Author: Luisa Beltran

Torque Capital Group led a group of investors to buy Brake Parts. Financial terms were not announced. McHenry, Ill.-based Brake Parts makes and supplies global brake system products for the transportation industry. Affinia Group spun off Brake Parts to its shareholders in November 2012.

PRESS RELEASE

Brake Parts Inc announced today that it has been acquired by a group of investors led by Torque Capital Group, a New York based private equity firm. The business was spun off to its shareholders in November 2012 by its parent, Affinia Group Holdings, of Ann Arbor, Michigan.
“Now that the deal has been completed, the BPI team along with our strategic partners are eager to move forward,” said President and CEO David Overbeeke . “Brake Parts Inc has a strong heritage of leading the category in product quality and innovation, first to market applications and superior customer service.”
Joseph Parzick , Managing Partner of Torque Capital Group said, “Torque and our investors were particularly attracted to BPI’s strong management team and their leading market position in the North American brake parts aftermarket. We are excited by the prospect of leveraging the Raybestos® brand of brake products to drive international sales growth, particularly in Asia.”
BPI recently completed a comprehensive restructuring of its global manufacturing footprint in best-cost countries investing in new world-class, state-of-the-art operations, incorporating lean manufacturing principles for optimum quality consistency and maximum productivity and efficiency. Equally important in the BPI global strategy is a strong commitment and dedication to research, development and testing to ensure our entire offering of friction, drums and rotors, calipers and hydraulic products meet or exceed original equipment fit, form and function specifications and performance requirements.
“We are in one of the most dynamic categories in the global automotive aftermarket,” said Overbeeke. “We are dedicated to continuous improvement in everything we do, each and every day in order to meet the demands of our highly valued customers!”
About Brake Parts Inc
Brake Parts Inc (BPI) headquartered in McHenry IL, is a leading global brake system products manufacturer and supplier to the transportation industry. The BPI brake product offering includes brake pads, shoes, rotors, drums, calipers, hydraulic parts and wheel hubs. For more information about Brake Parts Inc visit www.BrakePartsInc.com and for Raybestos brakes, visit www.Raybestos.com. Raybestos trademark used under license from Affinia International, Inc.
About Torque Capital Group
Torque Capital Group is a New York-based private equity firm that actively partners with leading industrial players and high-quality management teams to invest in best-in-class manufacturing businesses.

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Argon Medical Devices, which is backed by RoundTable Healthcare Partners, has agreed to buy the Interventional Products Business of Angiotech Pharmaceuticals. Financial terms weren’t announced. The deal is expected to close by April 2013. Interventional Products Business makes and markets disposable and re-usable biopsy products for the diagnosis of cancer, drainage catheter products, and vascular interventional products. Roundtable sold the Interventional Products Business to Angiotech in 2006.

PRESS RELEASE

RoundTable Healthcare Partners (“RoundTable”), an operating-oriented private equity firm focused exclusively on the healthcare industry, announced today that its portfolio company, Argon Medical Devices, Inc. (“Argon” or the “Company”), entered into a definitive agreement to acquire the Interventional Products Business of Angiotech Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (“Angiotech”). The Interventional Products Business manufactures and markets disposable and re-usable biopsy products for the diagnosis of cancer, drainage catheter products, and vascular interventional products. The transaction is expected to be completed prior to the end of April 2013 subject to customary closing conditions.
The acquisition of the Interventional Products Business bolsters Argon’s existing portfolio of interventional vascular products, adds additional biopsy product lines, and further leverages the Company’s sales force within core call points. As part of the transaction, Argon will also acquire three dedicated manufacturing facilities in Wheeling, IL; Gainesville, FL; and Rochester, NY. Argon currently manufactures its products in facilities in Athens, TX and Singapore.
“The Interventional product franchise is well recognized by hospitals and physicians worldwide,” said Michael J. Hudson , CEO of Argon. “The acquisition of these products strengthens the Argon portfolio and cements our Company’s position as a key player in the Interventional Radiology, Cardiac Catheterization and Vascular Surgery markets.”
The Interventional Products Business was created by RoundTable in 2003 as part of its American Medical Instruments Holdings, Inc. (“AMIH”) investment. The AMIH business was run by Argon’s current management team including: Michael Hudson , Argon’s CEO; Richard Adloff , Argon’s CFO; and George Leondis , Argon’s President. AMIH combined the formerly independent Manan Medical, MD Tech, PBN Medical, and American Medical Instruments into a consolidated operating unit. Angiotech acquired the Interventional Products Business from RoundTable in 2006 as a part of its purchase of AMIH.
“We are extremely excited to own the business again,” added Joseph F. Damico , Founding Partner and Co-Chairman of RoundTable. “Our significant history with this excellent management team in the interventional segment, along with our in-house resources in sales and manufacturing will assist the Argon team in effectively integrating these two businesses to position the combined company for significant growth.”
About RoundTable Healthcare Partners
RoundTable Healthcare Partners, based in Lake Forest, IL, is an operating-oriented private equity firm focused exclusively on the healthcare industry. RoundTable partners with companies that can benefit from its extensive industry relationships and proven operating and transaction expertise. RoundTable has established a successful track record of working with owner/founders, family companies, management teams, entrepreneurs and corporate partners who share a vision and believe in the value creation potential of its partnership model. RoundTable currently manages $1.9 billion in capital, including three equity funds totaling $1.5 billion and two subordinated debt funds totaling $400 million. More information about RoundTable Healthcare Partners can be found at www.roundtablehp.com.
About Argon Medical Devices
Founded in 1972, Argon is a global manufacturer of specialty medical products headquartered in Plano, Texas. Argon offers a broad line of medical devices for Interventional Radiology, Vascular Surgery, Interventional Cardiology, and Critical Care procedures. Current products include the Option™ Retrievable Inferior Vena Cava Filter, Cleaner Rotational Thrombectomy System, and UltraStream™ Chronic Dialysis Catheter. Argon also offers a complete line of PICC and midline catheters, endomyocardial biopsy forceps, introducer sheaths, pressure transducers, and other vascular products. The Company’s products are sold globally through a combination of direct sales representatives and premier specialty distributors. For more information on Argon, please visit www.argonmedical.com.

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Theraclone Sciences said Monday it closed $14 million in additional financing. Existing investors — ARCH Venture Partners, Canaan Partners, MPM Capital, Healthcare Ventures, Alexandria Real Estate Equities, Amgen Ventures, Versant Ventures and Zenyaku Kogyo — committed $8 million equity. Another $6 million in venture debt was secured through a credit facility with MidCap Financial and Silicon Valley Bank. Seattle-based Theraclone develops novel therapeutic antibodies for the treatment of infectious disease and cancer.

PRESS RELEASE
Theraclone Sciences, Inc., a therapeutic antibody discovery and development company, today announced a $14 million financing. $8 million in equity is committed from existing investors ARCH Venture Partners, Canaan Partners, MPM Capital, Healthcare Ventures, Alexandria Real Estate Equities, Amgen Ventures, Versant Ventures and Zenyaku Kogyo in a Series B Extension, bringing the total round to $50 million. An additional $6 million in venture debt has been secured through a credit facility with MidCap Financial and Silicon Valley Bank. Proceeds will help advance Theraclone’s clinical programs and support ongoing discovery projects using Theraclone’s I-STAR™ technology platform, which is designed for the rapid screening and identification of rare, potent and therapeutically-relevant human antibodies.

“Theraclone has made significant progress with our lead development programs in flu and CMV as well as the discovery collaboration with Pfizer, demonstrating the strength of our R&D pipeline and technology platform,” said Clifford J. Stocks, CEO of Theraclone. “The continued support from our investors represents a vote of confidence and reinforces Theraclone’s ability to sustain our rapid pace of activity and development.”

