Author: Luisa Beltran

Aker Solutions has acquired Managed Pressure Operations International, which was backed by NGP Energy Technology Partners. Financial terms weren’t announced. MPO, of Houston, provides managed pressure drilling and continuous circulating systems. Tudor, Pickering, Holt & Co. provided financial advice to MPO.

PRESS RELEASE
Aker Solutions has acquired Managed Pressure Operations International, Ltd. (MPO), a company that has successfully developed the next generation of continuous circulation, riser gas handling and managed pressure drilling systems.

The acquisition places Aker Solutions at the forefront of technology development in the market for managed pressure drilling (MPD) which is seen as a key technology enabling better drilling performance and safety. MPO has also developed a new generation riser gas handling system to capture and safely handle gas in the riser.

The company currently employs 100 people in operating subsidiaries in Singapore, Dubai, Jakarta and Houston. These will join Aker Solutions’ more than 3 000 drilling technologies experts all over the world. MPO’s revenues are expected to continue to increase sharply in the coming years, from revenue of around US $30 million in 2012.

“MPO has proven technically-superior products and the ability to adapt and cater to a client’s specific needs. We are pleased to include their offerings in Aker Solutions’ portfolio of products, systems and services. The company has a solid reputation as both a product and a service provider, and already provides services to major drilling contractors and oil companies,” said Thor Arne Håverstad, head of Aker Solutions’ drilling technologies business.

Safe and efficient
MPO provides in-depth knowledge and technologies within the emerging MPD segment. The main rationale for using managed pressure drilling is to improve safety and efficiency, enable access to new fields with challenging drilling conditions, and enhance the life of mature fields. Aker Solutions aims to integrate the MPO MPD system in its rig design and will supply the equipment as part of complete drilling packages to offer clients state of the art solutions.

“Managed pressure drilling is a key safety technology for exploration drilling, high pressure high temperature prospect development, ultra deepwater of pre-salt carbonate reservoirs, as well as a drilling efficiency tool when used consistently like other game changing technologies like the top drive,” says Charles Orbell, who co-founded MPO in 2008.

MPO’s riser gas handling system will improve the safety and performance of current floating rig drilling technologies.

“Currently, deepwater exploration drilling is exposed to challenges related to the issue of small gas volumes with high pressure flowing into the riser and escalating through the riser to the surface, causing potentially dangerous ‘gas-kicks’. MPO has developed a riser gas handling system that includes a quick closing annular blow-out preventer connected to the top of the riser, which can capture and safely transfer this gas off the rig,” said Christian Leuchtenberg, co-founder and chief technology officer of MPO.

The transaction has been closed.

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Verdesian Life Sciences, which is backed by Paine & Partners, has acquired Northwest Agricultural Products. Financial terms weren’t announced. Pasco, Wa.-based Northwest Agricultural provides specialty agricultural products.

PRESS RELEASE

Verdesian Life Sciences, LLC (“Verdesian”), a Paine & Partners, LLC (“Paine & Partners”) company, today announced that it has acquired Northwest Agricultural Products, LLC (“NAP”), a world-class provider of specialty agricultural products. Financial terms of the transaction were not disclosed.
NAP specializes in eco-friendly products designed to meet the diverse needs of the agricultural community through advanced chemical and biological innovation, with a focus on enhanced plant health, optimized crop yields and overall quality. The company’s strong portfolio of products is highlighted by Sterics®, which enhance the absorption of phosphorous, and PolyAmines, which deliver essential micronutrients. It also produces biostimulants and biopesticides, with its Intracept and Bloomtime FD product lines. NAP’s technical strengths include plant pathology and physiology, advanced fermentation, bioprocess development and chemical, biochemical and environmental engineering. As a subsidiary of Verdesian, NAP will continue to operate independently out of Pasco, WA, through the 2013 season.
JJ Grow, Chief Executive Officer of Verdesian Life Sciences, said, “We are excited about our transaction with NAP, which is an important next step in Verdesian’s growth strategy. The acquisition of NAP underscores Verdesian’s strategic focus on plant technologies that enhance the uptake of key nutrients using multiple modes of action as well as aligning plant health nutritional technologies with agronomic practices. NAP’s differentiated products – its bioscience lines, in particular – are highly complementary to Biagro Western’s, which Verdesian acquired in 2012. NAP has built a strong position in its markets, and Verdesian will leverage its international platform to expand NAP’s customer base to take it to a new level of growth. We look forward to working with NAP’s employees and we welcome them to the Verdesian family.”
David Bergevin , Founder of NAP, said, “We are excited to team up with Verdesian – a strong platform that offers the experience and resources necessary to help a highly specialized company like NAP to grow and develop. We are confident that NAP can use the Verdesian platform to expand its business and energize its sales and marketing capabilities so that its products can enhance plant health and nutrition in markets where they are needed most.”
Verdesian focuses on investments in plant health and nutrition and was established in September 2012 by Paine & Partners, a global private equity investment firm that specializes in the food and agribusiness industry globally. Verdesian acquired Biagro Western Sales, LLC, a leader in protected technologies for developing plant health and plant nutrition products, in September 2012. Further information about Verdesian is available at www.VLSci.com.
About Northwest Agricultural Products, LLC
Established in 1989 by David Bergevin in Pasco, WA, Northwest Agricultural Products, LLC is a world-class provider of specialty agricultural products. The eco-friendly products are designed to meet the diverse needs of the agricultural community through advanced chemical and biological innovation, with a focus on enhanced plant health, optimized crop yields and overall quality. Its strong portfolio of products is highlighted by Sterics® and PolyAmines. Northwest Agricultural Products also produces biostimulants and biopesticides, with its Intracept and Bloomtime FD product lines. The Company’s technical strengths include plant pathology and physiology, advanced fermentation, bioprocess development and chemical, biochemical and environmental engineering.
About Verdesian Life Sciences, LLC
Verdesian Life Sciences focuses on investments in plant health and nutrition. Verdesian’s strategy is geared towards plant technologies that enhance the uptake of key nutrients using multiple modes of action as well as aligning plant health nutritional technologies with agronomic practices. In September 2012, Verdesian acquired Biagro Western Sales, LLC, which focuses on protected technologies for developing plant health and plant nutrition products. Further information about Verdesian is available at www.VLSci.com.
About Paine & Partners, LLC
Paine & Partners provides equity capital for management buyouts, going private transactions, and company expansion and growth programs. Paine & Partners engages exclusively in friendly transactions developed in cooperation with a company’s management, board of directors and shareholders. The firm currently makes investments through its $1.2 billion fund, Paine & Partners Capital Fund III, L. P. and related entities.
Paine & Partners focuses on the food and agribusiness industry globally, and its principals, through a predecessor fund, have made successful strategic investments in Seminis, then the world’s leading global developer, producer and marketer of vegetable and fruit seeds; and Advanta Netherlands Holdings BV, at the time, the largest independent agronomic seed company in the world. Paine & Partners also invested in Icicle Seafoods, a leading producer, harvester and processer of salmon, pollock, halibut, cod, crab and other seafood products with operations in North and South America and sales globally. Paine & Partners’ most recent investments include Eurodrip, a global manufacturer and supplier of drip irrigation solutions; Verdesian Life Sciences, LLC, a U.S.-based plant health and nutrition investment platform; Scanbio Marine Group, a leading Norwegian producer of fish protein concentrate, fish meal, and fish oil; and Costa Group, Australia’s largest integrated grower, packer and marketer of fresh fruits and vegetables. The complex investment opportunities in today’s rapidly evolving agribusiness environment play to the strengths of Paine & Partners’ differentiated approach. For further information, see www.painepartners.com.

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M/C Partners and Columbia Capital said Wednesday that they have agreed to sell the assets of Baja Broadband. The buyer is Telephone and Data Systems, which announced the acquisition yesterday. Baja, of Alamogordo, New Mexico, provides video, high-speed broadband and voice services to residential and commercial customers in Colorado, New Mexico, Texas and Utah.

PRESS RELEASE

M/C Partners and Columbia Capital announced today that they have agreed to sell the assets of Baja Broadband, LLC (“Baja”) to Telephone and Data Systems, Inc. (NYSE: TDS), parent company to TDS Telecommunications Corp. (“TDS Telecom”).

Baja Broadband, which is owned and controlled by M/C Partners and Columbia, is a full-service communications company providing video, high-speed broadband and voice services to residential and commercial customers in Colorado, New Mexico, Texas and Utah.

“Baja has been a successful investment for us, and we have enjoyed a terrific working relationship with the management team,” said Gillis Cashman of M/C Partners. “We are pleased with this transaction and believe that TDS Telecom is the ideal owner of Baja going forward.”

