Iris Dorbian
Argonne Capital Group has acquired two upstate New York-based John Deere dealerships Lakeland Equipment and Z&M Ag and Turf. No financial terms were disclosed. Also, the two dealer groups will merge with 12 dealerships and be called LandPro Equipment LLC.
In Second Opinion, Deutsche Bank's investment banking chief Jeffrey Urwin is in talks to depart, Betsy DeVos is confirmed as Education Secretary after VP Pence breaks the tie and the Dow is off to a solid start this year and it's all thanks to Apple, IBM, Boeing and Visa.
Los Angeles-based Elite Interactive Solutions, a provider of remote guarding services, has raised an undisclosed amount of funding. The investor was The Beekman Group.
Monomoy Capital Partners has promoted Lee Mlotek to director from vice president. Also, the firm has added Kelly Myers and Rick Key to its operating group. Prior to joining Monomoy in 2010, Mlotek worked at KPS Capital Partners. And, Myers worked most recently as a senior manager in the audit group at Grant Thornton LLP and as the director of internal audit for Temper Sealy International while Key previously worked at Toyota Motor Corp. and Pon Material Handling.
Chicago-based Waud Capital Partners, a lower mid-market private equity firm, has made an undisclosed investment in Minnesota Eye Consultants, a clinical eye care services provider. As a result of the transaction, Waud has launched United Vision Company, a holding company that will back MEC's expansion in the Minnesota market; however, MEC will operate as Minnesota Eye Consultants in its existing markets.
WILsquare Capital Partners has raised $37 million for its inaugural fund, according to an SEC listing. No target was specified in the document. Based in St. Louis, Missouri, WILsquare focuses on lower-middle market companies in the Midwest and South.
The Carlyle Group has acquired a majority stake in Africa-based CMC Networks, a telecommunications carrier. The value of the transaction is over $100 million. Standard Bank of South Africa and Rand Marchant Bank provided the financing for the transaction.
Innovative Chemical Products, a portfolio company of Audax Private Equity, has acquired Birdsboro, Pennsylvania-based MinusNine Technologies, a maker of UV/EB coatings, adhesives, primers and specialty products for graphic arts and industrial applications. No financial terms were disclosed.
Matrix Capital Markets Group Inc has promoted five of its staffers. Thomas E. Kelso, currently the managing director as well as principal and head of the firm's downstream energy and convenience retail group, will also serve as president of Matrix. Also, David W. Shoulders is now managing director and head of Matrix's consumer and industrial products group; William J. O’Flaherty is now a vice president and a member of Matrix's consumer and industrial products group; Stephen C. Lynch is a vice president and John C. Duni has become an associate.
Brook Venture Partners, Resolute Capital Partners and Eagle Private Capital have acquired Cole Information Services, a provider of customer acquisition solutions. The seller was MCM Capital Partners. No financial terms were disclosed. Petsky Prunier advised Cole on the transaction.