Archives

GSK To Buy IDRx In $1 Billion Deal

By Amit Chowdhry ● Jan 15, 2025

GSK announced that they have entered into an agreement under which GSK will acquire IDRx, a Boston-based, clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company dedicated to developing precision therapeutics for treating GIST. As part of the agreement, GSK will pay $1 billion upfront, with the potential for an additional $150 million success-based regulatory approval milestone payment. This acquisition includes lead molecule IDRX-42, a highly selective KIT TKI being developed as a first- and second-line therapy for treating GIST.

Vagaro Buys Schedulicity For Expanding Services

By Amit Chowdhry ● Jan 15, 2025

Vagaro, a leading software for businesses in beauty, wellness, and fitness, announced that they have strategically acquired Schedulicity, a scheduling software for businesses across the beauty & wellness industries. This acquisition, effective immediately, further expands Vagaro’s commitment to quality business solutions for professionals.

Roark Capital And Kohlberg Sign Strategic Partnership With GPRS

By Amit Chowdhry ● Jan 15, 2025

Roark Capital and Kohlberg announced a strategic partnership with GPRS Holdings. Kohlberg, the previous majority owner of the company, will remain a minority investor and partner with Roark to accelerate growth further. The company’s management team, led by CEO Matt Aston, will continue to lead GPRS and remain significant business owners.

Biden-Harris Administration Awards Record-Breaking $183 Billion In Federal Contracts To Small Businesses

By Amit Chowdhry ● Jan 15, 2025

Administrator Isabel Casillas Guzman, head of the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) and the voice in President Biden’s Cabinet for America’s more than 34 million small businesses, announced that small businesses received more than $183 billion in prime contracts from the federal government – 28.8% of all federal contracting dollars – in fiscal year 2024, which ended September 30, 2024.

Ramirez Asset Management Buys $500 Million Private Credit Strategy Unit From Avenue Capital Group

By Amit Chowdhry ● Jan 15, 2025

Ramirez Asset Management (RAM) - a $12+ billion fixed-income and equity investment manager serving institutional investors and high net-worth investors - announced it recently acquired the private credit opportunities strategy team and their assets from hedge fund manager Avenue Capital Group.

DNSFilter: Interview With CTO TK Keanini About The Threat Protection Company

By Amit Chowdhry ● Jan 15, 2025

DNSFilter is a company that offers threat protection & content filtering for MSP partners and mid-sized and enterprise companies. Our software blocks malicious site content in real time and provides important visibility for IT teams. Pulse 2.0 interviewed DNSFilter CTO TK Keanini to learn more about the company.

Hunt Military Communities Buying Virginia-Based Privatized Housing Development Homeport Hampton Roads

By Amit Chowdhry ● Jan 15, 2025

Hunt Military Communities (HMC), which is the nation’s largest provider of military housing, announced that it has acquired full ownership of Homeport Hampton Roads, a high-performing privatized housing development supporting unaccompanied Navy personnel.

Adams Outdoor Advertising Acquires Cee Media

By Amit Chowdhry ● Jan 15, 2025

Adams Outdoor Advertising, the fourth largest out-of-home advertising operator in the U.S. and the largest privately owned, announced the acquisition of Wisconsin-based billboard company Cee Media. This strategic deal amplifies Adams’ presence across the Midwest and underscores its commitment to delivering unparalleled advertising solutions to businesses nationwide.

Garden City Equity Invests In Commercial HVAC Solutions Company Westbrook

By Amit Chowdhry ● Jan 15, 2025

Garden City Equity - a people-first holding company partnering with exceptional founder-owned businesses - announced an investment in Westbrook Service Corporation. And Westbrook is a Florida-based commercial HVAC, electrical, and plumbing services provider.

IQVIA: Interview With VP Of Financial Management Solutions Jim DiCesare About The Life Sciences Management Company

By Amit Chowdhry ● Jan 15, 2025

IQVIA is a leading global provider of advanced analytics, technology solutions, and clinical research services to the life sciences industry. Pulse 2.0 interviewed IQVIA’s Vice President of Financial Management Solutions, Jim DiCesare, to learn more about the company.

Palm Peak Capital Acquires Pacific Shoring Products

By Amit Chowdhry ● Jan 15, 2025

Palm Peak Capital - a private equity firm that invests in lower-middle market industrial and services companies across North America - announced that it has completed its first platform investment with the acquisition of Pacific Shoring Products, a leading manufacturer of trench safety equipment. The terms of the private transaction are not disclosed.