“M/C Partners and Columbia Capital have both contributed enormously to developing Baja Broadband into a leading communications operator, and we thank them for their support,” said Peter Kahelin, CEO, Baja Broadband. “I am confident that TDS Telecom’s focus on quality, integrity and outstanding service will enhance our already strong relationships with our customers, our employees and our communities.”

RBC Capital Markets served as an advisor to M/C Partners and Columbia Capital and as the exclusive M&A advisor to Baja Broadband. Waller Capital Partners also served as an advisor to M/C Partners and Columbia Capital on the transaction. Edwards Wildman Palmer LLP served as legal counsel to Baja.

About M/C Partners

M/C Partners is a private equity firm focused exclusively on the communications, media, and information technology sectors. The firm has invested over $1.5 billion into over 100 companies in those sectors. Companies M/C has backed include Brooks Fiber Properties, Cavalier Telephone, Corelink, Fusepoint, Attenda, ICG Communications, Legendary Pictures, PlumChoice, Lightower, MetroPCS, NuVox, AccentHealth and Zayo Group. The firm has strong institutional backing from the nation’s leading pension funds and endowments as well as a long track record of success. M/C Partners has offices in Boston, San Francisco and London. For more information, visit www.mcpartners.com.

About Columbia Capital

Columbia Capital is a premier investment firm in wireless, broadband, media, and enterprise information technology companies. Since its formation in 1989, the firm has invested in over 130 global companies through five investment funds with aggregate capital commitments of $2.5 billion. Columbia has a strong history of forming close partnerships with its entrepreneurs and a reputation for a disciplined and patient approach to building great companies and achieving superior investment returns. The firm’s sector focus allows it to consistently identify disruptive emerging companies and to recognize and build value throughout a company’s lifecycle – from seed stakes of $1 million to late stage capital infusions of $50 million or more. For more information, visit www.colcap.com.

About Baja Broadband

Baja Broadband is a full-service communications company offering best-in-class residential and commercial video, high-speed internet, and voice services. Baja is committed to being the leading provider of entertainment, information, and communication services in the communities it serves. Baja owns and operates broadband networks in communities within Colorado, New Mexico, Texas and Utah. Visit bajabroadband.com for more information. Baja is currently managed by Last Mile Communications, an international management partnering and telecommunications consulting firm. Visit lastmile.net for more information.

About Telephone and Data Systems

Telephone and Data Systems, Inc. (TDS), a Fortune 500® company, provides wireless; broadband, TV and voice; and hosted and managed services to approximately 7 million customers in 36 states through its business units, U.S. Cellular, TDS Telecom and TDS Hosted & Managed Services. Founded in 1969 and headquartered in Chicago, TDS employed 12,300 people as of Dec. 31, 2012. Visit teldta.com for comprehensive financial information, including earnings releases, quarterly and annual filings, shareholder information and more.

About TDS Telecommunications Corp.

TDS Telecommunications Corp. is the seventh largest local exchange telephone company in the U.S. Headquartered in Madison, Wis., it is a wholly owned subsidiary of Telephone and Data Systems, Inc. For 44 years, the company has been connecting people with high-speed Internet, phone, and TV entertainment services in over a hundred rural, suburban, and metropolitan communities across 32 states. Today, TDS has nearly 1 million customer connections in service and 2,900 employees. Business customers select from the latest technologies, including: VoIP (managed IP Hosted) phone service, dedicated high-speed Internet and hosted-managed services. Visit tdstelecom.com or tdsbusiness.com for more information.

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Finalsite, which is backed by Spectrum Equity, has acquired Silverpoint. Financial terms were not announced. Baltimore, Md.-based Silverpoint provides websites and software to independent schools.

PRESS RELEASE

finalsite, a leading online learning and communications platform for the education industry, today announced that it has acquired Silverpoint, a provider of websites and software to independent schools.  The acquisition enhances finalsite’s global reach and scale and supports continuing innovation in bringing world-class design services and content management systems to customers.

“finalsite’s acquisition of Silverpoint creates a phenomenal company that features vast experience in all components of web-based communications solutions, design and services.  Now with a presence in 54 countries around the world, our joint resources will enable us to offer schools a deeper and more comprehensive suite of software systems, multi-platform solutions and premium creative services,” said Jon Moser, finalsite’s founder and Chief Executive Officer.  “I look forward to working with Angelo Otterbein and the Silverpoint team to create the most dynamic content management system on the market while continuing to provide world-class service to our current and future independent school clients, as well as public schools and higher education institutions.”

“We are thrilled to join finalsite, which has long been recognized as an innovative industry leader,” said Angelo Otterbein, President of Silverpoint, who will serve on the Board of Directors and as Chief Innovation Officer of the combined company.  “With our complementary strengths and focus on providing unmatched service to our clients, we are well-positioned to continue delivering compelling solutions across the globe, and we are committed to making the transition seamless for our customers.”

Silverpoint today serves more than 300 clients in the K-12 and college markets delivering customized sites for external and internal communities.  In addition to providing web design, development and support services, Silverpoint’s proprietary software, SchoolSuite, provides content management, calendar, news, multimedia and mobile capabilities within an integrated platform.

Following the acquisition of Silverpoint, finalsite will serve over 1,300 schools across the world.  finalsite delivers a SaaS-based, customized web platform to leading independent and public schools, colleges and organizations seeking to centralize and enhance their online learning and communications offerings.  finalsite is a portfolio company of Spectrum Equity, a growth equity firm focused on the information economy.

About finalsite

finalsite’s online learning and communications platform is utilized by over 1,000 schools and educational organizations across 48 countries and as many as 1 million unique users per day around the world. The platform facilitates the distribution of digital content across school communities and in classrooms via a proprietary, SaaS-based software suite accessed through desktops and mobile devices. In addition, finalsite’s software enables customers to engage dynamically with a wide range of third party data providers including student information systems, learning systems and social media applications. finalsite is based in East Hartford, CT. For more information, please visit http://www.finalsite.com.

About Silverpoint
Founded by Angelo Otterbein and Frank LeCates in 1996, Baltimore, MD-based Silverpoint has provided creative services, software and services to independent schools in the U.S. and internationally.  In addition to its award-winning web designs, Silverpoint recently released a customizable native mobile application to better serve its customers across platforms.  Silverpoint has additional offices in San Francisco, CA, and Hoboken, NJ. For more information, please visit http://www.silverpoint.net.

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Sterling Partners has invested in Kids Care Dental Group. Financial terms were not announced. Sacramento-based Kids Care is a pediatric dental care practice that serves toddlers, children and teens.

PRESS RELEASE

Sterling Partners, a growth-oriented investment firm with more than $5 billion of assets under management, today announced a partnership with Kids Care Dental Group (“Kids Care”), a leading multi-unit pediatric dental care practice that serves toddlers, children and teens. Terms of the transaction were not disclosed.

Via six office locations throughout the Sacramento area, Kids Care offers an exceptional patient experience for parents and kids alike. Each practice provides a comfortable and fun environment, dentists with advanced education in pediatric dentistry, staff that has training for and experience in treating and interacting with children, and a robust suite of high-quality oral health services including dentistry, orthodontics and oral surgery.

Dr. Aaron Reeves, Kids Care founder and chairman, will remain a partner and continue as a board member.

“We chose Sterling Partners due to their track record for growing healthcare companies that focus on quality patient experiences,” said Dr. Reeves, who founded the practice in 2002. “Sterling shares our long-term vision for expansion, attracting top talent, forming new relationships with families and changing the way kids and their parents think about going to the dentist.”

“As a firm that is drawn to purpose-driven businesses, we were attracted to Dr. Reeves’ steadfast devotion to providing a differentiated dental model for kids,” said Dan Hosler, a Sterling Partners principal. “We will leverage our experience operating multi-unit businesses to help the company accelerate its growth trajectory so that its dental health professionals can focus on what they do best: providing a positive patient experience that builds lifelong oral hygiene habits.”

About Kids Care Dental

Kids Care Dental Group is a Sacramento-based dental practice conceived and dedicated to serve the special needs of toddlers, children, and teens. The practice’s 170+ professionals are committed to providing excellent dental care while promoting lifelong oral hygiene habits in a comforting and fun atmosphere. Kids Care’s differentiated approach revolutionizes pediatric Identistry by offering parents and kids a non-traumatic and easily accessible dental experience. For more information on Kids Care Dental Group, visit www.kidscaredentalgroup.com .

