Author: Staff

OneHealth Solutions Inc. has raised $9 million in Series B financing. The Solana Beach, Calif.-based company will use the new funds for sales and marketing expansion. Lemhi Ventures led the round. OneHealth uses game mechanics, social networking, peer support communities and clinical protocols to help people achieve health goals.

PRESS RELEASE
OneHealth® Solutions, Inc., the leading behavior change platform company improving health outcomes and the cost of care for patients, providers, payers and employers, today announced the successful closing of a $9 million series B funding round.

The company will use the new funds for sales and marketing expansion to capitalize on its current business opportunities and expand the platform to support more of the total medical and behavioral spend related to chronic conditions that drive the largest costs to the health system. To date, the company has raised a total of $16 million in equity capital.

The round was led by existing investor Lemhi Ventures, a venture capital firm specializing in healthcare services companies that use innovative products to drive disruptive change in the delivery of healthcare.

OneHealth uses a series of game mechanics, social networking, peer support communities and clinical protocols to engage and empower participants to achieve health goals related to modifiable risks, behavioral health and chronic disease. The private, HIPAA-compliant Social Solutioning® platform provides support for a wide range of chronic behavioral and medical conditions, and includes access to peer health coaches, community managers, expert discussions and live online meetings to drive positive behavior change.

Jodi Hubler, Managing Director at Lemhi Ventures and Chairperson of OneHealth commented, “Integrating behavioral and medical chronic conditions into a single technology-enabled service platform where patients can manage the multiple conditions that affect their own health has proven to drive significant benefit to the health system. OneHealth is solidifying their leadership position in this rapidly emerging market, and Lemhi is committed to OneHealth’s goals of reducing the costs of healthcare in terms of operational and medical savings.”

Added Bruce Springer, CEO of OneHealth, “This additional capital investment by our existing investor team is an exceptional vote of confidence in OneHealth. The company has benefited significantly from their insight in building healthcare technology companies, and we look forward to continuing to lead the market adoption of behavior change solutions. This latest round of funding will allow us to move rapidly to continue expanding the platform to support additional chronic medical conditions, accelerate revenue growth in our core business, enhance the support for our channel partners and take advantage of new market opportunities.”

Numerous leading U.S. health plans, employers, and provider organizations, including Aetna, Magellan, Memorial Hermann, Amerigroup, Safeway and Carlson are using OneHealth’s integrated behavior change platform to engage and empower thousands of people to make healthier decisions.

About OneHealth Solutions, Inc.

OneHealth is the leading behavior change platform for the healthcare industry via a technology-enabled services model that lowers the costs of care management and provides greater outcomes for chronic patient populations. Our web and mobile-based Social Solutioning® program influences positive behavior to improve health and deliver measurable value through a patented combination of social-networking technology, evidence-based clinical principles and engaging game mechanics.

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Revance Therapeutics Inc., a specialty biopharmaceutical company, has raised raised $33 million of its Series E growth financing, the company announced Tuesday. In addition, Revance announced the conversion of $71 million in convertible debt into the Series E preferred stock. Money will go toward clinical trials as well as other growth efforts. Revance’s investors include Essex Woodlands, NovaQuest Pharma Opportunities Fund, Delphi Ventures, Vivo Ventures, Technology Partners, Shepherd Ventures, Bio*One Capital and Pac-Link Ventures, and Palo Alto Fund.

PRESS RELEASE
Revance Therapeutics, Inc. (Revance), a privately held specialty biopharmaceutical company developing novel botulinum toxin products for use in aesthetic and therapeutic indications, today announced that it has raised $33 million of its Series E growth financing. In addition, Revance announced the conversion of $71 million in convertible debt into the Series E preferred stock. This closing of the financing included significant investment from new investors as well as participation from existing institutional investors.

The proceeds of the financing will be used to support US Phase 3 trials for the topical delivery of botulinum toxin type A to reduce the severity of crow’s feet wrinkles, as well as to support other neuromodulation clinical studies.

“We are pleased to welcome new shareholders to Revance as we continue our lead Phase 3 program, and are grateful for the ongoing support from our existing investors,” said Dan Browne, President and Chief Executive Officer of Revance. “We plan to utilize these funds to further expand our clinical trials that are underway and advance the development of our product candidates, RT001 and RT002.”

Revance’s investors include Essex Woodlands, NovaQuest Pharma Opportunities Fund, Delphi Ventures, Vivo Ventures, Technology Partners, Shepherd Ventures, Bio*One Capital and Pac-Link Ventures, Palo Alto Fund and other leading institutional investors.

About RT001 and RT002

RT001 Botulinum Toxin Type A Topical Gel is an investigational product currently in US Phase 3 trials for the topical delivery of botulinum toxin type A to reduce the severity of crow’s feet wrinkles by temporarily relaxing the orbicularis oculi muscle around the eyes. RT001 is also currently in Phase 2 trials for the topical treatment of hyperhidrosis (excessive sweating), and chronic migraine headache.

RT002 is an investigational, injectable neurotoxin that integrates Revance’s proprietary, purified botulinum toxin type A molecule with the patented TransMTS® peptide technology. RT002 is currently in Phase 1/2 trials.

About Revance Therapeutics, Inc.

Revance Therapeutics, Inc. (Revance) is a specialty biopharmaceutical company which develops botulinum toxin products for use in aesthetic and therapeutic indications. Revance has developed a platform technology, TransMTS®, that enables local, targeted delivery of botulinum toxin and other potent macromolecules across skin without patches, needles or other invasive procedures.

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Pittsburgh-based Aquion Energy Inc., maker of “Aqueous Hybrid Ion” batteries and energy storage systems, has completed the first closing of a $35 million Series D financing round. Bright Capital is leading the round with participation from new investors Bill Gates and Gentry Venture Partners as well as returning investors Kleiner Perkins Caufield & Byers, Foundation Capital, and Advanced Technology Ventures.

PRESS RELEASE
Aquion Energy, Inc., a developer and manufacturer of Aqueous Hybrid Ion (AHI) batteries and energy storage systems, today announced it has completed the first closing of a $35 million Series D financing round. Bright Capital is leading the round with participation from new investors Bill Gates and Gentry Venture Partners as well as returning investors Kleiner Perkins Caufield & Byers, Foundation Capital, and Advanced Technology Ventures.

“Aquion has demonstrated the viability and potential disruptiveness of its novel energy storage technology. We expect Aquion’s products to be a key enabler for the emerging energy storage industry that many experts predict will grow exponentially in the next decade”

Specifically developed for the demanding requirements of both small and large-scale stationary energy storage applications, Aquion’s products and solutions offer a unique and compelling combination of high performance, low cost, operational safety, and sustainability. The Company will be delivering initial, pre-production units to selected lead customers and partners throughout 2013 and will begin shipping production units from its high-volume manufacturing plant in Pennsylvania at the end of this year.

“Aquion has demonstrated the viability and potential disruptiveness of its novel energy storage technology. We expect Aquion’s products to be a key enabler for the emerging energy storage industry that many experts predict will grow exponentially in the next decade,” said Mikhail Chuchkevich, Managing Director of Bright Capital. “We are delighted to join the Aquion team and to support the Company in further developing and globally scaling the business.”

Scott Pearson, CEO of Aquion commented, “We are very pleased to have attracted such a strong set of new investors to complement our existing backers. This group will provide critical operational and financial support to the Company. The Aquion team is very excited about launching our initial storage products later this year and beginning to ramp the business in 2014 and beyond.”

About Aquion Energy
Aquion Energy, Inc. develops and manufactures Aqueous Hybrid Ion (AHI) batteries and battery systems for stationary energy storage applications. The batteries are optimized for off-grid and micro-grid systems, commercial and industrial energy storage, and grid scale applications. Aquion’s batteries are safe, reliable, sustainable and cost-effective. The combination of these attributes yields a product that provides industry leading delivered value for customers. Aquion’s battery systems provide flexible, emissions-free capacity that optimizes existing generation assets and enables broad adoption of renewable energy technologies such as wind and solar. Founded in 2008 and headquartered in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, Aquion’s proprietary aqueous hybrid ion chemistry is based on the research of Carnegie Mellon University Professor Jay Whitacre. For more information please visit www.aquionenergy.com.

About Bright Capital
Bright Capital is an independent venture capital firm that invests globally in a wide range of promising companies. Its investments are made across multiple product types in energy and resource efficiency, clean technology, industrial biotech. The firm works as a merchant venturing entity in a multi-corporate model, building bridges between USA, Russia & CIS, Middle East and South Eastern Asia. In addition to financial investments and managerial expertise, Bright Capital provides its portfolio companies with direct access to the markets of Russia and CIS through its network of connections to industrial companies. Bright Capital strategically co-invests with top-tier venture funds and corporate partners. For more information please visit www.bright-capital.com.

