NRS Acquires Fire Solutions

NRS, part of Accuity, today announced that it has acquired FIRE Solutions, a leading provider of compliance and education products and services to the broker-dealer community and an industry leader in securities exam preparation. Palm Ventures, LLC is the lead investor in FIRE Solutions along with The Palmer Group. The acquisition is part of NRS’s strategy to provide a comprehensive, single-source compliance portfolio to its clients that will enable them to fulfill their regulatory requirements.

In addition to its state-of-the-art learning management system and industry leading educational content, the FIRE Solutions team, with its deep knowledge and experience for broker-dealers, will be joining NRS. The terms of the acquisition were not disclosed.

The FIRE Solutions products comprise: firm element and other continuing education content; annual compliance meeting; and securities exam preparation solutions to broker-dealers. In the US, there are over 4,000 broker-dealers and almost 640,000 registered representatives who are subject to mandated requirements for education throughout their career. NRS currently re-sells the FIRE Solutions continuing education offering as an integrated solution with its ComplianceMax platform and will incorporate all of the FIRE content in its solutions for broker-dealers and investment advisers.

The acquisition brings together two complementary and successful businesses. The combination of NRS’s comprehensive compliance technology, deep subject matter expertise and renowned customer service, together with FIRE Solutions’ learning technology and broker-dealer expertise, will allow NRS to offer customers an integrated compliance technology and training portfolio while reducing vendor management burdens.

John Gebauer, President of NRS, said: “The acquisition of FIRE Solutions supports our strategy of providing a holistic compliance solution to our customers and will help us further serve broker-dealers at a time of burgeoning regulation such as the DOL Fiduciary rule. Given our existing product integration with FIRE Solutions and desire to address key regulatory requirements for NRS’ core customer set, FIRE Solutions is a natural fit for NRS. We already know and respect the FIRE Solutions team and know that we share the same high commitment to quality and customer service. We look forward to welcoming the FIRE Solutions team and their clients to the NRS community.”

Eric Sternbach, CEO, FIRE Solutions, said: “Having worked with the NRS team for many years we are excited to become a part of the family. Our shared belief in the importance of long term customer relationships bodes well for the future development and evolution of our educational solutions. This transaction is very good news for both our employees and our clients who will benefit from NRS’s commitment to investing in the solutions and delivering a holistic platform for our clients.”

Netsmart Acquires Sequest Technologies, Inc. to Expand Solutions and Presence in Child and Family Services and Substance Use Treatment Communities

Netsmart, the leading provider of clinical solutions for health and human services organizations nationwide, today announced that it has acquired Sequest Technologies, Inc., based in Lisle, Illinois. Sequest provides the TIER® (Totally Integrated Electronic Record) family of clinical and practice management solutions, which will continue to be developed and supported as a Netsmart solution.

The acquisition of Sequest supports Netsmart's commitment to deliver innovative solutions to providers across the entire human services continuum of care. The Complete ARRA-certified TIER solution is designed to meet the clinical workflow of substance use treatment and social services agencies, private inpatient psychiatric hospitals, child and family services agencies and smaller behavioral health provider organizations, helping all of these providers more quickly adopt an EHR and enhance quality of care.

"Our acquisition of Sequest aligns directly with the fast-evolving shift in the overall healthcare ecosystem to collaborative, coordinated care," said Mike Valentine, Netsmart chief executive officer. "To continue to be the industry leader, we must provide our clients with leading-edge clinical and practice management solutions specifically designed for their care settings and with clinical support for those care settings."

The Sequest acquisition also helps advance Netsmart's plans for a national clinical and operational benchmarking service. The service will enable providers to benchmark themselves against best practices, their peers, and to develop patient and organization-level predictive analytics. Participation of Sequest clients will enhance the benchmarking service by expanding the range of data delivered.

