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Talk of the bay: Add insurer to private-equity conquest list
By Times Staff
Published November 13, 2007
Those cash-rich private-equity firms did it again. Clearwater-based AmeriLife Group L.L.C. said Monday it was sold to an investor group that includes funds managed by Reservoir Capital Group L.L.C. and Black Diamond Capital Partners. Financial terms were not disclosed. Members of AmeriLife's senior management team, including CEO Timothy North, were also among the buyers. "We are very pleased to have Reservoir Capital Group and Black Diamond as our capital partners," North said in a statement. The largest annuity, life and health insurance marketing organization focused on the senior market, AmeriLife develops and markets insurance products through a distribution network of more than 100,000 independent agents. Insurance brokerage giant Brown & Brown had also shown interest in AmeriLife. Big local clout gets behind little limo He tried asking nicely, then sued in federal court to force the Hillsborough County Public Transportation Commission to license his Toyota Prius as a limousine. Now, Moshe Leib is getting some political muscle behind his crusade. Last week, Tampa City Council member Linda Saul-Sena urged the commission to reconsider its denial of Leib's application, noting that the city bought five hybrid vehicles in August. State Rep. Rick Kriseman, D-St. Petersburg, made a similar request in August. "We're trying to get more politicians involved to give it critical mass," says Leib, owner of TB Limo Black Car Service in North Redington Beach. Biotech is focus of high-wage agenda Biotechnology - manipulating genes and cells to make new therapies - has been a buzzword in Florida economic development circles. Drugmaker Merck is starting up such an operation with the H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center in Tampa. With dreams of creating more high-paying jobs in biotech, Enterprise Florida this week will fire up its new Florida Life Sciences Council. Co-chairing the council will be Enterprise Florida board member Brian McDonald, president of BRM Group, an Oldsmar-based pharmaceutical consulting company. The council meets for the first time at Enterprise Florida's quarterly board meeting at Cape Canaveral. The board meeting runs today through Thursday.
[Last modified November 12, 2007, 23:06:08]
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