About Gentry Venture Partners
Gentry Venture Partners is a specialized venture firm that leads or co-invests with some of the world’s premiere venture capital groups in mid and late-stage financing for pre-IPO companies. Gentry Venture Partners is active in Clean Technology, Energy, Next Generation Fossil Fuels, and Information Technology. Since its inception in 2006, Gentry Venture Partners has invested in companies that have created a range of disruptive products and services to address existing markets. Distinguished by the extensive business experience of their partners, and their strong network of syndicate groups, Gentry Venture Partners provides broad services to its portfolio companies. For more information please visit www.gentryvp.com.

About Kleiner Perkins
Since its founding in 1972, Kleiner Perkins Caufield & Byers has backed entrepreneurs in over 500 ventures, including AOL, Amazon.com, Citrix, Compaq Computer, Electronic Arts, Genentech, Genomic Health, Google, Intuit, Juniper Networks, Netscape, Lotus, Sun Microsystems, Symantec, Verisign and Xilinx. KPCB portfolio companies employ more than 250,000 people. More than 150 of the firm’s portfolio companies have gone public. Many other ventures have achieved success through mergers and acquisitions. The firm has offices in Menlo Park, California; Beijing, China; and Shanghai, China. For additional information please visit www.kpcb.com.

About Foundation Capital
At Foundation Capital, we’re dedicated to the proposition that one entrepreneur’s idea, with the right support, can become a business that changes the world. We helped Atheros create the mobile Internet, EnerNOC invent the energy demand response market, and Netflix revolutionize media distribution and consumption, among many others. We’re currently invested in more than 70 high growth ventures in the areas of consumer, information technology, software, semiconductors, and clean technology. Recent public offerings of companies we helped found or grow include Reponsys, Financial Engines and Envestnet. For more information please visit www.foundationcapital.com.

About Advanced Technology Ventures
ATV is a bi-coastal venture capital firm with more than $1.6 billion in capital under management. ATV works closely with entrepreneurial teams in several technology markets, including cleantech, biotechnology, medical devices, communications, IT infrastructure, and software and services, to build strong, sustainable business enterprises. For more information, visit ATV’s web site at www.atvcapital.com.

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Mary Schapiro, the former chairman of the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, has joined Promontory Financial Group as a managing director and chairman of its governance and markets practice. Schapiro was SEC chairman from 2009 to 2012. Promontory is based in Washington, D.C.

PRESS RELEASE
Mary Schapiro, the former chairman of the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, has joined Promontory Financial Group as a managing director and chairman of its governance and markets practice, the firm announced today. Promontory is a strategy, risk-management, regulatory, and compliance consulting firm that serves clients worldwide, including many of the largest banks and other financial services companies.

Ms. Schapiro was SEC chairman from 2009 to 2012. She was the first woman to serve as SEC chairman and the only person to have served as chairman of both the SEC and the Commodity Futures Trading Commission. Ms. Schapiro presided over one of the busiest rule-making agendas in the SEC’s history. During her tenure the agency also brought a record number of enforcement actions and executed a comprehensive restructuring program to improve protection for investors.

“Mary is an outstanding advocate for investors and was a strong and decisive regulator during one of the most volatile periods in our financial history,” said Promontory Founder and CEO Eugene A. Ludwig. “Her profound understanding of the U.S. and global financial markets, decades of regulatory leadership, and deeply relevant perspective and insight will add to our already significant involvement in capital markets, hedge fund and private equity advisory and compliance services. We are thrilled that Mary has chosen to join us at Promontory.”

“The risk environment for firms in today’s global markets is increasingly complex,” Ms. Schapiro said. “Managing those risks while balancing the interests of the many constituencies of a modern corporation challenges practices of corporate governance, regulatory policy and market behavior. While regulators are charged with policy making in these areas, the private sector – especially investors – has the largest stake. At Promontory I join a team of highly experienced professionals who work with clients to meet regulatory and investor expectations while advancing the evolving norms for corporate governance and regulatory compliance. This is important not only to companies, but also to our markets and to global prosperity. I look forward to working with my new colleagues and with our clients.”

In her practice at Promontory, Ms. Schapiro will work with clients to ensure that the quality of corporate governance is commensurate with the demands of running modern public companies. She will also advise clients on risk management, drawing on insights and understanding gleaned from her deep regulatory experience as well as on her service on boards of directors of major American corporations.

Ms. Schapiro will be based in Promontory’s Washington, D.C., office.

Mary Schapiro Biography

Ms. Schapiro was chairman of the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission from January 2009 until December 2012. Prior to becoming SEC chairman, Ms. Schapiro served from 2007 to 2008 as the CEO of the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA), the largest non-governmental regulator for securities firms doing business with the U.S. public. She spent over a decade at FINRA and one of its predecessors, the National Association of Securities Dealers (NASD). She became president of NASD Regulation in 1996 and was named vice chairman in 2002. In 2006, prior to NASD’s consolidation into FINRA, she was NASD’s chairman and CEO.

Previously, Ms. Schapiro served as chairman of the Commodity Futures Trading Commission from 1994 to 1996. She served as a commissioner of the SEC from 1988 to 1994 and as acting chairman from 1993 to 1994. Earlier in her career, she was general counsel and senior vice president for the Futures Industry Association from 1984 to 1988 after serving as counsel and executive assistant to the CFTC’s Chairman from 1981 to 1984. Ms. Schapiro began her career at the CFTC in 1980 as a trial attorney in the manipulation and trade practice investigations unit of the enforcement division.

Ms. Schapiro has been nominated as a director of General Electric and is a former director of Kraft Foods and Duke Energy. She earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in Anthropology from Franklin & Marshall College, where she serves on the board of trustees, and a Juris Doctor degree from George Washington University.

About Promontory

Promontory Financial Group, headquartered in Washington, D.C., is a global consulting firm whose clients include many of the world’s largest financial services companies. The firm specializes in solving regulatory, risk, controls, compliance, governance, capital, and liquidity issues. Promontory has offices in New York, San Francisco, Atlanta, and Denver, and affiliate offices in Brussels, Dubai, Hong Kong, London, Milan, Paris, Singapore, Sydney, Tokyo, and Toronto. Eugene A. Ludwig, who served as U.S. Comptroller of the Currency under President Clinton, founded Promontory in 2001.

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Denver-based UrgentRx, which is developing over-the-counter flavored powder medications, recently added an additional $2.5 million in Series B funding. The funding brings the company’s total funding to date to more than $7 million. The round was led by current investors JUMP Investors and Boulevard Capital Partners. New investors include Sam Zell; David Bonderman, founder of private equity giant Texas Pacific Group; real estate magnate Herb Simon; and Academy Award-winning actress Hilary Swank.

PRESS RELEASE
UrgentRx®, developer of fast-acting over-the-counter flavored powder medications, today announced that the company has closed an additional $2.5 million in Series B funding, led by current investors as well as attracting new capital. The additional funding brings the company’s total funding to date to more than $7 million.

“This additional funding will allow UrgentRx to accelerate efforts to reach consumers and support our retail partners as we expand into more and more markets.”

The round was led by current investors JUMP Investors and Boulevard Capital Partners. New investors in the round include billionaires Sam Zell (Chicago financier and real estate developer), David Bonderman (founder of private equity giant Texas Pacific Group) and Herb Simon (real estate magnate and founder of Simon Properties), along with two-time Academy Award-winning actress Hilary Swank.

Since closing the initial Series B financing six months ago, UrgentRx has expanded its retail presence into more than 2,500 stores nationwide, including Walgreens-owned Duane Reade, as well as several national retail chains. The company anticipates retail expansion to more than 20,000 to 25,000 locations by Q4 2013.

After raising $3 million in mid 2012, the company reopened the round due to accelerated momentum at retail. The additional funds will be primarily used to build inventory, produce innovative point-of-sale merchandising, and fund marketing for the national launch.

“We’ve had tremendous success working closely with Duane Reade and other retailers to create game-changing merchandising systems that take advantage of unused space, turn heads and entice consumers to reach out and grab our products,” said Jordan Eisenberg, president and founder of Denver-based UrgentRx. “This additional funding will allow UrgentRx to accelerate efforts to reach consumers and support our retail partners as we expand into more and more markets.”

The company’s flagship product, UrgentRx Critical Care Aspirin to Go™, was designed specifically to help increase the chance of heart attack survival when taken at the first signs of heart attack symptoms. Since its introduction, UrgentRx Critical Care Aspirin to Go has been credited with helping to save the lives of more than 10 people who took the 325mg dose of UrgentRx aspirin at the first signs of heart attack. Today the company’s portfolio of products includes Critical Care Aspirin to Go, Allergy Attack Relief to Go™, Headache Relief to Go™, Heartburn Relief to Go™, Upset Stomach Relief to Go™ and Ache & Pain Relief to Go™. UrgentRx Fast Powders come in a convenient, credit-card-sized package containing a single dose of flavored powder medicine that can be taken without liquid for today’s busy, “on-the-go” consumers.

