News for 2010

July 21, 2010 - William Blair & Company announces the success of its client, RealD Inc., in connection with the initial public offering of 14.375 million shares of common stock at $16.00 per share, raising $230 million in proceeds for the company and selling shareholders, including Shamrock Capital Advisors.

July 9, 2010 - William Blair & Company initiated research coverage of Edwards Lifesciences Corporation (EW), a global leader in products and technologies designed to treat advanced cardiovascular disease, with an Outperform rating and Established Growth company profile.

July 8, 2010 - William Blair & Company initiated research coverage of National American University Holdings, Inc., a postsecondary education institution offering master’s, bachelor’s, and associate degrees, with an Outperform rating and Aggressive Growth company profile.

July 2, 2010 - William Blair & Company initiated research coverage of Valmont Industries, Inc., a leading supplier of electric utility support structures, lighting structures, and mechanized irrigation equipment, with an Outperform rating and Core Growth company profile.

July 1, 2010 - William Blair & Company initiated research coverage of Longtop Financial Technologies Limited, a leading IT solutions provider targeting the financial services industry in China, with an Outperform rating and Aggressive Growth company profile.

CHICAGO, June 30, 2010 - Geoffrey A. Richards, head of William Blair & Company’s Special Situations and Restructuring Group, was named middle-market restructuring financial advisor of the year by Global M&A Network.

June 30, 2010 - William Blair & Company initiated research coverage of Accretive Health, Inc., a leading provider of revenue cycle management services to U.S. hospitals, with a Market Perform rating and Aggressive Growth company profile.

CHICAGO, June 29, 2010 - William Blair & Company initiated research coverage of CommVault Systems, Inc. (CVLT $21.75), the leading pure-play in the $11.5 billion storage software market, with an Outperform rating and Aggressive Growth company profile.

June 28, 2010 - William Blair & Company announces the success of its client, Netsmart Technologies, Inc., in connection with its investment partnership with Genstar Capital.

June 24, 2010 - William Blair & Company announces the success of its client, Ulta Salon, Cosmetics & Fragrance, Inc., in connection with the follow-on offering of 10.3 million shares at $22.25 per share, raising $229.7 million in proceeds for selling shareholders.

June 17, 2010 - William Blair & Company announces the success of its client, Resonant Medical Inc., in connection with its acquisition by Elekta AB for a total consideration of USD $28.5 million.

Watch the ringing of the Nasdaq opening bell ceremony at our 30th Annual Growth Stock Conference on Wednesday, June 16, 2010.

June 15, 2010 - William Blair & Company, L.L.C., celebrating its 75th anniversary year in 2010, marked another significant milestone today when it kicked off its 30th Annual Growth Stock Conference, a three-day event featuring nearly 200 companies and attracting investors from around the world.

June 10, 2010 - William Blair & Company announces the success of its client, Small World Financial Services Group, in connection with a substantial growth investment led by Fleming Family & Partners Private Equity.

June 10, 2010 - William Blair & Company initiated research coverage of ZymoGenetics, Inc. (ZGEN $4.11) with an Outperform rating and Aggressive Growth company profile.

June 9, 2010 - William Blair & Company initiated research coverage of Convio, Inc. (CNVO $9.67), one of the largest software providers in the nonprofit space, with a Market Perform rating and Aggressive Growth company profile.

June 7, 2010 – William Blair & Company's David Abel will be included in a panel discussion at the 104th GFOA Annual Conference, held today through June 9 at the Georgia World Congress Center in Atlanta.

June 1, 2010 - William Blair & Company initiated research coverage of DynaVox Inc., a provider of speech-generating devices (SGDs) and special-education software and content, with an Outperform rating and Aggressive Growth company profile.

June 1, 2010 - Please join us for our next Financial Talk Series webinar as William Blair & Company's healthcare analysts Ben Andrew and Ryan Daniels will discuss the immediate and long-term effects of reform on the healthcare industry and explain the potential impact of these changes for healthcare investors.

May 28, 2010 - William Blair & Company served as a Co-Manager on MDC Partners' recent 144A offering of $65 million in aggregate principal amount of its 11% Senior Notes due 2016.

May 28, 2010 - William Blair & Company initiated research coverage of The Procter & Gamble Company (PG $60.44) with an Outperform rating and Established Growth company profile and Colgate-Palmolive Company (CL $77.98) with a Market Perform rating and Established Growth company profile.

May 27, 2010 - William Blair & Company served as Financial Advisor to Presbyterian Homes on the recent replacement of their Standby Bond Purchase Agreement which is used to provide liquidity support for the Series 1996A Bonds.

May 27, 2010 - William Blair & Company today announced that Jim Breen has joined the firm as an analyst on the sell-side technology research team, with a focus on communication services; Mr. Breen initiated coverage of eight companies in that industry.

