VC Funding Update: Relion Inc. Completes Its Series of C Round Financing

(NewsVisual, powered by IntellectSpace) -- Although Exxon Mobile Corp (NYSE: XOM) could very well be the most profitable company in America, future generations are going to need a more greenish company like Relion Inc. if the planet earth is to survive for them, and that’s why it’s good news that this forward-looking company received a new round of venture-capital funding.

Relion Inc. is a Spokane, Wash.-based company that specializes in providing fuel-cell solutions for backup power applications.  In particular, the company develops and markets a line of modular Proton Exchange Membrane (PEM) fuel cell products.

Blackstone’s Chairman Schwarzman’s Comments Attract Bad Buzz

(NewsVisual, powered by IntellectSpace) -- When it comes down to a taking a vote on the most obtuse comment ever uttered by a rich person, the public could find it difficult to choose between that made by the late Leona Helmsley or the recent one made in The New Yorker magazine by Blackstone Group Chairman and Co-Founder Stephen A Schwarzman. 

Although his stake in Blackstone is estimated to be worth billions, The New York Times reported on Monday that Schwarzman said in the magazine interview that “I don’t feel like a wealthy person”  (read the New York Times Deal Book article).

In response to the magazine article, Schwarzman told the Times he was being unfairly caricatured in the article. 

NewsVisual created an IntellectSpace Knowledge Map of Schwarzman’s noteworthy past and present leadership ties in order to achieve some greater insight into this famed executive’s corporate network.

This Knowledge Map shows Schwarzman to have a large degree of executive leadership experience through his positions at Blackstone and Lehman Brothers.  The Map also shows that Schwarzman has held numerous directorships at companies that include Ucar International, Volume Services, Transtar and Collins & Aikman. He is also a member of the JPMorgan Chase National Advisory Board.

Lee Equity Partners Nabs Experienced GE Vice Chair Wright as Senior Advisor

(NewsVisual, powered by IntellectSpace )-- General Electric Co (NYSE: GE) Vice Chairman Robert C Wright is moving on to Lee Equity Partners, lending his experience as the private equity firm’s newest Senior Advisor.

Lee Equity Partners was created by Thomas H Lee after leaving his namesake firm in 2006. In addition to Wright, other prominent figures that have joined the new firm include former JC Penney CEO Allen Questrom and former Mercer Management Consulting CEO David Morrison.

NewsVisual created an IntellectSpace Knowledge Map of Wright’s experience as a high-level corporate executive in order to identify what be brings to Lee Equity. In addition to his role as the Vice Chairman of GE, Wright is shown to have previously been the former Chairman and CEO of NBC Universal, stepping down from the company only last year. Prior to joining GE and NBC, he was the President of Cox Cable Communications. Wright is also currently a Director at Polo Ralph Lauren Corp.

Huge Corporate Network of Henry Kravis an Indicator of His Private Equity Success

Henry R Kravis, the head of Kohlberg Kravis Roberts and undoubtedly one of the most powerful men in private equity, is coming under fire today with the release of Brave New Film’s “The War on Greed.” The documentary film takes a critical look at the private equity industry and specifically focuses on Kravis, painting him in a not-so-positive light. The news has motivated a number of private equity analysts to come to the defense of Kravis and the industry, claiming that the film offers critiques based on narrow and simplistic arguments that don’t necessarily hold true to reality (see article by Dan Primack in Private Equity HUB).

Henry Kravis’ methods may come into question as a result of the release of “The War on Greed,” but there is no arguing that the private equity giant has certainly taken advantage of his ever-expanding network to promote KKR and secure a spot at the top of the industry. Curious to know just how corporate ties have impacted his current status, NewsVisual created an IntellectSpace Knowledge Map of the vast connections that Kravis has made over his successful career.

As clearly presented in this Knowledge Map, Kravis has held positions of leadership with an impressive number of corporate entities. Here, we see not only Kravis’ ties to KKR and Goldman Sachs, but also to many of the companies that he has served as a Director with because of his prominent role in private equity. Safeway, Sotheby’s, Alliance Imaging, Accuride and Gillette are just a few of the many companies that Kravis can be linked to from having served as a Director (see interactive version of Knowledge Map for full connections).

Dimon’s Experience Leads to Positive Results for JP Morgan

JP Morgan Chase CEO James Dimon appears to have gotten the last laugh as the company posted its successful third-quarter results, which greatly surpassed that of Citigroup, the company that had previously given Dimon the boot (see article from WSJ DealJournal). Judging from JP Morgan’s positive performance since Dimon became CEO in 2005, it is likely that he holds a wealth of experience and network connections that would have contributed to the company’s latest figures. An IntellectSpace Knowledge Map illustrates Dimon’s numerous past and present roles in leadership.

As shown in this Knowledge Map, Dimon not only has held Executive Positions at such leading financial institutions as Citigroup and JP Morgan Chase but also at numerous other corporate entities and organizations. After getting his start at American Express in 1982, Dimon quickly worked his way up to Executive status. He served as head of Bank One and SB Holdings and was the President of Travelers Group. Dimon’s leadership at numerous non-corporate organizations is extensive, having held roles as a Director of the National Center on Addiction and Substance Abuse, Harvard Business School, The United Negro College Fund and the University of Chicago. He also is on the Board of Trustees at the New York University Medical Center.

