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European media and communications focused private equity group GMT Communications Partners together with Veronis Suhler Stevenson have teamed up with management to provide growth capital to IT-Ernity, a provider of business critical managed services and shared hosting for SMEs in the Netherlands. Founded in 2002 by its managing director, Sebastiaan de Koning, and R&D manager Tom Pfeifer, IT-Ernity offers a comprehensive catalogue of standardised fully managed solutions, including system administration, protection, security, application management and other outsourcing services.

PRESS RELEASE

GMT Communications Partners (“GMT”), the European media and communications focused private equity group, together with Veronis Suhler Stevenson (“VSS”), a private equity firm that invests in the information, education, media, marketing and business services industries in North America and Europe, are delighted to announce that they have teamed up with Management to provide growth capital to IT-Ernity, a provider of business critical managed services and shared hosting for SMEs in the Netherlands.

Founded in 2002 by its Managing Director, Sebastiaan de Koning, and R&D Manager Tom Pfeifer, IT-Ernity offers a comprehensive catalogue of standardised fully managed solutions, including system administration, protection, security, application management and other outsourcing services. Through the shared services and connectivity categories, the company offers shared hosting, domain registration and secure infrastructure connectivity through xDSL and fibre. Since 2008, the Company has increased in scale through fourteen acquisitions, strengthening its existing customer base and services portfolio.

The Netherlands is a highly attractive market for the delivery of internet services in Europe due to the success of the AMS-IX exchange, one of the largest data transport hubs in the world, with over 70 connected carriers and the fastest broadband speeds in Europe. Additionally, the regulatory environment is highly favourable with regards data storage and the energy network is one of the most reliable in Europe. As a result of the logistical infrastructure and the country’s central location, it is estimated that a third of the data centres in Europe are located within the Netherlands.

IT-Ernity deploys its services through a sophisticated flexible cloud server infrastructure and dedicated high-end servers, which are housed in state-of-the-art data centre facilities. The company serves a diverse and growing customer base of over 40,000 customers, including a significant amount of cloud and managed services customers, primarily in the SME market. Expansion capital will be provided through a combination of equity, from GMT, VSS and management, who have acquired the majority shareholding from Nedvest Capital, in addition to debt financing from ING and ABN-AMRO.

Stefan Franssen, Partner at GMT, who will join the Board of the Company following the transaction, said:
“This is a fantastic opportunity to acquire a fast-growing business in an attractive niche of the IT industry. The management team at IT-Ernity have done a superb job in recent years, building the company through a string of acquisitions, and we look forward to helping them deliver on their ambitious expansion plans in the coming years.”

Morgan Callagy, Managing Director at VSS, who will join the Board of the Company following the transaction, said:
“The success of Sebastiaan de Koning and his team at IT-Ernity speaks for itself, and it is a privilege to be joining forces with them. Since its foundation in 2002, IT-Ernity has delivered excellent growth, driven by strong market fundamentals and an attractive regulatory landscape, and we expect this new partnership to continue to take advantage of these market conditions in the coming years.”

Sebastiaan De Koning, Managing Director of IT-Ernity commented:
“This investment will give us the financial and strategic resources we require to take IT-Ernity to the next stage of its development. We have been fortunate over the past 11 years to have established a team of committed and highly skilled individuals, and I look forward to building on our successes to date alongside GMT and VSS.”

Contact for GMT:
Equus : Piers Hooper / Sam Barton +44 20 7223 1100
GMT: Tim Green / Stefan Franssen +44 20 7292 9333

Contact for VSS:
Morgan Callagy, Managing Director +44 20 7484 1400
Tanya Dessereau, Marketing +1 212 381 8556

Notes to editors:

GMT Communications Partners is a European independent private equity group focused exclusively on the media, information, entertainment and telecommunications industries, having actively invested in the European marketplace for the past 20 years. As industry practitioners, GMT focuses heavily on developing new strategic directions for established businesses that are able to benefit from new communication technologies. Since its foundation in 1993, GMT has invested in 32 companies and completed 70 bolt-on transactions across 19 countries, exclusively in European media/communications.

Veronis Suhler Stevenson is a private equity and debt capital fund management company dedicated to investing in the information, education, media, marketing and business services industries in North America and Europe. VSS provides capital for buyouts, recapitalizations, growth financings and strategic acquisitions to companies and management teams with a goal to build companies both organically and through a focused add-on acquisition program. Since the closing of the first VSS buyout fund in 1987, VSS has managed four buyout funds and two structured capital funds with initial aggregate committed capital in excess of $3.1 billion. The six funds have to date invested approximately $2.7 billion in 73 portfolio companies which have in turn completed over 320 add-on acquisitions.

Nedvest Capital is an independent Dutch private equity firm investing in profitable medium-sized Dutch companies. Nedvest Capital takes a long-term view in its investment decisions, with buy and build activity driving growth. The targeted companies contribute to society and the environment in a sustainable manner. In addition to capital, Nedvest Capital brings knowledge and expertise to its investments.

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MicroVentures, a combined equity crowdfunding platform and broker-dealer in the US, has announced that accredited investors on its platform have invested $16 million in startups. MicroVentures employs a crowd-sourcing process that enables the power of the crowd to decide which startups will receive investments in an effort to provide a higher probability of successful outcomes.

