyewear, the sights that are overlaid change accordingly. The eyewear incorporates speakers that add virtual sounds to the overall experience, as well as microphones that capture and interpret the user’s spoken commands through speech recognition technology in order to summon desired information and actions. Further information on the Company is available at its website.www.infinityar.com.
Safe Harbor Forward-Looking Statements
Some statements in this release may be “forward-looking statements” for the purposes of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. In some cases forward-looking statements can be identified by words such as “believe,” “expect,” “anticipate,” “plan,” “potential,” “continue” or similar expressions. Such forward-looking statements include risks and uncertainties, and there are important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. These factors, risks and uncertainties are discussed in our public filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Readers are urged to carefully review and consider the various disclosures made by us in our reports filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission, which attempt to advise interested parties of the risks and factors that may affect our business, financial condition, results of operation and cash flows. If one or more of these risks or uncertainties materialize, or if the underlying assumptions prove incorrect, our actual results may vary materially from those expected or projected. We undertake no obligation to update these forward looking statements.
Contact:
Contact Information
Infinity Augmented Reality, Inc.
Avrohom Oratz
President and Chief Executive Officer
(212) 201-4070
Email Contact

The post Genesis Angels is Founded appeared first on peHUB.

Resource Capital Corp. has closed a $44 million bridge loan secured by a 186,000 square foot grocery anchored retail center in Los Angeles, CA. Major tenants include a Ralph’s supermarket, Orchard Supply, CVS and Bank of America.

PRESS RELEASE

Resource Capital Corp. (NYSE: RSO) (the “Company”) announces that it has closed a $44 million bridge loan secured by a 186,000 square foot grocery anchored retail center in Los Angeles, CA. Major tenants include a Ralph’s supermarket, Orchard Supply, CVS and Bank of America. The Company has an agreement to sell an A-Note to a strategic partner and will retain a substantial mezzanine loan. The loan proceeds will fund the acquisition of the fee interest by the borrower that has held a leasehold for many years, as well upgrades to the property.
Dave Bloom, Senior Vice-President and head of the Company’s Real Estate Debt business, commented, “This loan demonstrates RSO’s ability to utilize its strong balance sheet and deep capital markets experience to continue to provide customized financing solutions for our clients in the larger loan space. The ability to underwrite and originate larger loans and sell off A-Notes provides RSO with access to the high-yield mezzanine loan space on a self-originated basis, and allows us to structure and price transactions and continue to control our borrower relationships. We look forward to the expansion of this aspect of our lending business.”
About Resource Capital Corp.
RSO is a diversified real estate finance company that is organized and conducts its operations to qualify as a REIT for federal income tax purposes. RSO’s investment strategy focuses on commercial real estate (CRE) assets, and, to a lesser extent, commercial finance assets and other investments. RSO invests in the following asset classes: CRE-related assets such as commercial real estate property, whole loans, A-notes, B-notes, mezzanine loans, CMBS and investments in real estate joint ventures as well as commercial finance assets such as bank loans, lease receivables, other asset-backed securities, corporate bonds, trust preferred securities, debt tranches of CDOs, structured note investments, and private equity investments principally issued by financial institutions.
RSO is externally managed by Resource Capital Manager, Inc., an indirect wholly-owned subsidiary of Resource America, Inc. (NASDAQ: REXI), a specialized asset management company that uses industry specific expertise to generate and administer investment opportunities for its own account and for outside investors in the real estate, financial fund management and commercial finance sectors.
For more information, please visit the Resource Capital Corp. website at www.resourcecapitalcorp.com or contact investor relations at [email protected].
This press release includes statements that may constitute forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Such forward-looking statements are subject to a variety of known and unknown risks, uncertainties, and other factors that are difficult to predict and many of which are beyond management’s control. Factors that can affect future results are discussed in the documents filed by Resource Capital Corp. from time to time with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Resource Capital Corp. undertakes no obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statement to reflect new or changing information or events.

Contact Information
Contact:
Resource Capital Corp.
Email Contact

The post Resource Capital Closes $44m Loan appeared first on peHUB.

Cloud-based network solutions company, Aepona, whose largest venture investor is Amadeus Capital Partners, has been acquired by Intel. Details of the transaction have not been divulged.

