The Blackstone Group and Battery Ventures Invest In LIFFE

The Blackstone Group is a global alternative investment management firm. The Firm's investment activities span real estate, secondary investments, hedge funds, credit, infrastructure, and private equity. Blackstone's private equity group targets opportunities globally including buyout acquisitions of established companies, development projects, growth equity financings, and industry consolidations. Sectors of interest include automotive, healthcare, chemicals, industrial, commercial property, lodging, communications, media/publishing, consumer & retail, packaging, consumer products, pharmaceuticals, energy, technology, entertainment, telecommunications, financial services, theme parks, food & beverage, and transportation. Blackstone's private equity real estate group looks for opportunities across North/South America, Asia, Australia/New Zealand, and Europe. The real estate group will consider both equity and debt investments. Areas of interest include healthcare, hotel, industrial, office, residential, and retail. The Blackstone Group was formed in 1987 and is based in New York, New York.

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Battery Ventures is a private investment firm focused on opportunities in the technology and related-sectors. Battery will invest at all company stages, from seed and early-stage capital situations to leveraged buyouts, PIPEs, spin outs, rollups and take-privates of established companies. Battery's private equity group focuses on investments in companies with revenue of $5 to $200 million and EBITDA up to $25 million. Battery can commit up to $100 million in equity per transaction. Specific areas of interest include software; IT services and outsourcing; communications components, systems, and services; and financial services and tech-enabled businesses. Battery will consider investments throughout North America, Europe, and Asia. Battery Ventures was formed in 1983 and is headquartered in Menlo Park, California.

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