About UrgentRx

UrgentRx is a line of fast-acting, portable OTC medications providing right now relief for today’s busy, “on-the-go” consumer. UrgentRx Fast Powders come in an innovative, fast-acting flavored powder format available in convenient, single-dose, credit-card-sized packets for easier portability and accessibility. The flavored powders can be taken without water, providing immediate relief whenever and wherever needed. Initially developed for heart attack victims, UrgentRx currently produces medications for everyday ailments such as allergy attacks, headaches, aches and pains, heartburn, and upset stomach. Based in Denver, Colorado, UrgentRx was founded by entrepreneur Jordan Eisenberg in 2010.

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Updata Partners led a $10.5 million Series A round for social shopper media startup Collective Bias. The company will use the money to expand its content management platform, as well as expand its staff.

PRESS RELEASE
Collective Bias®, the leader in social shopper media, announced today the completion of a Series A investment round led by Updata Partners for $10.5 million.

“This investment round provides Collective Bias with runway to extend our four year leadership role in this new media category. We will employ these dollars to robustly enhance our Social Fabric® content management platform, enter new markets and grow our team.”

The company concluded 2012 with its third consecutive year of triple-digit growth, along with validation from major Fortune 500 companies. This funding round represents the opportunity to accelerate key business initiatives including expansion to international markets.

“We believe that social shopper marketing is the evolution of shopper media, and supplants tired traditional media like FSI’s, retail circulars and digital display advertising,” said John Andrews, co-founder and CEO of Collective Bias. “This investment round provides Collective Bias with runway to extend our four year leadership role in this new media category. We will employ these dollars to robustly enhance our Social Fabric® content management platform, enter new markets and grow our team.”

With Technorati’s 2013 Digital Influence Report indicating that “consumers are turning to blogs when looking to make a purchase,” Collective Bias continues to grow on the insight of Andrews and co-founder Amy Callahan that advertisers could create greater engagement with their shoppers through the channels in which they engage today – be it Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest or a simple, pre-shop search.

“Harnessing the power of social media to drive brand recognition, loyalty and sales are C-level priorities for consumer-focused companies, and Collective Bias has a record of delivering impressive results for its customers,” said Jon Seeber of Updata Partners. James Socas, a general partner at Updata Partners, added, “Collective Bias’ combination of shopper marketing expertise and brand and retail experience are a powerful combination in the new era of marketing, and we look forward to helping them drive even more value and growth.”

Collective Bias operates Social Fabric®, a proprietary community of over 1,400 shopping-focused influencers, blending members’ shopping experience and product usage through engaging stories that are published online and shared with like-minded friends and followers. With an aggregate multichannel reach of more than 50 million, the Social Fabric community represents a true extension of the Collective Bias team, providing continuous, valuable feedback that has redefined the relationship between brands, retail clients and consumers.

The financing process was facilitated by Gridley & Company, LLC, a New York-based boutique investment bank that provides financial advisory services to companies in the digital and information services industries.

About Collective Bias

Based in Bentonville, Arkansas, Collective Bias is a social shopper media company that weaves organic social content into engaging, real-life stories to create millions of impressions leading to increased share of voice, SEO, and ultimately sales for brands and retailers such as Tyson, Nestle and Smart & Final. The company has satellite offices in New York City, Chicago, Minneapolis, San Francisco, Toronto and London. Collective Bias was named one of America’s Most Promising Companies in 2013 by Forbes.

Social Fabric® is a proprietary community consisting of approximately 1,400 shopping-focused influencers with an aggregate multichannel reach in excess of 50 million. All rights reserved.

For more information, please visit Collectivebias.com or find us on Facebook and Twitter.

About Updata Partners

Updata Partners is a leading technology-focused growth equity firm with nearly $500 million of capital under management. Updata invests in high-growth technology-enabled services, software, and Internet companies with innovative intellectual property and market-leading solutions. Led by an investment team averaging more than 20 years of experience in the technology industry, Updata seeks investments where the combination of the firm’s financial backing and the operating expertise of its partners will accelerate growth.

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Indoor Atlas Ltd., which is developing technology that utilizes magnetic anomalies inside buildings and smartphones in order to accurately pinpoint positions indoors., recently closed a 500,000 euro ($642,000) seed round. Mobility Ventures participated in the round. The Finland-based startup was founded in 2012 as a spin-off from the University of Oulu, Finland.

PRESS RELEASE
Mobility Ventures, a leading global venture capital firm in wireless, today announced an investment in a new disruptive indoor positioning and mapping technology company called Indoor Atlas Ltd. which is the world’s first company to utilize magnetic anomalies inside buildings and smartphones to accurately pinpoint positions indoors. The Finland-based startup was founded in 2012 as a spin-off from the University of Oulu, Finland.

“In the area of indoor navigation, Indoor Atlas has developed a sustainable competitive technical advantage based on unique technology. Leveraging from this, Indoor Atlas is in a strong position to establish a leadership position in the emerging market of mobile indoor positioning and navigation”

“Indoor positioning is the next frontier for location-based services, offering a plethora of diverse applications and the ability of providing rich contextual information about people and objects that can prove to be very valuable when combined with ‘big data’ kinds of analytics presenting enticing advertising and branding possibilities which could revolutionize retail marketing,” says Roman Kikta, Managing Partner, Mobility Ventures. “Our investment in Indoor Atlas represents our strategic commitment to identifying and investing in disruptive innovations which empower today’s digital lifestyles.”

“With the rapidly growing location-based services market, more and more companies are interested in integrating indoor positioning and navigation capabilities into their products,” states David Sym-Smith, Partner, Mobility Ventures. “Apart from by improving the ability to analyze customer behavior and influence it with quick calls to action to increase sales, universities could allow students to chart classrooms, hospitals could streamline the movement of patients, and organizations & governments can track movement of people for convenience and safety purposes.”

Indoor Atlas’ Founder & CEO Dr. Janne Haverinen, Ph.D., states, “Moving consumers from point A to point B can be a challenge in itself as GPS requires satellite line of sight and doesn’t work indoors. Indoor Atlas employs the smartphone’s built-in magnetic field sensor; magnetic signatures are collected inside buildings. These signatures displayed unique patterns which Indoor Atlas analyzes resulting in an indoor navigation positioning and navigation solution that radically improves navigation capabilities in environments where GPS and Wi-Fi systems are unavailable.” For more information visit: www.indooratlas.com

“In the area of indoor navigation, Indoor Atlas has developed a sustainable competitive technical advantage based on unique technology. Leveraging from this, Indoor Atlas is in a strong position to establish a leadership position in the emerging market of mobile indoor positioning and navigation,” states Lothar Pauly, Managing Partner-Europe, Mobility Ventures.

About Mobility Ventures

Mobility Ventures is a leading wireless venture capital firm with a global team possessing an unparalleled combination of domain focus, technical & market expertise, global operational and venture investment experiences to identify, invest and help build industry dominating companies. Mobility Ventures focuses on companies across the wireless ecosystem and provides both investment capital and critical strategic management support needed for business and financial success.

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Dallas-based private investment firm Brazos Private Equity Partners has put an undisclosed amount of money into European Wax Center, a provider of facial and body wax treatment services. Princeton Ventures, a private investment firm based in Princeton, NJ, invested alongside Brazos.

PRESS RELEASE
Brazos Private Equity Partners, LLC, a leading Dallas-based private investment firm, announced today an investment in European Wax Center (“EWC” or the “Company”), the leading provider of facial and body wax treatment services through its network of franchise stores. Financial terms of the transaction were not disclosed. Existing management, led by co-founders David and Josh Coba, who serve as CEO and COO, respectively, will continue to run the Company and will retain a significant equity stake in the business. Princeton Ventures, a private investment firm based in Princeton, NJ, invested alongside Brazos in this transaction.

“The investment in EWC is an exciting opportunity for Brazos to invest in a category-leading consumer company with a strong business model and exceptional growth potential”

Based in Hallandale, FL, EWC provides facial and body waxing services and related cosmetic and beauty products through its franchise network of more than 250 stores. EWC has become one of the fastest growing franchise concepts in the United States by developing proprietary wax and a waxing process that it believes is more comfortable and provides better results than competing hair removal service offerings.

“The investment in EWC is an exciting opportunity for Brazos to invest in a category-leading consumer company with a strong business model and exceptional growth potential,” said Jeff Fronterhouse, Co-Chief Executive Officer and Co-Founding Partner of Brazos. “We look forward to working closely with the Coba family and other members of management to help EWC continue to execute its growth plan.”

“I am tremendously excited about EWC’s future, and our new partnership with Brazos will be an extraordinary step in EWC’s development,” said David Coba. “My family has developed EWC into a market-leading company and we look forward to leveraging Brazos’s expertise and network of relationships as we look to further grow our business.”

About European Wax Center

European Wax Center, headquartered in Hallandale, Florida, is the industry leading franchisor serving the growing health & wellness and personal care consumer categories by providing facial and body wax treatment services and related products in franchised stores. With over 250 stores open across 31 states, EWC is one of the fastest growing franchise concepts in the United States.