PRESS RELEASE

Cloud-based network solutions company, Aepona, whose largest venture investor is Amadeus Capital Partners, has been acquired by Intel. Details of the transaction have not been divulged.
Co-founded by Dublin entrepreneur Gilbert Little, Aepona has offices in Belfast, Bristol, Wicklow, Denver, California and Sri Lanka and employs some 70 people.
Amadeus first backed Aepona in 2003 and has supported the company since then, alongside Irish and French venture capital investors and corporates including Blackberry Partners and SAP.
Aepona was the original developer of the OneAPI technology currently being deployed worldwide by many mobile carriers to enable them to launch new services faster by providing application developers with direct access to their network key assets. This month, Aepona’s Monetization Platform was chosen by Vodafone India to connect the company’s network services across India, enabling Vodafone’s business partners to reach and bill its 147 million plus mobile subscribers.
Aepona is the third successful mobile technology business founded by Gilbert Little, previously involved with Aldiscon acquired by LogicaCMG, and Apion, acquired by Openwave.
According to Andrea Traversone, partner at Amadeus, “Aepona is one of the most innovative wireless technology companies founded in Europe and we are proud to have been part of its development during our investment period. I am sure the company’s technology will be key to Intel’s mobile strategy.”
END
For further details, please contact:
Chantal Ligertwood, PR for Amadeus, 07976 229 210

About Amadeus
Amadeus Capital Partners is one of Europe’s leading technology investors. Since its inception in 1997, the firm has raised over £500m for investment and backed more than 85 companies in communications and networking hardware and software, cleantech, medtech, computer hardware and software, media, and e-commerce. Major businesses built by Amadeus include CSR plc (LSE:CSR), the leading producer of single chip bluetooth radios for short range connections, Solexa Ltd, the developer of next generation genetic analysis systems, merged into Illumina, Inc. (ILMN) to create the world-leader in gene-sequencing technology and Transmode, a networking solutions business, which had an over-subscribed IPO on NASDAQ OMX Stockholm in 2011. For more information, please visit www.amadeuscapital.com

The post Amadeus’ Aepona Acquired by Intel appeared first on peHUB.

Singapore based-Armstrong Asset Management has appointed Yasushi Ujioka as investment director. Ujioka has 17 years’ experience as an engineer and investment professional in the water, power generation and energy efficiency sectors across Europe and Asia.

PRESS RELEASE

Singapore based-Armstrong Asset Management has appointed as Investment Director, Yasushi Ujioka, who has 17 years’ experience as an engineer and investment professional in the water, power generation and energy efficiency sectors across Europe and Asia.
Yasushi will be directly involved in the newly established US$150 million Armstrong South East Asia Clean Energy Fund which is set for final close in August 2013. He will have co-responsibility for deal management and origination across the Southeast Asia with a primary focus on Indonesia and will also lead the firm’s investment in the resource efficiency sector.

“As Armstrong’s investment strategy is to provide development capital to small-scale renewable energy and resource efficiency projects that help address the urgent energy needs of emerging markets in Southeast Asia, Yasushi’s engineering and project management experience makes him a valuable addition to the team operational capability and depth,” said Andrew Affleck, Managing Partner of Armstrong Asset Management. “He brings a good Euro Asian blend of cultural knowledge and is familiar with the multicultural business and investment environment in SE Asia.”

Yasushi has closed investments in Asia totalling US$240 million between 2007 and 2011. Most recently, he was the Investment Director at Swiss-Asia Financial Services Pte Ltd., the asset management firm of the China District Energy Fund.

When he was Business Development Director for Asia for the Dalkia Group, the energy division of Veolia Environnement, he spearheaded business development in new markets in North East and South East Asia in the field of energy efficiency, district energy and biomass CHP (Combined Heat and Power). Yasushi previously held a senior management position with Degrémont, the water treatment division of Suez Environnement, at its global headquarters in Paris.

With a BSc and MEng degree in Urban & Environmental Engineering from the University of Tokyo and an MBA from INSEAD, he combines a strong technical background in environmental technologies with hands-on experience in origination, development, execution and operation of energy projects in Asia.

About Armstrong Asset Management
Armstrong Asset Management is an independent asset manager, based in Singapore, focused on the clean energy sector in Southeast Asia’s emerging markets. Armstrong has announced its first fund will invest in small-scale infrastructure projects and is on track to achieve a final closing of US$150 million target by August 2013. Armstrong’s multidisciplinary team consists of 8 investment professionals with deep sector knowledge and cultural experience from a collective 80 years of Southeast Asia operating experience. As a responsible investor, Armstrong believes integrating sustainable, environmentally friendly practices into day-to-day activities delivers tangible benefits, creates additional opportunities, benefits society and reduces risk. Such an ethical approach leads to follow on opportunities and improved financial returns especially when the true costs of increasingly scarce natural resources are considered. www.armstrongam.com

Issued by H2PC Asia on behalf of Armstrong Asset Management.

More info in the attached file or contact us.

Thanks & kind regards, Beng Ai / 9767 9598

Beng-Ai Yap
H2PCASIA
Main: 65-6222 2937 | Mobile: 65-97679598 | Fax: 65-6222 3478
Email: [email protected] | 74B Pagoda St, Singapore 059233

The post Armstrong Appoints Investment Director appeared first on peHUB.

Intel Capital has boosted its investment team with the appointment of a new investment director, Tobi Oke, based in Lagos, Nigeria. Oke will focus on investments in Sub-Saharan Africa.