PRESS RELEASE

MicroVentures, the only combined equity crowdfunding platform and broker-dealer in the US, announced today that accredited investors on their platform have invested $16M in startups. With investments in 34 companies, MicroVentures has now invested more with legal, accredited investors than any other equity based crowdfunding platform. MicroVentures employs a crowd-sourcing process that enables the power of the crowd to decide which startups will receive investments in an effort to provide a higher probability of successful outcomes. Further, MicroVentures has a dedicated due diligence team that screens out companies that may have potential growth inhibiting challenges.
“As we patiently wait for the SEC to enact rules around the JOBS Act, we are utilizing traditional securities laws to connect startups with great investors. This is only possible as a result of our being one of the only registered broker dealer in the space. This is the first time ever that accredited investors have had the ability to invest alongside VC’s without taking major stakes and ending up with similarly diversified portfolios. However, we may find that the crowd does an even better job at picking winners,” said Tim Sullivan, CEO of MicroVentures. “We’ve reached a milestone that proves that our platform doesn’t just ‘work’ — but that there is significant demand from smaller investors to take part in this asset class.”
MicroVentures’ platform invests primarily in seed stage startups, but will participate in follow on rounds alongside the VCs throughout the life of a company. For example, visual book publishing platform Graphicly (www.graphicly.com) and rich media advertisement platform Republic Project (www.republicproject.com) have both received multiple investments from MicroVentures as they have continued to gain traction and required additional capital to accelerate their growth. Other investments include SupplyHog (www.supplyhog.com), a Tennessee-based company that operates a platform that streamlines the process for buying building supplies and material online, along with Kickfolio (www.kickfolio.com), the first foreign management team, who have created a platform that enables developers to run iOS app demos in a standard web browser.
“Our platform has created the opportunity for our investors to invest in everything from seed stage startups to huge companies such as Twitter and Facebook through secondary transactions. We’re giving investors the chance to participate and the transparency to make decisions in a way they have traditionally never been able to,” said Sullivan.
About MicroVentures
Based in San Francisco, CA and Austin, TX, MicroVentures is a wholly-owned broker-dealer whose capital model allows accredited investors to fund start ups, which are typically inaccessible outside the traditional venture capital ecosystem. Using its online investment platform, MicroVentures enables accredited investors to aggregate smaller commitments, allowing them to create diversified portfolios comprised of crowd-sourced startups.
Contact Information
Contact information:
Ed Zitron
347-844-2149

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Electranova Capital, a fund managed by Idinvest Partners in association with EDF, has backed Forsee Power Solutions. Founded in 2011, Forsee Power Solutions specializes in integration which entails designing, developing and assembling battery systems.

PRESS RELEASE

Electranova Capital, the private equity innovation fund managed by Idinvest Partners in association with EDF has announced its investment in Forsee Power Solutions, with the aim of supporting its growth and business development.

Founded in 2011, Forsee Power Solutions is a leading participant in the market for batteries, specializing in integration which entails designing, developing and assembling battery systems.

Forsee Power Solutions operates in a fast-growth market currently undergoing transformation: solutions for power storage needs driven by the development of renewable energies (residential, commercial and industrial power storage), hybrid and electric vehicles, in addition to mobile devices and equipment (electric powered cycles, medical equipment, robotics, home automation, etc.).

Equipment manufacturers now need power specialists who can not only provide them with knowledge of the various electrochemical battery solutions available on the market, but also have the resources and expertise to develop BMS (battery management and data processing systems) which are indispensable for battery performance and safety.

Christophe Gurtner, CEO of Forsee Power Solutions commented: “The investment by Idinvest Partners via Electranova Capital in conjunction with EDF is a recognition of Forsee’s expertise and vision in developing these new markets. More importantly, it will enable us to substantially boost our resources, strengthen our teams, and build business synergies, while also combining our forces in order to bolster the growth potential we offer our customers. “

Forsee Power Solutions is already working with EDF on a number of R&D and electric vehicle projects. Simultaneously, the company has continued to develop other highly innovative programs with various partners, earning it OSEO’s Société innovante prize for innovation in 2012.

Nicolas Chaudron, Partner at Idinvest Partners added: ”The energy storage sector has been central to our investment strategy for a long time. We are delighted that Forsee Power Solutions has chosen us to provide it with development support. In our opinion, this company has rapidly set itself apart with a high‑quality leadership team, strong growth, and the desire to become an international market player. What is more, our relationship with EDF will enable Forsee to speed up its development by quickly building strong technical and commercial ties with one of the energy sector’s world leaders.”

About Forsee Power Solutions

Forsee Power Solutions was founded in 2011 when Uniross, Ersé and Energyone merged their industrial activities. Its core business is the integration and assembly of rechargeable industrial‑grade batteries for the mobile and stationary energy storage markets. Forsee’s products (batteries, chargers, and battery management systems or BMS) are marketed internationally to high‑profile customers, through sales offices in France and the United States. The company has laboratories and plants in France, Poland, and China.

About Electranova Capital and Idinvest Partners
Electranova Capital was launched in May 2012 by Idinvest Partners in association with EDF and with support from Allianz and CDC. The fund’s mission is to back innovative, emerging projects based on new technologies with a view to fostering low‑carbon business.
With €3.6 billion under management and 40 staff, Idinvest Partners is a leading pan-European private equity manager focused on the middle market segment. Idinvest Partners has developed several complementary areas of expertise including investments in innovative European start-ups, primary, secondary and mezzanine investments in European non-listed companies, and private equity consulting. Founded under the name AGF Private Equity in 1997, Idinvest Partners was formerly part of the Allianz Group until 2010 when it joined forces with IDI Group to become independent.

Daphné Claude
Co-founder, Executive Director
Citigate Dewe Rogerson Paris
16 rue de Londres
F-75009 Paris
Tel +33 (0)1 53 32 78 90
Mobile +33 (0)6 66 58 81 92

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Software services business Consilio has appointed Pete Feinberg as vice president of products and Mark Roesler has joined as director of software development. Consilio is a portfolio company of Symphony Technology Group.