About Sterling Partners

Sterling Partners is a private equity firm with a distinct point of view on how to build great companies. Founded in 1983, Sterling has invested billions of dollars, guided by the company’s stated purpose, INSPIRED GROWTH™, which describes Sterling’s approach to buying differentiated businesses and growing them in inspired ways. Sterling focuses on investing growth capital in small and mid-market companies in industries with positive, long-term trends – education, healthcare, and business services. Sterling provides valuable support to the management teams of the companies in which the firm invests through a deep and dedicated team of operations and functional experts based in the firm’s offices in Chicago, Baltimore and Miami.

The people at Sterling believe in ideas and ideals, in people and partnerships that drive long-term success. For more information, please visit www.sterlingpartners.com.

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Icicle Seafoods has named Amy Humphreys to the position of President and Chief Executive Officer, effective immediately. Humphreys succeeds Dennis Guhlke, who has resigned. Humphreys previously served as President of Delta Western.

PRESS RELEASE

Icicle Seafoods, Inc. (“Icicle”), one of the largest and most diversified seafood companies in North America, today announced the appointment of Amy Humphreys to the position of President and Chief Executive Officer, effective immediately, succeeding Dennis Guhlke, who has resigned.

Most recently, Ms. Humphreys served as President of Delta Western, Inc., a leading petroleum marketing and distribution company in Alaska.

“We are delighted to welcome Amy to Icicle,” said Mitchell Presser, a founding Partner at Paine & Partners.  “Amy is a proven and results-oriented leader with extensive experience in Alaska, including as President of Delta Western, Inc., and 11 years of strategic operational experience at American Seafoods Group.  Her operating experience and leadership qualities make her the right person to lead Icicle during its next phase of growth and development.  Under Amy, we are confident that Icicle will continue to build upon its position as a leading producer, harvester and processor of a diverse portfolio of seafood products.”

Mr. Presser added, “Under Dennis’s leadership as President and CEO, Icicle made considerable strategic advancements, including diversifying into aquaculture with the acquisition of American Gold Seafoods, and a number of substantial investments and acquisitions in our core Alaskan operation, including the recent acquisition of Snopac.  Dennis has successfully led Icicle through a critical growth phase, and the entire company is grateful for his leadership and dedication and we wish him every success in his future pursuits.”

Commenting on her appointment, Ms. Humphreys said, “This is an exciting opportunity.  Icicle has a highly diversified business with strong customer relationships, long standing fishermen partnerships, and a deeply talented and devoted employee base.  I believe the Company has many opportunities to continue its growth in both wild and farmed seafood product offerings.  I look forward to working with Icicle’s management team and employees to enhance the Company’s market position and accelerate its growth and success.”

Prior to her role at Delta Western, Ms. Humphreys was Chief Financial Officer of Northstar Utilities Group, the parent company of five fuel distribution operating companies and a subsidiary of Saltchuk Resources.  Prior to that, Ms. Humphreys held various executive roles at American Seafoods Group, including Vice President of Corporate Development and Treasurer.

About Icicle Seafoods, Inc.
Icicle Seafoods, Inc. is one of the largest and most diversified seafood companies in North America. Icicle’s core business is the primary processing of seafood including wild salmon, pollock, crab, halibut, cod, sablefish and herring in most major fisheries throughout Alaska, with both on-shore and floating processing facilities. Icicle also owns the largest United States owned and operated salmon farming company located in the Pacific Northwest of the United States as well as a joint venture in Chile producing farm raised salmon and trout. Icicle’s products are sold throughout the world into a variety of customer channels including industrial, food service, wholesale and retail. Providing these markets with the highest quality seafood has been a founding principle of Icicle. Icicle is headquartered in Seattle, Washington and is owned by investment funds managed by Paine & Partners, LLC, a New York, Chicago and San Francisco based private equity fund.

About Paine & Partners
Paine & Partners provides equity capital for management buyouts, going private transactions, and company expansion and growth programs.  Paine & Partners engages exclusively in friendly transactions developed in cooperation with a company’s management, board of directors and shareholders.  The firm currently makes investments through its $1.2 billion fund, Paine & Partners Capital Fund III, L. P. and related entities.

Paine & Partners focuses on the food and agribusiness industry globally, and its principals, through a predecessor fund, have made successful strategic investments in Seminis, then the world’s leading global developer, producer and marketer of vegetable and fruit seeds; and Advanta Netherlands Holdings BV, at the time, the largest independent agronomic seed company in the world.  Paine & Partners’ most recent investments include Verdesian Life Sciences, LLC, a U.S.-based plant health and nutrition investment platform; Scanbio Marine, a leading Norwegian producer of fish protein concentrate, fish meal, and fish oil; Costa Group, Australia’s largest integrated grower, packer and marketer of fresh fruits and vegetables; and Eurodrip, a leading global manufacturer and supplier of drip irrigation solutions for agricultural and landscaping applications. The complex investment opportunities in today’s rapidly evolving agribusiness environment play to the strengths of Paine & Partners’ differentiated approach.  For further information, see www.painepartners.com.

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American Capital, and its affiliated funds, have received $129 million in debt and equity proceeds, subject to post-closing adjustments, from the sale of portfolio company Paradigm Precision Holdings. Dynamic Precision Group, which is backed by the Carlyle Group, acquired Paradigm Precision on Jan. 31. American Capital said it received $127 million. American Capital invested in Paradigm Precision in 2007.

PRESS RELEASE

American Capital, Ltd. (Nasdaq: ACAS) (“American Capital”) announced today that its portfolio company Paradigm Precision Holdings, LLC (“Paradigm Precision”) was sold to Dynamic Precision Group, a portfolio company of The Carlyle Group (NASDAQ: CG), on January 31, 2013. American Capital and its affiliated funds have received $129 million in debt and equity proceeds, subject to post-closing adjustments, of which $127 million was received by American Capital. American Capital’s compounded annual rate of return earned on its senior debt, subordinated debt and equity investments since the first quarter of 2007 was 11%, including interest, dividends and fees earned over the life of its investment.
“American Capital is proud of its role in building Paradigm Precision into a leader of precision machined aerospace engine parts,” said Myung Yi , Senior Vice President and Managing Director, American Capital Special Situations Group. “American Capital has been fortunate to partner with an outstanding management team, which has driven Paradigm Precision’s growth and successful expansion into global markets.”
“Over the course of our investment, Paradigm built a strong position in all key and next-generation engine platforms,” said Yaniv Zief , Vice President, American Capital Special Situations Group. “We believe that Paradigm Precision is a great addition to Dynamic Precision Group’s business.”
Paradigm Precision is a leading and premier global supplier of precision aerospace components for jet engine manufacturers. Based in Peabody, Massachusetts with additional facilities in Malden, Massachusetts; East Berlin, Connecticut; Tempe, Arizona; Guaymas, Mexico, and; Tunis, Tunisia; Paradigm Precision is a manufacturer of highly complex, close tolerance parts and assemblies used mainly in aircraft engine and industrial gas turbines. In addition to working with all of the major turbine engine original equipment manufacturers, the company also supplies parts used in land-based power generation and other specialty applications.
During the first half of 2007, American Capital and an affiliate invested in Paradigm Precision for the One Stop Buyouts® of Smith West Inc. (“Smith West”), Palmer Manufacturing Co. Inc. (“Palmer”) and Eurocast S.A. (“Eurocast”), leading manufacturers of precision machined aerospace engine components. In addition, in September 2008, American Capital invested in Paradigm Precision to support the acquisition of TM Industries, Inc., a high-precision machining company that specializes in machining large size, highly technical parts for customers in the aerospace, power generation, oil and gas and defense markets. For more information on American Capital’s investment in Paradigm Precision, please go to www.americancapital.com/Pages/our_portfolio/companies/paradigm_precision_holdings.aspx.
Since American Capital’s 1997 IPO through the fourth quarter of 2012, the company has earned a 10% compounded annual return, including interest, dividends, fees and net gains, on over 340 realizations of senior debt, subordinated debt, equity and structured products investments, totaling $18 billion of committed capital. American Capital earned a 27% compounded annual return on the exit of its equity investments, including dividends, fees and net gains.
For a chart showing a partial listing of American Capital’s exited portfolio companies, please go to http://www.americancapital.com/Pages/our_portfolio/exited.aspx.