PRESS RELEASE

Intel Capital, Intel’s global investment and M&A organisation, has boosted its investment team with the appointment of a new Investment Director, Tobi Oke, based in Lagos, Nigeria. Tobi will focus on investments in Sub-Saharan Africa.

“We are pleased to welcome Tobi to Intel Capital. His local knowledge and expertise will help further strengthen our investment team,” said Marcin Hejka, Managing Director Intel Capital Eastern Europe, Middle East, Africa and Russia/CIS, “Sub-Saharan Africa has become a source of an increasing number of innovative technology companies which venture capital backing can help to develop. With the help of Tobi, we hope to increase our investments in Sub-Saharan Africa.”

Commenting on the announcement, Tobi Oke said: “There is tremendous opportunity to provide entrepreneurs in Sub-Saharan Africa with greater access to capital as well as growth resources including our global network and technological expertise. I look forward to building Intel Capital’s presence in the region and working closely with the local entrepreneurs.”

Tobi brings to Intel Capital a combination of investment and technology skills developed through solid experience. Prior to joining Intel Capital, Tobi was an Associate Director at Standard Chartered Private Equity in Lagos and Investment Associate at HSBC Principal Investments in London. Previously he worked as Senior Consultant at Booz Allen Hamilton and Software Engineer and Product Development Manager at Motorola. Tobi holds an MBA from London Business School and a MEng in Information Systems Engineering from Imperial College in London.

Intel Capital has been investing in Africa since 2011 and has made investments in Allied Technologies Limited (Altech) and Rancard. Intel Capital is dedicated to facilitate further economic growth in the region by supporting the local Venture Capital ecosystem and offering entrepreneurs in the region value beyond equity. Our expertise, connections, programs, and overall brand value create a distinct advantage that helps entrepreneurs build their businesses, opening doors to new markets, customers, alliances, co-investors, and emerging technologies.

Ends
About Intel Capital
Intel Capital, Intel’s global investment and M&A organization, makes equity investments in innovative technology start-ups and companies worldwide. Intel Capital invests in a broad range of companies offering hardware, software, and services targeting enterprise, mobility, health, consumer Internet, digital media and semiconductor manufacturing.

Since 1991, Intel Capital has invested more than US$10.8 billion in over 1,276 companies in 54 countries. In that timeframe, 201 portfolio companies have gone public on various exchanges around the world and 317 were acquired or participated in a merger. In 2012, Intel Capital invested US$352 million in 150 investments with approximately 57 percent of funds invested outside North America. For more information on Intel Capital and its differentiated advantages, visit www.intelcapital.com or follow @Intelcapital.

Contacts

Fotini De Keizer
[email protected]

Marie Cairney

Associate Director

[email protected]

T : +44 207 413 3000

Dir : +44 20 7973 5954

The post Intel Capital Boosts Team appeared first on peHUB.

FF&P Private Equity, the private equity business of Fleming Family & Partners, has backed the buy-in management buyout of specialist energy efficiency business, FIT. The acquirer, Efficient Energy Management Group, majority owned by FF&P Private Equity, intends to capitalise on the demand for energy efficient commercial kitchens, as energy costs have more than doubled over the last 10 years.

PRESS RELEASE

FF&P Private Equity (‘FF&P’), the private equity business of Fleming Family & Partners, has backed the buy-in management buy-out of specialist energy efficiency business, FIT.

The acquirer, Efficient Energy Management Group, majority owned by FF&P Private Equity, intends to capitalise on the demand for energy efficient commercial kitchens, as energy costs have more than doubled over the last 10 years (source: Department of Energy and Climate Change).

Since 2001, FIT has designed and installed energy saving solutions for a large number of blue-chip customers, including major supermarket, hotel and leisure operators in the UK and Europe. FIT’s solutions offer compelling payback periods, with the savings being monitored and measurable for customers. The company’s Cheetah™ system, an energy management and safety control system for commercial food preparation, has been installed in over 2000 locations, for clients including Whitbread, Tesco and Sainsbury’s.

Commenting on the transaction, Simon Jarman, CEO of Efficient Energy Management Group, said: “We are delighted to have acquired FIT and are very excited about its prospects. It is an excellent, established business operating in a growing sector with a proven product and strong customer relationships. There is substantial opportunity to expand the customer base, diversify the product range and develop international markets. I am very much looking forward to working with FF&P to fulfil the significant growth potential that exists.”

Henry Sallitt, Co-Head of FF&P Private Equity, commented: “We are delighted to have invested in a sector with strong macro drivers for future growth. We are also investing in a management team which we believe can continue to provide a compelling energy saving product to its existing customers and to reach many new ones”.

“FF&P Private Equity has been successful in helping a range of family owned and entrepreneurial companies to grow their businesses. We look forward to working with FIT and to helping the company reach its full potential.”