PRESS RELEASE

Consilio, a Symphony Technology Group (STG) company and global leader in eDiscovery software and services, today announced that Pete Feinberg has joined the company as Vice President of Products, and that Mark Roesler has joined as Director of Software Development.
“We are dedicated to constantly improving the people, processes and technology our clients need to manage their global eDiscovery projects,” said Andy Macdonald, CEO of Consilio. “The addition of Pete and Mark to our product team enhances our ability to meet these goals and deliver an exceptional service experience to our clients.”
As Vice President of Products, Feinberg will set the strategy for the products and services Consilio provides its clients. Prior to joining Consilio, he served as senior director of marketing at Blackboard, where he focused on client retention and new business development. Feinberg has served as vice president of marketing at Global Telecom & Technology and vice president of product management and marketing at InPhonic. He has held various other positions in partner marketing, product management and product marketing at mature and start up technology businesses. He holds a mechanical engineering degree from Virginia Tech, and an MBA in marketing from the Smith School of Business at the University of Maryland.
Mark Roesler joins Consilio as Director of Software Development. In this role, he will guide the technology development and architecture design team for Consilio’s market-leading processing and review technologies. Roesler will also be responsible for global client support delivery and for meeting Consilio’s commitment to high quality in each product release. Roesler brings more than 15 years of information technology experience at Rain-Bird, ING, Cetera and Union Bank. He has a degree in industrial engineering from Northwestern University.
About Consilio
Consilio is an international eDiscovery and managed review provider with extensive experience in litigation, antitrust, second requests, and internal and external investigations. The company supports law firms and corporations with cost-effective, end-to-end litigation services that include data collection, computer forensics, expert testimony, multi-lingual and on-site data processing, hosting and document review. Safe Harbor certified, the company can deploy its services rapidly and efficiently to clients anywhere in the world from offices and data centers in North America, Europe and Asia. For more information, please visit www.consilio.com.
About Symphony Technology Group
Symphony Technology Group (STG) is a strategic private equity firm with the mission of investing in and building great software and services companies. In addition to capital, STG provides transformation expertise to enable its companies to deliver maximum value to their clients, to drive growth through innovation, to retain and attract the best talent and to achieve best in class business performance. STG’s current portfolio consists of 14 global companies. For more information, please visit http://www.symphonytg.com/
Consilio and the Consilio logo are trademarks or registered trademarks of Consilio and its affiliates in the U.S. and other countries. Other names may be trademarks of their respective owners.
Contact Information
U.S. Media Contact:
Christine Boomer
Consilio
Email Contact
Telephone (202) 822-6222

European Media Contact:
Lena Ahad
Technology PR
Email Contact
Telephone (UK) +44 07908 725212
EmailPrint Friendly Share

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Walgreen, a retail drugstore chain in the US and KKR portfolio company Alliance Boots, an international pharmacy-led health and beauty group, have received the required regulatory clearances for their equity investment in pharmaceutical services company AmerisourceBergen Corporation. The regulatory clearances permit both the purchase of up to 7 percent of the fully diluted equity of AmerisourceBergen in the open market, and the exercise of two warrants for 16 percent in the aggregate of the fully diluted equity of AmerisourceBergen in 2016 and 2017.

PRESS RELEASE

Walgreen Co. (NYSE: WAG) (Nasdaq: WAG), the largest retail drugstore chain in the United States, and Alliance Boots GmbH, a leading international pharmacy-led health and beauty group, today announced that they have received the required regulatory clearances for their equity investment in AmerisourceBergen Corporation, one of North America’s largest pharmaceutical services companies.

The regulatory clearances permit both the purchase of up to 7 percent of the fully diluted equity of AmerisourceBergen in the open market, and the exercise of two warrants for 16 percent in the aggregate of the fully diluted equity of AmerisourceBergen in 2016 and 2017. The clearances permit the investment in AmerisourceBergen up to 25 percent in the aggregate, including the effect of any stock repurchases that AmerisourceBergen may engage in from time to time. Walgreens and Alliance Boots announced that they had been granted the right to purchase a minority equity position in AmerisourceBergen as part of a broader innovative long-term agreement on March 19, 2013.

About Walgreens

As the nation’s largest drugstore chain with fiscal 2012 sales of $72 billion, Walgreens (www.walgreens.com) vision is to become the first choice for health and daily living for everyone in America and beyond. Each day, Walgreens provides more than 6 million customers the most convenient, multichannel access to consumer goods and services and trusted, cost-effective pharmacy, health and wellness services and advice in communities across America. Walgreens scope of pharmacy services includes retail, specialty, infusion, medical facility and mail service, along with respiratory services. These services improve health outcomes and lower costs for payers including employers, managed care organizations, health systems, pharmacy benefit managers and the public sector. The company operates 8,086 drugstores in all 50 states, the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico. Take Care Health Systems is a Walgreens subsidiary that is the largest and most comprehensive manager of worksite health and wellness centers and in-store convenient care clinics, with more than 700 locations throughout the country.

About Alliance Boots

Alliance Boots is a leading international, pharmacy-led health and beauty group delivering a range of products and services to customers. Working in close partnership with manufacturers and pharmacists, we are committed to improving health in the local communities we serve and helping our customers and patients to look and feel their best. Our focus is on growing our two core businesses: pharmacy-led health and beauty retailing and pharmaceutical wholesaling and distribution, while increasingly developing and internationalising our product brands.

Alliance Boots has a presence in more than 25* countries and employs over 108,000* people. Alliance Boots has pharmacy-led health and beauty retail businesses in nine* countries and operates more than 3,100* health and beauty retail stores, of which just over 3,000* have a pharmacy. In addition, Alliance Boots has around 605* optical practices, of which around 190* operate on a franchise basis, and around 390* hearingcare practices. Our pharmaceutical wholesale businesses deliver over 4.6 billion* units each year to more than 170,000* pharmacies, doctors, health centres and hospitals from over 370* distribution centres in 20* countries.