About Brazos Private Equity Partners, LLC

Brazos Private Equity Partners is a Dallas-based private equity firm that manages approximately $1.4 billion of equity capital. Brazos focuses on investments in leading middle-market consumer, healthcare, commercial & industrial, and business services companies, and partners with outstanding management teams and/or families of closely-held businesses to maximize growth and shareholder value. Brazos has been one of the most active middle-market private equity investment firms, having completed in excess of 80 transactions over the past decade.

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North Castle Partners said Tuesday that it had completed the sale of Caleel + Hayden Holdings Inc., which does business as gloProfessional. The company is a developer and marketer of mineral-based cosmetics. Terms of the deal were not released.

PRESS RELEASE
North Castle Partners, a leading private equity firm focused on investments in consumer-driven companies that promote Healthy, Active and Sustainable Living, announced today that it has completed the sale of Caleel + Hayden Holdings, Inc., d.b.a gloProfessional (“gloProfessional” or “glo”). The terms of the transaction were not disclosed.

gloProfessional is a leading developer and marketer of mineral-based cosmetics under the glominerals brand and premium skin care under the glotherapeutics brand. glo serves over 5,000 dermatologists, cosmetic surgeons, aestheticians, spas and salons (the “professional channel”) both domestically and internationally, as well as select specialty retailers. In addition, the company recently launched to the same customer base a line of hair care products under the gloessentials brand name. gloProfessional reaches its customers through a proprietary field sales force of over 65 team members, which is one of the largest in the professional channel.

“Our investment in glo was a successful exit for North Castle and represents another strong partnership within the personal care sector,” said North Castle Managing Director Jon Canarick. “During North Castle’s ownership, glo has been transformed from a distributor with only half of its sales being generated from proprietary brands to a company that realizes virtually all revenue from its suite of glo brands. We believe the company is well positioned for further growth.”

“We believe the way glo grew coming out of the recession illustrates the benefits our focused approach to partnering with management teams to build great companies. As the professional channel continues to pick up momentum, glo is well positioned to capitalize on that growth and achieve continued success,” said North Castle’s Managing Partner Chip Baird. “We continue to look for opportunities across the Healthy, Active and Sustainable Living markets to leverage our knowledge, network and experience in building market leaders like gloProfessional.”

North Castle has sold gloProfessional to private equity firm Swander Pace Capital and its affiliates and the Company was advised by Wells Fargo Securities. Mark Hayden, founder and CEO and Sean Butler, President, will continue to lead the company and remain significant minority shareholders. “We are pleased that management has found strong partners in Swander Pace Capital to help lead the company through its next chapter,” added Jon Canarick.

Mark Hayden said, “North Castle has been a great partner, and at the same time I’m excited about working with Swander Pace who brings fresh ideas and resources to the company as we continue to expand.”

Wells Fargo Securities served as exclusive financial advisor to gloProfessional in connection with the transaction. Morrison Cohen LLP served as legal counsel to gloProfessional and Kirkland & Ellis LLP served as legal counsel to Swander Pace Capital.

About North Castle Partners

North Castle Partners is a leading private equity firm focused on investments in consumer-driven product and service businesses that promote Healthy, Active, and Sustainable Living. North Castle is a hands-on, value-added investor in high-growth, middle market companies in the (i) beauty & personal care, (ii) consumer health, (iii) fitness, recreation & sports, (iv) home & leisure and (v) nutrition sectors, among others. North Castle’s current portfolio includes such well-known brands as Curves International, Palladio Beauty Group, Mineral Fusion, Red Door Spas, Performance Bicycles, World Health, Octane Fitness, Ibex Outdoor Clothing, and Flatout Flatbreads. Prior portfolio company holdings include Atkins Nutritionals, Cascade Helmets, Bora-Bora Organic Foods, gloProfessional, Equinox Fitness, EAS, Enzymatic Therapy, CRC Health Group, Doctor’s Dermatologic Formula, Naked Juice Company, and Avalon Organics / Alba Botanicals. North Castle and its operating executives and advisors partner with management to bring a wide range of strategic and operational capabilities, as well as an extensive knowledge base and network to build world-class companies. North Castle is headquartered in Greenwich, CT.

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Chicago’s NXT Capital has launched a new business: NXT Capital Equipment Finance, which will offer loans and leases from $2 million to $20 million to finance new and used equipment for middle-market companies. The new business will be led by Michael Gay.

PRESS RELEASE
NXT Capital (www.nxtcapital.com) today announced the launch of NXT Capital Equipment Finance. This new business will be led by Michael Gay, an equipment finance industry veteran.

NXT Capital Equipment Finance offers a full range of flexible financing solutions to middle-market companies nationwide. The group will provide loans and leases from $2 million to $20 million to finance new and used equipment for companies with revenues of $50 million and above across most industries. Products include secured term loans, tax-oriented leases, finance leases, operating leases, TRAC leases and sale-leaseback transactions.

Launching Equipment Finance is another significant step in NXT Capital’s development as a diversified commercial finance company. The new group complements NXT Capital’s existing Corporate Finance, Real Estate Finance and Venture Finance groups, extending the company’s reach to middle-market companies whose growth depends on capital-intensive assets.

“We’re delighted to welcome Michael Gay and a talented team of equipment financing professionals to NXT Capital,” said Robert Radway, Chairman and CEO. “Equipment finance is a business we’re very familiar with and one that is a logical, attractive expansion of the NXT platform.”

NXT Capital Equipment Finance will address an important gap in the market. “Many middle-market companies continue to suffer from a lack of access to capital to obtain essential equipment,” said Michael Gay, group head of NXT Capital Equipment Finance. “NXT Capital Equipment Finance is ideally positioned to serve these companies, providing the creative, reliable financing solutions they need.”

NXT Capital provides structured financing solutions to middle-market and emerging growth companies, as well as real estate investors, through its Corporate Finance, Equipment Finance, Real Estate and Venture Finance groups. Based in Chicago, NXT Capital has offices in New York, Atlanta, Boston, Dallas, Newport Beach, San Francisco and Silicon Valley. See www.nxtcapital.com for more information.

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Credit Karma has raised $30 million in Series B financing. Ribbit Capital and Susquehanna Growth Equity led the investment, with participation from existing investor Felicis Ventures. The financing brings the total amount raised by Credit Karma to $33.5 million.

PRESS RELEASE
Credit Karma, the consumer’s financial advocate, today announced it has raised $30 million in Series B financing. Ribbit Capital, a venture capital firm focused on the financial services industry, and Susquehanna Growth Equity, a private equity affiliate of Susquehanna International Group, LLP, led the investment, with participation from existing investor Felicis Ventures.
The financing brings the total amount raised by Credit Karma to $33.5 million. Since its Series A announcement in 2009, the company has increased revenue by more than 4,000 percent and registered an additional 10 million members, who turn to Credit Karma for free online tools that help them take charge of their financial health. Credit Karma is also available on the Android and iOS platforms.
Credit Karma intends to use the capital to accelerate its product roadmap, including expansion into new verticals and markets. The funds will also enable the company to increase headcount, expand its infrastructure and resources, and continue to innovate through the development of new products and services.
“The new funding will help us continue to improve our products and find innovative ways to serve consumers,” said Ken Lin, CEO and founder of Credit Karma. “We are thrilled to welcome Ribbit Capital and Susquehanna Growth Equity as investment partners and look forward to leveraging their deep industry knowledge and expertise to take Credit Karma’s growth to the next level. Importantly, all of our investment partners share our vision to become a household name for consumer advocacy and empowerment.”
“Credit Karma has revolutionized the relationship consumers have with their credit, as evidenced by the company’s exponential growth over the past several years,” said Micky Malka, founder and General Partner of Ribbit Capital. “Credit Karma is truly a trusted consumer brand — a key element of success in personal financial
-MORE-
services — and we look forward to working with the team to continue to build out the platform and capitalize on the broader opportunities in this space.”
Ribbit Capital targets disruptive, early-stage companies that leverage technology to reimagine and reinvent what financial services can be for businesses and individuals.
“Whether a mortgage, credit card, auto loan, student loan or other financial product, the process of accessing credit is cumbersome, costly and confusing,” said Scott Feldman, Susquehanna Growth Equity director. “We spent the last seven years looking for a disruptive player in personal financial management and credit analytics that set out to bring transparency to the market, and we finally found Credit Karma. No other company offers consumers access to their personal financial condition data and assistance in finding the right credit products, at the right time and at the right cost. All of this for free! It’s a game changing business model that we think could redefine how consumers and financial institutions interact in the future.”
With this investment, both Malka and Feldman will join Credit Karma’s Board of Directors.
About Credit Karma
Credit Karma provides more than 11 million members free financial peace of mind by tracking their credit and finances all in one place. Founded in 2008, Credit Karma’s goal is to help its members make the most of their credit by offering insightful saving recommendations based on unique data comparisons. It also provides financial education and access to free tools, such as the free Credit Report Card and credit card statistics, which empower consumers to take charge of their financial health. To learn more, visit creditkarma.com.
About Ribbit Capital
Ribbit Capital is a venture capital firm that invests globally in unique individuals and brands who are aiming to disrupt financial services. Headquartered in Palo Alto, Ribbit believes the category is profoundly under- innovated and is looking to support entrepreneurs who have already launched the businesses of the future. For more information, please visit http://ribbitcap.com/.
About Susquehanna Growth Equity
Susquehanna Growth Equity, LLC (SGE) is a private equity group investing in growth capital and buyout opportunities in software, information services, internet and payments. SGE’s team of dedicated investment professionals brings a unique set of experience combining venture investing with operational expertise. SGE is

an affiliate of Susquehanna International Group, LLP (SIG), a leading technology empowered financial trading firm specializing in making markets and providing liquidity. For additional information, please visit www.sgep.com.
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Livingstone has added seven new principals to the firm. They are: Andrew Bozzelli, Ryan Buckley, Karl Freimuth, Joe Greenwood, Andrew Isgrig, Jim Moskal, and Tom Lesch.