FF&P was advised on the transaction by Speechly Bircham LLP, Grant Thornton UK LLP and CIL Ltd.

ENDS

For further information, please contact:
For FF&P PE: Cubitt Consulting
James Isola +44 (0)20 7367 5100

FF&P Private Equity is focused on investing in dynamic, growth companies in the UK lower-to-mid market. It invests between £3m – £15m in companies valued from £5m to £50m in a variety of situations including minority investments, management buyouts / buy-ins, development and replacement capital. Through its extensive network of contacts and working in partnership with its investors and portfolio companies, it aims to create market-leading companies that deliver superior returns to all shareholders.

FF&P Private Equity Limited is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority.

Food Industry Technical Limited (FIT) provides leading energy saving solutions for operators of commercial kitchens. Combining airflow measurement, data logging through remote access, energy monitoring and energy control, FIT is able to offer a number of solutions to customers which enable them to improve efficiency of their kitchen, monitor and meter their energy usage, reduce equipment failure and help them meet their environmental targets and improve profitability. The unique and patented Cheetah™ system has been installed in over 2000 locations throughout the UK and Europe. It works in all areas of commercial catering and clients include hotel groups, restaurant chains, supermarkets, department stores, government institutions and commercial organisations.

The post FF&P Private Equity Acquires FIT appeared first on peHUB.

Dynamic Yield has secured $2 million in Series A funding led by Bessemer Venture Partners. Founded in 2012, Dynamic Yield is a developer of yield optimization products for websites.

PRESS RELEASE

Dynamic Yield, a developer of real-time audience personalization software that increases revenue yield and key engagement metrics for online publishers and e-commerce websites, today announced that it has secured $2 million in Series A funding led by Bessemer Venture Partners. The New York Times Company and investment fund Innovation Endeavors also participated in the round. Self-funded to date, the company plans to use the proceeds to expand its global footprint by opening a New York City office and support the growth of its expanding customer base.
In today’s complex business environment, publishers and e-commerce sites face increased pressure to more effectively monetize their visiting user traffic. Dynamic Yield solves this problem by providing website owners with an automated SaaS solution that measures the revenue impact of each page layout and individual in-page components. Subsequently, its real-time personalization algorithms can be directed to increase overall revenue yield by increasing user engagement, ad clicks, product purchases, social sharing and page-views.
Dynamic Yield also provides a comprehensive Audience module that helps website owners understand who are their most valuable users, why they are valuable and how to increase reach, engagement and revenues from existing and new traffic channels. With an understanding that publishers lack the time and resources to go through complex integration projects, Dynamic Yield has focused on making the product easy to deploy and manage.
Dynamic Yield is currently powering nearly a billion monthly page-views.
“We supposedly live in an era of dynamic, personalized web experiences, yet data loads and algorithmic capacity have kept the vast majority of websites largely static,” said Liad Agmon, co-founder and CEO of Dynamic Yield. “We have shown in the past twelve months that our low-touch SaaS solution has significant and far reaching effect on our clients’ bottom-lines.”
“There are a lot of tools and services in the market to optimize discreet components of a website,” said Adam Fisher of Bessemer, “but nothing that takes a holistic view of how to maximize revenue across revenue sources and yet improve user engagement and satisfaction at the same time. With its big data approach, Dynamic Yield helps website owners achieve this difficult balance, while still allowing for editorial control. We are excited for the opportunity to support Liad, a former Bessemer EIR, and believe that Dynamic Yield has come up with an innovative solution to a global market challenge.”
About Dynamic Yield
Founded in 2012, Dynamic Yield is a developer of yield optimization products for websites. Its algorithmic tools help website owners measure revenue yield and serve personalized user experiences, boosting engagement, ad clicks, product purchases and overall user value. The company has offices in Tel-Aviv.

About Bessemer Venture Partners
With $4.0 billion under management, Bessemer Venture Partners (BVP) (www.bvp.com) is a global venture capital firm with offices in Silicon Valley, Cambridge, Mass., New York, Mumbai, Bangalore and Herzliya, Israel. BVP delivers a broad platform in venture capital spanning industries, geographies, and stages of company growth. From Staples to Skype, VeriSign to Yelp, LinkedIn to Pinterest, BVP has helped incubate and support companies that have anchored significant shifts in the economy. More than 100 BVP-funded companies have gone public on exchanges in North America, Europe and Asia.

Contact Information
Media Contact:
For press inquiries, contact
Dynamic Yield
Email Contact

The post Dynamic Yield Secures Series A Led by Bessemer Venture Partners appeared first on peHUB.

Rare Element Resources has appointed Lowell A. Shonk, a financial professional with more than 30 years of experience in the mining industry, to its board of directors. He will also serve as the board’s audit committee chair. Shonk is the vice chairman of Cupric Canyon Capital, a private equity company in partnership with Barclays Capital focused on investing in early stage copper projects worldwide.