ABOUT AMERICAN CAPITAL
American Capital is a publicly traded private equity firm and global asset manager. American Capital, both directly and through its asset management business, originates, underwrites and manages investments in middle market private equity, leveraged finance, real estate and structured products. American Capital manages $18.6 billion of assets, including assets on its balance sheet and fee earning assets under management by affiliated managers, with $117 billion of total assets under management (including levered assets). American Capital, through a wholly-owned portfolio company, manages publicly traded American Capital Agency Corp. (Nasdaq: AGNC) with approximately $10 billion market capitalization and American Capital Mortgage Investment Corp. (Nasdaq: MTGE) with approximately $850 million market capitalization. From its eight offices in the U.S. and Europe, American Capital and its affiliate, European Capital, will consider investment opportunities from $10 million to $750 million. For further information, please refer to www.AmericanCapital.com.
This press release contains forward-looking statements. The statements regarding expected results of American Capital are subject to various factors and uncertainties, including the uncertainties associated with the timing of transaction closings, changes in interest rates, availability of transactions, changes in regional, national or international economic conditions, or changes in the conditions of the industries in which American Capital has made investments.

PR Newswire (http://s.tt/1A0iS)

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Castle Harlan has promoted Tariq Osman to Managing Director. Osman has been with Castle Harlan since 2008 and previously was a Vice President.

PRESS RELEASE

Castle Harlan, Inc., the New York private equity investment firm, announced today that it has promoted Tariq Osman to Managing Director.
Osman’s promotion reflects his multiple contributions to CHI over the last five years, as well as his prior five years of experience at CHI’s Australian affiliate, CHAMP. Recently, Osman has been particularly active in CHI’s investment activities in energy services and equipment businesses.
Osman has been with Castle Harlan since 2008 and previously was a Vice President. Before joining Castle Harlan, Osman spent five years with Castle Harlan’s Australian affiliate, CHAMP Private Equity, where he focused on private equity transactions across a wide range of industries. Previously, he worked at McKinsey & Co. in Sydney as a management consultant. In this role, he advised clients in the oil and gas, mining, construction and telecommunications sectors on strategy and operational improvements. Osman began his career in Australia as an engineer at Gutteridge, Haskins & Davey, working on oil and gas, mining and government infrastructure projects.
Osman holds an M.B.A. from the Wharton Graduate School of Business, a Masters of Engineering from the University of Adelaide and a Masters of Applied Finance from Macquarie University. He is a former director of International Energy Services and of the Blue Star Group. He currently is a director of Shelf Drilling and Caribbean Restaurants.
About Castle Harlan
Castle Harlan, founded in 1987, invests in controlling interests in the buyout and development of middle-market companies in North America and Europe. Its team of 19 investment professionals has completed 53 acquisitions since its inception with a total transaction value in excess of $11 billion. Castle Harlan, along with its affiliates, has managed investment funds with equity commitments of over $6 billion. The firm traces its roots to the start of the institutionalized private-equity business in the late 1960s.
Castle Harlan’s current portfolio of companies includes Shelf Drilling Holdings Ltd., a leading provider of shallow-water drilling services in Asia, Africa, India and the Middle East; Pretium Packaging LLC, one of the country’s leading manufacturers of custom-designed specialty plastic containers for the food, pharmaceutical, personal-care and household markets; Baker & Taylor, the world’s largest distributor of books and entertainment products to libraries and retailers; and Securus Technologies, a leading provider of secure inmate telecommunications for the corrections industry.

PR Newswire (http://s.tt/1A0Wd)

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HBM Partners led a $21 million Series D financing round for Gynesonics. Correlation Ventures, a new investor, took part in the financing as well as existing investors Abingworth, Advanced Technology Ventures (ATV) and InterWest Partners. Redwood City, Calif.-based Gynesonics is a women’s healthcare company that develops minimally invasive solutions for symptomatic uterine fibroids.

PRESS RELEASE

Gynesonics, Inc., a women’s healthcare company focused on minimally invasive solutions for symptomatic uterine fibroids, announced today a Series D financing led by HBM Partners based in Switzerland. The $21 million financing included additional new investor Correlation Ventures and existing investors Abingworth, Advanced Technology Ventures (ATV) and InterWest Partners. Gynesonics will use the proceeds to continue clinical and commercial development of the VizAblate® System, a transcervical, ultrasound-guided ablation system for the treatment of uterine fibroids. VizAblate® has the CE Mark in the European Union and is currently limited to investigational use in the United States.

“Gynesonics has developed an important product, serving a major unmet need in women’s health,” said Darrin Uecker, the company’s President and CEO. “We are pleased to bring in HBM Partners, another high-quality international investor with relevant industry expertise and a strong worldwide network to help us deliver on this exciting technology.”

“We are delighted about the Gynesonics investment,” said Dr. Chandra P. Leo, Partner at HBM. “Women’s health is an important strategic field for a number of large healthcare companies and symptomatic uterine fibroids represent a large opportunity in this space. Based on its incision-less approach and promising clinical data, we believe that the VizAblate® System will significantly improve gynecologists’ treatment options for this common condition.” Dr. Leo has joined the Gynesonics Board of Directors.

Gynesonics is also pleased to announce the addition of two U.S. patents, 8,088,072 and 8,262,577, to the company’s substantial and growing patent portfolio. Gynesonics has invested significantly in the development of graphical overlays to show the projected treatment region and safety boundary within the VizAblate® System user interface, and these patents relate specifically to the use of these overlays for image guided fibroid treatment.

“Graphical overlays are very important to the VizAblate® System’s ease of use and learning curve. They enable a very intuitive approach and will be an important feature of any image guided treatment solution,” said Dr. Marlies Bongers, Ob/Gyn at Maxima Medisch Centrum in The Netherlands and a clinical investigator in the Gynesonics FAST-EU clinical study.

As many as 3 out of 4 women will have fibroids during their reproductive life. The symptoms that fibroids may cause include heavy menstrual bleeding, pelvic pain and pressure, and urinary dysfunction. Today, the most frequent surgical treatment for symptomatic uterine fibroids is a hysterectomy, with approximately 250,000 hysterectomies being performed in the United States each year.

About Gynesonics

Gynesonics is a women’s healthcare company focused on minimally invasive solutions for symptomatic uterine fibroids. Gynesonics has developed the VizAblate® System, a transcervical, ultrasound-guided ablation system for the treatment of uterine fibroids. VizAblate® has the CE Mark in the European Union and is currently limited to investigational use in the United States. Gynesonics is a privately held company with headquarters in Redwood City, California.

About HBM Partners

HBM Partners is a globally active, healthcare-focused investment management group headquartered in Switzerland. The funds advised by HBM invest in private and public companies across North America, Europe, India and China. Since 2001, HBM has generated more than 40 trade sales and IPOs of pharma/biotech, medtech and diagnostics companies.

More information can be found at: www.hbmpartners.com

About Abingworth

Abingworth is an international investment group dedicated exclusively to the life sciences and healthcare sector. The company invests at all stages of development including early and late-stage venture financing, growth equity and public companies. Founded in 1973, Abingworth has a lengthy track record of backing market leading companies. Abingworth has a specialist team of 19 professionals with a broad range of skill sets and access to an extensive network of industry contacts. Abingworth has funds under management of over $1.25 billion and offices in London, Menlo Park (California) and Boston.

More information can be found at: www.abingworth.com

About InterWest

For more than 30 years, InterWest has partnered with exceptional entrepreneurs to build winning technology and life sciences companies. With more than 200 years of combined operating and investing experience, the firm’s investing team has raised $2.8B, completed more than 70 IPOs, and participated in nearly 60 upside acquisitions. As the firm invests InterWest X, a $650M fund, the InterWest team continues to believe that providing capital is just the beginning of a long-term collaboration with entrepreneurs to turn their vision into a thriving company.

More information can be found at: www.interwest.com

About Correlation Ventures

Correlation Ventures, a $165 million venture capital fund, leverages world-class analytics to offer entrepreneurs and other venture capitalists a dramatically better option when they are seeking additional co-investment capital to complete a financing round. The firm makes investment decisions in two weeks or less and offers reliability and transparency about reserves and its intentions to follow in future financings. Correlation Ventures invests across all industry segments, U.S. geographies and investment stages – from seed through late stage. Current portfolio companies include AirXpanders, Aldea Pharmaceuticals, Bunchball, edo interactive, Framehawk, Getaround, MOGL, RQx Pharmaceuticals, SAY Media, Telly, and Virsto Software. Correlation Ventures has offices in Palo Alto and San Diego, CA.

More information can be found at: www.correlationvc.com and @correlationvc

About Advanced Technology Ventures

Advanced Technology Ventures (ATV) is a bi-coastal venture capital firm with more than $1.8 billion in capital under management. The firm works with entrepreneurial teams in several technology markets, including IT, healthcare and cleantech, to transform emerging growth companies into market leaders. Founded in 1979, ATV has an established track record of success helping to build strong, sustainable companies.