PRESS RELEASE
Livingstone, the leading independent, international investment banking firm, is pleased to announce the addition of seven new principals to the firm, together with three other professionals in the Chicago office. These personnel actions will further strengthen Livingstone’s capabilities across several key industry groups and position the firm for continued growth. Livingstone now claims 75 corporate finance professionals across five principal offices in the U.S., Europe and Asia specializing in six key global sectors.
The new principals are:
Andrew Bozzelli, Vice President, joined the firm in 2010 and specializes in M&A, capital raising, and financial restructuring across multiple sectors. Andy, a CPA, earned his MBA from the University of Chicago, and BBA and MS from the University of Notre Dame.
Ryan Buckley, Vice President, joined at the firm’s inception in 2007 and provides eight years of M&A and capital raising experience particularly in consumer and healthcare transactions. Ryan received his BBA from the University of Michigan.
Karl Freimuth, Director, also started with Livingstone in 2007 and brings ten years of cross-border M&A, capital raising and financial restructuring experience with particular sector expertise in diversified industrial manufacturing and commercial services. Karl earned his BBA from the University of Michigan.
Joe Greenwood, Managing Director, who joined in 2010, leads the firm’s Special Situations practice. He brings over 14 years of restructuring, distressed M&A and financial advisory experience to the firm. Joe is a CPA and a Certified Insolvency and Restructuring Advisor with his MBA from Georgetown and BBA from the University of Wisconsin.
Andrew Isgrig, Managing Director, joined Livingstone in 2011 and heads the firm’s Industrial practice. He has more than 20 years’ experience advising public and private companies on middle market M&A and capital markets transactions on a global basis. Andy received his MBA from the University of Michigan and BS in business from Indiana University.
Tom Lesch, Director, has led Livingstone’s Debt Capital Markets practice for two years, bringing 12 years of his commercial finance experience to the firm. Tom earned his MBA from the University of Chicago and BA from Denison University.
Jim Moskal, Managing Director, leads Livingstone’s Healthcare practice. Jim joined the firm in 2008 with 15 years of experience advising public and private companies on all phases of mergers and acquisitions and capital market transactions. Jim received his MBA from the University of Chicago and BS from the University of Illinois.
In other personnel action:
Livingstone hired Robert Tymowski, Associate, who joined the firm from Baird after two years of advising middle market companies on M&A transactions and capital raises, primarily in the business services, logistics and industrial sectors. Rob earned his MBA, ME & BSE from the University of Michigan.
The firm also announced the hiring of analysts Andrew Rust, a 2013 graduate of the University of Notre Dame, and Matthew French, a 2013 graduate of Indiana University.

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Med Opportunity Partners, a Greenwich Conn.-based private equity firm, has acquired Ferro Pfanstiehl Laboratories, Inc. The seller is Ferro Corporation. Terms were not disclosed.

PRESS RELEASE
Med Opportunity Partners, LLC (“MEDOP”), a Greenwich CT-based private equity firm focused exclusively on the health care sector, announced today its acquisition of Ferro Pfanstiehl Laboratories, Inc., a global leader in cGMP carbohydrates and Active Pharmaceutical Ingredients (APIs), from Ferro Corporation. MEDOP, a strategic, operating-oriented investment firm, brings significant resources, pharmaceutical and biopharmaceutical relationships, and capital to fuel the Company’s growth.

Ferro Pfanstiehl Laboratories, Inc. has been renamed Pfanstiehl, Inc. (“Pfanstiehl”), reflecting its rich history and reputation developed since the Company was founded in 1919. Pfanstiehl is a leading technology-based provider of specialized products and services for niche pharmaceutical and biotechnological applications. Cindy Kerker, President of Pfanstiehl, commented about the new partnership with MEDOP: “We are pleased to be backed by MEDOP as we enter a very exciting stage of our company’s history with an unprecedented opportunity for growth in the biopharmaceutical and pharmaceutical market place. Our ability to deliver quality, high purity excipients and APIs including cytotoxics to our customers should be enhanced by MEDOP and their strategic operating approach and financial resources.”

“We are excited to invest in Pfanstiehl at this time,” said Jim Breckenridge, MEDOP Founding Member and new Pfanstiehl Chairman. “The US global biopharmaceutical market is expected to exceed $100 billion by 2015 and requires high purity functional excipients to meet increasing quality, regulatory and service requirements. Pfanstiehl is well positioned to be a major beneficiary of this overall shift toward high purity cGMP excipients utilized in biopharmaceutical formulation and manufacturing processes. We plan to invest in Pfanstiehl to expand the Company’s participation in these compelling sectors.”

ABOUT PFANSTIEHL, INC.

Pfanstiehl is a leading technology-based provider of specialized products and services for niche pharmaceutical and biotechnological applications. Pfanstiehl develops and manufactures high-purity, low-endotoxin sugars utilized as injectable excipients and for cell culture media and protein stabilization as well as high-potency active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs), including cytotoxic actives. It also produces carbohydrates used as key ingredients in pharmaceutical applications and materials for large volume parenteral applications. The business is located in Waukegan, IL and employs 80 employees. Visit us at www.pfanstiehl.com.

ABOUT MED OPPORTUNITY PARTNERS, LLC

Med Opportunity Partners, LLC (http://www.MedOpportunity.com) is a Greenwich, CT-based operating-oriented private equity firm that acquires leading niche healthcare companies at their growth stage. MEDOP has significant experience in operating and investing in the healthcare industry, and specific expertise in pharmaceuticals and high value ingredients and technologies for the pharmaceutical, generic and biotechnology sectors. Founded by seasoned healthcare investors and operators, MEDOP partners with companies that can benefit from its extensive industry knowledge, relationships and proven operating and transaction experience. MEDOP receives funding from prominent investors including pension funds, endowments, family offices and financial institutions.

ABOUT FERRO CORPORATION

Ferro Corporation (http://www.ferro.com) is a leading global supplier of technology-based performance materials and chemicals for manufacturers. Ferro products are sold into the building and construction, automotive, appliances, electronics, household furnishings, and industrial products markets. Headquartered in Mayfield Heights, Ohio, the Company has approximately 4,780 employees globally and reported 2012 sales of $1.8 billion.

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Los Angeles-based private equity firm Vance Street Capital has acquired Micronics Inc., a provider of aftermarket filtration products. Terms of the deal were not released. Micronics is based in Portsmouth, New Hampshire.

PRESS RELEASE
Vance Street Capital LLC, a Los Angeles-based private equity firm, today announced that it has acquired a majority interest in Micronics Inc., a global provider of aftermarket filtration products and OEM custom filter presses. Micronics’ management team will also have a significant ownership stake in the business. Terms of the transaction were not disclosed.

Headquartered in Portsmouth, New Hampshire, Micronics provides filtration products to varied industries worldwide including mining, chemical, wastewater, metals, and food and beverage. The company also has locations in the United Kingdom.

“We look forward to working closely with Barry Hibble and the entire Micronics management team to help the company capitalize on the many growth opportunities it has before it, both here and abroad,” said Jake Blumenthal, principal at Vance Street Capital. “We focus on investing in companies that provide engineered solutions to blue chip customers and we feel that Micronics is perfectly positioned to continue to gain market share.”

“In Vance Street, we could not have found a better partner as Micronics enters its next phase of growth,” said Micronics Chief Executive Officer Barry Hibble. “The firm has extensive experience working with manufacturers as well as a deep understanding of operations. This transaction is a positive development for our company and our hard-working employees as we look to the future with our new partners.”

The Micronics transaction represents Vance Street’s seventh platform acquisition in its current fund.

The acquisition was funded with debt from FS Investment Corporation, which is sub-advised by an affiliate of GSO Capital Partners LP (Blackstone’s credit business). Paul Hastings LLP acted as legal advisor to Vance Street Capital.