PRESS RELEASE

Rare Element Resources Ltd. (NYSE Amex:REE)(NYSE MKT:REE)(TSX:RES) (the “Company”) announced today that Lowell A. Shonk, a financial professional with more than 30 years of experience in the mining industry, has joined its Board of Directors as of April 23, 2013 and will serve as the Board’s Audit Committee Chair. At the same time, Paul H. Zink, a director since early 2012, has tendered his resignation in order to devote his time to his new position as Chief Executive Officer of Americas Bullion Royalty Corp.
Mr. Shonk has held numerous financial-related positions in the last 30 years in companies in the copper, molybdenum, gold, coal, iron ore, industrial minerals and lithium extractive and processing industries, both domestically and internationally. Mr. Shonk served as Vice President of Financial Operations and Analysis at Phelps Dodge Corporation and Freeport-McMoRan Copper & Gold from 1999 through 2009. Prior to that, he spent 20 years in finance roles, including Controller/Chief Financial Officer for various divisions of Cyprus Amax and its predecessor mining companies. Mr. Shonk is the Vice Chairman of Cupric Canyon Capital LP/LLC (“Cupric”), a private equity company in partnership with Barclays Capital focused on investing in early-stage copper projects worldwide. He served as CEO in 2012 and early 2013 and serves as a director for Hana Mining Co. Ltd., a formerly TSX-listed company that Cupric acquired in 2013. He also serves as Chairman of Eiseb Exploration and Mining, Ltd., a privately owned company 55% owned by Cupric, conducting copper and silver exploration in Namibia. Mr. Shonk has a Masters degree from Colorado School of Mines in Mineral Economics and an MBA from the University of Colorado in Finance and Accounting. He is currently the chairman of the audit committee of the Society of Mining, Metallurgy and Exploration (SME).
“Lowell is the definition of the modern miner – well versed in geology but, equally important, possessing the financial background to understand what it takes to develop and operate a profitable mine,” said Donald E. Ranta, Rare Element’s Chairman of the Board. “With his high-level executive mining experience, especially in financing, strategic planning and valuation, we believe he is an excellent addition to the team as we bring the Bear Lodge rare earth project into production.”
Mr. Zink tendered his resignation to the Board on April 23, 2013 in order to focus his attention on developing Americas Bullion Royalty Corp., the mining industry’s newest royalty company. “We are excited for Paul and the opportunity before him. He has been a valuable contributor to the Board in the past year, and we expect that Americas Bullion will benefit as we did from his experience and insights,” concluded Mr. Ranta.
Rare Element Resources Ltd. is a publicly traded mineral resource company focused on exploration and development of rare-earth elements (REEs), with a significant distribution of critical rare earths (CREEs). In addition to the REE exploration and evaluation efforts, the Company controls the Sundance gold project, which is located on the same property in Wyoming.
Neither TSX nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.
Contact Information
Rare Element Resources Ltd.
Robbin Lee
720-278-2462

The post Rare Element Appoints Lowell A. Shonk to Board appeared first on peHUB.

State Street Corporation has appointed Dr. Markus Steiner as head of State Street Global Services’ business in Switzerland. Dr. Steiner will assume his new role on July 1, 2013.

PRESS RELEASE

State Street Corporation (NYSE: STT) today announced the appointment of Dr. Markus Steiner to head of State Street Global Services’ business in Switzerland.

Dr. Steiner will assume his new role on July 1, 2013. To ensure a seamless transition and as part of a planned succession, a handover phase with current managing director René Charrière, will take place between now and July. Following the transition, Mr. Charrière will assume a senior relationship management role for select Swiss-based accounts.
Dr. Steiner has more than 22 years of professional experience in the asset management and investment fund industry, and he has held leading positions in fund management and product development in the Swiss and European fund markets. He also possesses extensive regulatory expertise from his active participation in the Swiss regulatory landscape. Most recently, he served as head of UBS Fund Management Switzerland AG for more than 13 years.
Commenting on the appointment, Jörg Ambrosius, senior vice president of State Street said, “We’re privileged to welcome Markus Steiner to State Street’s management team in Zurich as he brings a wealth of experience to the role. We look forward to working with him. With Dr. Steiner’s appointment and René Charrière taking on a key relationship management role, we are well positioned to further expand our business in Switzerland.”
About State Street Corporation
State Street Corporation (NYSE: STT) is one of the world’s leading providers of financial services to institutional investors including investment servicing, investment management and investment research and trading. With $25.4 trillion in assets under custody and administration and $2.2 trillion in assets under management at March 31, 2013, State Street operates in more than 100 geographic markets worldwide, including the U.S., Canada, Europe, the Middle East and Asia. For more information, visit State Street’s web site at www.statestreet.com.