About Theraclone Sciences

Theraclone Sciences is a Seattle-based biotech focused on the development of novel therapeutic antibodies for the treatment of infectious disease and cancer. The Company’s I-STAR™ technology harnesses the power of the human immune system to identify rare, naturally evolved monoclonal antibodies from the blood cells of immunologically relevant human subjects. Theraclone has established discovery partnerships with Pfizer, Zenyaku Kogyo and the International AIDS Vaccine Research Initiative. In addition, the Company has two proprietary antibody programs in clinical development for pandemic and seasonal influenza and human cytomegalovirus (HCMV). www.theraclone-sciences.com.

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Christian Parkes has joined Myspace as a VP of Global Marketing, while Joseph Patel was named Vice President of Content + Creative. Most recently, Parkes was Levi’s global senior director of marketing. Patel, meanwhile, spent four years as a Senior Producer for Vice Media.

PRESS RELEASE

March 25, 2013 – Myspace (new.myspace.com), a place where creative people come to connect, discover and share, has named key executives from the creative community to oversee global marketing operations and editorial content.

Christian Parkes, Vice President of Global Marketing

A brand marketer by trade and a passionately curious observer by nature, Christian Parkes has spent the past 16 years on a journey of keen learning from consumers all over an ever-shrinking planet. The award-winning marketer was most recently celebrated by Fast Company as one of the Top 100 Most Creative People in Business.

An avid wearer of blue jeans and black t-shirts, Parkes is based in Los Angeles where he leads the team at Myspace, creating change and applying non-traditional thinking to a constantly evolving business.

Prior to joining Myspace, Parkes helped shape and lead the resurgence of the globally revered Levi’s brand.  As Global Senior Director of Marketing, his accomplishments included the award-winning ‘We Are All Workers’ Go Forth campaign, supporting the rebuilding of Braddock, Penn., birthing Water

Pre Levi’s, Parkes was instrumental in creating, launching and building Nike Sportswear, the sport behemoth’s $6BN lifestyle category. This work saw Parkes blur the lines between sport and culture, leading to creative programs featuring Lance Armstrong, Kaws, Kobe Bryant, Mister Cartoon, HBO’s Entourage, LaDainian Tomlinson and Shepard Fairey.

Joseph Patel, Vice President, Content + Creative

As Vice President of Content + Creative, Joseph Patel is driving the production, editorial, and development of original content for the new Myspace. Prior to joining the Myspace team, Patel spent four years as a Senior Producer for Vice Media, creating short- and long-form documentaries, overseeing branded content and facilitating strategic partnerships for clients including Heineken, Nike, Red Bull and Intel. Patel also served as Supervising Producer on Vice television franchises for MTV and HBO. During this period, Patel was detained by Yemen’s National Security Office and had to sneak his crew out of the country.

Patel began his career as a pop culture journalist writing for various publications, and spent six years as Senior Producer with MTV News & Documentaries. In this position, Patel led production for the channel’s acclaimed Choose or Lose presidential election program in 2008.

About Myspace:
Myspace  is a place where people come to connect, discover, and share. Showcasing artists and their work, the site gives people access to 53 million tracks and videos—the world’s largest digital music library. With roots in music and social, the platform is built to empower all artists—from musicians and designers to writers and photographers—helping them connect with audiences, collaborators, and partners to achieve their goals. Through an open design, compelling editorial features, and analytics-based recommendations, Myspace creates a creative community of people who connect around mutual affinity and inspiration for the purpose of shaping, sharing, and discovering what’s next.

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Ryan Dammeyer has joined Square 1 Bank as a VP for the Midwest region. He will be based in Chicago and responsible for building the bank’s portfolio of clients in the technology and life sciences sectors. Previously, Dammeyer was CFO at Liquidus Marketing.

PRESS RELEASE

Square 1 Bank, the premier banking partner to entrepreneurs and the venture capital community, today announced that Ryan Dammeyer has joined as senior vice president for the Midwest region. Based in Chicago, Mr. Dammeyer will be responsible for building the bank’s portfolio of clients in the technology and life sciences sectors.

“We are excited to add another senior member to the Square 1 Bank team. Ryan’s deep experience as both a venture banker and CFO of a venture-backed company equips him with a unique perspective that will be a tremendous asset to our clients and staff,” said Doug Bowers, president and CEO. “Ryan is really tapped into the Midwest’s entrepreneurial community and sees firsthand the robust increase in activity it is experiencing. We are proud to support the area’s growth economy by establishing a dedicated presence in Chicago.”

Mr. Dammeyer joins Square 1 Bank from Chicago-based Liquidus Marketing, a venture-backed video marketing, merchandising and technology company, where he served as the chief financial officer. In this role he oversaw all financial activity for the company, and provided leadership on key business development and operational measures. Prior to that, he spent nearly a decade at Silicon Valley Bank in roles of increasing responsibility, culminating as deal team leader for the Midwest market. He also served as a director for a specialty finance hedge fund. Mr. Dammeyer holds a B.S. in Public Financial Management from Indiana University.

“Joining Square 1 presents a phenomenal opportunity. As the bank expands its market presence in the Chicago area, I have the opportunity to continue to help Midwestern entrepreneurs by providing local access to the financing solutions they need to be successful,” said Mr. Dammeyer. “Helping entrepreneurs is something I have dedicated my career to and I look forward to partnering with others who share my commitment as we strengthen existing relationships and develop new connections in the Midwest.”

About Square 1 Bank

Square 1 Bank is a full service commercial bank dedicated exclusively to serving the financial needs of the venture capital community and entrepreneurs in all stages of growth and expansion. Square 1′s expertise, focus and strong capital base provide flexible resources and unmatched support to meet our clients’ needs. The bank offers tailored products and solutions aided by the latest in technological innovations. Square 1 has offices coast to coast in Austin, Boston, Denver, Durham, Los Angeles, New York, San Diego, Seattle, Silicon Valley and Washington, DC. For more information, visit www.square1bank.com.

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AXA on Friday announced the sale of a majority stake in its PE arm to an investor group led by Dominique Senequier. AXA Investment Managers will receive Euro 488 million for its holding in AXA Private Equity, a statement says. The deal is expected to close before the end of third quarter. Once the deal closes, AXA PE management and employees will have 40% of voting share capital, while external investors will have 33%. AXA Group will have nearly 27%.

PRESS RELEASE
AXA announced today that its asset management subsidiary, AXA Investment Managers (“AXA IM”) has received an irrevocable offer from an investor group for its entire stake in AXA Investment Managers Private Equity SA (“AXA Private Equity”).
The proposed transaction would be structured with a view to protecting AXA Private Equity’s investment expertise and performance-driven culture, and to ensuring that its clients continue to benefit from the outstanding service and performance they have enjoyed over the past several years. The transaction would enable AXA to monetize its interest in AXA Private Equity, a business successfully developed by the Group since 1996, and would provide a strong foundation for the next growth phase of one of Europe’s leading private equity firms.
The acquiring investors would be composed of AXA Private Equity’s senior management, led by Dominique Senequier, a group of institutions and French family offices and AXA Group. AXA Private Equity’s 298 employees would be given the opportunity to participate in the transaction through a dedicated vehicle. Post-transaction, AXA would continue to invest in private equity through AXA Private Equity funds1.
Upon the completion of the proposed transaction, AXA Private Equity’s voting share capital would be held as follows:
· AXA Private Equity’s management and employees: 40.00%
· External investors: 33.14%
· AXA Group: 26.86%

The transaction would value AXA Private Equity at Euro 510 million for 100%. The sale of AXA IM’s entire stake would result in AXA IM receiving a total consideration up to Euro 488 million. The consideration would be divided into an upfront payment of approximately Euro 348 million and deferred consideration up to Euro 140 million, to be paid in installments subject to achieving certain targets and meeting certain conditions.