In June 2012, Alliance Boots announced that it had entered into a strategic partnership with Walgreen Co., the largest drugstore chain in the US, to create the first global pharmacy-led, health and wellbeing enterprise.

* Figures are approximations as at 31 March 2013 and include associates and joint ventures.

Walgreens Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements. Statements in this release that are not historical, including, without limitation, estimates of future financial and operating performance, including the amounts and timing of future accretion and synergies, are forward-looking statements made pursuant to the safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Words such as “expect,” “likely,” “outlook,” “forecast, “would,” “could,” “should,” “can,” “will,” “project,” “intend,” “plan,” “goal,” “target,” “continue,” “sustain,” “synergy,” “on track,” “believe,” “seek,” “estimate,” “anticipate,” “may,” “possible,” “assume,” variations of such words and similar expressions are intended to identify such forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance and involve risks, assumptions and uncertainties, including, but not limited to, those relating to our commercial agreement with AmerisourceBergen, the arrangements and transactions contemplated by our framework agreement with AmerisourceBergen and Alliance Boots and their possible effects, the Purchase and Option Agreement and other agreements relating to our strategic partnership with Alliance Boots, the arrangements and transactions contemplated thereby and their possible effects, the parties’ ability to realize anticipated synergies and achieve anticipated financial results, the risks associated with transitions in supply arrangements, the risks associated with international business operations, the risks associated with governance and control matters, whether the option to acquire the remainder of the Alliance Boots equity interest will be exercised and the financial ramifications thereof, the risks associated with potential equity investments in AmerisourceBergen including whether the warrants to invest in AmerisourceBergen will be exercised and the financial ramifications thereof, changes in vendor, payer and customer relationships and terms, changes in network participation, levels of business with Express Scripts customers, the implementation, operation and growth of our customer loyalty program, changes in economic and market conditions, competition, risks associated with new business areas and activities, risks associated with acquisitions, joint ventures and strategic investments, the ability to realize anticipated results from capital expenditures and cost reduction initiatives, outcomes of legal and regulatory matters, and changes in legislation or regulations. These and other risks, assumptions and uncertainties are described in Item 1A (Risk Factors) of Walgreen Co.’s most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K, which is incorporated herein by reference, and in other documents that Walgreens file or furnish with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Should one or more of these risks or uncertainties materialize, or should underlying assumptions prove incorrect, actual results may vary materially from those indicated or anticipated by such forward-looking statements. Accordingly, you are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date they are made. Except to the extent required by law, Walgreens does not undertake, and expressly disclaims, any duty or obligation to update publicly any forward-looking statement after the initial distribution of this release, whether as a result of new information, future events, changes in assumptions or otherwise.

Contacts

Investor Relations:
Walgreens
Rick Hans / Ashish Kohli
+1 847 315 2385 / +1 847 315 3810
or
Alliance Boots
Gerald Gradwell
+44 (0)207 980 8527 (UK), +1 646 688 1336 (US)
or
Media Relations:
Alliance Boots
Yves Romestan / Laura Vergani / Katie Johnson
+44 (0)207 980 8585
or
RLM Finsbury UK (London)
James Murgatroyd / Katie Lang / Yim Wong
+44 (0)207 251 3801
or
Walgreens
Michael Polzin
+1 847 315 2920
or
Walgreens
Jim Cohn
+1 847 315 2950
or
Brunswick US (New York)
Steve Lipin / Radina Russell
+1 212 333 3810

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Goosecross Cellars, a boutique luxury winery located in Yountville, CA, has been sold to Golden Equity Investments (GEI). The transaction included the 11-acre estate winery and vineyard property, tasting room and contemporary Tudor-style estate home. Zepponi & Company, a global wine industry mergers and acquisitions advisory firm served as the exclusive financial advisor to the owners of Goosecross Cellars. Financial terms were not disclosed.

PRESS RELEASE

Goosecross® Cellars, the boutique luxury winery located in Yountville, CA, has been sold to Golden Equity Investments (GEI). GEI is a private equity firm located in Golden, Colorado, and was formed in 2011 to provide equity capital to privately held, middle market companies. The transaction included the 11-acre estate winery and vineyard property, tasting room and contemporary Tudor-style estate home. Zepponi & Company, the global wine industry mergers and acquisitions advisory firm for ultra-premium, luxury and estate wine brands and vineyards, served as the exclusive financial advisor to the owners of Goosecross Cellars. Financial terms were not disclosed.
“Goosecross’ location, vineyard, and winery is what initially drew us to this property,” said Christi Coors Ficeli, GEI Manager and member of the Coors brewing family of Colorado. “Its direct-to-consumer success and reputation for premium quality wine varietals positions us for ongoing success. Our focus will be to continue the tradition of producing high-quality wines, as well as growing the brand to gain more national recognition. We will continue to promote the current wines and look to grow the portfolio. I look forward to meeting the winery’s loyal customers and also intend to invest in the tasting room, the winemaking facility, and the estate to enhance the experience for our patrons.”
The purchase of Goosecross marks GEI’s first investment in the wine industry. The firm saw the purchase of the winery as an opportunity to enter into the wine industry with the potential for growth, especially in the boutique luxury category. Christi Coors Ficeli will be moving to Napa Valley with her husband Dave and their two children, as the winery’s new President and CEO. Christi began her career in the wine industry, and has spent the last 13 years in the beer industry in a sales and marketing capacity.
“This is an incredibly exciting time for all of us at Goosecross; to see this property and facility evolve to a new level is a vision come true,” said current Winemaker and Vice President, Geoff Gorsuch. “The wine business is not just about wine, but all the support of the people and friends that are the true reward. The past 27 years here on State Lane with my wife Karen and partners, David and Colleen Topper, have been both challenging and rewarding. I could not ask for a better change of ownership, and I speak for all of us when I say we are excited to work with and support Christi and her family as we start this exciting new chapter at Goosecross.”
Founded in 1985, Goosecross is located in Yountville, California and produces luxury-tier Napa Valley wines from grapes grown on its estate vineyards along with grapes purchased from local growers. The winery has a cult following with thousands of loyal wine club members and has established itself as one of the leading direct-to-consumer focused wineries in the Napa Valley. The winery’s 9-acre vineyard is planted to primarily Bordeaux varietals including Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot.