This AUM includes the assets of the SPDR Gold Trust (approx. $62.7 billion as of March 31, 2013), for which State Street Global Markets, LLC, an affiliate of State Street Global Advisors, serves as the marketing agent.

Lydia Cambata
Citigate Dewe Rogerson
Account Manager
Phone | 020 7282 1082 | 07939 153 721
E-Mail | [email protected]
Address | 3 London Wall Buildings | London Wall | EC2M 5SY
www.citigatedewerogerson.co.uk

Citigate Dewe Rogerson Ltd is registered in England NO 2184041. Registered office is 15-17 Huntsworth Mews, London, NW1 6DD.

The post State Street Appoints Head of Global Services in Switzerland appeared first on peHUB.

LKQ Corporation has agreed to acquire Sator Beheer, a distributor of auto parts, tools and equipment headquartered in Schiedam, the Netherlands, for approximately $268 million. Baird acted as the sole financial advisor to LKQ on the deal, which is still subject to customary closing conditions. The sellers were H2 Equity Partners, a private equity firm, and Sator management.

PRESS RELEASE

Today’s announcement that LKQ Corporation (NASDAQ: LKQX) has agreed to acquire Sator Beheer BV (“Sator”), a leading distributor of auto parts, tools and equipment headquartered in Schiedam, the Netherlands, for approximately $268 million marks another successful transatlantic M&A deal for Baird, an employee-owned, international financial services firm. Baird acted as the sole financial advisor to LKQ on the deal, which is still subject to customary closing conditions. The sellers were H2 Equity Partners, a private equity firm, and Sator management.

The transaction underscores Baird’s expertise in the automotive aftermarket parts distribution space and the global reach of its M&A platform. In late 2011, Baird acted as the exclusive financial advisor to Euro Car Parts Limited, the leading U.K. aftermarket distributor of parts for cars and light commercial vehicles, in its sale to LKQ for up to $435 million. Today’s deal also marks the 14th Baird-advised M&A transaction involving a Netherlands-based firm.

Baird’s fully-integrated, international deal team was led by David Silver, Head of European Investment Banking, and Adam Czaia, Director.

“We are pleased to continue our partnership with LKQ on this acquisition,” said Czaia. “Baird’s Investment Banking group has worked with the company several times over the past few years in different capacities, and we are delighted to have provided a great outcome.

Silver added, “This transaction illustrates what we believe to be the early stages of European consolidation in the automotive aftermarket parts distribution sector. The deal builds nicely on LKQ’s 2011 acquisition of Euro Car Parts.”

Established in 1998, LKQ Corporation is the largest North American source for quality recycled auto parts and the largest U.S. distributor of alternative collision replacement auto parts, with 2012 sales of more than $4.1 billion. Sator is the market-leading distributor of spare parts for the automotive aftermarket industry in the Netherlands, Belgium, Luxembourg and Northern France, and the parent company of eight operating subsidiaries. H2 Equity Partners is an independent private equity firm founded in 1991, with offices in Amsterdam, Cologne and London. H2 Equity Partners and Management acquired Sator in July 2009.

###

About Baird’s Investment Banking group
Recognized as the 2011 “Investment Banking Firm of the Year” by The M&A Advisor, Baird is a leading global investment bank focused on the middle market. Approximately 230 investment banking professionals in the U.S., Europe and Asia provide corporations, private equity and venture capital firms with in-depth market knowledge and extensive experience in merger and acquisition and equity financing transactions. Since 2008, Baird has advised on nearly 250 M&A transactions representing approximately $50 billion in transaction value and has served as lead or co-manager on 335 equity offerings raising approximately $98 billion. Baird has received “Deal of the Year” recognitions from The M&A Advisor for eight years running, demonstrating commitment to attaining great outcomes for clients.

About Baird
Baird is an employee-owned, international wealth management, capital markets, private equity and asset management firm with offices in the United States, Europe and Asia. Established in 1919, Baird has approximately 2,800 associates serving the needs of individual, corporate, institutional and municipal clients. Baird had more than $99 billion in client assets on Dec. 31, 2012. Committed to being a great place to work, Baird ranked No. 14 on FORTUNE’s 100 Best Companies to Work For in 2013 – its tenth consecutive year on the list. Baird’s principal operating subsidiaries are Robert W. Baird & Co. in the United States and Robert W. Baird Group Ltd. in Europe. Baird also has an operating subsidiary in Asia supporting Baird’s investment banking and private equity operations.

The post LKQ Acquires Sator Beheer appeared first on peHUB.

Genticel, a biopharmaceutical company developing innovative vaccines for patients infected with human papillomavirus (HPV), has raised 18.2 million euros ($23.7 million) in additional capital. Wellington Partners led the round which included all current institutional investors IDInvest Partners, Edmond de Rothschild Investment Partners (EdRIP), InnoBio fund*, IRDI and Amundi Private Equity Funds.