“We believe that private equity is an attractive asset class for the diversified investment portfolios of the Group operating insurance companies. We intend to continue to invest in AXA Private Equity funds, with an expected total commitment of approximately Euro 4.8 billion between 2014 and 2018, as the firm pursues its purpose of supporting the growth of French and European companies and investing responsibly for clients around the world. The potential new shareholders in the capital of AXA Private Equity are strongly aligned in their commitment to ensuring that AXA Private Equity would be positioned to continue creating value for its portfolio companies and investors. I am convinced that going forward, thanks to Dominique Senequier, Vincent Gombault, Dominique Gaillard and their team, the company should continue to grow and foster its potential to the full of its ability” said Gérald Harlin, Group Chief Financial Officer of AXA.
“The new structure for AXA Private Equity would deliver continuity valued by our clients, keep entrepreneurialism at the heart of what we do, and build a platform for new opportunities and broader horizons” said Dominique Senequier, Chief Executive Officer of AXA Private Equity. “We promised to develop a structure that keeps our talented team together and reinforces our investment approach, which is particular to AXA Private Equity. As we embark on this next phase of our story as an independent firm, our future will be one of capturing new opportunities borne out of the renewed confidence and vigour that will come with this deal.”
The proposed transaction would enable AXA Private Equity to become an independent private equity firm, with a powerful international network and reach. With USD 31 billion (or Euro 24 billion) assets under management raised from investors worldwide, the firm would offer its 255 investors a broad spectrum of asset classes: Funds of Funds, Direct Funds (comprising 160 portfolio companies), including Mid and Small Market Enterprise Capital, Infrastructure, Innovation & Growth, Co-Investment and Private Debt.
The proposed transaction is subject to customary conditions, including the completion of the works council consultation process and obtaining required regulatory approvals and should be finalized before the end of Q3 2013.
AXA Private Equity’s underlying earnings were Euro 59 million in 2012, based on AXA’s group share.
Estimated impacts on AXA expected at the closing date:
· Euro 0.2 billion exceptional capital gain, which will be accounted for in Net Income;
· Euro 0.2 billion cash expected to be remitted to the Group, net of reinvestment;
· Decrease of AXA’s group share in AXA Private Equity from 95.80% to 26.86%.

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Tapad said Thursday it closed a Series B round of funding for $6.5 million. Firsthand Technology Value Fund was an investor. Founding investors FirstMark Capital and Avalon Ventures also participated in the round. New York-based Tapad is an ad technology firm.

PRESS RELEASE

Tapad, the leading provider of unified cross-device advertising solutions, today announced the closing of its Series B rounds of funding for $6.5 million, following a record 2012 fiscal year with a 604% year-over-year growth rate.

Publicly traded venture capital fund Firsthand Technology Value Fund, Inc. (NASDAQ: SVVC) joined the company’s impressive roster of investors. Founding investors FirstMark Capital and Avalon Ventures also participated in the round. Other Tapad investors include: Metamorphic Ventures, Lerer Ventures, as well as former DoubleClick CEO David Rosenblatt, AppNexus founder Brian O’Kelly, former Huffington Post CEO Eric Hippeau, 24/7 Real Media co-founder Geoff Judge and QUIGO founder and CEO Mike Yavonditte.

In addition to its notable 2012 FY, Tapad is currently on pace to achieve a 200% revenue increase for Q1 2013 over Q1 2012. The company’s rapidly expanding client base has grown to include more than 75 brands of Fortune 500 companies, and comprises all four major advertising holding companies in the U.S.

The financing will be used to maintain Tapad’s pace of growth in the U.S. and further Tapad’s lead as the premier cross-device advertising solution for the world’s leading global brands.

“This latest investment in Tapad affirms the critical role our company has played in pioneering unified cross-device advertising,” said Founder and CEO Are Traasdahl. “We were the first technology that enabled advertisers to get a unified view across all screens and are delighted that Firsthand and such a distinguished group of investors share our commitment to advancing this field.”

“Tapad’s innovations have blown the doors open for brands to connect with consumers across screens,” said Kevin Landis, CEO of Firsthand Technology Value Fund, Inc. “We have tremendous confidence in Tapad and its ability to generate real results in a space with such enormous market potential. We are delighted to join forces with the company at such an important stage in their growth.”

Tapad was founded in 2010 and has tripled in staff size in the last 12 months alone. Tapad opened four new offices in key markets in 2012: Chicago, Los Angeles, San Francisco and Detroit while doubling its NYC office. The company has just opened an office in Miami.

For more information on Tapad or any of its cross-device advertising solutions, please visit www.tapad.com.

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Freeman Spogli & Co. said Wednesday that Greg Bettinelli has become an Affiliated Executive of the firm. Bettinelli will help facilitate investments in the eCommerce sector for Freeman Spogli and work with existing portfolio companies to enhance their online businesses.

PRESS RELEASE

Freeman Spogli & Co. is pleased to announce that Greg Bettinelli has become an Affiliated Executive of the firm.

Greg is a senior executive with over 15 years of experience in the Internet and eCommerce industries.  Greg began his relationship with Freeman Spogli & Co. in connection with the firm’s 2011 investment in Boot Barn and he currently serves on that company’s Board of Directors.  Looking forward, Greg will assist Freeman Spogli & Co. in facilitating investments in the eCommerce sector.  Additionally, Greg will work with existing portfolio companies to enhance their online businesses.

From June 2009 to March 2013, Greg was the Chief Marketing Officer of HauteLook, a leading online flash-sale retailer.  Launched in December 2007, Los Angeles-based HauteLook was acquired by Nordstrom, Inc.  in March 2011.  Prior to joining HauteLook, Greg served as Executive Vice President of Business Development and Strategy at Live Nation where he was responsible for strategic direction and key business partnerships for Live Nation’s ticketing and digital businesses.  Before Live Nation, Greg held a number of leadership positions at eBay, including Senior Director of Business Development at StubHub.  In this role he led business development, partnerships, sales and seller development, including managing StubHub’s landmark relationship with Major League Baseball.  Prior to his transition from eBay to StubHub, he ran eBay’s Event Tickets and Media businesses and also led eBay’s acquisition of StubHub in 2007.

Greg is also a Venture Partner with GRP Partners, one of the oldest and largest venture capital firms in Los Angeles and is a co-founder of MuckerLab, a leading mentorship-driven startup accelerator focused on technology entrepreneurs in Los Angeles.  He earned a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science from the University of San Diego and a Master of Business Administration from Pepperdine University’s Graziadio School of Business and Management.

Greg is Freeman Spogli & Co.’s sixth Affiliated Executive.  These individuals are all experienced operating executives who add significant value in the sourcing and evaluation of investment opportunities as well as the development and implementation of growth strategies for the firm’s portfolio companies.

Freeman Spogli & Co. is a private equity firm dedicated exclusively to investing in and partnering with management in consumer-related and distribution companies in the United States.  Since its founding in 1983, Freeman Spogli has invested $3.1 billion in 48 portfolio companies with aggregate transaction value of over $18 billion, and currently manages three investment funds totaling approximately $2.7 billion in committed capital.  Freeman Spogli has offices in Los Angeles and New York.  For additional information, visit www.freemanspogli.com.

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Arlington Capital has acquired Micron Technologies. Financial terms weren’t announced. Malvern, Pa.-based Micron provides particle size engineering and related analytical services to the pharmaceutical industry.

PRESS RELEASE

Arlington Capital Partners (“Arlington”), a Washington, DC-based private equity firm, today announced the acquisition of Micron Technologies, Inc. (“Micron”), in partnership with the company’s management team. Headquartered in Malvern, PA, Micron is a leading global provider of particle size engineering and related analytical services to the pharmaceutical industry.