Zepponi & Company is the largest mergers and acquisitions advisory firm dedicated exclusively to the global wine industry. Headquartered in Santa Rosa, California, the firm’s three principals, Mario Zepponi, Matt Franklin and Joe Ciatti, are established wine industry veterans, with expertise in strategic transaction analysis, valuations and creativity in structuring complex transactions. Zepponi & Company has served as advisor on numerous transactions involving ultra-premium and luxury wine brands, estate wineries and vineyards, including Chalk Hill Estate, Diageo Chateau & Estate Wines, Kendall Jackson Wine Estates, Four Vines, Langtry Estate & Vineyards, Kuleto Estate and F. Korbel & Bros.

Media Contact:
Kristen Reitzell
Calhoun & Company Communications
(415) 346-2929
[email protected]

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Ridgemont Equity Partners and Post Oak Energy Capital have announced a $100 million capital commitment to the management team of Titan River Energy. Titan River’s management team will be co-investing alongside Ridgemont and Post Oak. No other financial terms of the transaction were disclosed. Titan River is a newly formed oil and gas company headquartered in Fort Worth, Texas, with an additional office in The Woodlands.

PRESS RELEASE

Charlotte, NC and Houston (March 27, 2013) – Ridgemont Equity Partners (Ridgemont) and Post Oak Energy Capital (Post Oak) today announced a $100 million capital commitment to the management team of Titan River Energy, LLC (Titan River). Titan River’s management team will be co-investing alongside Ridgemont and Post Oak. No other financial terms of the transaction were disclosed.

Titan River is a newly formed oil and gas company headquartered in Fort Worth, Texas, with an additional office in The Woodlands. Titan River will initially focus on the drilling and development of oil-prone shale plays in Texas. The company’s management team includes Chip Simmons, CEO; Lee Matthews, President and COO; Don Pearce, EVP of drilling operations; Kent Bowker, EVP of Geology; and Brennan Potts, VP of Land and Business Development. The management team has a proven track record with extensive experience in the geologic assessment, drilling and completion of over 400 horizontal wells in several major shale plays, with a recent focus on the Eagle Ford Shale.

“The Titan River team is privileged to have access to the financial support and industry knowledge of Ridgemont and Post Oak,” said Chip Simmons, CEO of Titan River. “I also feel fortunate to be partnered with such a high caliber management team. We are anxious to pursue our business model of converting acreage into reserves via drilling joint ventures, farm-ins and organic leasing opportunities.”

Lee Matthews, President and COO of Titan River, added: “It has been a lifelong goal of mine to form an upstream operating company that has strong technical expertise, financial strength and an entrepreneurial structure designed to responsibly develop the tremendous resources our nation has to offer. I am delighted to be a part of this veteran management team and to grow Titan River with the strong financial backing of Ridgemont and Post Oak.”

“The principals of Ridgemont have known Chip Simmons for many years. We have great appreciation for his abilities and much respect for Titan River’s technical team, led by Lee Matthews,” said John Shimp, Partner at Ridgemont. “We look forward to working with Chip, Lee and our partners at Post Oak.”

“We are pleased to be involved with Ridgemont, as well as Chip and Lee, in creating Titan River,” said Frost Cochran, Managing Director at Post Oak. “We believe that the combination of management talent at Titan is optimal for creating a successful company in the current domestic oil and gas market.”

About Titan River:
Titan River Energy is a Fort Worth-based oil and gas company focused on the drilling and development of unconventional resources in Texas. Titan River will initially focus on oil-prone shale resources via joint ventures, farm-ins and organic leasing opportunities. Titan River is managed by a team of proven operational experts in horizontal drilling and hydraulic fracturing techniques, complemented by substantial geologic capabilities. Ridgemont Equity Partners and Post Oak Energy Capital committed $100 million to Titan River in March 2013, alongside investments by management. www.titanriverenergy.com.

About Ridgemont Equity Partners:
Ridgemont Equity Partners is a Charlotte-based private equity firm that specializes in middle market buyout and growth equity investments. Since 1993, the principals of Ridgemont have invested over $3 billion in more than 110 companies. The firm focuses on investments of $25 million to $75 million in industries in which it has deep expertise, including basic industries and services, energy, healthcare, and telecommunications/media/technology.

About Post Oak Energy Capital:
Post Oak Energy Capital, which was established in 2006, is based in Houston, Texas. Its management team has executive management experience and a broad network in the energy business as well as significant expertise in private equity investments, operations, development, finance, acquisitions and divestitures. The firm pursues private equity investments primarily in the upstream sector of the oil and gas industry in North America and, to a lesser extent, in oil field services and related infrastructure. Post Oak works in close partnership with operating management teams to build businesses, accelerate growth and enhance shareholder value.

###

Media Contacts:
Bill Haynes, Ridgemont Equity Partners
BackBay Communications
212-209-3844, x224
[email protected]

Kelly Kimberly, Post Oak
713-328-5151 office
713-822-7538 mobile
[email protected]

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Pricing Engine is in the midst of a $1.5 million Series A round. David Liu, founder and CEO of XO Group is committing $1 million to the business. Pricing Engine is a solution provider for small businesses to help them manage and improve their online ad results.