More information can be found at: www.atvcapital.com

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Satori Capital said Wednesday it has invested in Longhorn Health Solutions. Financial terms were not announced. Austin-based Longhorn is a direct-to-home provider of consumable medical supplies, durable medical equipment, and pharmaceutical prescriptions. Brookside Group provided debt financing while Allegiance Capital Corp. provided financial advice to Longhorn.

PRESS RELEASE

Satori Capital (“Satori”), a Dallas-based private equity firm, announced today that it has invested 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 is intently focused on reducing total cost-of-care for managed care organizations by streamlining billing processes, improving patient utilization and compliance, enhancing product quality, and heightening transparency throughout the patient, provider, and payor ecosystem,” said Sunny Vanderbeck, Managing Partner at Satori. “We believe in the team’s service-based approach, and look forward to partnering with them to further serve the growing needs of their stakeholders.”

Longhorn offers customers a comprehensive range of high-quality disposable medical products, incontinence supplies, durable medical equipment, enteral nutrition products, and diabetic testing supplies. The company is a contract provider for managed care organizations within Texas Medicaid STAR+PLUS, STAR, and Medicare. Longhorn also recently launched a pharmacy division that serves the entire state of Texas. The company employs nearly 150 team members, and leverages its ten branch locations to utilize a high-touch delivery model. Britt Peterson, founder and CEO of Longhorn, will continue to lead the company.

“Longhorn has earned a reputation for excellence through its reliable performance, dedicated customer service, statewide presence, and commitment to integrity and kindness across everything that we do,” said Britt Peterson, Longhorn CEO. “Our partnership with Satori provides access to a deeper network of healthcare expertise, a valuable collection of operational best practices, and ample resources for both organic expansion and growth via acquisition. Collectively, these resources strengthen Longhorn’s ability to provide higher quality products and services that improve patient outcomes, while also providing manufacturers with cost-effective access to a highly fragmented home health patient base.”

The Brookside Group provided debt financing for the transaction, and Allegiance Capital Corporation acted as exclusive financial advisor to Longhorn. Patton Boggs LLP and Munsch Hardt Kopf & Harr, P.C. acted as legal counsel to Satori Capital and Longhorn Health Solutions, respectively. Specific terms of the transaction were not disclosed.

About Satori Capital

Dallas, Texas-based Satori Capital is the preferred capital partner for companies building significant long-term value through a sustainable approach. Satori’s team has a long and successful track record as private equity investors and founders and CEOs of both private and public companies. Satori partners with talented management teams to accelerate the growth of companies that are “built to last” and meet a set of criteria described as “sustainability.” These businesses deliver strong returns by operating with a long-term perspective, committing to their mission or purpose, and focusing on creating value for all stakeholders. For more information, please visit www.satoricapital.com.

About Longhorn Health Solutions

Longhorn Health Solutions is a leading service-oriented, direct-to-consumer distributor of durable medical equipment, consumable medical supplies, and pharmaceutical prescriptions to home-based Medicaid, Medicare, and privately insured patients across Texas. Based in Austin, Texas, the company offers statewide distribution from its ten locations in Austin, Beaumont, Corpus Christi, El Paso, Fort Worth, Harlingen, Houston, Lubbock, San Antonio, and Waco. For more information, please visit www.longhornhealth.com and www.lhsrx.com.

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Brian Wade has joined Atlantic-Pacific Capital as a partner. He will work with institutional investors in the Mid-Atlantic and Southeast United States. Wade was previously an MD in Credit Suisse Asset Management’s institutional distribution group.

PRESS RELEASE
Atlantic-Pacific Capital, the largest independently owned global placement agent and advisory firm, announced today the addition of Brian Wade as Partner. Mr. Wade will continue to work closely with institutional investors in the Mid-Atlantic and Southeast United States, including public and corporate pension plans, endowments, foundations, financial institutions, fund-of-funds and family offices.

Mr. Wade has over 15 years of experience in limited partner, general partner and third-party distribution roles during his alternative investment career. Prior to joining Atlantic-Pacific, Brian was a Managing Director in Credit Suisse Asset Management’s institutional distribution group. Before Credit Suisse, he was the Director of Investor Relations at JLL Partners, a middle-market private equity firm. Previously, Mr. Wade worked at the Virginia Retirement System, where he was the Director of Private Equity after beginning his alternative investment career at the New York State Common Retirement Fund. Mr. Wade earned a Bachelor of Science from Union College and an MBA from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute.

“I am excited to join Atlantic-Pacific’s global independent platform and to contribute to its established and focused execution-oriented model. I have been particularly impressed with the firm’s track record, quality of mandates, and tenacity demonstrated by the Partner team since the global financial crises,” commented Mr. Wade.

Mark Bourgeois, CEO and President, said, “I have worked with Brian in various capacities for over 13 years and believe that his prior experience as a limited partner and an investor relations professional complements our current strengths and will be a tremendous asset to our clients.”

About Atlantic-Pacific Capital www.apcap.com
Atlantic-Pacific Capital is the largest independently owned global placement agent and advisory firm dedicated to raising capital for alternative investments. Since 1995, the firm has executed over 70 capital raising assignments aggregating over $50 billion for an extraordinary group of alternative asset managers. Typical mandates include private equity, real estate and infrastructure fund placements, as well as secondary advisory assignments and direct private placements. With experienced professionals located in New York, Greenwich, Chicago, San Francisco, London and Hong Kong, Atlantic-Pacific maintains a global network of trusted relationships with influential institutional and high-net-worth investors.

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Medical Solutions has acquired OA Nurse Travel from On Assignment. Financial terms weren’t announced. OA Nurse Travel, of Cincinnati, provides traveling nurses. Omaha-based Medical Solutions is owned by Tenex Capital Management and McCarthy Capital.

PRESS RELEASE
Medical Solutions, a leading national healthcare staffing company headquartered in Omaha, Neb., today announced the acquisition of OA Nurse Travel from On Assignment, Inc. (NYSE:ASGN). With the finalization of this deal, the company will employ over 1,000 traveling nurses and become the third-largest travel nurse staffing company, according to Staffing Industry Analysts 2012 findings.

This acquisition will enable the company to offer significantly more assignment locations across the country for traveling nurses. Additionally, it provides a much larger base of highly skilled and qualified nurses to fill the needs of its hospital clients more quickly and efficiently. Medical Solutions will maintain its corporate headquarters in Omaha, Neb. and add offices strategically located in San Diego, Calif.; Tupelo, Miss.; and Cincinnati, Ohio.

“We are very excited about the acquisition of OA Nurse Travel. This will expand the industry-leading customer experience that Medical Solutions provides to all travelers and hospitals,” stated Scott Anderson, CEO of Medical Solutions. “The addition of OA Nurse Travel will create the third-largest travel nurse company—one that is solely focused on meeting and exceeding the needs of healthcare professionals and our partner healthcare facilities.”

“Medical Solutions will continue to offer the same level of customer support we have become known for, and will maintain one of the largest recruiter and support staffs in the industry,” said Christy Johnston, chief people officer at Medical Solutions. “The internal company cultures of both groups are very similar and focused on providing an outstanding customer experience. The acquisition provides additional opportunities to further develop the combined, dedicated staff, which has been the primary driver to Medical Solutions being one of the fastest-growing and best places to work in the industry.”

Steven Francis, co-founder and former longtime Chairman and CEO of AMN Healthcare Services, Inc. (NYSE:AHS), and current chairman of the board for Medical Solutions stated, “Medical Solutions is a premier Travel Nurse company which is solely focused on providing the highest quality nurses to its Healthcare partners. Medical Solutions has an exceptional caliber of team members, medical professionals, superior technology and a passion to serve the Travel Nurse industry.”

Mr. Francis went on to say, “The positive, team-oriented culture at Medical Solutions is one that is built on mutual trust and respect. These two elements are fueling our rapid growth as we continue to pursue companies and professionals who share our passion for excellence. In my nearly thirty years of experience in this industry, I have never witnessed such a strong culture that is dedicated to providing such a positive work environment for the corporate staff as well as serving its healthcare professionals and facilities. The two combined companies will bring unique and exciting opportunities to the Travel Nursing marketplace, and I am excited to be a part of it. We welcome OA Nurse Travel internal staff and its nurses to our growing family.”