Cerberus Chairman’s Connections May Have Sparked H&R Block Sale

H&R Block announced on Thursday that the plans to sell its Option One mortgage unit to Cerberus Capital Management have been delayed, possibly until December (see article from DealBook). An IntellectSpace Knowledge Map illustrates the connections between the companies that may have been responsible for instigating the sale. In light of the delay, these relationships may also become valuable in easing the process of completing the deal by an earlier date.

A first noteworthy connection is shared between Len J. Laur (Director at H&R Block) and John W. Snow (Chairman of Cerberus); they are linked through Bell Atlantic, which merged with GTE in 2000 to form Verizon Communications. During an overlapping period at Bell Atlantic, Laur served as President and CEO and Snow was a Director. This relationship likely facilitated this deal in the first place.

Snow can also be clearly linked to H&R Block’s past President, CEO/Director, Richard H. Brown. Both have affiliations with the same three organizations: Business Roundtable, The Business Council and The US-Japan Business Council. It is very likely that having been members of each of these organizations, Brown and Snow know each other and may have been in contact regarding these latest business dealings between Cerberus and H&R Block.

Click here for an interactive version of this IntellectSpace Knowledge Map (Internet Explorer browsers only): http://nv.intellectspace.com/ispace/GuestMonitor.aspx?id=2210b5ef-35d1-49a6-a298-fe3ea5d7f346

KKR's Relationships Run Deep into First Data

KKR's Relationships Run Deep into First Data

KKR is very well connected into First Data, and the acquisition will not pose any issues at all. IntellectSpace Knowledge Map shows that:

• James D Robinson III is well connected into KKR via Council on Foreign Relations (Where Henry R Kravits sits), Business Council, Citigroup, American Express, Harvard Business School, and other institutions.
• Daniel P Burnham is indirectly connected to KKR through his relationship with Business Council and Honeywell
• Courtney F Jones is connected to KKR through GM

Interactive Version (Only Internet Explorers): http://nv.intellectspace.com/ispace/GuestMonitor.aspx?id=f0b20 80e-c4d6-460b-b888-f5f0ab778228

KKR Leverages Former Relationships to Acquire Dollar General

KKR Leverages Former Relationships to Acquire Dollar General

Kohlberg Kravits Roberts & Co (KKR) is using its relationships from former successful deals to drive its current deal-flow.  The most recent example of this is the acquisition of Dollar General.  An IntellectSpace analysis of common connections between KKR and Dollar General reveals that the two firms are quite connected.  The primary relationships between them are via Safeway, Kraft, Beatrice Co, Bruno Inc, and several universities.

Taking a closer look at the two firms’ common connections, it is likely that the acquisition discussions were spurred and led by those relationships involving Bruno’s Inc.  Relationships involving this company include:

- James Hagan was the CFO of Dollar General for many years, and was the CFO of Bruno’s Inc prior to his position at Dollar General

- Kravis, Roberts, & Raether all served on the board of Bruno’s while Hagan was the CFO

However, Dollar General’s former President and COO, Lawrence Jackson, may have also played a key role.  Jackson spent much of his career at Safeway, where 5 KKR professionals assumed board seats – among those 5 professionals were Kravis and Roberts.  Both Kravis and Roberts assuredly had relationships with both Hagan and Jackson, so the high-level discussions likely involved these 4 individuals.

Lastly, Lawrence Jackson attended Harvard Business School, along with at least 4 KKR professionals.  Since HBS students are typically strong networkers, it is very possible that HBS alumni played a role in facilitating this deal.

To view an interactive version of the IntellectSpace Knowledge Map, please use a PC-based Internet Explorer to view the following URL: http://nv.intellectspace.com/ispace/GuestMonitor.aspx?id=e9dcb68f-a0e1-421f-85f7-f7534c7483f2

In Bain - Clear Channel Deal, Relationships are Key

To view an interactive version of IntellectSpace Knowledge Map, please visit the following URL: (PC-based Internet Explorers only please):

http://nv.intellectspace.com/ispace/GuestMonitor.aspx?id=3070f31d-468c-47f3-89f2-a52079fdf6bf

Bain Capital and Clear Channel have deep synergies which probably make it easy to communicate.  As IntellectSpace’s Knowledge Map shows, Clear Channel’s Mays family appear to have a tight grip on the company, and is connected to Harvard Business School, Goldman Sachs, Muzak LLC , and XM Satellite Radio.  Bain has a large number of professionals who graduated from HBS, and some loose ties with GS, Muzak, and XM Satellite Radio.  More than likely, the key relationships that drove this deal were former fellow HBS classmates.

KKR - TXU Acquisition

KKR and TXU are deeply connected in their managements’ roots, therefore it can be expected that the acquisition will transpire without many complications.

After using IntellectSpace FN to search for common connections between Kohlberg Kravis Roberts & Co and TXU, the following common connections were revealed:

• Henry Kravis (Director, KKR) and Lawrence E Fouraker (advisor and former Director of TXU) are both Board Members for Gillette Co. 
• Marc S Lipshultz and Lawrence Fouraker have both graduated from Harvard Business School.
• Edwin L Artzt (Senior Advisor, KKR) and James E Oesterreicher (Director and Beneficial Owner, TXU) have both held positions at the Business Roundtable.   

Below is a screen-shot of the resulting IntellectSpace Knowledge Map.  To view an interactive version (PC-based Internet Explorers only), you may click on the image, or the URL below.

http://nv.intellectspace.com/ispace/GuestMonitor.aspx?id=0d76e90c-ad3a-432b-b846-2eb61e76180e