ANNOUNCEMENT

Pricing Engine, is a simple solution to a nagging problem for time-crunched small businesses: how to manage and improve their online ad results without being a techie or spending a ton of money to have someone else manage it for them.
Pricing Engine is in the midst of a $1.5m Series A round, with $1m coming from David Liu, founder and CEO of XO Group, who is also a board member and strategic adviser as well as a reseller.
Now available for use in search advertising, Pricing Engine will add capabilities for optimizing display advertising, social media marketing and e-commerce later this year.
Jeremy Kagan, founder and CEO of Pricing Engine, is a former Vice President of Global Account Management for Sony Music Entertainment and is now an adjunct professor of digital media at Columbia Business School who has also taught at Wharton. He also advises tech startups.

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The Universities Superannuation Scheme Limited, one of the largest pension schemes in the UK, has completed the acquisition of the Brisbane Airtrain. The transaction was arranged by USS Investment Management Limited, USS’s principal investment manager and advisor who will manage the investment on USS’s behalf.

PRESS RELEASE

The Universities Superannuation Scheme Limited (“USS”), one of the largest pension schemes in the United Kingdom, today announced that USS Axle Pty Limited (“USS Axle”), a subsidiary of USS, has successfully completed the acquisition of the Brisbane Airtrain.

The transaction was arranged by USS Investment Management Limited (USSIM), USS’s principal investment manager and advisor who will manage the investment on USS’s behalf.

Following a period of exclusivity in December, Airtrain Holdings Limited (“Airtrain”) entered into a binding agreement with USS Axle for the sale of the company for approximately A$110 million in cash on 21 December 2012. The transaction was implemented by way of a scheme of arrangement under which USS Axle has acquired the entire issued share capital of Airtrain Holdings Limited, the parent company of Brisbane Airtrain. CP2 Limited has co-invested 1% of the total consideration and will be retained by USS in an asset management role.

The completion of the transaction follows the satisfaction of a number of conditions precedent including approvals from the Queensland Department of Transport, the Foreign Investment Review Board as well as approval by the requisite majorities of Airtrain Holdings’ shareholders.

USS has made a number of investments in Australia over recent years including the take private of ConnectEast, which operates the EastLink toll road in Melbourne and the Airport Link rail company in Sydney.

Gavin Merchant, Senior Investment Manager Infrastructure at USSIM, commented, “Brisbane Airtrain is a key piece of transport infrastructure that supports the strong growth of Brisbane and South East Queensland. As a Director on the Board I look forward to working closely with the outstanding Airtrain management team, its contractual partners and all stakeholders to continue the high levels of safety and performance and to grow passenger numbers.”

Rob Horsnall, Investment Manager Infrastructure at USSIM, added, “USS’s ability to all equity fund the transaction, without the need for external funding allowed us to agree and execute the acquisition of Brisbane Airtrain quickly and efficiently.”

USS was advised by CP2 Limited and Johnson, Winter & Slattery. Airtrain was advised by Rothschild and King & Wood Mallesons.

###

For more information, please contact:
MHP Communications
Andrew Fleming [email protected] +44 (0)20 3128 8523
James Morgan [email protected] +44 (0)20 3128 8533

About Airtrain
Airtrain Holdings Limited is an unlisted public company that owns the concession until 2036 for the Brisbane Airport Rail Link which consists of an 8.5km elevated railway and two stations at Brisbane Airport’s international and domestic terminals.

Airtrain commenced operations in 2001 and is the sole rail service connecting the Brisbane Airport to the Brisbane CBD, the wider Queensland Rail passenger rail network and the Gold Coast. In the 12 months to 30 June 2012, there were 1.76 million passenger trips on the Airtrain.

About USS
USS was established in 1974 as the principal final salary pension scheme for universities and higher education institutions in the UK. It is the 2nd largest UK pension scheme with assets of £36bn as at 31 December 2012.

About USSIM
USSIM is a wholly owned subsidiary of USS and has been appointed as USS’s principal investment manager and advisor. It currently employs 76 investment professionals and has approximately £36 billion of assets under management and advice as of the 31st December 2012.

USSIM has a dedicated Infrastructure team that currently manages approximately £1 billion in infrastructure assets on behalf of USS with a mandate to invest up to 7% of USS’s assets in infrastructure over the medium term.

About CP2
CP2 is a specialist infrastructure investment manager with offices in Sydney and London. It has over A$2.6 billion of funds under management in core infrastructure assets that provide secure, stable, inflation protected cash flows over the long term.

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Caribbean Property Group and affiliates of Perella Weinberg Partners’ Asset Based Value Strategy, have completed the acquisition of a portfolio of non-performing commercial and constructions loans, and commercial and single-family real estate from Banco Popular de Puerto Rico. The portfolio has a combined unpaid principal balance on loans and appraised value of other real estate owned of approximately $995 million and a book value of approximately $540 million.

PRESS RELEASE

Caribbean Property Group, one of the leading real estate investors and asset managers in the Caribbean and Central America, and affiliates of Perella Weinberg Partners’ Asset Based Value Strategy, today announced that they have completed the acquisition of a portfolio of non-performing commercial and constructions loans, and commercial and single-family real estate from Banco Popular de Puerto Rico (“Banco Popular”). The portfolio has a combined unpaid principal balance on loans and appraised value of other real estate owned of approximately $995 million and a book value of approximately $540 million.

Caribbean Property Group and affiliates of Perella Weinberg Partners’ Asset Based Value Strategy purchased the portfolio as part of a joint venture between the firms. This is the third transaction completed between the parties.