F-Secure: Interview With VP Of Embedded Security Business Dmitri Vellikok About The Cybersecurity Solutions Company

By Amit Chowdhry ● Jan 15, 2025

F-Secure makes every digital moment more secure by delivering brilliantly simple, frictionless security experiences that make life easier for the tens of millions of people they protect and their 200+ partners. Pulse 2.0 interviewed F-Secure’s VP of Embedded Security Business, Dmitri Vellikok, to learn more about the company.

DiagnaMed Collaborating With Texas Tech On Hydrogen Innovation

By Amit Chowdhry ● Jan 15, 2025

DiagnaMed - a leading innovator in hydrogen-producing technologies and AI medical applications - announced it has entered into a limited license and option agreement with the Texas Tech University System to commercialize a ground-breaking technology (WO2023044149A1) that produces hydrogen directly from petroleum reservoirs and natural hydrogen fields.

CAPTRUST Onboards Houston-Based $300 Million Advisor Firm

By Amit Chowdhry ● Jan 15, 2025

CAPTRUST Financial Advisors announced that Wealth Covenant Group (WCG) in Houston, TX has joined CAPTRUST. WCG has served a select group of families and business owners as their trusted financial advisors, offering comprehensive financial and estate planning, asset protection, tax planning, and investment management services. Headed by President Dennis Stavinoha, the firm brings three employees and $300 million in assets to CAPTRUST.

Wealth Enhancement Acquires $82 Million RIA Danison & Associates

By Amit Chowdhry ● Jan 15, 2025

Wealth Enhancement, a national independent wealth management firm with over $103 billion in client assets, announced the acquisition of Danison & Associates, an independent RIA in Columbus, Ohio. And the team of two advisors and two support staff oversees more than $82 million in client assets and is led by Dean Danison, CIMC, President, and Tracey Danison, CFP, Vice President.

Waystone: Nigel Pasea Named As Country Head Of Middle East

By Amit Chowdhry ● Jan 15, 2025

Waystone, a provider of specialist services to the global asset management industry, announced the appointment of Nigel Pasea as Country Head of the Middle East. With over four decades of finance, governance, risk, and compliance experience, Pasea joined Waystone Group in 2021 as part of the acquisition of CCL Compliance. He has spearheaded the company’s compliance solutions business in the UAE, delivering significant growth.

IK Partners Promotes 3 To Partner And Opens Munich Office

By Amit Chowdhry ● Jan 15, 2025

Leading European private equity firm IK Partners announced that it has opened a new office in Munich, Germany, as part of its ongoing commitment to investing in the DACH region. The Munich office will be headed by Joachim Dettmar, Partner within IK’s Operations Team, and Adrian Tanski, who has been promoted to Partner and sits within the Partnership Fund team.

Glafabra Therapeutics And University Of Utah To Partner On Clinical Investigation For Fabry Disease

By Amit Chowdhry ● Jan 15, 2025

Glafabra Therapeutics - a biotechnology company focused on developing therapies for rare genetic disorders - announced it has entered into a Letter of Intent (LOI) with the University of Utah, specifically through the Utah Data Coordinating Center (Utah DCC) and The Cell Therapy and Regenerative Medicine Program (CellReGenTM), to collaborate on a clinical investigation targeting Fabry disease. This deal, anticipated to be finalized this year, aims to advance the development of a potential new treatment for this rare and progressive genetic disorder.

Raymond James Brings In $525 Million Florida-Based Advisor Mary Lauritano

By Amit Chowdhry ● Jan 15, 2025

Raymond James announced it welcomed financial advisor Mary Lauritano, CFA, to Raymond James & Associates (RJA) – which is the firm's employee advisor channel, as revealed by Gregg Stupinski, Southeast division director for RJA. As managing director, Lauritano heads Lauritano Wealth Management of Raymond James and is joined by senior client service associates Natalia Morales and Melody Price.

Indivisible Partners Onboards $640 Million Team And Launches Advisory Firm

By Amit Chowdhry ● Jan 15, 2025

Indivisible Partners - a privately-owned independent advisory firm - announced the launch of its company while responding to the changing expectations and needs of financial advisors and clients. This firm was built around a common purpose — empowering advisors to help clients achieve their desired outcomes by focusing on quality decision-making and redefining the wealth advisory experience.

