December 13, 2019

Morrow Sodali Receives 2019 Advisor Award (pg.14)

Michael Verrechia, Morrow Sodali’s U.S.-based managing director of activism and contested situations, said his team has been working with both new and existing clients on activism preparedness “much earlier in their annual meeting process.” Verrechia believes a prevalent trend this proxy season was opposition to M&A and he expects more such campaigns next year.

October 24, 2019

Granite Creek Capital Partners, L.L.C. and Red Arts Capital Announce Acquisition of Sunset Pacific Transportation (Globe Newswire)

Granite Creek’s investment in Sunset Pacific Transportation was made from its $200 million fund, Granite Creek FlexCap II, L.P. (“FlexCap II”). Within FlexCap II, Granite Creek expects to invest in a total of 15-20 companies engaged in manufacturing, business services, healthcare and agribusiness. Granite Creek plays an active role with the leadership of its portfolio companies and serves as a trusted advisor and partner. Sunset Pacific Transportation is the first California-based company in its current portfolio.

August 7, 2019

Granite Creek Backs Corporate Services Provider Morrow Sodali (WSJ)

Granite Creek Capital Partners invested $15 million in Morrow Sodali, which provides strategic advisory and other services to corporate clients, the Chicago firm said Wednesday. The firm’s investment is for a minority stake in the New York-based company, alongside family offices Holding Pallavicini and Fidia Holding, which invested earlier.

June 19, 2019

Granite Creek Capital Partners, L.L.C. Announces an Investment in Royal Biologics (Globe Newswire)

Granite Creek Capital Partners, L.L.C., a private investment firm based in Chicago, today announces its investment in Royal Biologics, a medical device company focused on the growing regenerative medicine sector. The company, a leading manufacturer and distributor of devices used in stem cell and other surgical procedures, develops, licenses, produces and distributes biologics, orthobiologics and orthopedic implant products. Royal is the first healthcare investment of Granite Creek’s FlexCap II private investment fund.

June 18, 2019

Granite Creek Invests in Royal Biologics (WSJ)

Less than a month after closing its second fund, Granite Creek Capital Partners has struck its first deal out of the vehicle for medical-device and biologics producer Royal Biologics LLC. The private-equity firm will invest $7.5 million in Royal Biologics, with the option to invest another $7.5 million, according to Mark Radzik, a partner at the Chicago firm. In late May, the firm—which targets lower middle-market deals—closed Granite Creek FlexCap II LP with $200 million in commitments. Granite Creek initially targeted about $150 million, WSJ Pro has reported.

May 22, 2019

Private-equity firm Granite Creek raises $200 million (Crain's)

Chicago private-equity firm Granite Creek Capital Partners, an early investor in fast-growing Chicago-based SMS Assist, said it closed this week on its second investment fund after raising $200 million. The firm has already made two investments with the new fund, said co-founder Mark Radzik, though he declined to be more specific. Overall, the firm now has $400 million in assets under management. Granite Creek, founded in 2005, invests in manufacturing, agribusiness, health care and business services companies in the lower middle market. Typically, the firm makes equity investments of between $10 million and $20 million, but also sometimes extends credit to companies. It will take majority or minority stakes.

May 22, 2019

Granite Creek Closes Second Fund at $200 Million (WSJ)

Granite Creek Capital Partners LLC has finished raising its second fund to invest in the debt and equity of lower midmarket companies. Granite Creek FlexCap II LP closed with $200 million, the Chicago firm said Wednesday. The fund’s final tally exceeded an initial target of about $150 million, said firm co-founder and Managing Partner Mark Radzik. The firm’s prior fund closed in 2006 with $85 million. Granite Creek aims to invest $10 million to $20 million per deal from the new fund, backing companies in the business-services, manufacturing, agribusiness and health-care sectors, according to a news release.

April 29, 2019

SMS ASSIST NAMES LONGTIME LEADER MARC SHIFFMAN CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER

CHICAGO, April 29, 2019 — SMS Assist, a leading facilities management technology company, announced today that Marc Shiffman has been named chief executive officer, effective immediately. With nearly a decade of experience leading SMS Assist, most recently as president and chief financial officer, Shiffman has been a driving force behind SMS Assist’s rapid revenue and profitability growth, and has overseen the development of market‐leading solutions for customers and affiliates. He succeeds outgoing CEO Taylor Rhodes, who is departing the company to pursue a new opportunity.