About Medical Solutions
Medical Solutions L.L.C. was one of the first Travel Nurse and Allied Healthcare staffing companies to be certified by the Joint Commission and has been continuously certified since 2004. Its focus is on meeting the urgent and short-term staffing needs of its clients with highly skilled Allied Health professionals, Nurses and Technologists. Medical Solutions was named one of the top three staffing firms to work for in Staffing Industry Analyst’s 2012 Best Staffing Firms to Work For, and was also named to the 2012 Inc. 5000 list of fastest-growing private companies. A nationwide network of travelers allows Medical Solutions to help its client hospitals continue to provide excellent patient care amidst a Nursing and Allied Health shortage. Medical Solutions has contracts with nearly 1,200 client hospitals nationwide and is one of the fastest-growing companies in the Travel Nursing and Allied Health industry. Visit www.MedicalSolutions.com to learn more.

Medical Solution’s private equity Partners:
Tenex Capital Management – www.tenexcm.com
McCarthy Capital Fund V – www.mccarthycapital.com

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Harvey Mason has joined Capstone Partners as a director in the corporate restructuring services group. He will split his time between Boston and New York. Most recently, Mason worked at Argus Management where he specialized in providing interim management and financial advisory services to financially distressed companies

PRESS RELEASE

Capstone Partners LLC, a leading national investment banking firm, announced that Harvey Mason, Jr. has joined the firm as a Director in the Corporate Restructuring Services group, splitting his time between Boston and New York. Capstone’s Corporate Restructuring practice offers performance improvement, turnaround & interim management and a host of related advisory services. Harvey will provide clients with a variety of restructuring services and strategic direction, assisting companies and their stakeholders through difficult operating and financial environments. Harvey will also provide specialty M&A and financing support services to Capstone’s distressed and lower middle-market transaction clients.

“An improving economy is creating opportunities for companies to improve their market positioning through corporate restructuring, mergers and acquisitions. We are pleased to add Harvey to our team of senior restructuring executives to assist in these efforts. He is a seasoned turnaround professional with the experience to deliver immediate stabilization and value,” commented Brian Davies, Head of Capstone’s Corporate Restructuring Services practice. “Our clients ‒ private and public companies, private equity groups, law firms, commercial lenders and unsecured creditors ‒ will benefit from Harvey’s deep industry and operational knowledge, as well as his ability to identify opportunities for improvement and quickly correct complex financial and operational problems while implementing value-building strategies,” added Davies.

Harvey has decades of experience providing financial restructuring, interim management, due diligence, mergers and acquisitions, and forensic and operational consulting services to business organizations experiencing significant difficulties both in and out of formal bankruptcy proceedings. He has served as an interim senior-level executive for several clients in the roles of CFO, VP of Finance, Construction Manager and Controller. His clients represent a broad range of industries including energy, real estate, high technology, financial services, petroleum, transportation logistics, forestry, retail, healthcare, manufacturing, fishing and construction.

Prior to joining CRS Capstone, Harvey worked at Argus Management where he specialized in providing interim management and financial advisory services to financially distressed companies. He began his career at PriceWaterhouse, in the Financial Services and Advisory group in Seattle, Washington. He later served as Senior Vice President for both KPMG and Mesirow Financial Consulting’s Corporate Recovery practice. Harvey is a Certified Public Accountant (CPA) and Certified Insolvency and Restructuring Advisor (CIRA). He is a graduate of the University of Puget Sound, with a BS in Accountancy.
About Capstone
Capstone Partners LLC is a leading national investment banking firm dedicated to serving the corporate finance needs of middle market business owners, investors and creditors.  The firm provides merger & acquisition, private placement, corporate restructuring, valuation and financial advisory services.  Capstone maintains various industry specialties including business services, consumer products, education & training, government services, health & medical, manufacturing & industrial and technology & telecom.  The firm also possesses merchant banking capabilities to actively co-invest in transactions.  Additional information about Capstone Partners can be found at www.capstonellc.com.

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BB&T Capital Partners has sold Cline Acquisition Corp. to Rexnord Corp. Financial terms weren’t announced. Taylors, S.C.-based Cline provides aftermarket power transmission parts and services to the pulp and paper, steel and other end markets. Quarton Partners provided financial advice to Cline.

PRESS RELEASE

Quarton Partners is pleased to announce that BB&T Capital Partners has sold Cline Acquisition Corp. (“Cline”) to Rexnord Corporation (NYSE: RXN). Cline is a provider of aftermarket power transmission parts and services to the pulp and paper, steel and other end markets. Cline’s full service aftermarket capabilities include inspection and repair, rebuild, predictive and preventative maintenance and other on-site technical field services. Quarton Partners acted as the exclusive financial advisor to Cline in this transaction.
Bob Buchanan , President and CEO of Cline, commented on the sale, “Quarton Partners ran a high quality process under a demanding timeline. With Quarton Partners’ knowledge of the power transmission sector they were able to deliver several strategic buyers to the table which ultimately allowed us to choose a strategic partner that shares our vision for growing the business and dedication to world-class customer service.”
Cline (www.theclineco.com) is a high quality provider of aftermarket power transmission services to the pulp and paper, steel and other end markets. Cline specializes in providing full-service power transmission solutions and has a high degree of technical expertise for mission critical industrial drive shafts, clutches and brakes that are used in production equipment. Cline is based in Taylors, South Carolina.
BB&T Capital Partners (www.bbtcp.com) is a private equity firm located in Winston-Salem, North Carolina. BB&T is an investment arm of BB&T Corporation and principally targets companies in business, government, healthcare and industrial services, niche manufacturing, value-added distribution and education.
Rexnord (www.rexnord.com) is a global industrial manufacturer comprised of two strategic platforms, Process & Motion Control and Water Management, with approximately 7,300 employees worldwide. The Process & Motion Control platform designs, manufactures, markets and services specified, highly-engineered mechanical components used within complex systems. The Water Management platform designs, procures, manufactures and markets products that provide and enhance water quality, safety, flow control and conservation. Rexnord is headquartered in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.
ABOUT QUARTON PARTNERS
Quarton Partners (www.quartonpartners.com), headquartered in Birmingham, Michigan, is a premier middle market investment banking firm, serving privately held and publicly traded companies, as well as private equity firms. Quarton Partners assists its clients with mergers and acquisitions, private capital raising, restructurings, valuations and other financial advisory services. Its principals have successfully completed hundreds of engagements in a variety of industries across the U.S. and throughout the world. Quarton Partners is an affiliate of Spearhead Capital, LLC.

PR Newswire (http://s.tt/1zJAp)

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SD Retail Consulting, a unit of Hilco Trading, said Wednesday that it named Farla Efros as EVP and COO. Efros will be responsible for the firm’s Merchandising and Strategy practice area. Most recently, she served as EVP and Chief Merchandising Officer of Office Depot.

PRESS RELEASE

SD Retail Consulting, a leading strategic retail advisory firm and unit of Hilco Trading, LLC., today announced that it has named Farla Efros as Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer as part of its strategic efforts to expand the breadth and depth of its senior management team. In her new role, Ms. Efros will be responsible for the firm’s Merchandising and Strategy practice area.

Ms. Efros brings extensive expertise in merchandising strategy and category management, having worked globally with many of the world’s leading retailers and consumer packaged goods companies. Most recently, Ms. Efros served as Executive Vice President and Chief Merchandising Officer of Office Depot where she was selected by the CEO to transform merchandising operations for 1,170 locations across the US. Ms. Efros worked to define Office Depot’s merchandising vision and clearly articulated its merchandising strategy in moving Office Depot from a product-centric company to a customer-centric one. To that end, she developed category management expertise, strengthened internal cross-functional capabilities and simplified work processes to create a fast, flexible and focused merchandising organization.

“Adding Farla to the leadership team to help expand and grow the SD Retail business is a significant statement about the caliber of talent we plan to offer our clients to help them succeed in today’s rapidly changing retail landscape,” said Antony Karabus, newly-appointed President of the firm. “Recognized as one of the brightest strategic leaders in the retail industry today, Farla’s unique insight and understanding of the challenges our customers face will enable us to deliver the most comprehensive assessment of their business and help them grow.”

Prior to her role as EVP at Office Depot, Ms. Efros held the position of SVP of Performance Improvement at a leading international consulting firm, where she was responsible for store operations, merchandising and marketing strategy, organization design, category management and assortment optimization. Previously, she spent 10 years at The Partnering Group, Inc., where she served as Partner responsible for the development of the best practices category, and customer management. Ms. Efros has worked domestically and internationally with companies across various retail sectors including grocery, mass merchandise/discount, drug, value, convenience, pet supplies, automotive, apparel, home furnishing and department store.