Micron focuses on solving the pharmaceutical industry’s most difficult bio-availability and drug delivery challenges through multiple particle size reduction technologies. The Company is the leading independent provider of micronization services for solubility enhancement of active pharmaceutical ingredients (“APIs”). Micron maintains state of the art facilities offering industry leading capabilities including distinctive containment technology for processing highly potent compounds. Micron’s personnel have unique expertise in jet milling, mechanical milling, containment processing and associated analytical services including material characterization testing and stability monitoring.

“Micron’s ability to provide leading bio-availability solutions across the drug development spectrum, from clinical phases to the commercial market, positions the Company as a trusted long-term partner with its pharmaceutical clients for their most demanding drug development needs,” said Matt Altman, a Partner at Arlington Capital Partners. “We are enthusiastic about building upon the Company’s leadership position and eager to continue to support the Company as it enhances and expands its global particle size engineering and analytical service offerings.”

Joseph Drost, CEO of Micron, commented, “We are extremely excited about our partnership with Arlington Capital. Arlington has a successful history of investing in healthcare and pharmaceutical services and shares our vision for growing Micron’s global capabilities and service offerings. Arlington’s ability to provide significant strategic and capital support will further enable Micron to continue to expand our leading global position and better serve our worldwide pharmaceutical client base.”

David Wodlinger, a Principal at Arlington Capital said, “Micron is an ideal platform investment in a compelling growth industry and we look forward to working closely with the company’s management team to expand the business aggressively, both organically and through acquisition.”

Greenberg Traurig served as counsel to Arlington Capital Partners for the transaction. Fairmount Partners advised Micron on the transaction.

About Arlington Capital Partners

Arlington Capital Partners is a Washington, D.C.-based private equity firm with $1.5 billion of committed capital focused on middle market investment opportunities in growth industries including: healthcare services, aerospace/defense, government contracting, business services and software. The firm’s professionals and network have a unique combination of operating and private equity experience that enables Arlington to be a value-added investor. Arlington invests in companies in partnership with high quality management teams that are motivated to establish and/or advance their company’s position as leading competitors in their field. www.arlingtoncap.com

About Micron Technologies

Micron Technologies provides advanced solubility enhancement services including particle size reduction and analytical services for pharmaceutical companies worldwide. Operating a new state-of-the-art 84,000 square foot cGMP facility in Malvern, PA and a 19,000 square foot cGMP facility in Dartford, U.K., Micron is uniquely positioned to serve the global needs of its clients from research and development to commercial scale volumes of APIs. Micron’s highly skilled workforce of approximately 100 employees utilize advanced equipment and possess unique expertise to perform various processes including jet milling, mechanical milling, containment processing and associated analytical services including material characterization testing and stability monitoring.

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Dachis Group said Wednesday it closed $7.5 million in Series C funding led by Austin Ventures. Dachis Group, of New York, provides a big data social marketing analytics platform in market.

PRESS RELEASE

Dachis Group, a leader in data-driven social marketing solutions, today announced the completion of $7.5 million in Series C funding led by Austin Ventures.

Brand marketers and agencies worldwide have quickly come to understand the explosive power of social marketing and the promise of engaging with their key constituents at scale. However, optimizing investments in social and measuring concrete ROI has proven difficult.

Dachis Group offers the most advanced big data social marketing analytics platform in market, meeting the increasingly complex measurement and amplification needs of global brands.

“There is no doubt in our minds that social engagement is driving more effective brand marketing,” said Chris Pacitti, General Partner, Austin Ventures. “Given the enormous market for brand spend globally, we are a big believer in Jeff’s vision and approach. With an ever-expanding set of social engagement currencies, it is our continued belief that the disruptive platform the team at Dachis Group has built has the opportunity to become the ‘de facto’ standard in social measurement. We are delighted to continue to partner with Jeff and his team.”

Building on a successful 2012, which saw the company launch its social analytics software, Dachis Group will use this investment to accelerate the development of its core big data social analytics platform, and meet the dramatic increase in market demand for its social marketing solutions.
“If you can’t measure it, you can’t manage it, and we have the most powerful enterprise class social analytics platform in market today to help brands measure and manage social engagement programs across all social engagement touch points,” said Jeffrey Dachis, Founder, CEO and Chairman of Dachis Group. “This additional funding will enable us to better meet the growing needs of our customers who all share our belief that data driven social marketing is modern marketing’s future.”

Over the last 12 months, Dachis Group has seen significant traction and rapid growth for its software platform and data-driven marketing software solutions customer base:

· In less than one year, across its product suite, Dachis Group has sold over 100 enterprise licenses into large global brands including Nokia, New York Life, Starwood, Bloomberg, Bank of America, Estée Lauder, Juniper, Acer, and AT&T.

· The Dachis Group platform currently analyzes the social engagement of over 35,000 brands and several hundred million social actions every day.

· The Dachis Group platform currently analyzes the social engagement of over one million passionate brand power advocates, who in turn drive over 20% of all earned brand impressions for the brands the company tracks.

· This data represents over 850 trillion permutations of data and the analysis of almost three million brand relevant social signals a day and the effectiveness and brand impact of almost 20 billion earned brand impressions daily.

For more information, visit www.dachisgroup.com.

About Austin Ventures

Austin Ventures has worked with talented entrepreneurs to build valuable companies for over 25 years. With $3.9 billion under management, Austin Ventures is the most active venture capital and growth equity firm in Texas and one of the most established in the nation. With an investment focus on business services and supply chain, financial services, new media, Internet, and information services, Austin Ventures invests at all stages of company development. Austin Ventures’ strategy is to partner with talented executives and entrepreneurs through its CEO-in-Residence and Entrepreneur-in-Residence programs. Visit austinventures.com for more information.

About Dachis Group

Dachis Group is the global leader in data-driven social marketing solutions. Built on a proprietary big data analytics platform, Dachis Group’s social performance measurement and amplification software applications, collaborative insights and reporting capabilities, and world leading data-driven social marketing solutions group help the world’s largest brands engage@scale with their customers.

Every day, Dachis Group’s big data social analytics platform monitors over 10 billion social behaviors and 50 million+ social signals in real-time.  Dachis Group delivers powerful insights by tracking, monitoring and helping manage conversations and content across 35,000 brands, 100 million social accounts, and an aggregate audience of 7 billion followers, fans, subscribers and contributors from 233 countries across dozens of the largest social platforms.

The company serves many of the world’s largest brand marketers and their agencies including Disney, Estée Lauder, US Cellular, Hewlett Packard, Nestlé, and Nokia.

Dachis Group Social Marketing Software and Solutions – Engagement@Scale

Performance Measurement
Campaign Performance Monitor – Dachis Group’s Campaign Performance Monitor measures the value of social campaigns by providing detailed isolation of campaign specific engagement metrics around the content, conversation, advocates and campaign relevant social signals needed for optimizing social marketing campaign performance while they are executing.

Social Performance Monitor – Dachis Group’s Social Performance Monitor is a powerful brand-based social performance benchmarking, measurement, insights, and optimization solution for measuring social marketing’s impact on brand performance.

Amplification
Advocate Insight – The world’s largest global brands have large numbers of passionate fans.  How do you identify them and maximize their earned media value? Dachis Group’s Advocate Insight offers advanced advocate identification, management, and activation capabilities.

Employee Insight – Employee advocates are an untapped resource for most of the world’s brands. Dachis Group’s Employee Insight offers advanced employee advocate recruitment, management, and activation capabilities including a configurable online portal to mobilize employees with workflows and messaging to accelerate participation and authentically echo and amplify a brand’s social efforts.

Collaborative Insights and Reporting
All Dachis Group solutions come with collaborative insights capabilities enabling social teams, agencies, and brand management to easily collaborate on driving insights from social engagement data, and deliver out of the box gorgeous “Boss Ready” reporting with just one click.