April 10, 2019

5 Key Ways To Better Engagement With Boards (Morrow Sodali)

Morrow Sodali has released its fourth annual Global Institutional Investor Survey which includes feedback from a third of the world’s assets under management representing $33 trillion gathered from 46 respondents, including several domestic funds. The results confirm that 2019 will be another year of transformative change as investors step up engagement to better understand the alignment between board composition and business strategy, especially in the way the board oversees corporate culture and the ‘tone from the top’.

April 4, 2019

What Impact Investments Mean For Boards (Morrow Sodali)

Impact investing is making waves in the financial world. Based on the idea that asset managers invest “to positively contribute to social or environmental solutions”, the strategy has already attracted some big-name fund managers. Financial writers and observers are quick to rave about impact investment and its growing importance. After all, it’s one of the fastest growing areas of the fund management industry and it is aimed at doing good. It’s good for business and reputations.

March 28, 2019

Big Joe Introduces HD Joey and Customizable PDX50 Stacker @ Promat

Big Joe Forklifts (Lombard, IL) is proud to announce two exciting additions to their product offerings at Promat 2019. Having introduced the first walkie forklift to the world at the Chicago material handling exhibition in 1951, the debut of the PDX50 custom stacker platform represents a major milestone for the brand.

February 14, 2019

Survey Highlights Growing Investor Pressure On Governance Teams (Morrow Sodali)

New research underlines the increasing pressure on companies – and in turn their governance teams – to respond to demands from investors with effective engagement, disclosure and policies on an ever-broader array of topics, including human capital.

February 11, 2019

Shareholder Activism: Advice From the Trenches (Morrow Sodali)

The global spread of investor activism is top of mind for activists and experts who work with boards to counter them, based on panels and discussions with attendees at SkyTop Strategies’ annual shareholder activism conference in New York late last month. Experts are also pondering how uncertainty in the U.S. and abroad may open the door for activists to target more vulnerable companies.

February 6, 2019

Shareholder Activism and Engagement (Morrow Sodali)

Shareholder activism continues to thrive and expand in scope and type of activist. Across the globe, activists are busy choosing their targets, preparing their campaigns and honing their attack strategies.

February 4, 2019

10 Shareholder Relations Trends to Look out for in 2019 (Morrow Sodali)

2019 will be another year of transformative change in relations between companies and shareholders.

October 29, 2018

SBIA Presents Congressman Brad Schneider (D-IL) with Champion of Small Business Investing Award

The Small Business Investor Alliance (SBIA), the leading association of lower middle market private equity funds and investors, recognized Congressman Brad Schneider (D-IL) for his support of small business investment and presented him with SBIA’s Champion of Small Business Investing Award. Rep. Schneider is among a group of select Members of Congress whom SBIA is honoring in recognition of their support for small business access to capital.

September 5, 2018

SMS Assist to Open Naperville Call Center for up to 400

SMS Assist, one of Chicago’s most closely watched growth-stage tech companies, is planning a big expansion. So why is a Michigan Avenue-headquartered firm deciding to grow in the suburbs?

March 7, 2018

SMS Assist Continues to Build World-Class Executive Team with Hiring of Amazon Veteran Peter Commons as Chief Product Officer

SMS Assist today announced the hiring of Amazon veteran Peter Commons as Chief Product Officer.

January 18, 2018

KION buys into EP Equipment, Big Lift’s majority owner

The KION Group is entering into an exclusive global strategic partnership with leading Chinese manufacturer EP Equipment in the fast-growing market for entry-level, light-duty warehouse equipment.

January 25, 2017

WELD AND MOMO JOIN FORCES

Kansas City, MO. – With over 100 years of combined motorsports and performance automotive leadership, two of the industry’s most iconic companies, MOMO and WELD Racing join together to create a global portfolio of storied high performance brands and product lines.