PRESS RELEASE

Genticel, a biopharmaceutical company developing innovative vaccines for patients infected with human papillomavirus (HPV), announces today that it has raised EUR 18.2 million (USD 23.7 million) in additional capital. Wellington Partners, based in Munich, Germany, led the round which included all current institutional investors i.e. IDInvest Partners, Edmond de Rothschild Investment Partners (EdRIP), InnoBio fund*, IRDI and Amundi Private Equity Funds. Dr. Rainer Strohmenger, general partner at Wellington Partners, joins the supervisory board of Genticel.

Genticel is a France-based vaccine developer that focuses on therapeutic vaccines against high risk human papillomavirus (HPV) infection. The company has been spearheading the development of vaccine solutions for women infected with high-risk HPV types (16 and 18) but who have not yet progressed to cervical high grade lesions or cancer. Today, no therapeutic options are available for this very large population of women whose medical need has only recently been revealed by the increasing availability of HPV screening. These tests are rapidly being adopted in first line cervical cancer screening programs in the USA and Europe.

The first preventive vaccines against high risk HPV 16/18 infections were introduced into global markets as of 2006 and have seen widespread adoption. However, there is still no effective treatment against established infection with high-risk HPV types. ProCervix, Genticel’s lead product is a unique proprietary HPV16/18 vaccine for the treatment of infected women who have not yet developed high-grade cervical lesions or cancer. ProCervix is designed to eliminate HPV16 and/or 18 infected cells.

The new funds will be used to advance Genticel’s key product candidates, i.e., two therapeutic HPV vaccines. The lead vaccine, ProCervix, has successfully finished phase I clinical study. The phase I trial (n=47) revealed no dose limiting toxicity and no patient drop-out. In addition, ProCervix induced a dose-dependent immune response as well as viral clearance in a substantially larger percentage of patients as compared to placebo. ProCervix will enter into phase II development in order to demonstrate proof of efficacy. This bivalent product, built on Genticel’s proprietary CyaA antigen delivery technology, carries antigens originating from both HPV16 and HPV18. Genticel’s other pipeline product is a CyaA-based multivalent HPV vaccine with additional virus subtype coverage.

“The commitment from Wellington Partners, one of the most reputable life science investors in Europe, is further endorsement of Genticel’s therapeutic HPV vaccine development,” said Benedikt Timmerman, founder and CEO of Genticel. “The Wellington life science team members are bringing outstanding clinical development and medical expertise to our shareholder base, both from therapeutic vaccines and from cervical cancer screening. They have immediately understood the unique properties of our lead product ProCervix. This investment will allow us to take ProCervix through a multi-center multi-national phase II program. It will further strengthen our database supporting the efficacy and safety of this highly novel, curative treatment for high-risk HPV-infections.”

“We are highly excited about Genticel’s lead project ProCervix,” added Dr. Rainer Strohmenger, general partner at Wellington Partners. “It showed compelling data in the phase I clinical trial suggesting that it can cure an infection with high-risk HPV types 16 and 18 in 3 out of 4 treated patients, thus effectively preventing progression of the infection to high-grade cervical disease. There are more than 90 million women in the world infected with HPV 16 and/or HPV18 types who could benefit from this treatment, making this market a clear blockbuster opportunity.”

Recent estimates by the World Health Organization suggest that world-wide approximately 300 million women are carriers of HPV infection at any given time and approximately 500,000 patients are diagnosed with cervical cancer each year.

* managed by CDC Entreprises, future entity of bpifrance

Advisors to Genticel:
Legal: BRUNSWICK – Philippe Beauregard
Industrial Property: – EGYP – Anne Desaix
Auditor (Commissaire aux Comptes): SYGNATURES – Jean Laberenne

Advisors to Wellington Partners:
Legal: JONES DAY – Geoffroy Pineau-Valencienne
Industrial Property: GRAF VON STOSCH Patentanwaltsgesellschaft – Andreas Graf von Stosch
CASALONGA – Murielle Robert-Lemeur
Auditor: EXPEN – Olivier Younes

About Genticel S.A.
GENTICEL is a clinical stage biopharmaceutical company based in Paris and Toulouse, France, which develops vaccines for patients infected with Human Papillomavirus (HPV). Besides ProCervix, its other pipeline products include CyaA-based multivalent HPV vaccines with additional virus subtype coverage.

Mark Tidmarsh
ANDREW LLOYD & ASSOCIATES

http://www.ala.com

[email protected]

Follow us on Twitter: https://twitter.com/ALA_Group

Brighton Business Centre 95 Ditchling Road Brighton BN1 4ST ENGLAND
Tel: +44 1273 675100 Fax: +44 1273 675400

55 rue Boissonade 75014 Paris FRANCE
Tel: +33 1 56 54 07 00 Fax: +33 1 56 54 07 01

The post Genticel Inks Over $20m Led by Wellington appeared first on peHUB.

