Iris Dorbian
Pamplona Capital Management has agreed to buy Charter NEX Films, a maker of polyethylene films. No financial terms were disclosed for the transaction, which is expected to close during the first quarter of 2015. Houlihan Lokey Capital advised Charter NEX on the deal while Morgan Stanley provided financial advice to Pamplona. Charter NEX was previously owned by Mason Wells.
Oil and gas company Eclipse Resources has agreed to sell 62.5 million shares of its common stock in a $440 million private placement. The backers include EnCap Investments. The transaction is expected to be completed on or around January 28, 2015. KeyBanc Capital Markets advised Eclipse Resources and also served as placement agent.
First Read begins the post-holiday recovery with news about Xiaomi confirming $1.1 bln funding, Gawker slowly releases documents in unpaid intern lawsuit and refuses to disclose tax returns and private equity fees are getting leaner.
Mrs. Fields Confections has bought the assets of Salt Lake City-based Maxfield Candy Company, a maker of chocolates.
Scottsdale, Arizona-based DPG Investments has expanded its team with nine key hires. Among them are Wes Anderson as chief operating officer, Neil Elsey as managing partner of DPG-Avion Holdings and Jerry Hudspeth as managing director of corporate finance, energy/special situations.
Environmental solutions provider Newalta has agreed to sell its industrial division to Birch Hill Equity Partners for $300 million. The transaction is expected to be completed in the first quarter of 2015. RBC Capital Markets provided financial advice to Newalta on this deal.
Seattle-based pet insurance provider Trupanion has named Robin Ferracone to its board of directors. Ferracone is the CEO of Farient Advisors. Trupanion is backed by Maveron and Highland Capital Partners.
First Read wakes you up on this balmy Christmas Eve with news the U.S. economy has posted its strongest growth in more than a decade, Tinder is being used to ID suspected thieves and five ways Santa uses big data. Happy Holidays!
First Reserve has bought Navigator Energy Services, a Dallas-based midstream services provider. The value of the acquisition is up to $250 million.
AltheaDx, a molecular diagnostics firm, has filed for an IPO. The number of shares that will be sold as well as the stock's pricing terms have yet to be set. AltheaDx plans on listing its stock on the NASDAQ under the ticker symbol "IDGX." Citigroup and Jefferies are the lead underwriters. AltheaDx's backers include Telegraph Hill Partners.