June 23, 2016

Strong growth drives new additions at Big Joe

Big Lift LLC, manufacturer and distributor of Big Joe brand material handling equipment, will complete of a number of expansion plans next month in response to continuing strong growth in North America.

June 17, 2016

Ernst & Young Announces SMS Assist CEO Mike Rothman Named EY Entrepreneur of the Year® 2016 Technology Award Winner in the Midwest

Ernst & Young announced that Mike Rothman, chairman and CEO of SMS Assist, an innovative mobile and cloud-based multisite property management company, received the EY Entrepreneur of the Year® 2016 Technology Award in the Midwest.

June 7, 2016

SMS Assist, a No-Glamor Start-Up, Becomes a Unicorn

Chicago's latest unicorn is all about grit.

June 7, 2016

SMS Assist Receives $150M Series D Investment from Goldman Sachs Investment Partners

SMS Assist, an innovative mobile and cloud-based multisite property management company, today announced it has raised $150 million in Series D funding from Goldman Sachs Investment Partners. Prior investors in SMS Assist include Insight Venture Partners and Pritzker Group Venture Capital.

April 9, 2016

Weld consolidates HiPer at KC HQ

Weld Racing L.L.C. has consolidated the operations of its HiPer Technology unit at its Kansas City headquarters.

October 30, 2015

Weld Completes HiPer Technology Asset Acquisition

Custom wheel maker Weld Racing L.L.C. has acquired the assets of HiPer Technology Inc., a manufacturer of “super structural” carbon fiber wheels for all-terrain vehicle (ATV) and side-by-side (UTV) vehicles.

July 31, 2015

Street and Drift Wheel and Tire Upgrade With Weld Racing and Falken

Weld Wheels are for more than just traveling in a straight line.

May 15, 2015

Jim Clark to present at June 2015 Agri Investment Forum

Granite Creek's Managing Partner Jim Clark will present at the June 3 & 4, 2015 Agri Investment Forum in Toronto.

May 5, 2015

Insight Venture Partners invests in SMS Assist

SMS Assist has received a $45 million investment from New York-based Insight Venture Partners.

February 24, 2015

Weld presents first President's award at 'World of Wheels'

Weld presented its first President's Award at the 2015 O'Reilly's World of Wheels.

November 14, 2014

Weld Racing Acquires CCW Wheels

Looking to further expand their wheel offerings, business opportunities, technical capabilities, and appeal to customers, Weld Racing recently acquired wheel manufacturer CCW..

October 30, 2014

Weld Racing hosting celebs at SEMA

Weld Racing will host several celebrity guests during the upcoming Specialty Equipment Market Association (SEMA) show in Las Vegas from November 4-7, 2014.

October 27, 2014

Weld teams up with Shelby American

Weld Racing will supply Shelby American with the new Mustang 10-spoke Venice wheel.

December 9, 2013

Norman Young Named President and CEO of Weld Racing

Weld Racing, LLC announced the appointment of Norman Young as President and Chief Executive Officer.

October 22, 2013

SMS Assist raises $45 million from Pritzker Group Venture Capital

SMS Assist announced a $45 million investment from Pritzker Group Venture Capital.

June 20, 2013

Kyle Fickler Elected SEMA Board Member

Kyle Fickler, Weld Racing's Vice President of Sales, has been elected as a SEMA Board Member.

January 9, 2013

Sammy Swindell and Weld Racing team up in 2013

Legendary Sprint Car and Midget driver Sammy Swindell has chosen Weld Racing as the official wheel supplier for his Big Game Tree Stands Racing Sprint Car for 2013.

December 13, 2012

Big Lift launches new product

Big Lift introduces the J1 Joey task support vehicle.

October 23, 2012

SMS wins 2012 Chicago Innovation Award

SMS Assist has been named winner of the 2012 Chicago Innovation Award. With nearly 400 nominees from across all industries, sizes and sectors, SMS Assist was recognized for its proprietary technology that has revolutionized facilities services

July 18, 2012

Hughes named best Telematics Service Provider

Hughes Telematics, Inc., (HTI), (OTCBB: HUTC) a leader in providing next generation connected solutions, today announced that it has been named winner of the Best Telematics Service Provider at the 2012 Telematics Detroit conference in Novi, MI.