Argos Soditic has announced the acquisition of the Natural Distribution group, a European specialist in food supplements based on plants and components of natural origin, in a BIMBO transaction alongside the management team, led by Nigel Henton. Founded 25 years ago by Jean and Maryse Estienne, Natural Distribution develops and distributes food supplements based on plants and components of natural origin in pharmacies and specialist shops.

PRESS RELEASE

Argos Soditic announces the acquisition of the Natural Distribution. group, the European specialist in food supplements based on plants and components of natural origin, in a BIMBO transaction alongside the management team, led by Nigel Henton.

Founded 25 years ago by Jean and Maryse Estienne, Natural Distribution develops and distributes food supplements based on plants and components of natural origin in pharmacies and specialist shops. Focused on the wellbeing and health segments, the group has chosen not to address the beauty or the weight-loss segments. The Head office, the R&D team and the logistic platform are based in Ashford (United Kingdom). The group employs 124 people and has a turnover of approximately 32m€.

The R&D strategy is centred on complex products, combining several plants, vitamins and minerals with rigorous attention paid to the quality of the ingredients. Among the group’s umbrella brands are Santé Verte, distributed exclusively in pharmacies and para-pharmacies, which includes flagship products such as Circulymphe, (blood and lymphatic circulation), Acti’Rub (winter ailments) as well as Somni’Phyt (insomnia).
The transaction was initiated at a time when the Sellers wished progressively to transfer the management of the company to the management team led by Nigel Henton. A new Financial Director and a Business Development Director have been recruited to reinforce the team.

« The development of the group since its creation and its current performance are the result of constancy in the quality of our products, ensured by the particular care given to their formulation and to the selection of the natural components used. The support shown for this strategy by Argos Soditic and the participation of the current management in the transaction, have convinced us that we can entrust to them the continued development of the group and accompany this new stage ourselves as minority shareholders.” comment Maryse and Jean Estienne, the founders.

The objective of the management team, accompanied by Argos Soditic, is to accelerate the growth of the group, both in its actual pharmacy and specialist shop markets and in new ones, particularly the export market.

Nigel Henton concludes : « The Estienne family and I have worked extremely hard to make Natural Distribution a leader in the food supplements market : today Santé Verte has consolidated its position in the pharmacy segment and is among the « Top 10 » actors in France. With Argos Soditic alongside us and the reinforcement of the management team, we are looking forward with enthusiasm to a new phase of development. »

« Over 25 years, Maryse and Jean Estienne have built Natural Distribution into an uncontested reference in the sector of food supplements based on plants and components of natural origin. Their concern for the quality of the products, based notably on a profound knowledge of essential nutriments, has created a company which is today a trustworthy actor for its partners and clients. We are particularly proud to accompany the management team in the future growth of the business. » comment Gilles Mougenot and Karel Kroupa, Argos Soditic partners.

About Argos Soditic

Argos Soditic is an independent European private equity group with offices in Paris, Milan and Geneva.
Since its creation in 1989, Argos Soditic has carried out more than 50 transactions focusing on management buy-outs and buy-ins in small and medium sized companies.
Argos Sodtic typically takes majority stakes ranging from €5m to €50m in companies with revenues of €20m to €400m.
With €675m under management for MBO (€400m for the last fund), the firm has developed a track record of unusual, complex and off-market transactions where the firm’s combination of local presence and international experience is able to add value to the small and medium sized businesses it invests in.

Natural Distribution is the third acquisition for Fund VI.

Advisors
Sellers :
M&A : Messis Finances (Elie Auriac, Aurélien Ferrand, Aurélien Bossuat)
Legal : PDGB Avocats (Thibaut Caharel, Joy Fant)
Purchasers :
Financial : KPMG (Olivier Boumendil, Franck Bernard)
Fiscal : Arsène Taxand (Franck Chaminade, Emilie Foy)
Legal: SJ Berwin (Maxence Bloch, Pierre-Louis Sèvegrand, Olivier Vermeulen, Marc Zerah)
Regulatory: PDG Avocats (Paule Drouault-Gardrat, Juliette Peterka)
Financing Unitranche :
Idinvest (François Lacoste, Nicolas Nedelec)
Access Capital Partners (Martial Lauby, Christopher Underwood)
IFE Mezzanine (Dominique Fouquoire, Alban Cordier)
Conseil unitranche : Nabarro & Hinge (Jonathan Nabarro, Blandine Geny)

Contacts :
Argos Soditic : Gilles Mougenot (Partner), Karel Kroupa (Partner), Guillaume Lefebvre (Analyst)
Press : Céline Lanoux, tel. +33 1 53 67 20 50, [email protected]
Next >

The post Argos Soditic Acquires Natural Distribution appeared first on peHUB.