Under the terms of the transaction, Banco Popular will provide an advance facility of approximately $35 million. The facility will cover cost-to-complete amounts and expenses of certain projects. Banco Popular will also provide approximately $30 million in the form of a working capital line to fund certain operating expenses of the asset-owning Borrower. Additionally, Banco Popular will receive approximately $99 million in cash, a note for approximately $182 million as seller financing and a 24.9% equity interest in the Borrower.

David Schiff, Partner at Perella Weinberg Partners and Portfolio Manager of the Asset Based Value Strategy, stated, “Identifying value-driven investment opportunities is a critical focus of the Asset Based Value Strategy. We are delighted to partner with Caribbean Property Group, which shares our approach to investing in compelling real estate opportunities in Puerto Rico and the Caribbean.”

Mark Lipschutz, Partner and CEO of Caribbean Property Group, stated, “This was a very complex deal involving over 2,000 non-performing loans and just under 1,000 REO properties. We couldn’t have completed the transaction within the required time frame without the great working relationship we enjoy with both Perella Weinberg Partners’ Asset Based Value Strategy and Banco Popular. This transaction evidences that our commitment to Puerto Rico remains as strong as ever.”

About Perella Weinberg Partners’ Asset Based Value Strategy:
Perella Weinberg Partners’ Asset Based Value Strategy is a leading post-financial crisis provider of U.S. specialty finance solutions. Since inception in 2008, the Strategy has grown to manage in excess of $2.1 billion in equity capital through a number of different investment vehicles. Perella Weinberg Partners’ Asset Based Value Strategy can deliver significant capital, technical expertise and infrastructure in a wide range of asset classes and structures, including both real and financial assets. Capital for the Strategy is contributed by, among others, a diversified group of institutional investors who seek to invest in compelling opportunities at favorable valuations.

About Perella Weinberg Partners:
Perella Weinberg Partners is a leading independent, client-focused financial services firm providing advisory and asset management services to a broad, global client base, including corporations, institutions and governments. The Advisory business advises clients on mergers, acquisitions, defense advisory, financial restructuring, private capital raising, and pension matters. The Asset Management business includes a suite of hedge fund strategies, private investment funds (including real estate) and outsourced CIO solutions. Together with its affiliates, the Asset Management business has capital commitments and managed assets of approximately $8.6 billion. With more than 400 employees, Perella Weinberg Partners maintains offices in New York, London, Abu Dhabi, Austin, Beijing, Denver, Dubai, and San Francisco.

About Caribbean Property Group
Caribbean Property Group is one of the leading real estate investors, and asset managers in the Caribbean and Central America. Since its founding in 1998, CPG has acquired, developed, or redeveloped approximately $2.2 billion of real estate assets in the Caribbean and Central America. The firm maintains offices in New York City, West Palm Beach and San Juan, Puerto Rico.

Perella Weinberg Partners Media Contacts
Kara Findlay
Perella Weinberg Partners
212-287-3197

Renée Soto/Marisa Bricca
Sard Verbinnen & Co
212-687-8080

Caribbean Property Group Media Contact
Barry Breeman
212-479-6812

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Social Finance has secured a $60 million warehouse line from Morgan Stanley. The facility gives SoFi increased capacity to further expand its successful community-based lending model.

PRESS RELEASE

Social Finance, Inc., the private student lender, announced today that it has secured a $60 million warehouse line from Morgan Stanley (NYSE: MS). The facility gives SoFi increased capacity to further expand its successful community-based lending model.

SoFi has transformed student lending by connecting investors and borrowers via school-specific lending funds that yield compelling financial returns while lowering the cost of student debt. Since launching publicly in April 2012, SoFi has seen exceptional traction, having funded $90 million in loans and received interest from potential borrowers for an additional $250 million in loans.

“This financing represents a significant milestone for SoFi.” stated Mike Cagney, Chief Executive Officer, SoFi. “The quality of our borrowers and rigorous underwriting criteria attracted the support of a world-class financial partner in Morgan Stanley. This credit facility supports our plans for ambitious growth and allows us to have a greater impact on the student loan market.”

This announcement comes two weeks after Sallie Mae (Nasdaq: SLM), the largest U.S. student lender, sold $1.1 billion of securities backed by private student loans, according to the Wall Street Journal. The popularity of this sale demonstrated investor interest in student loan credit.

“SoFi’s student loan assets reflect the highest quality unsecured lending assets available,“ said Cagney. “By adding more responsible underwriting and a community-based social contract between borrower and investor, our private education loans are a significantly more attractive investment.”

About SoFi

SoFi is transforming the $1 trillion student loan market. By connecting accredited alumni investors with students and recent graduates through school-specific loan funds, investors can earn a compelling risk-adjusted return while helping borrowers reduce the cost of their loans. Founded in 2011 by a team of Stanford Graduate School of Business alumni, SoFi has funded over $90 million in new and refinanced student loans to students and alumni of 78 schools.
About Morgan Stanley

Morgan Stanley [NYSE: MS] is a leading global financial services firm providing a wide range of investment banking, securities, investment management and wealth management services. The Firm’s employees serve clients worldwide including corporations, governments, institutions and individuals from more than 1,200 offices in 43 countries. Since 2006, Morgan Stanley has executed more than $5 billion in investments to strengthen underserved communities.

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Fenwick & West’s annual seed financing study found that the Series A crunch has worsened. The survey found that 45% of companies receiving seed funding in 2010 raised a Series A funding by the end of 2011. But only 27% of companies receiving seed funding in 2011 had raised a Series A funding by the end of 2012. What’s more, nearly a quarter of companies funded in 2011 raised follow-on seed financing compared with just 12% the year before.

PRESS RELEASE

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Juniper Networks has completed an investment in iStreamPlanet‘s Series A funding, which was led by Intel Capital. The investment will be funded by Juniper Networks’ Junos Innovation Fund. iStreamPlanet plans to use the proceeds from its financing to accelerate the development of its live video streaming solutions.