"One of the key drivers for this acquisition was Netsmart's ability and willingness to invest in the resources needed to assure its clients are full participants in an exciting, evolving healthcare arena," said William Connors, MSW, president and chief executive officer of Sequest, who joins Netsmart as senior vice president and general manager of the Child and Family Services and Substance Abuse business unit. "Without Netsmart's resources and willingness to invest for the future, we would have been confronted with the dilemma faced by many other small technology companies – how to make the significant investment necessary to equip our clients in important areas like meeting the next stages of Meaningful Use criteria, becoming involved in integrated health information exchanges (HIEs) and participating in accountable care organizations (ACOs)."

"In the bigger picture, it's not just about keeping up with healthcare reform, it's about embracing exponential change in healthcare," said Valentine. "The Sequest solutions, culture and team not only align well with our strategies, I believe they will accelerate them. Given their clinical focus, this acquisition extends our ability to help our clients evolve quickly toward the new clinical world of leveraging technology to drive better outcomes and the consumer experience for those they serve," said Valentine.

Guggenheim Partners-Led Acquisition of Security Benefit Corporation Complete

Guggenheim Partners, LLC and Security Benefit Corporation (Security Benefit) today announced the closing of the acquisition of Security
Benefit by a Guggenheim Partners-led group of investors, after receiving the required regulatory, policyholder and shareholder approvals.

“Since our announcement of the transaction in February, it’s been gratifying to receive positive feedback and approvals from several government officials, regulators, local business leaders, and our clients, policyholders and shareholders,” said Todd Boehly, Managing Partner in the Office of the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Guggenheim Partners. “That approval fuels our momentum and commitment to grow Security Benefit and its impressive portfolio of businesses that complement Guggenheim’s capabilities and expertise. We believe there are significant and mutually beneficial business opportunities ahead.”

The Guggenheim Partners-led investor group, which includes certain shareholders of Guggenheim Partners, is investing $400 million in the transaction to acquire Security Benefit. On July 30, 2010, $165 million of capital was injected into Security Benefit Life Insurance Company (SBL) following an initial $175 million infusion on Feb. 26, 2010. This infusion of capital is expected to result in upgrades in the financial strength ratings of SBL, Security Benefit’s primary life insurance company subsidiary and its affiliate, First Security Benefit Life Insurance and Annuity Company of New York (FSBL).

Boehly will serve as Chairman of the Board of Security Benefit in addition to retaining his role as Managing Partner in the Office of the CEO of Guggenheim Partners. Howard Fricke will serve as Vice Chairman of the Board and continue as Security Benefit President and CEO. Fricke had been serving as interim President and CEO since Feb. 16, 2010, after serving as Security Benefit President and CEO from 1988 to 2000 and Chairman from 1996 to 2006. In addition, Mark Walter, CEO of Guggenheim Partners, has joined Security Benefit’s Board of Directors.

“The completion of this acquisition is a key milestone for our organization and our associates. We will retain our Topeka-based corporate headquarters, our network of nationwide offices and our more than 780 associates,” said Fricke. “Our goal is to grow profitably, and today we move forward as a stronger company, with the financial backing and business opportunities Guggenheim Partners has to offer. I’m especially proud of our associates who have worked diligently toward the completion of this acquisition, and I look forward to continuing to work by their side as we pursue our growth ambitions for Security Benefit and its businesses. This always has been a great company, and we are running full steam ahead.”

“I’m equally pleased that Howard has agreed to continue in his leadership role and that the firm has brought forth new products and added clients while we’ve been working to close the transaction,” said Boehly. “That’s a tribute to the tenacity of Security Benefit’s management and associates, and demonstrates the innovative spirit and market responsiveness inherent in each of our unique businesses.”

Security Benefit’s primary businesses, which will benefit from continued capital investments in technology, product development and support as well as anticipated favorable improvements in the firm’s financial strength ratings, include:

• Security Financial Resources – a leading provider of retirement plan services throughout the nation, primarily in the 403(b) education marketplace;
• Security Benefit Life – providing fixed and variable annuities in all states except New York, and FSBL which provides fixed and variable annuities in New York;
• se2 – an award-winning and nationally recognized provider of administrative services for the insurance and financial services industry with more than 700,000 policies and $30 billion in third-party assets under administration; and
• SGI|Security Global Investors (known as Rydex|SGI in the financial intermediary market) – an asset management firm with approximately $20 billion in assets under management, offering institutional investors and financial intermediaries a broad spectrum of traditional and alternative investment strategies in separate accounts, mutual funds and ETFs.

