KRG Capital closes off its third fund
KRG Capital Partners, the Denver-based buyout firm, announced Thursday that it closed off its third fund, KRG Capital Fund III LP, to new investment.
With a self-imposed cap of $715 million, Fund III was significantly oversubscribed and exceeded the firm’s initial target of $600 million when the fund was launched in December. Fund III joins KRG’s 1999 Fund I and 2001 Fund II, resulting in nearly $1.4 billion in equity capital raised over the last six years.
Wild Oats taps former ShopKo executive
Boulder-based Wild Oats Markets Inc. on Thursday said former ShopKo executive Dan Bolstad has been named senior vice president of operations for the natural-foods retailer.
Bolstad succeeds Edward Dunlap, who has resigned. Dunlap joined the company as chief financial officer in December 2001 and was appointed senior vice president of operations last year. Wild Oats spokeswoman Sonja Tuitele said Dunlap’s resignation was a “mutual decision” related to the company’s future growth plans.
Ground broken for assisted living facility
MacKenzie House LLC broke ground Thursday on a $20 million assisted living community.
The 71,000-square-foot MorningStar Littleton, at 5344 S. Kipling Parkway, will include 65 assisted living units and 20 Alzhei mer’s units. The community is expected to open next summer with average rents of $3,000 to $4,000 a month. MorningStar Assisted Living will operate and manage the facility.
Worldwide Business sold to Dallas firm
Barnett Energy of Dallas announced Wednesday that it has acquired Denver-based Worldwide Business Solutions Inc., a provider of call-center software platforms as well as out-sourcing services. The company is now called Worldwide Strategies Inc., with offices in Denver.
The company also announced Thursday that it signed a definitive agreement with Cleave Global E-Services Limited of Noida, India, to purchase up to 20 percent of its existing call center and to provide marketing and sales support for future customers on a worldwide basis.
DirecTV seeks probe of Adelphia sale
DirecTV Group Inc., a U.S. satellite broadcaster, asked the Federal Communications Commission to examine the proposed acquisition of Greenwood Village-based Adelphia Communications Corp. by Comcast Corp. and Time Warner Inc.
DirecTV, which is controlled by Rupert Murdoch’s News Corp., urged the FCC “to conduct a thorough examination of the threat to competition posed” by the purchase, the company said Thursday in an e-mailed statement.
Kodak’s credit ratings reduced by 2 firms
Eastman Kodak Co., the world’s largest photography company, had its credit ratings cut by Moody’s Investors Service and Fitch Ratings because of a faster-than-anticipated decline in film sales.
The company’s senior unsecured rating was lowered two levels to Ba3 from Ba1, and is under review for a further downgrade, Moody’s said Thursday. Fitch dropped its ratings to BB from BB+ with a negative outlook.
Bandana’s Bar-B-Q coming to Denver
St. Louis-based Bandana’s Bar-B-Q on Thursday said it has signed a franchise agreement with Western Women LLC to develop a restaurant in the Denver area.
The restaurant is expected to open by the end of the year, the company said. Bandana’s Bar-B- Q operates 15 family-owned and two franchised locations in Missouri and Illinois.
Liberty Media completes spinoff
Liberty Media Corp. said Thursday it has completed the spinoff of Discovery Holding Co. through the distribution of Discovery stock to Liberty shareholders.
Discovery Holding began trading on the Nasdaq National Market Thursday as an independent company. The company’s Class A shares closed Thursday at $15.09, up 24 cents.
Roche facility marks company’s centennial
Roche, one of the world’s leading health-care companies, celebrates its centennial anniversary in the United States this year.
Roche Colorado Corp. in Boulder, a Roche facility with its own history of nearly 60 years, will mark the anniversary with a day-long celebration today. The facility produces Fuzeon, a treatment for people with HIV.
Toys “R” Us now privately owned
Toys “R” Us Inc. became a privately held corporation.
The $6.6 billion acquisition of the nation’s second-largest toy seller was completed Thursday by two private equity firms, Kohlberg Kravis Roberts & Co. and Bain Capital Inc., and a real estate developer, Vornado Realty Trust. All have equal stakes.
Scheer named CFO for Maui Wowi
Greenwood Village-based Maui Wowi has appointed Donald Scheer chief financial officer of the beverage franchiser. Scheer is also the director of regional support for the company’s Louisville and Lexington, Ky., markets.