About Micronics Inc.
Micronics, headquartered in Portsmouth, NH, has been in business since 1983, offering filter presses of all sizes, including the fully automatic Lasta MC for mining, replacement plates, parts and filter cloth for all equipment. Micronics has locations in the UK and is the only distributor for Ishigaki Co. Ltd. in North America and South America. For more information please visit www.MicronicsInc.com.

About Vance Street Capital
Vance Street Capital is a Los Angeles-based private equity firm that makes control investments in companies with enterprise values up to $200 million. Preferred industries include precision industrial manufacturing, aerospace and defense, medical components and devices, and business services. For over two decades, Vance Street’s partners have worked with management, family owners and other co-investors to accelerate revenue growth, improve operations and acquire strategic assets for the companies in their investment portfolio.

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Brazos Private Equity Partners has exited its investment in Strategic Equipment and Supply Corporation, selling the company to TriMark USA. TriMark is a portfolio company of Audax Group. Financial terms of the transaction were not disclosed. The firm said that the sale represents the final realization of Brazos Equity Fund I, which closed in 2000 with $250 million.

PRESS RELEASE
Brazos Private Equity Partners, LLC, a leading Dallas-based private investment firm, announced today the sale of Strategic Equipment and Supply Corporation (SESC), one of the leading providers of foodservice equipment, supply and design solutions, to TriMark USA, a portfolio company of Audax Group. Financial terms of the transaction were not disclosed.

The sale of SESC represents the final realization of Brazos Equity Fund I, which closed in 2000 with capital commitments totaling $250 million. Distributions by Fund I have substantially exceeded invested capital, a result that is further enhanced through the SESC exit. Brazos is currently investing Brazos Equity Fund III (“Brazos III”) with capital commitments totaling $715 million.

Randall Fojtasek, Co-Founding Partner and Co-CEO of Brazos, said: “We are very proud of what we accomplished since acquiring SESC in 2005. In partnership with SESC’s outstanding management team we built the company into one of the five largest foodservice distributors in the United States through geographic expansion and the addition of key customers such as Outback Steakhouse, Logan’s Roadhouse and Ruby Tuesday. The long-term perspective we bring to our investments was rewarded with an outstanding return for our investors. We wish Marty Monnat and his team all the best as they join TriMark and contribute to its continued success as the foodservice distribution industry leader.

“The sale of SESC is also a momentous occasion for our firm because it brings to completion our first fund investment effort, which began in 2000. During the years since we closed Fund I, we have worked with so many great companies and management teams who have been partners in the fund’s success. We are particularly grateful to our Fund I limited partners for their confidence and support of our firm in its early years. Many of those early investors are still investing with us and have been an important part of our firm over the past 13 years and today as we continue to invest our third fund,” Mr. Fojtasek added.

Martin Monnat, President and Chief Executive Officer of SESC, said, “On behalf of the SESC management team and all of our employees, I thank Brazos for its extraordinary contributions towards the development of our company. We are very excited about our future as part of the industry leading foodservice distribution enterprise, an achievement enabled by Brazos.”

About Brazos Private Equity Partners, LLC
Brazos Private Equity Partners is a Dallas-based private equity firm that manages approximately $1.4 billion of equity capital. Brazos focuses on investments in leading middle-market consumer, healthcare, commercial & industrial, and business services companies, seeking to partner with outstanding management teams and/or families of closely-held businesses to maximize value. Brazos has been one of the most active middle-market private equity investment firms over the past decade, having completed 69 acquisitions, including 25 platform investments.

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PLI Holdings Inc., an affiliate of Med Opportunity Partners, has acquired Pfanstiehl Laboratories. The seller was publicly traded Ferro Corp. The deal included a $16.9 million cash payment and an earn-out incentive payment of up to $8 million. Med Opportunity Partners is a private equity firm based in Greenwich, Connecticut.

PRESS RELEASE
Ferro Corporation (NYSE: FOE, the “Company”) announced today that it has completed the sale of its pharmaceuticals business, Pfanstiehl Laboratories, to PLI Holdings, Inc., an affiliate of Med Opportunity Partners, LLC. Consideration was comprised of a $16.9 million cash payment and an earn-out incentive payment of up to $8 million, payable over two years based on attained earnings targets. In addition, the Company retained certain tax benefits with an estimated value of approximately $5 million. Ferro’s pharmaceuticals business generated segment income of $2.4 million in 2012.

“On behalf of everyone at Ferro, I thank the Pfanstiehl team for their many contributions. I am confident they will have exciting opportunities ahead. I also extend our thanks to our advisors on the transaction. The sale announced today is the culmination of an extended period of marketing the business.”

The divestiture follows the Company’s February 6, 2013, sale of its solar pastes assets and marks the continued execution of Ferro’s strategy to divest non-core businesses and drive earnings growth and profitability from its core Performance Materials and Performance Chemicals businesses.

“The sale of our pharmaceuticals business is another important milestone in our value creation strategy. The Ferro portfolio now is more fully concentrated in our core technologies in coatings and color and glass science, polymer science, and organic synthesis,” said Peter Thomas, Interim President and Chief Executive Officer of Ferro. “Together with our previously announced initiatives to reduce costs by more than $50 million, the successful sale of our solar pastes assets, and the additional financial flexibility gained by amending our credit facility, today’s announcement reflects the Board’s and management’s commitment to drive shareholder value from our Performance Materials and Performance Chemicals businesses. We will remain focused on improving return on invested capital and cash flow by streamlining operations, reducing operating costs, and pursuing select growth opportunities. We are energized by the progress we’re making and committed to reaching our value creation objectives.”

Mr. Thomas added, “On behalf of everyone at Ferro, I thank the Pfanstiehl team for their many contributions. I am confident they will have exciting opportunities ahead. I also extend our thanks to our advisors on the transaction. The sale announced today is the culmination of an extended period of marketing the business.”

The Company was advised by KeyBanc Capital Markets and Calfee, Halter & Griswold LLP.

About Ferro Corporation

Ferro Corporation (http://www.ferro.com) is a leading global supplier of technology-based performance materials and chemicals for manufacturers. Ferro products are sold into the building and construction, automotive, appliances, electronics, household furnishings, and industrial products markets. Headquartered in Mayfield Heights, Ohio, the Company has approximately 4,780 employees globally and reported 2012 sales of $1.8 billion.

About Pfanstiehl

Pfanstiehl is a leading technology-based provider of specialized products and services for niche pharmaceutical and biotechnological applications. Pfanstiehl produces commercial quantities of high-purity, low-endotoxin sugars utilized as injectable excipients and for cell culture media and protein stabilization as well as high-potency active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs), including cytotoxic actives. The business is located in Waukegan, Illinois, and has 80 employees.

About Med Opportunity Partners, LLC

Med Opportunity Partners LLC (http://www.MedOpportunity.com) is a private equity firm that invests in healthcare companies at their growth stage. It is based in Greenwich, Connecticut.

Cautionary Note on Forward-Looking Statements

Certain statements in this press release may constitute “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of Federal securities laws. These statements are subject to a variety of uncertainties, unknown risks and other factors concerning the Company’s operations and business environment. Important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those suggested by these forward-looking statements and that could adversely affect the Company’s future financial performance include the following:

demand in the industries into which Ferro sells its products may be unpredictable, cyclical or heavily influenced by consumer spending;
Ferro’s ability to successfully implement its value creation strategy;
Ferro’s ability to successfully implement and/or administer its cost-saving initiatives, including its restructuring programs, and to produce the desired results, including projected savings;
restrictive covenants in the Company’s credit facilities could affect its strategic initiatives and liquidity;
Ferro’s ability to access capital markets, borrowings, or financial transactions;
the effectiveness of the Company’s efforts to improve operating margins through sales growth, price increases, productivity gains, and improved purchasing techniques;
the availability of reliable sources of energy and raw materials at a reasonable cost;
currency conversion rates and economic, social, regulatory, and political conditions around the world;
Ferro’s presence in certain geographic regions, including Latin America and Asia-Pacific, where it can be difficult to compete lawfully;
increasingly aggressive domestic and foreign governmental regulations on hazardous materials and regulations affecting health, safety and the environment;
Ferro’s ability to successfully introduce new products or enter into new growth markets;
sale of products into highly regulated industries;
limited or no redundancy for certain of the Company’s manufacturing facilities and possible interruption of operations at those facilities;
Ferro’s ability to complete future acquisitions or dispositions, or successfully integrate future acquisitions;
competitive factors, including intense price competition;
Ferro’s ability to protect its intellectual property or to successfully resolve claims of infringement brought against the Company;
management of Ferro’s general and administrative expenses;
Ferro’s multi-jurisdictional tax structure;
the impact of the Company’s performance on its ability to utilize significant deferred tax assets;
the effectiveness of strategies to increase Ferro’s return on capital;
the impact of operating hazards and investments made in order to meet stringent environmental, health and safety regulations;
stringent labor and employment laws and relationships with the Company’s employees;
the impact of requirements to fund employee benefit costs, especially post-retirement costs;
implementation of new business processes and information systems;
the impact of interruption, damage to, failure, or compromise of the Company’s information systems;
exposure to lawsuits in the normal course of business;
risks and uncertainties associated with intangible assets, including the final amount of impairment and other charges described in this press release;
Ferro’s borrowing costs could be affected adversely by interest rate increases;
liens on the Company’s assets by its lenders affect its ability to dispose of property and businesses;
Ferro may not pay dividends on its common stock in the foreseeable future; and
other factors affecting the Company’s business that are beyond its control, including disasters, accidents, and governmental actions.