Blank Rome: Stephen Koval Named As Corporate Partner In NY

By Amit Chowdhry ● Jan 14, 2025

Blank Rome announced that Stephen “Steve” C. Koval has joined the firm’s New York office as a partner in the Corporate, M&A, and Securities group. As a renowned dealmaker, Koval focuses his practice on structuring and negotiating complex business and private equity (PE) transactions, including public and private mergers, acquisitions, divestitures, carveouts, and recapitalizations. He joined Blank Rome from Arnold & Porter, where he served as a partner and co-head of the firm’s global private equity practice.

Telecom Infrastructure Partners: €560 Million In Debt Financing Secured

By Amit Chowdhry ● Jan 14, 2025

Telecom Infrastructure Partners (TIP), a global digital infrastructure investment firm, announced the closing of a €560 million debt financing. This deal represents a significant milestone for TIP, highlighting its strong credit profile, strategic vision, and ability to secure competitive financing in an evolving market.

Jotit: Education Technology Company Raises $10 Million (Seed)

By Amit Chowdhry ● Jan 14, 2025

Jotit, a platform designed to simplify and streamline learning in the digital age, announced the closing of its $10 million seed funding round led by Owl Ventures. Other key investors include Good Company VC, Cresson Management, Two Lanterns VC, One Line VC, Paul Volosov, Guy Gamzu, Amit Gilon, and MindCET Capital.

Verastem Oncology: $150 Million Credit Facility Deal Signed

By Amit Chowdhry ● Jan 14, 2025

Verastem Oncology, a biopharmaceutical company committed to advancing new medicines for patients with RAS/MAPK pathway-driven cancers, announced a new credit facility for up to $150 million and an equity investment of $7.5 million with Oberland Capital Management.

Aerin Medical: $32.5 Million Raised To Advance Growth

By Amit Chowdhry ● Jan 14, 2025

Aerin Medical - a high-growth medical device company focused on expanding access to meaningful relief for millions of patients suffering from chronic ENT conditions - announced the completion of two significant financial transactions.

Pipe17: AI-Based Order Operations Solutions Company Raises $15.5 Million (Series A)

By Amit Chowdhry ● Jan 14, 2025

Pipe17, a leading provider of AI-based composable order operations, announced a $15.5 million funding round, highlighting the company's rapid growth and strategic vision to transform commerce operations. And the company recently hired its first Chief Operating Officer, Kelly Goetsch, a recognized industry pioneer who joined Pipe17 from commercetools, where he helped scale the company to over $100 million in annual recurring revenue (ARR).

American Industrial Partners Raises Strategic Investment From Blackstone

By Amit Chowdhry ● Jan 14, 2025

American Industrial Partners (AIP) announced a strategic minority investment from funds managed by Blackstone GP Stakes, specializing in value-added, long-term minority investments in industry-leading private equity firms.

Raymond James Onboards $440 Million Oklahoma-Based Team

By Amit Chowdhry ● Jan 14, 2025

Raymond James announced it onboard financial advisors John “David” Veitch and Drew Veitch to Raymond James & Associates (RJA) – which is the firm's employee advisor channel as revealed by RJA’s Southwest regional director Edward Sudzina. Based in Tulsa, Oklahoma, this team is joined by David’s brother, client service associate Scott Veitch.

Savvy Advisors Passes $1 Billion In AUM

By Amit Chowdhry ● Jan 14, 2025

Savvy Advisors, a federally registered investment advisor (RIA) affiliated with Savvy Wealth, announced it has surpassed $1 billion in client assets under management (AUM), tripling its assets since the start of 2024. And at the same time, Savvy added four more experienced financial advisors in December, capping off a transformative year of expansion. These developments follow Savvy Wealth’s $26.5 million Series A funding round earlier this year, emphasizing its affiliated RIA’s strong trajectory heading into 2025.

Cerity Partners Onboards $4.1 Billion AUM Firm Prio Wealth

By Amit Chowdhry ● Jan 14, 2025

Cerity Partners, a leading independent wealth management firm in the U.S., announced that it is merging with Prio Wealth, a Boston-based wealth management firm. This deal will expand Cerity Partners’ comprehensive wealth advisory services across family and generational wealth planning, financial and retirement planning, and investment management services.