July 6, 2012

Lumisafe Ltd and Cyalume® Technologies Provide Emergency Lightstations® For £15 Million Heathrow Express Refurbishment

LumiSafe Ltd, based in Bristol, in the South West of England, has provided train company Heathrow Express with 366 Cyalume® Model 4 LightStations® as part of the rail provider’s £15 million investment directed at the upgrading of their fleet.

June 25, 2012

Derma Sciences Added to the Russell 3000® Index

Derma Sciences, Inc. (Nasdaq: DSCI), a medical device and pharmaceutical company focused on advanced wound care, today announced that its stock has been added the Russell 3000® Index.

June 22, 2012

Weld Racing Unveils Delta-1 Drag Racing Wheel

June 1, 2012

Verizon to acquire Hughes Telematics, Inc.

Verizon Communications Inc. (NYSE, Nasdaq: VZ) and Hughes Telematics, Inc. (OTCBB: HUTC) today announced a definitive merger agreement under which Verizon will acquire Hughes Telematics Inc. (HTI).

May 31, 2012

Big Joe launches new walkie counterbalance forklift

Big Joe's CB22 walkie counterbalance lift truck offers the advantages of AC technology in a compact and flexible pedestrian design.

April 17, 2012

Derma Sciences Completes MedEfficiency Acquisition

Derma Sciences, Inc. (Nasdaq: DSCI), a medical device and pharmaceutical company focused on advanced wound care, has completed its previously announced acquisition of MedEfficiency, Inc.

April 2, 2012

Cyalume Technologies Announces New President and CEO

Cyalume Technologies Holdings, Inc. (OTCBB:CYLU) today announced the appointment of Mr. Zivi Nedivi as its President and Chief Executive Officer.

January 10, 2012

Hughes Telematics introduces next generation telematics

Mercedes-Benz USA (MBUSA) today launched mbrace2, the next generation of telematics innovation powered by Hughes Telematics, Inc. mbrace2 gives drivers top-of-the-line features related to safety, infotainment, personal assistance and vehicle care.

November 30, 2011

Derma Sciences to present at upcoming conferences

Derma Sciences, Inc. is focused on advancing wound care and announced today that the Company will be presenting at two upcoming conferences.

November 1, 2011

Weld Racing introduces new truck wheel line

Today Weld Racing LLC introduced their forged aluminum truck wheels to the attendees at the 2011 SEMA show. The positive response was overwhelming.

November 1, 2011

Volkswagon selects Hughes Telematics as exclusive provider

Hughes Telematics, a leader in providing next generation connected solutions, today announced that it has signed an agreement with Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (VWGoA) to deliver Volkswagen connected vehicle services beginning in 2013.

October 11, 2011

SMS Assist moves headquarters

To accommodate its current period of expansion, SMS Assist has moved its operations to the John Hancock Center in Chicago, IL.

August 19, 2011

Cyalume creates unique infrared "dirt"

Cyalume's idIRt uses light stick technology to track criminals with "dirt" that emits infrared light invisible to the bad guys.

August 12, 2011

Mincron Announces Second Generation of Advanced User Interface Tools

Mincron has released their second generation of the Windows User Interface. Per the Director of Product Development, the front end has been completely redesigned from the ground up to allow for faster decisions and improvements in margins.

June 22, 2011

New World Ventures Invests $15 million in SMS Assist

New World Ventures, Chicago’s largest technology venture capital firm, today announced a $15 million investment in Chicago-based SMS Assist.

June 8, 2011

New Big Joe electric walkie stacker delivers low cost operation

Big Lift announced today the addition of the Big Joe® PDS30 Electric Walkie Straddle Stacker to its product line. The new Big Joe PDS30 was developed to deliver the lowest possible operating cost to users through simplicity in design and the use of highly efficient electrical components.

March 1, 2011

Big Lift launches new product

Big Joe, a pioneer in the development of electric forklifts for over 60 years, will unveil a radical new pallet truck design during the 2011 ProMat International Exposition.