Angela Sormani
UK-based venture capital investor Albion Ventures has hired Dr Christoph Ruedig to work alongside Dr Andrew Elder as it grows its investments in the healthcare sector.
Kitwave Limited, a wholesaler of tobacco, alcohol, confectionery and soft drinks, has acquired Automatic Retailing, a seller of confectionery and soft drinks to the automatic vending industry. UK-based NVM Private Equity Limited (NVM) in March invested 7.5 million pounds (US$ 11.5 million) in Kitwave to support the Group’s strategy to continue growth through consolidation.
Manchester-based life sciences company Phagenesis has closed a 7 million Euro (US$9.23 million) second round of funding to accelerate its commercialisation strategy. Phagenesis Ltd, is a specialist in the treatment of dysphagia (the inability to swallow safely). The investment is led by Inventages, a life science fund specialised in treatment solutions for chronic diseases. Existing shareholders also participated in the round.
California-based Axcient, a data backup, business continuity, and disaster recovery service to the Small and Mid-Sized Business (SMB) market, has raised US$15.5 million in new funding. The Series C round was led by Scale Venture Partners with previous investors Allegis Capital, Peninsula Ventures, and Thomvest Ventures participating, bringing the company's total funding to date to US$33.5 million. Rory O'Driscoll, managing director, Scale Venture Partners, joins the board with this investment.
Tokyo-headquartered packaging manufacturer Toyo Seikan is to acquire Stolle Machinery, LLC (Stolle), a portfolio company of GSO Capital Partners LP (GSO), for $775 million. Stolle, headquartered in Centennial, CO, manufactures equipment used by global can-makers to manufacture and decorate aluminum or steel can bodies and easy-open ends used primarily to package carbonated soft drinks, beer and various foods.
Tech Valley Communications, a portfolio company of Boston-based private equity firm Riverside Partners, has acquired Lebanon, NH-based segTEL. Q Advisors LLC, a Denver and San Francisco based investment banking boutique, acted as exclusive financial advisor to segTEL in connection with the transaction.
Californian home services marketplace Redbeacon.com has appointed Anthony Rodio as CEO. The company is backed by venture capital firms Mayfield Fund and Venrock. Before joining Redbeacon.com, Rodio was chief operating officer of Support.com's software business. Prior to Support.com, he held senior positions at SideStep (acquired by Kayak in 2007), StubHub (acquired by eBay in 2007), Microsoft, and Amazon.com. He spent the early part of his career at Bank of America and Procter & Gamble.
Mike Zafirovski has been named director of Apria Healthcare Group Inc. and senior advisor to The Blackstone Group. Zafirovski's 35-year career includes roles as president, chief executive officer and chief operating officer with Nortel, Motorola and five General Electric (GE) businesses in the high tech, industrial, consumer, financial services and insurance industries.
The California Endowment, the state’s largest, private health foundation with assets of more than $3 billion, has committed $10 million to DBL Investors’ second fund—the DBL Equity Fund II. Venture specialist DBL Investors has invested in 28 start-up companies to date.
Seattle-based Banyan Branch, a media agency that provides end-to-end marketing services for the leading brands, has secured $1.7 million in growth funding from a group of private investors. The company plans to use the capital to accelerate growth and continue investment in scalable social media processes, media buying and technology for its clients. A group of elite investors and entrepreneurs participated in the Series A growth round, including, among others, Bob Gay, CEO and co-founder of Huntsman Gay Global Capital; Bill Bryant, venture partner at Draper Fisher Jurvetson and Geoff Entress, venture partner at Voyager Capital.