Data-driven Social Marketing Solutions
To help brands or their agencies drive engagement at scale and social marketing success, Dachis Group offers a set of packaged, managed and custom social marketing engagement programs around the optimization of earned vs. owned vs. paid media investments, content, conversation, advocacy, community, and campaigns, and ongoing solutions for reporting, benchmarking, analysis, and insights.

Engage@Scale with Dachis Group

Social Business Index
Dachis Group develops and maintains the Social Business Index, providing ongoing real-time ranking, analysis, and benchmarking of social business performance for over 25,000 companies and over 35,000 brands tracking their conversations and activity across a social business graph of 100 million social accounts and 233 countries.

Social Business Summit Series
To provide ongoing support to customers that want to engage@scale, Dachis Group hosts an ongoing series of annual Social Business Summits around the globe, exploring the most current ideas in social business thought leadership, fostering ongoing dialog among participants, and engaging other social business practitioners in real-time, in-person, day-long events.

Social Business Council
Dachis Group operates and manages the Social Business Council, the largest peer-to-peer knowledge-sharing community for social marketers and social business practitioners to share ideas, best practices, and learnings from a community.

Social Business Journal
Dachis Group publishes a quarterly journal with in-depth coverage and analysis of the most relevant topics related to social marketing in both print and digital format.

Dachis Group is hiring the best people to join the world’s most advanced big data social analytics team and to work on the most sophisticated data-driven social marketing solutions.  Review job opportunities at http://www.dachisgroup.com/careers/ and contact [email protected] to introduce yourself.

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Mark Terbeek has joined Greycroft Partners as a partner. He will be based in the LA office and focus on investment opportunities in the digital media sector with an emphasis on online video. Terbeek was previously a partner with MK Capital.

PRESS RELEASE

Greycroft Partners LLC, a venture capital firm that specializes in Internet and media investments headquartered in New York and Los Angeles, is pleased to announce the addition of a new Partner, Mark Terbeek, to the investment team. Mark will be based in the LA office along with Partner and Co-Founder Dana Settle. Mark will utilize his expertise and knowledge to focus on investment opportunities in the digital media sector with an emphasis on online video.

Mark will draw on years of experience as a Partner with MK Capital, where he concentrated on investments in the digital media and data center automation sectors. Prior to MK Capital, Mark also co-founded Jamcracker Inc., an early software as a service (SaaS) company, where he served as vice president of corporate development. Mark also worked at McKinsey & Co., a management-consulting firm early on in his career.

“I am really excited to join the Greycroft team. The firm’s institutional knowledge in advertising technology, digital marketing and SaaS software is a perfect match for my background in media investing,” said Mark. “As the only venture firm in the country with offices located in New York and Los Angeles, we believe we are poised to help our portfolio companies as they expand in these critical media markets.”

Mark was involved with and sat on the Board of Directors of many successful investments, including Machinima, ZEFR, AwesomenessTV, DramaFever, Bladelogic, Kontiki, and VPNet Technologies. He was also a Board Observer at Exodus Communications. Mark is a graduate of DePauw University and the Stanford University Graduate School of Business.

“We are thrilled to add Mark. His experience as a venture capitalist and entrepreneur is a good complement to our existing team, and his style is a perfect fit for Greycroft,” said Dana Settle, Partner and Co-Founder of Greycroft Partners. “We are looking forward to working with Mark to expand our West Coast presence.”

About Greycroft Partners:

Greycroft Partners is a leading early stage venture capital firm focused on investments in digital media. With offices in the two media capitals of the world – New York and Los Angeles – Greycroft is uniquely positioned to serve entrepreneurs who have chosen us as their partners. Greycroft leverages an extensive network of media and technology industry connections to help entrepreneurs gain visibility, build strategic relationships, successfully bring their products to market, and build successful businesses. Greycroft manages $400MM and has made over 75 investments in leading companies including Babble, Buddy Media, Collective, Huffington Post, Klout, M5 Networks, Maker Studios, Paid Content, Pulse, and Trunk Club. For more information please visit the Greycroft Partners website at http://www.greycroft.com.

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QPID said Wednesday that it closed $4 million in funding from investors including Matrix Partners, Partners Innovation Fund, Massachusetts General Physicians Organization and Cardinal Partners. Brandon Hull, Cardinal Partners’ managing GP, is joining QPID’s board. Boston-based QPID provides electronics health records software.

PRESS RELEASE

QPID™ Inc., an innovative provider of health record acceleration and intelligence solutions, today announced that it has closed $4 million in early funding from investors including Matrix Partners, Partners Innovation Fund, Massachusetts General Physicians Organization (MGPO) and Cardinal Partners. The funding will support QPID’s growth strategy in three main areas: hiring critical talent to accelerate product innovation, marketing and sales, and strategic expansion into the commercial market after four years of R&D at hospitals within the Partners Network, including Massachusetts General Hospital and Brigham & Women’s Hospital. As part of the investment, Brandon Hull, Managing General Partner at Cardinal Partners, will join QPID’s Board of Directors.
“While our initial intention was to raise $3 million, and we turned away prospective investors, we decided to extend the round to include Cardinal Partners because the firm is an excellent fit with our earliest committed investors – Matrix Partners, Partners Innovation Fund, and MGPO,” said Mike Doyle, President and CEO of QPID. “To be oversubscribed with such a quality syndicate is a testament to the value of what we’re offering at QPID – taking electronic data and creating intelligence around it. Essentially we are moving health care to a place where Electronic Health Records (EHR) are something that clinicians love, not loathe.”
QPID allows clinicians to easily extract data entered into any EHR, and presents information in an actionable format not previously available. With more than 5,000 health care professionals already using QPID for over 7,000 daily patient encounters, QPID is improving the daily workflow for clinicians in 15 different clinical departments at multiple hospitals in the Partners System. Its expansion into other health care institutions is imminent, making health care workers – physicians, nurses, administrative staff, physician’s assistants, and more – able to find and use the most accurate, updated information on a patient, resulting in better workflow and increased productivity.
“In doing our diligence on QPID, we were able to ascertain that QPID saves clinicians time, allowing them to make clinical decisions with the full knowledge of what is in the EHR – ultimately, improving patient safety. It is one of the few emerging health care platforms with a demonstrable ROI,” said Brandon Hull, Managing General Partner of Cardinal Partners. “When we saw the solution in action, we were convinced of its crucial presence in any health care entity using an EHR – it unlocks data that clinicians need in order to provide the best health care possible. Its ease of use and value – combined with our knowledge and experience in working with some of QPID’s senior management at other health care entities – convinced us that we wanted to be a part of this venture.”
“There’s no doubt that the health care experience and technical background of the QPID management team and its investors will enable the company to grow rapidly and become a strategic asset that leading health care institutions across the country need,“ added Stan Reiss, General Partner of Matrix Partners.
About QPID Inc.
QPID is an intelligence system for EHRs — permitting creation of clinician-directed queries, analytics and reporting abilities in real time. The consequence is improved filtration and exception handling in health care workflow, and its effect is akin to business intelligence, namely, activating stored data to reduce cost, improve revenue and quality of care delivery. QPID was developed within Massachusetts General Hospital and Partners HealthCare in Boston. QPID is venture backed by Matrix Partners, Partners Innovation Fund, Massachusetts General Physicians Organization (MGPO) and Cardinal Partners.
Connect with QPID
· LinkedIn
· Website
· Twitter
About Matrix Partners
Matrix Partners is a premier venture capital firm that has generated outstanding returns for more than three decades. By focusing on early-stage investments and emphasizing long-term relationships with entrepreneurs, the firm has delivered several of the industry’s top performing funds of all time. Matrix Partners has offices in Cambridge and Waltham, MA; Palo Alto, CA; Mumbai, India; and Beijing and Shanghai, China. Matrix Partners has invested in several game-changing, industry-leading businesses such as Apple Computer, Aruba, HubSpot, JBoss, Netezza, Phone.com, Polyvore, Starent Networks, Tivoli Systems, Veritas, Zendesk, and Zong.
About Cardinal Partners
Since 1996, Cardinal Partners has been one of the leading venture capital partnerships focused exclusively on healthcare investing. Cardinal specializes in early stage financing rounds, usually as the lead investor in the initial financing round of a growth company. Cardinal’s investors include university endowments, foundations, pension funds, banks, and insurance companies. Cardinal currently manages funds totaling $400 Million.
About Partners Innovation Fund
The Partners Innovation Fund, established in 2007, was launched with a total commitment of $35 million from Brigham and Women’s Hospital and Massachusetts General Hospital. It addresses Partners HealthCare’s unmet need for funding of early-stage technology to drive improved medical care for patients.
About Mass General Physicians Organization
The Massachusetts General Physicians Organization (MGPO) is a multi-specialty medical group dedicated to excellence and innovation in patient care, teaching and research.