The risks and uncertainties identified above are not the only risks the Company faces. Additional risks and uncertainties not presently known to the Company or that it currently believes to be immaterial also may adversely affect the Company. Should any known or unknown risks and uncertainties develop into actual events, these developments could have material adverse effects on our business, financial condition and results of operations.

This release contains time-sensitive information that reflects management’s best analysis only as of the date of this release. The Company does not undertake any obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements to reflect future events, information or circumstances that arise after the date of this release. Additional information regarding these risks can be found in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the period ended December 31, 2012.

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Proximal Data, a provider of server-side caching technology for virtualized environments, has closed on $2 million in Series B round of funding, bringing its total funding to $5 million. Current investor Avalon Ventures is participating, with new investor Divergent Ventures leading the round, the company said.

PRESS RELEASE
Proximal Data, the leading provider of server-side caching solutions specifically designed for virtualized environments, today announced it has secured a $2 million series B round of funding, bringing its total funding to $5 million. Current investor Avalon Ventures is participating, with new investor Divergent Ventures leading the round. Divergent Ventures invests in early-stage companies with a focus on virtualization and storage and partners with them to help overcome market challenges.

Proximal Data will use the funds to increase its sales distribution channels and extend its current market success to include more global markets, as well as further advance the storage I/O caching capabilities of AutoCache, its fast virtual cache software.

“Proximal Data is leading the market with a server-side caching solution specifically designed to enable higher levels of server consolidation in virtualized environments by addressing limitations caused by I/O bottlenecks,” said Rory Bolt, CEO of Proximal Data. “Only AutoCache offers the ability to employ multiple caching algorithms to determine which performs best at any given time to address the dynamic and changing nature of workloads in virtualized environments. This helps data center managers create a more efficient and productive virtualized environment without impacting IT operations.”

Introduced in 2012, AutoCache eliminates I/O bottlenecks in virtualized servers with its adaptive I/O caching to increase virtual machine (VM) density up to three times with absolutely no impact on IT operations. AutoCache plugs easily into industry-leading hypervisors, such as VMware’s ESXi, and transparently works on all I/O without requiring agents in guest operating systems. By placing hot I/O onto a PCIe flash card or SSD, AutoCache intelligently supplies priority data traffic to VMs.

“Proximal Data is in the sweet spot of virtualization and I/O throughput with strong technological leadership and an innovative approach to speeding up applications,” said Kevin Ober, managing director, Divergent Ventures. “We look for leaders like Rory Bolt who identify ways to disrupt fast-growing markets and can lead talented engineering and sales teams to meet market demand.”

“Proximal Data’s technology is both groundbreaking and proven, given its significant market traction where customers have enjoyed performance gains with no change to their operational procedures or investments,” said Steve Tomlin, managing director, Avalon Ventures. “We are confident that Proximal Data will continue to be the thought leader in the virtualized server-side caching market moving forward.”

George Crump, president and founder of Storage Switzerland, an industry analyst firm, stated, “Proximal Data’s AutoCache offers a simple implementation and precise coordination at the hypervisor level, allowing customers to see benefits immediately. By continuing to provide a fast, efficient caching solution that boosts VM efficiency without draining critical system resources or requiring additional hardware, Proximal Data stands to become an important player in this market.”

Since its launch, Proximal Data has sold AutoCache to a global base of customers who have successfully used AutoCache to improve the performance of business-critical applications that are running in virtualized environments, realizing a tremendous return on their investment in AutoCache.

Additional Resources

Proximal Data AutoCache Data Sheet

Proximal Data AutoCache White Paper

Increasing VM Density With Server Side Caching: Proximal Data Briefing Report

Proximal Data AutoCache Video

Proximal Data AutoCache Tutorial

About Divergent Ventures

Divergent Ventures provides straightforward capital and advice for technical entrepreneurs. Divergent was founded in 2003 to make investments in early-stage storage, big data, infrastructure and cloud startups. In the technology startup world, the premium is on execution, not funding. Divergent’s managing partners Rob Shurtleff, Kevin Ober and Todd Warren have experience founding, growing and selling technology startups. They connect portfolio companies with global influencers in servers, storage, database and networking technologies to help them recruit talent, engage customers, add investors, grow and access more exit options.

For more information, visit http://www.divergent.com/.

About Avalon Ventures

Avalon Ventures is a venture capital fund comprised of former entrepreneurs driven by passionate people pursuing disruptive ideas in ever-changing market environments. Avalon’s long-standing and successful focus has been on seed and early-stage companies, including many it formed in the life science and information technology sectors. For more information, visit http://www.avalon-ventures.com/.

About Proximal Data
Proximal Data is the leading provider of server-side caching solutions specifically designed for virtualized environments. Proximal Data’s AutoCache software can dramatically increase virtual machine density by eliminating I/O bottlenecks with adaptive I/O caching. When coupled with PCIe flash cards or SSDs from our partners, Proximal Data’s fast virtual cache significantly improves the efficiency and performance of virtualized servers without disrupting IT operations or processes. www.proximaldata.com

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Aaron Batalion, the co-founder of daily deals company LivingSocial, said Friday that he would leave the company. The news came by way of Batalion’s personal website, where he wrote that he was leaving to “pursue some new ideas.”

BLOG POST
What an incredible journey it has been since June of 2007, when the four of us knew only our direction, but definitely not our destination. After much soul searching, I have decided to leave LivingSocial to pursue some new ideas. No new adventure to announce yet, just a urge to go create… that there is more to do.

As I look back today, we have processed billions in commerce transactions and have sent tens of billions of emails on technology we created. We took a simple two-week prototype and scaled it to an international business with thousands of fellow employees around the world. We built a culture I am proud of and millions of consumers around the world have experienced their local cities because of our products. More importantly, we created an incredible team with many more strong moves yet to come. Knowing this makes me confident in LivingSocial’s future and the vision of local we have all been fighting for.

I am incredibly proud of what the team has accomplished to date and have been so fortunate to play a role in this amazing journey. My decision to depart has in no way been easy. The experience and, most importantly, the friendships… have been the best of my career.

Always live hungry,

Aaron

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Amazon.com is snapping up Goodreads, a site where readers give recommendations that helps people find and share books. Terms were not released. Following the acquisition, Goodreads’s headquarters will remain in San Francisco.

PRESS RELEASE
Amazon.com, Inc. (NASDAQ:AMZN) today announced that it has reached an agreement to acquire Goodreads, a leading site for readers and book recommendations that helps people find and share books they love.

“Amazon and Goodreads share a passion for reinventing reading,” said Russ Grandinetti, Amazon Vice President, Kindle Content. “Goodreads has helped change how we discover and discuss books and, with Kindle, Amazon has helped expand reading around the world. In addition, both Amazon and Goodreads have helped thousands of authors reach a wider audience and make a better living at their craft. Together we intend to build many new ways to delight readers and authors alike.”

“Books – and the stories and ideas captured inside them – are part of our social fabric,” said Otis Chandler, Goodreads CEO and co-founder. “People love to talk about ideas and share their passion for the stories they read. I’m incredibly excited about the opportunity to partner with Amazon and Kindle. We’re now going to be able to move faster in bringing the Goodreads experience to millions of readers around the world. We’re looking forward to inspiring greater literary discussion and helping more readers find great books, whether they read in print or digitally.”

“I just found out my two favorite people are getting married,” said Hugh Howey, best-selling author of WOOL. “The best place to discuss books is joining up with the best place to buy books – To Be Read piles everywhere must be groaning in anticipation.”

Following the acquisition, Goodreads’s headquarters will remain in San Francisco, CA. Founded in 2007, Goodreads now has more than 16 million members and there are more than 30,000 books clubs on the Goodreads site. Over just the past 90 days, Goodreads members have added more than four books per second to the “want to read” shelves on Goodreads.

Terms of the acquisition were not disclosed. Subject to various closing conditions, the acquisition is expected to close in the second quarter of 2013.