“I’m excited about the opportunity to continue developing and operationalizing the principles that will support SD Retail’s leadership and drive business results in the years ahead,” Efros commented. “Our innovative solutions will help retailers create tangible value while improving operating performance and accelerating growth strategies.”
ABOUT SD RETAIL CONSULTING

SD Retail Consulting is a leading strategic retail advisory firm that helps retailers unlock value across multiple operating segments; including merchandising, planning and allocation, the in-store customer experience, supply chain, inventory, real estate, the support infrastructure, technology effectiveness and the raising of capital required to support growth strategies. The company is a unit of The Hilco Organization and operates in New York as well as at Hilco’s headquarters in Northbrook, Illinois. For more information on SD Retail Consulting visit http://www.sdretail.com.
ABOUT HILCO TRADING LLC.

Headquartered in Northbrook, Illinois (USA), Hilco is a privately-held, diversified financial and operational services firm whose principal competency is understanding and maximizing the value of business assets, including retail, consumer and industrial inventory; machinery and equipment; real estate; accounts receivable; intellectual property; and, going-concern enterprises.  Through 500 professionals operating on five continents, Hilco helps companies and their professional advisors assess asset value, maximize value for said assets through asset monetization solutions, and enhance value through advisory and consulting solutions.  Hilco serves retailers, wholesalers, distributors and manufacturers, directly and through their lenders, investors and advisors, which can include private equity firms, hedge funds, investment banks, law firms, turnaround professionals, accounting professionals, bankruptcy trustees and receivers.  For more information please visit our web site: www.hilcotrading.com.
 

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Selerity said Wednesday that it raised $3 million of Series B equity financing. New shareholders include Mark Faulkner, Data Explorers’ founder; Tom Glocer, Thomson Reuters former CEO; Emanuel Mond, Cadis’ former chairman, Lee Olesky, Tradeweb’s CEO; and, Sharon Rowlands, CEO of Altegrity. A majority of Selerity’s series A shareholders and board of directors also reinvested. Selerity, of Jersey City, N.J., provides data solutions for the financial services industry.

PRESS RELEASE

Selerity, a provider of real-time event data solutions for the financial services industry, today announced that it successfully raised $3 million of equity financing to accelerate the development of Selerity Alerts, its new real-time intelligence platform. The Series B capital raise was oversubscribed by more than $1 million due to strong demand from investors, as well as the significant market opportunity that exists for real-time, user-driven intelligence for financial services professionals that Selerity offers.

The Selerity Alerts platform allows securities traders, analysts, portfolio managers and other professionals to receive breaking, real-time intelligence based on their specific investment thesis and interests. Selerity’s platform uses sophisticated real-time search and classification technology to deliver intelligence related to breaking events that impact the financial markets. Using proprietary algorithms, the service sifts through hundreds of thousands of events per day at sub-second speeds from sources including social media, local media, regulatory agencies, and authoritative blogs. The events are then analyzed by Selerity’s in-house event analysts, delivering only highly relevant information and analysis to clients. The Selerity Alerts product offering is currently in beta testing with a group of financial services firms.

As part of the capital raise, Emanuel Mond will be joining Selerity’s board of directors. Mond is a seasoned financial information services executive, entrepreneur, and investor. Most recently, he served as the Chairman of Cadis, a global enterprise data management specialist.  Prior to this, Mond has held various senior leadership and investor roles at multiple financial technology ventures including, Monis Software (acquired by SunGard), SunGard, and Whittaker Garnier (acquired by Insight).

“I’m excited to be joining Selerity at such an important point in the company’s growth trajectory because I believe in Selerity’s business proposition and the need for their product in the industry,” Mond commented. “I look forward to working with the Selerity team and my fellow board members to expand the company’s footprint in the fast-growing real-time intelligence market and to guide Selerity as it applies the additional capital to further develop its offerings.”

Selerity’s new shareholders are among the financial information industry’s top executives including, in alphabetical order:

· Mark Faulkner, Founder, Data Explorers; and Co-Founder, Credit Benchmark
· Tom Glocer, Former CEO, Thomson Reuters
· Emanuel Mond, Former Chairman, Cadis
· Lee Olesky, CEO, Tradeweb
· Sharon Rowlands, CEO, Altegrity

A majority of Selerity’s series A shareholders and board of directors also reinvested as part of the round, including industry leaders Donal Smith (Chairman, Selerity), Former CEO of Data Explorers and Co-Founder of Credit Benchmark; Doug Atkin, former President and CEO of Instinet; and Roger Ehrenberg, Wall Street veteran and former CEO of DB Advisors.

“I am honored that such an exceptional group of individuals supports Selerity’s vision to become the leading real-time event data and intelligence firm in the market,” said Ryan Terpstra, Founder and CEO, Selerity. “I know that with this support and our immensely dedicated team, we can continue to deliver market-leading solutions to our clients and the industry. There’s nothing we can’t achieve with such a talented group of people.”

Selerity has now raised a total of $8.1 million including its Series A round, completed in December 2008, and the Series B round. Equity financing has been primarily sourced from accredited investors with extensive experience in financial information and services.

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EnCap Investments said Friday that it closed its ninth fund at its $5 billion hard cap. The fund, which was oversubscribed, will focus on upstream sector of the oil and gas industry in North America. News of the fundraising was reported by peHUB in November.

PRESS RELEASE

EnCap Investments L.P., a leading oil and gas private equity firm, announced today that it has closed EnCap Energy Capital Fund IX, L.P., with $5 billion of limited partner capital commitments. Fund IX, which reached its $5 billion hard cap and was significantly oversubscribed, provides growth capital to proven management teams focused primarily on the upstream sector of the oil and gas industry in North America. EnCap is led by the firm’s four managing partners, David B. Miller, Gary R. Petersen, D. Martin Phillips and Robert L. Zorich. Since its inception in 1988, EnCap has managed approximately $18 billion of capital commitments from some 300 institutional investors, providing growth capital to more than 190 companies and establishing its reputation as the preeminent source of private equity to the oil and gas industry.

Robert Zorich, one of EnCap’s managing partners, said, “Our existing investors’ strong support of Fund IX resulted in a very quick and very successful fundraise. We’ve had the good fortune now of having our last three funds heavily oversubscribed, and we couldn’t have done it without the longstanding relationships we have with so many highly respected limited partners.” Gary Petersen, another EnCap managing partner, said, “Building on the success of our 25-year history, we are pleased to have a fresh pool of capital to back the highest quality management teams in what remains a robust investment environment in the upstream sector of the oil and gas industry.” To date, EnCap has committed approximately $350 million to three portfolio companies in Fund IX, including Common Resources III, Paloma Partners III and PayRock Energy.

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DB Networks said Wednesday that it has raised $4.5 million in Series B fund led by Khosla Ventures. Shirish Sathaye, a Khosla general partner, has joined DB Networks board. San Diego-based DB Networks provides database security equipment.

PRESS RELEASE

DB Networks, an innovator of database security equipment, announced today it has raised $4.5 million in Series B funding led by Khosla Ventures of Menlo Park, California. DB Networks also announced that Shirish Sathaye, general partner at Khosla Ventures, has joined its Board of Directors.
DB Networks is commercializing a next-generation security platform for real-time advanced database attack detection. Based on patent-pending behavior analysis technology, DB Networks Adaptive Database Firewall is able to rapidly and automatically detect SQL injection attacks.
“DB Networks is deployed and engaged at several of the world’s leading financial institutions” said Shirish Sathaye, general partner at Khosla Ventures. “We want to be instrumental in growing DB Network along with their highly experienced and successful team.”
“DB Networks is extremely excited to be working with Khosla Ventures and to have Shirish Sathaye on our board” said Brett Helm, CEO of DB Networks. “This investment, along with the expertise of Khosla Ventures, will allow us to open up a new era in database security.”
About DB Networks
DB Networks is innovating database security equipment for organizations who need to protect their data from advanced attacks. DB Networks Adaptive Database Firewall is an effective countermeasure against SQL Injection and database Denial of Service attacks. Unlike traditional database security solutions, which require extensive user customization, as well as time-consuming white list/black list maintenance, DB Networks Adaptive Database Firewall automatically learns each applications proper SQL transaction behavior. Any SQL transaction which subsequently deviates from the model immediately raises an alarm as an attack. DB Networks is a privately held company headquartered in San Diego, California. For additional information, please visit us at dbnetworks.com.
About Khosla Ventures
Khosla Ventures offers venture assistance, strategic advice and capital to entrepreneurs. The firm helps entrepreneurs extend the potential of their ideas in breakthrough technologies in clean energy, mobile, IT, cloud, big data, storage, health, food, agriculture and semiconductors. Vinod Khosla founded the firm in 2004 and was formerly a General Partner at Kleiner Perkins and co-founder of Sun Microsystems. Khosla Ventures is based in Menlo Park, Calif.