PRESS RELEASE

iStreamPlanet, the leader in live streaming video solutions, announced today that Juniper Networks has completed a strategic investment in iStreamPlanet’s Series A funding, which was led by Intel® Capital. The investment will be funded by Juniper Networks’ Junos® Innovation Fund. iStreamPlanet plans to use the proceeds from its Series A financing to accelerate the development of its live video streaming solutions, including Aventus®, a cloud-based, live video workflow platform designed to address the challenges of streaming live events and live linear channels online to multiple platforms and devices. One of the key advantages of Aventus is its ability to move the live video workflow from today’s hardware-dependent infrastructure to a software- and cloud-based infrastructure.
The relationship combines iStreamPlanet’s innovations and experience in providing scalable and cost-effective live video workflow solutions with Juniper’s industry-leading networking and caching technology to provide a reliable, secure, and high-performance platform for content providers. The two companies have worked closely in the past to deliver complex, live video workflows for major live events, including the 2012 London Games.
“We are developing and bringing to market a next-generation automated video workflow platform, which will help content holders and distributors keep pace with the growing demand for live streaming video and accelerate new business opportunities for broadcasters of all sizes,” said Mio Babic, CEO of iStreamPlanet. “Juniper Networks’ commitment to innovation in networking and caching in the cloud closely aligns with our vision and customer demand, and we are excited to be working with them and leveraging their expertise in this area.”
“Live streaming media is one of the most demanding networking and caching scenarios, and one of the fastest areas of growth and opportunity,” said Robert Krohn, vice president and general manager, Edge Software Business Unit, Juniper Networks. “Keeping up with customer demand will require solutions with new levels of scalability and automation, and iStreamPlanet and Juniper Networks are now on a fast track to bring this type of solution to market.”
The Junos Innovation Fund is a venture capital fund, launched in 2010 and backed solely by Juniper Networks, that invests in leading early- and growth-stage technology companies that expand and enhance the Junos ecosystem.
About iStreamPlanet
iStreamPlanet is a premier, multiplatform video-workflow solutions provider committed to bringing high-quality streaming video experiences to connected audiences around the world. With more than a decade of live streaming video experience, iStreamPlanet has built a comprehensive offering of cloud-based video-workflow products and services for live event and live linear streaming channels. iStreamPlanet’s innovative approach has been chosen by the world’s leading sports, entertainment, and technology brands including NBC, Turner Broadcasting, Notre Dame Athletics, AT&T, Pac-12 and Microsoft. Founded in 2000, the privately held company is headquartered in Las Vegas with offices in Redmond, Wash., and London.

All trademarks and registered trademarks mentioned herein are the property of their respective owners.
Contact Information
iStreamPlanet Contact:
Robin Cole
VP, Product and Services
Tel: +1 702 492 5955
Email: [email protected]

Agency Contact:
Peggy Blaze
Wall Street Communications
Tel: +1 818 357 3693
Email: [email protected]

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Earlier this month, venture capitalist Tim Draper announced he was launching “Draper University,” a boarding school for entrepreneurs aged 18 to 26, who will come to San Mateo for one of the school’s four eight-week-long sessions each year. Now, Draper University has announced a Heidi Roizen scholarship for female applicants. Roizen, a longtime venture capitalist and former Stanford classmate of Draper, will fund the scholarships. The “university” opens its doors April 17.

PRESS RELEASE:

Draper University, a boarding school for aspiring entrepreneurs from around the world, today announced a Heidi Roizen scholarship for young women entrepreneurs. Roizen, a renowned Silicon Valley executive, venture capitalist and entrepreneur, is funding the scholarships with the intent of inspiring the next generation of women-led startups. For the upcoming summer and fall sessions, with the aid of Roizen, Draper University will select one exemplary recipient to attend their program.

“Draper University is honored to have Heidi’s support. I have been fortunate enough to work with Heidi on many projects and am excited to have her support in disrupting education,” said Tim Draper, founder and managing director at Draper Fisher Jurvetson and founder of Draper University. “Draper University knows the Heidi Roizen scholarship recipients will go out and change the world.”

Roizen has spent her life immersed in the Silicon Valley ecosystem- as an entrepreneur, corporate executive, venture capitalist, educator and member of the boards of directors of private and public companies, trade associations and nonprofit institutions. She is a member of the Board of Advisors of the National Center for Women in Information Technology, a frequent guest speaker at business schools across the country, and is the subject of case studies authored by both the Harvard and Stanford Business Schools. Roizen has been named to numerous ‘top’ lists, including the “Top 50 Women in Tech” by Corporate Board Member Magazine. In September 2008, she was named the Forum for Women Entrepreneurs and Executives 2008 Annual Achievement Award Recipient.

“I have always had a great time working with Tim Draper on numerous entrepreneurial adventures, including the company we started together as twenty-something year olds. I think what he and his team are doing at Draper University is exceptional, and I want to help expose more great women entrepreneurs to the opportunity. A scholarship seemed a natural way to make that happen,” said Roizen.

To apply for the Heidi Roizen scholarship, please visit: http://draperuniversity.com/apply/scholarships/

About Draper University:
Draper University is a boarding school for young entrepreneurs from all over the world. The innovative curriculum is designed to inspire, cultivate, and educate students who dream to build companies that change the world around them. Draper University offers four sessions a year and is intended for entrepreneurs between the ages of 18 to 26. The program teaches startup fundamentals combined with personal mentoring and fun, experiential activities, which include a steady stream of events connecting students with the entrepreneurial world of Silicon Valley. Each student will create a business, or refine their existing business, over the duration of the program, which culminates with a business pitch competition to a panel of venture capitalists, where students have the opportunity to obtain funding for their business.

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