About Amazon.com

Amazon.com, Inc. (NASDAQ: AMZN), a Fortune 500 company based in Seattle, opened on the World Wide Web in July 1995 and today offers Earth’s Biggest Selection. Amazon.com, Inc. seeks to be Earth’s most customer-centric company, where customers can find and discover anything they might want to buy online, and endeavors to offer its customers the lowest possible prices. Amazon.com and other sellers offer millions of unique new, refurbished and used items in categories such as Books; Movies, Music & Games; Digital Downloads; Electronics & Computers; Home & Garden; Toys, Kids & Baby; Grocery; Apparel, Shoes & Jewelry; Health & Beauty; Sports & Outdoors; and Tools, Auto & Industrial. Amazon Web Services provides Amazon’s developer customers with access to in-the-cloud infrastructure services based on Amazon’s own back-end technology platform, which developers can use to enable virtually any type of business. Kindle Paperwhite is the most-advanced e-reader ever constructed with 62% more pixels and 25% increased contrast, a patented built-in front light for reading in all lighting conditions, extra-long battery life, and a thin and light design. The new latest generation Kindle, the lightest and smallest Kindle, now features new, improved fonts and faster page turns. Kindle Fire HD features a stunning custom high-definition display, exclusive Dolby audio with dual stereo speakers, high-end, laptop-grade Wi-Fi with dual-band support, dual-antennas and MIMO for faster streaming and downloads, enough storage for HD content, and the latest generation processor and graphics engine—and it is available in two display sizes—7” and 8.9”. The large-screen Kindle Fire HD is also available with 4G wireless, and comes with a groundbreaking $49.99 introductory 4G LTE data package. The all-new Kindle Fire features a 20% faster processor, 40% faster performance, twice the memory, and longer battery life.

Amazon and its affiliates operate websites, including www.amazon.com, www.amazon.co.uk, www.amazon.de, www.amazon.co.jp, www.amazon.fr, www.amazon.ca, www.amazon.cn, www.amazon.it, www.amazon.es and www.amazon.com.br. As used herein, “Amazon.com,” “we,” “our” and similar terms include Amazon.com, Inc., and its subsidiaries, unless the context indicates otherwise.

About Goodreads

Goodreads is the world’s largest site for readers and book recommendations. Founded in 2007, Goodreads is where readers find and share books they love. The site has 16 million members who have added more than 530 million books to their shelves and written more than 23 million reviews. Loved by avid and casual readers alike, Goodreads members can discover new books by seeing what their friends are reading or by using the Goodreads Book Recommendation Engine; share ratings and recommendations; track what they have read, and list what they want to read. Goodreads is also a place where more than 68,000 authors connect with readers. For more information, visit http://www.goodreads.com.

Forward-Looking Statements

This announcement contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933 and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. Actual results may differ significantly from management’s expectations. These forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainties that include, among others, risks related to competition, management of growth, new products, services and technologies, potential fluctuations in operating results, international expansion, outcomes of legal proceedings and claims, fulfillment and data center optimization, seasonality, commercial agreements, acquisitions and strategic transactions, foreign exchange rates, system interruption, inventory, government regulation and taxation, payments and fraud. More information about factors that potentially could affect Amazon.com’s financial results is included in Amazon.com’s filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including its most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K and subsequent filings.

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American Realty Capital, an investment advisory firm, has added seven people to its team over the past month. They are: Doug Lyons, James Fisher, Joseph Taylor, Carol Loundon, Jonathan Stein, Marc Tolchin, and Daniel Schapiro.

PRESS RELEASE
Investment advisory firm American Realty Capital announced today that it has added seven key executives over the past month who will add to the firm’s core competencies and strengths. These additions are in line with the company’s overarching objectives and continuing commitment to deliver demonstrable results for the shareholders in its sponsored offerings. To this end, the company has assembled, and continues to attract and retain, dedicated management teams whose members bring deep and broad experience to the business areas in which American Realty Capital and its affiliates operate.

A primary driver of the firm’s ability to deliver results is the intellectual capital embedded in the multi-disciplinary teams running and supporting its business units. The company has attracted a skilled and seasoned group of professionals and support staff. Over the past month the following individuals have joined American Realty Capital’s business development company and commercial real estate debt teams:

Business Development Company Team
Name Title Previous Affiliations Experience
Doug Lyons Senior Vice President UBS Investment Bank; Mr. Lyons, a Certified Public Accountant, has over 20 years’ experience in investment banking and leveraged finance, most recently at UBS Investment Bank where, for over six years, he was a Managing Director responsible for managing the leverage finance practice in the Consumer, Retail, Gaming, Real Estate, Lodging and Leisure industries. In his role at UBS, Mr. Lyons was responsible for the origination, structuring, negotiation and execution of senior debt, unsecured debt, high yield and mezzanine financing transactions for key corporate and sponsor clients.
and Chief Credit CIBC World Markets; Deutsche Bank Securities; Duff & Phelps; Coopers & Lybrand
Officer, BDCA Adviser
James Fisher Senior Vice President and Managing Director, BDCA Adviser True Course Capital Advisors, LLC; Praesidian Capital Inc.; Allied Capital/AC Finance/Callidus Capital; JPMorgan/The Chase Manhattan Bank Mr. Fisher has over 30 of experience lending to and investing in middle market and small businesses. He spent 22 years at JPMorgan Chase, with his last position as the Senior Vice President and Division Executive running the Bank’s Middle Market Structured Finance business, including Sponsor Coverage, Asset Based Lending, Leasing, and Middle Market M&A. Most recently, Mr. Fisher was the Founding Partner of True Course Capital Advisors; a firm focused on advisory work related to middle market leveraged finance, as well as small business investments.
Joseph Taylor Senior Vice President and Managing Director, BDCA Adviser True Course Capital Advisors, LLC; Allied Capital; Callidus Capital Management; JPMorgan Chase Bank N.A.; First Union/First Fidelity Bank Mr. Taylor, a CFA charter holder, has over 20 years of experience investing in middle market companies and has been directly involved in originating, underwriting and syndicating over $8 billion of middle market senior, unitranche and mezzanine debt. Mr. Taylor spent 7 years at JPMorgan Chase and was the founding partner of the Middle Market leveraged loan structuring and syndication group. Most recently, Mr. Taylor was a Senior Advisor at True Course Capital Advisors; a firm focused on advisory work related to middle market leveraged finance and small business investments.
Carol Loundon Senior Analyst, BDCA Adviser Churchill Financial, LLC; CapitalSource Finance LLC; Bank of Ireland; Lehman Brothers Ms. Loundon brings 12 years of experience in underwriting as well as providing debt financing for private equity backed leveraged buyouts and recapitalizations in the middle market. In her previous roles, Ms. Loundon assisted in due diligence initiatives, syndications and portfolio monitoring.

Commercial Real Estate Debt Team
Name Title Previous Affiliations Experience
Jonathan Stein Vice President, ARC Brookfield Asset Management; Credit Mr. Stein has spent most of the last 10 years in the real estate finance, asset management, origination and securitization groups of prominent asset management firms. Over his career Mr. Stein has participated in the origination or underwriting of more than $15 billion of transactions. In his most recent role at Brookfield Strategic Real Estate Partners, he originated equity and debt investments for the North American sleeve of the fund through direct relationships with sponsors, lenders, special servicers and brokers.
Realty Finance Advisors Suisse
Marc Tolchin Assistant General Counsel, American Realty Capital Alston & Bird LLP; Cadwalader, Wickersham & Taft LLP; Law Offices of Marc A. Tolchin; Town of Harrison, NY; Rattet, Hollander & Pasternak, LLP Mr. Tolchin brings 17 years of experience in real estate law, most recently at Alston & Bird LLP. In his role as Senior Real Estate Associate, Mr. Tolchin represented major portfolio and capital markets lenders in the origination of commercial real estate financings secured by hotel, office, retail, mixed-use and multifamily properties.
Daniel Schapiro Assistant Vice President, ARC Realty Finance Advisors Brookfield Asset Management; Perseus Realty Partners and Perseus Realty Capital; AFL-CIO Investment Trust Corporation Mr. Schapiro has 6 years of experience in real estate investment management, real estate private equity and investment banking. In his most recent role at Brookfield Asset Management, Mr. Schapiro provided investment analysis in hard assets and loan portfolios and assisted with acquisition and asset management functions.

American Realty Capital’s Chairman and CEO, Nicholas S. Schorsch noted, “The addition of well-experienced and highly skilled individuals to our dedicated business units serves to enhance the intellectual capital that has helped us successfully grow our business segments over the past five years. We are committed to constructing our business with a clear emphasis on best practices and an investor-first focus, making certain that management’s interests and capabilities are always squarely aligned with the needs of our programs’ shareholders.”

About American Realty Capital

American Realty Capital is a full-service real estate advisory firm founded in 2006 that sponsors real estate investment programs and provides advisory services to retail and institutional investors. American Realty Capital is an active sponsor and manager of public and private real estate investments, a business development company and other investment solutions. Collectively, American Realty Capital’s senior team of seasoned professionals has acquired and managed over $10.0 billion of real estate, as well as $5.0 billion of corporate sale-leasebacks as of 2012.

SOURCE American Realty Capital

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