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| We acquired a shoe division from Kenneth
Cole with its manager and formed Aerosoles.
The company sells moderately priced,
stylish, comfortable women’s shoes. Revenues
have grown over forty (40) times under our
investment by expanding US and international
sales channels; it now owns and operates
over 100 US retail stores. |
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| This ‘fine dining on a bun’ restaurant
company required growth capital to build new
locations. The company was co-founded by two
Atlanta restaurant and business operators
and a nationally known chef, Richard Blais, who is a "Top Chef All Stars Winner" and the subject of numerous articles in the WSJ, NYT, etc.
The restaurants offer a wide array of
creative burgers and nitrogen infused
milkshakes in a hip, vibrant, casual yet
sophisticated setting. The company is
currently building new locations and
developing franchise alliances. |
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| In 2012 we invested in this CRM software company founded in 2006, that has a unique technology platform enabling brands to have ubiquitous engagement with customers...always on, real time, bi-directional and cross channel. We lead a group of investors that acquired convertible preferred stock. The proceeds will be used to expand sales and marketing. |
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| We have made three investments in Bloom Energy, a manufacturer of on-site power generation systems utilizing solid oxide fuel cell energy technology. Their systems leverage break through advances in material science, with roots in NASA’s Mars program, resulting in clean reliable affordable energy … practically anywhere … from a wide range of renewable energy sources or traditional fuels. |
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| Our members are strategic advisors and
active investors to Canaan Resources, an
Oklahoma City-based exploration and
production/private equity company focused on
acquiring and developing working interests
in US domestic on-shore natural gas
reserves. |
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| We invested growth capital into a firm
called Planning Technologies, which was used
to build up its team of over 200
professional engineers. About a year later,
we assisted the company in merging with a
competitor that provided off shore
capabilities. The company was later acquired
by Red Hat, a developer in open source
solutions. |
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| With management we acquired the analog
microwave tower system from Times Mirror
which management later digitized. Over the
next decade management built one of the few
redundant, coast-to-coast fiber optic
networks and shortly thereafter the Company
went public under the name IXC
Communications. Three years later, IXC was
acquired by Cincinnati Bell. Cincinnati Bell
subsequently sold IXC to Level 3. |
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| We invested growth capital into surfEU, a
pan European internet provider based in
Switzerland. With our capital, management
was able to expand its operations with
several large clients thereby dramatically
increasing traffic and revenues. Two years
after our investment, the company was sold
to Tiscali, a large Italian internet and
telecommunications service provider. |
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| General Signal sold its installed base
of time keeping equipment to Grumman Hill
and a manager we backed at a time when its
electro-mechanical product design was being
challenged by competitors. After introducing
highly competitive devices and regaining
market share, the company was sold to a
foreign competitor seeking a larger US
presence. |
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| We acquired a controlling interest from the
founder in this fast-casual Mexican
restaurant chain, which owned and operated
close to 50 stores. After recruiting a new
CEO the company had grown to 157 units over
four years. Shortly thereafter Wendy’s
International pre-empted the Company’s IPO
plans with a cash offer for the Company. |
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