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The Yucaipa Companies, the investment firm founded by Ron Burkle, has invested in Brew Hub, which will offer craft brewers the opportunity to partner brew their beers on site. St. Louis-based Brew Hub was founded by a team of former Anheuser-Busch executives led by Tim Schoen. Brew Hub announced plans Tuesday for its first brewery in Lakeland, Fla., the first of at least five planned facilities around the country.

PRESS RELEASE

Brew Hub, a company led by a team of beer industry executives and craft brewing experts, has announced plans for the company’s first brewery in Lakeland, Florida. The Florida brewery will be the first of at least five planned facilities that will offer craft brewers the opportunity to partner brew their beers on site.

Partner brewing is a process that will allow craft breweries not only to brew their beer to exact specifications under the supervision of their own brewmaster, but also to package and distribute from the Brew Hub brewery and make their beer available for export to international markets. Partner brewing will allow craft breweries to expand their distribution without the overhead costs of building a new brewery or transporting beer across the country.
The Brew Hub will also offer craft breweries services including sales, marketing, logistics, legal, and government affairs.
The Lakeland brewery will be located in Interstate Commerce Park off the I-4 Corridor and will have an initial brewing capacity of 75,000 barrels, or one million cases, annually. The site’s central location will allow the company to efficiently distribute beer to wholesalers throughout Florida and the Southeast.
Brew Hub brewing operations will be led by Chief Brewmaster, Paul Farnsworth who will oversee all aspects of design, layout, construction and day-to-day operation of the new brewing, production and warehouse facility in Lakeland, Florida. Farnsworth earned a bachelor’s degree and Ph.D. from the University of London and has been instrumental in the startup or operation of over 100 breweries in 10 countries.
Brew Hub was founded by a team of former Anheuser-Busch executives led by Tim Schoen . Schoen, CEO, Jerry Mullane , President and Mark Greenspahn , Vice President of Operations. Brew Hub is supported by financing from The Yucaipa Companies of Los Angeles.
“Brew Hub will allow great craft brewers to grow their businesses by expanding into new markets they otherwise could not reach,” said Tim Schoen , chief executive officer of Brew Hub. “This is the most exciting time in history to be in the beer business. Beer drinkers are constantly looking to discover new beer styles and brands every chance they get, but many of the beers they love aren’t available where they live. We’re planning to change that in the Southeast and across the country.”
Brew Hub plans to open at least four similar facilities over the next five years. Specific markets will be determined based on demand, but the company is considering strategic locations in the Northeast, Mid-Atlantic, Midwest, Texas and West Coast. This network of Brew Hub facilities will allow craft brewers from across the country to enter new markets.
“There are so many craft brewers making amazing beer today, and the demand from consumers is almost insatiable,” said Schoen. “But too much demand can also be a problem. Building a brewery is not realistic for many brewers and contract brewing opportunities that exist today are less than ideal. We believe our partner brewing model will allow craft brewers a great opportunity to expand their business and reach new consumers.”
The company will begin building the Lakeland brewery, packaging and cold storage warehouse in April. The site will operate as a central distribution facility for craft brewers beginning in fall 2013. The Lakeland facility will deliver beer to wholesalers throughout Florida and the Southeast and will begin brewing beer in summer 2014.
“The Brew Hub is an idea that’s time has come,” said J. Paul Pepin , Pepin Distributing Company, Tampa, Fla. “The demand for craft beer in our area is almost endless, and, while the local craft beers are excellent, beer drinkers also want access to beers they’ve had in their travels. Brew Hub will allow us to deliver these beers fresh and in a way that makes good business sense for brewer, wholesaler, retailer and, most importantly, the consumer.”
Brew Hub was founded in 2012 in St. Louis, Missouri by a team of beer industry executives and craft brewing experts led by Tim Schoen . “Where Craft Brewers Go to Grow,” Brew Hub provides full brewing, packaging, distribution and selling services for craft brands that are capacity, geographical, or capital constrained. The company plans to have five breweries located throughout the country that will cater to craft breweries. Each facility will allow craft brewers to partner brew their beers on site.

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Source Refrigeration & HVAC, which is backed by Arsenal Capital Partners, has acquired TP Electrical. Financial terms weren’t announced. White, Ga.-based TP provides electrical and EMS contracting services to grocery, commercial, industrial, and retail clients across the Southeastern United States.

PRESS RELEASE

Source Refrigeration & HVAC (Source), a portfolio company of Arsenal Capital Partners (Arsenal), today announced the acquisition of TP Electrical (TP).

Based in White, Georgia, TP is a leading southeast provider of electrical and EMS contracting services to grocery, commercial, industrial, and retail clients across the Southeastern United States. The acquisition builds on the strength of Source’s platform as the leading independent provider of commercial refrigeration and HVAC services in North America, serving the nation’s top supermarket chains, many of the largest convenience store chains, and leading telecom and industrial companies.

“We are excited to add TP’s capabilities and strong customer relationships to our growing southeast team, and we welcome TP’s employees and customers to the Source family,” said Bruce Buchholz, Chief Executive Officer of Source. “Expansion in the southeastern United States continues to be an important strategic focus for us,” added Buchholz. “The TP acquisition allows us to offer our existing southeast customers expanded service and construction-related electrical and EMS capabilities. It also allows us to provide a broader offering for installation jobs with existing and new customers throughout the entire southeast. TP’s expertise coupled with Source’s existing service and installation operations in Florida and Georgia, position us extremely well for continued growth in the broader southeastern market.”

Sal Gagliardo, an Operating Partner at Arsenal Capital said, “TP is well established in the southeastern U.S. market for refrigeration and HVAC electrical and EMS services and has provided a long history of quality solutions and service to grocery, commercial, industrial, and retail clients. The acquisition of TP strengthens the capabilities of our existing service and installation operations in the southeast and supports our overall strategy of continuing to expand our national footprint while we build an industry-leading independent refrigeration and HVAC company”.

About TP Electrical
TP Electrical is a leading provider of refrigeration and HVAC electrical and EMS solutions to the grocery, commercial, industrial, and retail clients across the Southeastern United States.TP holds electrical licenses in Alabama, Georgia, Florida and North Carolina and is certified in all major brands of grocery-related EMS controllers. They have long-standing relationships with leading grocery retailers and general contractors throughout the southeast.

About Source Refrigeration & HVAC
Source Refrigeration & HVAC is the leading independent provider of commercial refrigeration and HVAC services in North America, serving the nation’s top supermarket chains, many of the largest convenience store chains and leading telecom and industrial companies. With over 1000 employees and service locations nationally, Source designs, installs, services, maintains and optimizes mission-critical refrigeration & HVAC systems. For additional information about Source Refrigeration & HVAC, please visit www.sourcerefrigeration.com.