Guggenheim Partners and Security Benefit began formally working together in the second quarter of 2009 when Guggenheim became the investment advisor for SBL’s general account. Since then, Guggenheim has been successful at continuing to improve the quality of the portfolio while increasing investment income.

As a result of the demutualization and dissolution of Security Benefit Mutual Holding Company (SBMHC), approved by SBMHC members on May 26, 2010, it is estimated each former SBMHC member may receive consideration equal to approximately $100. SBL policyholders who own tax-qualified contacts will receive “policy credits,” or an increase in the cash value of their policies, rather than cash, provided that the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) and Department of Labor (DOL) issue certain rulings the Company has requested. The cash consideration is expected to be distributed within 60 days of the close of the transaction. Policy credits for tax-qualified contracts will be issued following receipt of the IRS and DOL rulings.

Citigroup acted as sole advisor to Guggenheim Partners on the transaction and will continue to provide ongoing advice and support in connection with the strategic development of the business. Freeman & Co. acted as sole advisor to Security Benefit on the transaction.
 

Corinthian Colleges Announces Definitive Agreement to Acquire Heald College

Corinthian Colleges, Inc. (Nasdaq:  COCO) has signed a definitive agreement to acquire Heald Capital LLC, the parent company of Heald College. Heald is a regionally accredited institution that has been delivering quality career-focused academic programs since 1863 and has created a strong brand in its markets. Heald prepares students for careers in healthcare, business, legal, information technology and other growing fields, primarily through associate degree programs. Headquartered in San Francisco, California, Heald operates 11 campuses and had approximately 12,300 students at September 30, 2009.

Heald has nine campuses in Northern California, one campus in Honolulu, Hawaii and one campus in Portland, Oregon. In addition, Heald recently received approval from its accreditation agency, The Accrediting Commission for Community and Junior Colleges of the Western Association of Schools and Colleges, to offer fully online degrees. The College expects to begin enrolling exclusively online students in early 2010. Corinthian currently has five nationally accredited schools in Northern California which primarily offer short-term diploma programs in healthcare, automotive technology and the trades. 

"The acquisition of Heald is consistent with Corinthian's strategy of increasing its presence in markets with high growth potential and expanding its ability to offer regionally accredited programs," said Peter Waller, Corinthian's chief executive officer. "Upon completion, the Heald acquisition will give Corinthian an increased presence in Northern California, Oregon and Hawaii; a growth platform for campus-based and online regionally accredited programs; and a third strong brand. In addition, both organizations are dedicated to the mission of changing students' lives through quality, career-oriented education. We look forward to welcoming Heald's chief executive Nolan Miura and his capable team as a new and separate division at Corinthian." 

"We fully support this proposed transaction, as Corinthian and Heald are both committed to preparing students for academic, personal and professional success," said Nolan Miura, Heald's president and chief executive officer. "I am proud of the strong culture and team that we have built at Heald and believe that our passion for student achievement has fueled the institution's substantial progress over the past few years. We believe the transaction will allow us to build on past success by giving Heald access to greater resources and through the sharing of best practices. Having spent eight years at Corinthian as a senior executive, I know personally that both organizations strive to put students first and to provide a positive culture for faculty and staff. We look forward to joining Corinthian and to the opportunities it will create for Heald." 

Heald Capital's controlling shareholder is Brad Palmer, Founder and Managing Partner of Palm Ventures, LLC, who organized Heald Capital to acquire the majority interest in Heald College in 2007. Mr. Palmer recruited the current Heald Trustee Board, which includes a number of nationally recognized education and business leaders, and he has worked cooperatively with Mr. Miura and management to provide the resources essential for the development of the college. In March 2009, Mr. Palmer sold a minority equity interest in Heald to funds affiliated with Summit Partners.