Linkwell Health said Wednesday it raised $11 million in Series C funding led by WellPoint. Existing investors Spark Capital and HLM Venture Partners also participated in the round. New York-based Linkwell develops health and wellness consumer engagement platforms.

PRESS RELEASE

Linkwell Health, an innovative developer of health and wellness consumer engagement platforms, today announced that the company has raised $11 million in Series C funding led by WellPoint (NYSE: WLP), the nation’s leading health benefits company. Existing investors Spark Capital and HLM Venture Partners also participated in the round. With a unique model of consumer engagement that brings together health plans, better-for-you brands and retailers, Linkwell Health will use this new round to extend the breadth and reach of its platform to consumers across multiple channels.
PR Newswire (http://s.tt/1z8TC)

Linkwell Health’s unique distribution platform reaches the members of 22 major health plans, including Humana, Health Net, and WellPoint. The 100 million members of these health plans receive valuable content through their health plan websites, email, mobile apps and direct mail. In addition to this content, members gain access to coupons for better-for-you products. This combination of useful content with high-value coupons is empowering consumers to make better health decisions, while saving them time and money. Meanwhile, the better-for-you brands offering these coupons – such as such as Kellogg’s, Campbell’s, Unilever and Proctor & Gamble – are achieving higher trial and repeat purchase habits than competitive media in the marketplace.
“There is no question that consumers want help in getting healthier, and Linkwell Health is making that happen with an innovative platform and top-tier partners,” said Linkwell Health CEO Gregg Michaelson . “The company’s market momentum combined with this new round of funding, which includes support from the nation’s leading health benefits company, will give Linkwell Health the fuel to bring consumer engagement to the next level.”
“Linkwell Health is inspiring a self-improvement revolution,” said Spark Capital General Partner Alex Finkelstein. “They already have an extraordinary distribution network anchored by the top health plans and work with major consumer brands. The company’s unique model to wellness is gaining impressive traction with both consumers and health care businesses, and we are excited for what the future holds.”
About Linkwell Health
Linkwell Health (www.linkwellhealth.com) develops proven engagement programs to improve the health and wellness of Americans. The company links together health plans, better-for-you brands and retailers to encourage positive lifestyle change through simple approaches. Linkwell Health creates customized, turnkey incentive and guidance programs for health plans to distribute to their members. Targeted offers and online solutions make it easier and more affordable for members to choose healthier options.
About WellPoint
At WellPoint, we believe there is an important connection between our members’ health and well-being—and the value we bring our customers and shareholders. So each day we work to improve the health of our members and their communities. And, we can make a real difference since we have more than 33 million people in our branded health plans, and approximately 64 million people served through our subsidiaries. As an independent licensee of the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association, WellPoint serves members as the Blue Cross licensee for California; the Blue Cross and Blue Shield licensee for Colorado, Connecticut, Georgia, Indiana, Kentucky, Maine, Missouri (excluding 30 counties in the Kansas City area), Nevada, New Hampshire, New York (as the Blue Cross Blue Shield licensee in 10 New York City metropolitan and surrounding counties and as the Blue Cross or Blue Cross Blue Shield licensee in selected upstate counties only), Ohio, Virginia (excluding the Northern Virginia suburbs of Washington, D.C.), and Wisconsin. In a majority of these service areas, WellPoint’s plans do business as Anthem Blue Cross, Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield, Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Georgia and Empire Blue Cross Blue Shield, or Empire Blue Cross (in the New York service areas). WellPoint also serves customers throughout the country as UniCare and in certain California, Arizona and Nevada markets through our CareMore subsidiary. Our 1-800 CONTACTS, Inc. subsidiary offers customers online sales of contact lenses, eyeglasses and other ocular products. Additional information about WellPoint is available at www.wellpoint.com
About Spark Capital
Founded in 2005, Spark Capital is a tight-knit group of partners managing approximately $1,000,000,000 across three funds. Spark invests across a number of key market segments including: advertising & monetization, commerce & services, cloud & infrastructure, social, mobile and content. Spark’s portfolio includes companies such as Twitter, Tumblr, Foursquare, AdMeld, OMGPOP, ThePlatform and 5Min. The Spark team has previously backed notable companies such as Akamai Technologies, Qtera, Aether Systems and Novatel Wireless.
www.sparkcapital.com
About HLM Venture Partners
HLM Venture Partners is a leading venture capital health care investor, having provided over $400 million in capital to some of the most dynamic, innovative companies. With offices in Boston and San Francisco, HLM is focused on building sustainable companies and profitable exits—benefiting both entrepreneurs and investors. HLM is uniquely positioned to provide insightful guidance on a range of health care industry issues. Longstanding relationships with the senior leadership of some of the country’s largest and most innovative health care organizations enables HLM to provide practical, actionable and meaningful advice and introductions. Emerging health care companies rely on the expertise of HLM Venture Partners with a depth of health care industry knowledge that is unmatched.

http://www.hlmvp.com

PR Newswire (http://s.tt/1z8TC)

Israel Cleantech Ventures said Wednesday it has closed its second fund with just above $74 million in commitments. Investors include institutional investors, multi-national corporations and family offices. The fund will invest in Israeli based or Israel related high growth, clean technology, early and growth stage companies.

PRESS RELASE

Israel Cleantech Ventures (ICV) today announced the final closing of its second fund with just above $74 million in commitments. Having raised its debut fund in 2007, ICV now has approximately $150 million under management.

ICV’s second fund has attracted an impressive list of new limited partners, including institutional investors, multi-national corporations and family offices. Many of its existing LPs also re-upped from the previous fund.

The fund is managed by partners Jack Levy, Meir Ukeles and Glen Schwaber working together with a team of venture partners – all industry veterans – led by Arnon Goldfarb, with nearly two decades of experience at Israel Chemicals and five years as CEO of a leading water infrastructure company. This very same team has been together since ICV was established and has provided consistently stable fund management.

The firm will continue its strategy of investing in Israeli based or Israel related high growth, clean technology, early and growth stage companies. To date, it has invested in 15 companies and seeks opportunities across diverse cleantech sectors including clean materials, wastewater treatment, alternative energy generation, energy storage & efficiency, green building, smart grid, process efficiency technologies and sustainable agriculture.

“With the successful raising of our second fund, ICV has further solidified its position as Israel’s leading specialist cleantech fund and we are able to take advantage of the ever-strengthening cleantech dealflow emanating from this country,” said Glen Schwaber, general partner of Israel Cleantech Ventures. “Our goal is to see all the relevant deal flow in Israel and to seek out the strongest entrepreneurs, with great technology, innovative business models and high-growth market opportunities. We will continue our strategy of working closely with our entrepreneurs to provide the support necessary and to add value, from the time we invest through the life of the company.”

Meir Ukeles, co-founder and general partner continued; “Our expanded and diversified investor base in ICV II reflects our strong market presence, with investors seeking a trusted partner to look at the innovation coming out of Israel’s cleantech sector and its potential to meet global market demands and current technological challenges. When we first started out in 2006, our database held approximately 120 companies mostly in seed and early stage and there was effectively no VC money available for cleantech in Israel. Fast forward to today and dozens of global funds have invested in approximately 150 deals in Israel and our database now holds over 1,300 opportunities. We look forward to building a strong portfolio for our second fund in the coming years.”

Rob Day, Partner at Black Coral Capital, an investor in both ICV funds stated; “Cleantech venture capital has legitimately taken some hard knocks over the past few years. For ICV to successfully raise a second fund in this environment is a testament to the ultimate promise of their portfolio and the strength of their team. Our current energy/resource scheme is unsustainable. Entrepreneurs smart enough to develop solutions to solve this problem and venture capitalists smart and risk-loving enough to back them will end up making phenomenal financial returns. We believe ICV is exceptionally well-placed to capitalize on the Israeli cleantech opportunity.”

About Israel Cleantech Ventures

Established in 2006, Israel Cleantech Ventures (ICV) is the leading venture capital firm dedicated to providing value added growth capital to exceptional entrepreneurs building Israel’s energy, water and environmental technology leaders. ICV currently manages $150M in two funds, has completed 15 investments and seeks opportunities across diverse cleantech sectors, including clean materials, wastewater treatment, alternative energy generation, energy storage & efficiency, green building, smart grid, process efficiency technologies, sustainable agriculture and in technologies that enable existing industries to work in a more efficient and environmentally friendly manner.

ICV’s investment professionals combine industry expertise gained through decades in senior management positions at Israel’s outstanding cleantech companies, with proven abilities in identifying, investing in and supporting VC-backed companies.

ICV funds are backed by leading institutional investors, multi-national corporations and family offices in Europe, the US and Israel.