About Arsenal Capital Partners
Arsenal Capital Partners is a leading New York-based private equity firm that invests in middle-market specialty industrial, healthcare and financial services companies. Arsenal makes investments in sectors where the firm has prior knowledge and experience, and targets businesses that have the potential for further value creation by working closely with management to accelerate growth and leverage the firm’s operational improvement capabilities. Arsenal currently has $800 million of committed equity capital. For additional information on Arsenal Capital Partners, please visit www.arsenalcapital.com.

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Linsalata Capital Partners has promoted Michael Faremouth to managing director and Murad Beg to principal. Faremouth joined the Linsalata in 2005 and serves as Chairman of Stag Parkway Holding Co. Beg joined LinCap in 2008 and his primary responsibilities include acquisition searches, due diligence, negotiations and portfolio company oversight.

PRESS RELEASE

Linsalata Capital Partners (LinCap), a
Cleveland-based private equity firm, announced today the promotion of Michael
J. Faremouth to Managing Director and Murad A. Beg to Principal.
Mr. Faremouth joined the firm in 2005 and serves as Chairman of Stag Parkway
Holding Company and is a director of Harden Manufacturing, Hospitality Mints
Holding Company, and Transpac Holding Company.
Prior to joining Linsalata Capital Partners, Faremouth spent two years at the
Matco Tools subsidiary of Danaher Corporation. Faremouth began his
professional career at Ernst & Young where he spent six years successively in
Audit then the Litigation Advisory Services practice working with manufacturing
and distribution companies rising to the level of Manager.
Faremouth has a Bachelor of Business Administration degree in Accounting from
the University of Michigan and an M.B.A. from the Darden School of Business at
the University of Virginia. He is a Certified Public Accountant.
Mr. Beg joined LinCap in 2008 and his primary responsibilities include acquisition
searches, due diligence, negotiations and portfolio company oversight. He serves
as a director of Whitcraft Holdings and is a member of the Eatem Foods
Company’s oversight team.
Beg’s prior experience includes 13 years of practicing law, ultimately co-heading
the M&A practice as a partner with Calfee, Halter & Griswold LLP in Cleveland
counseling privately-held, public company and private equity clients with a
primary focus on mergers, acquisitions, divestitures, capital raising and other
transaction activities. Prior to joining Calfee, Mr. Beg was associated with the law
firm of Cummings & Lockwood.
Mr. Beg received a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science from Kenyon College,
and he earned a J.D., with honors, from The Pace University School of Law. He
serves on the executive committee of Cleveland’s ACG Chapter.
Located in the Cleveland suburb of Mayfield Heights, Ohio, Linsalata Capital
Partners was founded in 1984 and has combined its strong financial capabilities
with extensive operational experience to accelerate the growth of middle-market
companies. In its more than 28 years of investing, the firm has completed 101
buy-side transactions totaling more than $3 billion. Linsalata Capital Partners is
currently investing from its recently raised seventh fund, Linsalata Capital
Partners Fund VI, L.P. (LinCap VI), with $427 million in committed equity capital.
# #

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Brookside Mezzanine Partners has invested in Longhorn Health Solutions. Financial terms weren’t announced. Austin-based Longhorn is direct-to-home provider of consumable medical supplies, durable medical equipment, and pharmaceutical prescriptions.

PRESS RELEASE
Brookside Mezzanine Partners is pleased to announce its recent investment in Longhorn Health Solutions, Inc. (“Longhorn”). Headquartered in Austin, Texas, Longhorn is a leading direct-to-home provider of consumable medical supplies, durable medical equipment, and pharmaceutical prescriptions serving the Medicaid, Medicare, and privately insured populations across Texas. Longhorn offers customers a comprehensive range of high quality disposable medical products, including incontinence supplies, enteral nutrition, and diabetic testing supplies.
Brookside Mezzanine Partners provided a unitranche credit facility and preferred equity to support the acquisition of Longhorn by Satori Capital (“Satori”). Satori is a Dallas, Texas-based private equity firm that partners with management teams of companies building significant long-term value through a sustainable approach. “Brookside Mezzanine Partners has served as an outstanding source of intelligent, strategic, flexible, and reliable capital,” said John Grafer, a Satori principal. “They’ve mastered the delicate balance of providing our management teams with the room they need to grow their businesses while protecting and maximizing their investors’ capital. We’ve partnered with Brookside twice, and we look forward to doing so again.”

About Brookside Mezzanine Partners
Brookside Mezzanine Partners provides subordinated debt and minority equity to small and mid-sized companies seeking long-term capital to support leveraged buyouts, strategic acquisitions, growth capital and recapitalizations. Target companies generally have trailing twelve month revenue and EBITDA of at least $15 million and $3 million, respectively. Brookside Mezzanine Partners manages $250 million through two mezzanine funds.

Please contact us or visit our website at www.brooksidemezzanine.com for additional information. We welcome investment proposals and promise a prompt and confidential response.

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Heritage Group has made a strategic investment in Aviacode. Financial terms weren’t announced. Salt Lake City-based Aviacode provides remote medical coding services and software to hospitals and physician offices.

PRESS RELEASE

Heritage Group, a Nashville-based healthcare investment firm, today announced a strategic investment in Aviacode, an innovative provider of technology-enabled medical coding services and software. This investment adds to the portfolio of companies for the Heritage Healthcare Innovation Fund (HHIF) and furthers Heritage Group’s mission to fund solutions that meet the needs of its strategic investors.

Based in Salt Lake City, Aviacode provides remote medical coding services and software to hospitals and physician offices across several settings and specialties. A number of forces currently facing healthcare providers—including the looming ICD-10 transition, persistent reimbursement pressure, and a national shortage of qualified coders—have created a growing need for accurate, high-quality coding. Through its cloud-based platform, Aviacode offers access to a national network of certified coders and provides enhanced productivity, compliance and quality.

“We are very pleased to partner with Aviacode, which has developed a differentiating technology platform and built a leading medical coding operation over the last decade,” said Rock Morphis, managing director of Heritage Group. “This funding will enable Aviacode to further accelerate its record growth trajectory and increase its capacity to deliver innovative medical coding solutions to new customers. We are proud to be part of that effort.”

Heritage Group’s strategic investors represent the entire continuum of healthcare delivery, including health systems, payors, post-acute providers, and medical distributors. HHIF’s limited partner base is comprised of Amedisys, Inc., Cardinal Health, Inc., Community Health Systems, Health Care Service Corporation, Intermountain Healthcare, Iowa Health System, LifePoint Hospitals, Memorial Hermann Healthcare System, Trinity Health and Vanguard Health Systems.

“The Heritage investment is significant to us as a company. It represents not only a financial opportunity to expand our cloud-based technology and coding solutions in the revenue cycle management markets, but also a strategic opportunity to collaborate with experts from within the Heritage limited partnership base. We are already seeing strategic value in those relationships,” said Dave Jensen, CEO of Aviacode.

Brentwood Capital Advisors served as the financial advisor to Aviacode in this transaction. Terms of the deal were not disclosed.

About Heritage Group

Heritage Group is a Nashville-based, venture capital firm with over 25 years of experience financing, operating and advising companies at all stages. Created by a diverse group of the nation’s leading healthcare services firms, the Heritage Healthcare Innovation Fund is a $167M strategic initiative focused on investments in businesses that improve the delivery of healthcare services. For more information, go to www.heritagegroupusa.com.

About Aviacode

Aviacode is the industry leader in technology-enabled medical coding services since 1999. Aviacode’s cloud-delivered coding applications, ProCoder™ and ProAuditor™, enable professional medical coders and coding auditors to create consistent, reliable and predictable coding results and document reviews. Aviacode’s proprietary technology and workflow improves the accuracy and efficiency of medical coding, which is the process of translating clinical documentation into diagnosis and procedure codes, which is at the heart of healthcare revenue cycle. These improvements impact hospitals and physician groups profoundly through improved efficiency, increased revenue and strengthened cash flow. For more information, visit www.aviacode.com.

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Sverica International Management said Wednesday that it has acquired Dexmet Corp. Financial terms were not announced. Sverica said its third fund acquired Dexmet. Sverica International Fund III, and its parallel pool, Fund III-A, closed in 2008 with more than $272 million in committed capital. Wallingford, Conn.-Dexmet develops and makes highly engineered expanded foils and polymers used in a variety of end markets. Abacus Finance Group and Avante Mezzanine Partners provided financing for the deal.

PRESS RELEASE

Sverica International Management LLC (“Sverica”) announced today that its Fund III acquired Dexmet Corporation (“Dexmet” or the “Company”) on March 1, 2013. Dexmet develops and manufactures highly engineered expanded foils and polymers used in a variety of end markets. The Company provides solutions for a range of mission critical applications, including lightning strike protection for major composite aircraft manufacturers, anodes and cathodes for advanced battery technologies and supportive materials for filtration and automotive applications. It counts as its customers dozens of global blue chip industrial leaders.

Dexmet has established itself as the leading provider of precision expanded materials worldwide and is well-positioned for continued growth moving forward. “This partnership with Sverica comes at an exciting time for Dexmet,” stated Bob Bochman, President of Dexmet. “Sverica shares our long-term view of the considerable market opportunity for Dexmet’s products and will help us become even better strategic partners for our customers.”

Dave Finley, Managing Director at Sverica, added: “We are excited to partner with Bob Bochman and the rest of the Dexmet team. Dexmet will be a great addition to the Sverica portfolio, as the Company fits well with Sverica’s dedicated focus on niche manufacturers of specialty materials with track records of success and demonstrated growth prospects.”

Abacus Finance Group, LLC and Avante Mezzanine Partners provided financing for the transaction.

About Dexmet Corporation

Dexmet is a global leader in the development and manufacturing of highly engineered expanded foils and polymeric materials used in aerospace, battery, industrial, and other applications where precision characteristics are required. With a history dating back to 1948, Dexmet is a pioneer in the development of proprietary material expanding technology and equipment, including industry leading thinness and widths for product-specific applications. Dexmet partners and works closely with its customers to stay at the edge of new industrial technologies and applications. Dexmet is headquartered in Wallingford, Connecticut. For more information, please visit www.dexmet.com.

About Sverica International

Sverica International is a leading private equity firm that has raised over $425 million of investment capital. The firm acquires, invests in and actively builds companies that are, or could become, leaders in their industries. Since 1993 Sverica has maintained a “high touch” operating philosophy of taking an active role in portfolio companies. Sverica devotes significant internal resources to help its management teams develop and execute growth strategies. Sverica has offices in Boston and San Francisco. For more information, please visit www.sverica.com.

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Lion Equity Partners has acquired International Mail Services, which was a U.S. division of Pitney Bowes. Financial terms were not announced. The business has been renamed IMEX Global Solutions and will be based in Newark, N.J.. IMEX is a provider of international mail logistics and distribution services.

PRESS RELEASE

Denver, CO and Newark, NJ (March 1, 2013) – Lion Equity Partners, through its affiliate Lion Equity Holdings, LLC (“Lion Equity”) announced that on February 28, 2013 it acquired the International Mail Services – U.S. Division from Pitney Bowes Inc. (NYSE: PBI). The business, which has been renamed IMEX Global Solutions (“IMEX”), is a leading provider of international mail logistics and distribution services to Fortune 1000 corporations and global e-commerce companies.

“This transaction paves the way for IMEX to offer the most comprehensive international mailing services in the industry,” said Jim Levitas, Partner of Lion Equity. “As a former division of Pitney Bowes, IMEX has benefitted greatly from substantial investments in human capital, infrastructure and technology and also inherits an unparalleled network of global carrier relationships.”

IMEX, headquartered in Newark, NJ with additional facilities in Itasca, IL, Elk Grove Village, IL and Corona, CA, consolidates and distributes over 40 million pounds of parcels, print media and critical communications to over 220 countries every year. This is accomplished through strategically located consolidation centers, state-of-the-art equipment, and long-term relationships with the world’s leading carriers, including the United States Postal Service, Canada Post and an exclusive alliance with the Royal Mail.

“We are very excited about our future,” IMEX Chief Executive Officer, Brian Fleisher said. “Our commitment to excellence and our reliable and accurate service to our clients have allowed IMEX to differentiate itself in the marketplace. The combination of IMEX’s deep industry expertise along with strategic direction and capital from Lion Equity, positions our company extremely well for success.”

Lion Equity expects to drive growth at IMEX both organically, as well as through prospective add-on acquisitions.

The terms of the deal were not disclosed.

About Lion Equity Partners:
Lion Equity Partners (www.lionequity.com) is a Denver, CO based private investment firm focused on acquiring controlling interests in middle-market businesses across multiple industries. Lion Equity specializes in acquiring divisions of larger corporations, and has significant experience in the divestiture process. Lion Equity’s investment strategy is centered on creating value in its portfolio companies through a combination of organic growth and add-on acquisitions. Lion Equity supports its portfolio companies with strategic and financial resources, operational guidance, and M&A expertise.

About IMEX Global Solutions:
IMEX Global Solutions, LLC (www.imexglobalsolutions.com), headquartered in Newark, NJ is a premier provider of international mail logistics and distribution services. Through its strategically located facilities in New Jersey, Illinois and California, IMEX consolidates and distributes billions of pieces of mail, publications and parcels to over 220 countries across the globe. With over 25 years of experience in international shipping, IMEX provides its customers with the highest levels of performance, accuracy and customer service.

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Sagent Advisors said Thursday that Will Carnell, Sarah Forcino and Katie Kieran were each promoted to the position of VP. Carnell joined Sagent in 2009 and focuses in the packaging, capital goods and multi-industry sectors. Forcino has been with Sagent since 2007 and focuses on the execution of mergers and acquisitions and alternative capital markets transactions across multiple industries. Kieran joined Sagent in 2009 and is a member of the firm’s financial sponsors team.

PRESS RELEASE

Sagent Advisors, LLC announced today that Will Carnell, Sarah Forcino and Katie Kieran have been promoted to the position of Vice President.

“Will, Sarah and Katie have been significant contributors since coming to Sagent,” said Hal Ritch, Sagent’s Chief Executive Officer. “We are proud to be represented by such talented and dedicated colleagues and congratulate them on their well-earned promotions.”

Mr. Carnell joined the firm in 2009 and focuses in the packaging, capital goods and multi-industry sectors. Prior to joining Sagent, he was a senior associate at PricewaterhouseCoopers. He earned a BS in Economics and Finance from Vanderbilt University and received his MBA from The Goizueta Business School at Emory University.

Ms. Forcino has been with Sagent since 2007 and focuses on the execution of mergers and acquisitions and alternative capital markets transactions across multiple industries. She graduated from the University of Pennsylvania with a BS in Economics from the Wharton School and a BA in Hispanic Studies from the College of Arts and Sciences.

Ms. Kieran joined Sagent in 2009 and is a member of the firm’s financial sponsors team. Prior to Sagent, she was a senior performance analyst at Fidelity Investments. She earned a BS from Boston College and received an MBA from the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania.

Who We Are
Sagent Advisors is an independent investment banking firm that provides financial advisory and capital raising solutions to clients on mergers, acquisitions, sales and restructurings. Sagent provides broad industry and execution expertise through its offices in the U.S. in New York, Charlotte, Chicago, San Francisco and Tysons Corner, Virginia. Our significant global reach is bolstered through our alliances with Daiwa Securities Capital Markets in Asia and DC Advisory in Europe. At Sagent, we embody the principles of thoughtful advice – free of structural conflicts – with dedicated, senior attention to our clients’ most important challenges and opportunities.

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