May 27, 2010 - William Blair & Company equity research analysts were recently recognized by the Financial Times/StarMine and The Wall Street Journal with a total of 13 awards for their stock picking or earnings estimates.

May 20, 2010 - William Blair & Company is pleased to announce that its client, BI-LO, L.L.C., has completed its financial restructuring and emerged from protection under Chapter 11 of the United States Bankruptcy Code. William Blair & Company served as financial advisor to BI-LO for the financial restructuring.

May 4, 2010 - William Blair & Company today announced the launch of the William Blair Mid Cap Value Fund. The fund, to be managed by portfolio managers Chad Kilmer, Mark Leslie, and David Mitchell, seeks long-term capital appreciation by investing in a diversified portfolio of equity securities of midcap companies.

Tuesday, May 4, 2010 - William Blair & Company is proud to be a Platinum Sponsor for ACG InterGrowth 2010, held May 4-6 in Miami.

May 3, 2010 - William Blair & Company is proud to sponsor the 2010 BIO International Convention.

April 23, 2010 - William Blair & Company announces the success of its client, Trintech Group PLC, in connection with the sale of its healthcare division, Concuity, to The Advisory Board Company for $34.5 million in cash.

April 16, 2010 - William Blair & Company announces the success of its client, Woodstream Corporation, in connection with its acquisition of Zareba Systems, Inc., for $9.00 per share.

April 14, 2010 - William Blair & Company initiated research coverage of Genomic Health, Inc., a provider of genetic tests to aid in cancer treatment decisions, with a Market Perform rating and Aggressive Growth company profile.

CHICAGO, April 13 – Matthew Gooch, head of William Blair & Company’s European banking, is included in Investment Dealers’ Digest’s annual “40 Under 40” list.

April 9, 2010 - William Blair & Company acted as Financial Advisor to John B. Sanfilippo & Son, Inc. ("Sanfilippo" or the "Company") on an amendment to its existing $117,500,000 senior asset-based revolving credit facility, which William Blair originally helped put in place in February 2008.

April 9, 2010 - William Blair & Company announces the success of its client Cardtronics, Inc. in connection with the offering of 7 million shares, priced at $12 per share.

April 8, 2010 - William Blair & Company initiated research coverage of Halozyme Therapeutics, Inc., a biotechnology company whose technology platform (Enhanze) enables subcutaneous administration of intravenous drugs, with an Outperform rating and Aggressive Growth company profile.

April 7, 2010 - William Blair & Company initiated research coverage of Becton, Dickinson and Company, which represents a collection of established franchises selling a variety of medical devices, with an Outperform rating and Core Growth company profile.

April 6, 2010 - William Blair & Company announces the success of its client, SJC Industries Corp., in connection with its sale to Thor Industries, Inc., for $20 million in cash.

April 1, 2010 - William Blair & Company announces the success of its client, Valor Computerized Systems, Ltd., in connection with its acquisition by Mentor Graphics Corporation for $82 million.

March 30, 2010 - William Blair & Company initiated research coverage of Generac Holdings Inc., a leading provider of residential, commercial, and industrial generators, with an Outperform rating and Core Growth company profile.

March 30, 2010 - William Blair & Company announces the success of its client, Francisco Partners, in connection with the closing of its acquisition of publicly traded QuadraMed Corporation.

March 26, 2010 - William Blair & Company initiated research coverage of IFM Investments Limited, the exclusive franchisor in China for the well-known Century 21 brand, with a Market Perform rating and Aggressive Growth company profile.

March 26, 2010 - William Blair & Company announces the success of its client, Suture Express Holdings, Inc., in connection with its sale to Diamond Castle Partners.

March 23, 2010 - William Blair & Company announces the success of its client, Perrigo Company, in connection with the sale of Careline, its consumer products division, to Emilia Development (OFG) Ltd.

March 22, 2010 - Barron’s annual ranking of top U.S. advisors for 2010 includes Mark Fuller and Greg Pusinelli of William Blair & Company’s Private Wealth Management group.

March 19, 2010 - William Blair & Company announces the success of its client, LECG Corporation, in connection with its merger with SMART Business Advisory & Consulting, LLC for $70 million.

March 12, 2010 - William Blair & Company announces the success of its client, Logistics Health, Inc., in connection with its recapitalization by Gundersen Lutheran.

March 10, 2010 - March 10, 2010 - Please join us for William Blair & Company’s next Financial Talk Series webinar as we discuss how quality growth investing has fared over previous economic cycles and explain its relevance in today’s market conditions.

March 9, 2010 - William Blair & Company announces the success of its client, Renew Energy LLC, in connection with the sale of its assets to Valero Renewable Fuels Co., pursuant to a §363 auction.

March 4, 2010 - William Blair & Company today announced that Mark Watt has joined the firm’s technology investment banking group as head of Internet and digital media banking.

March 3, 2010 - William Blair & Company initiated research coverage of Cellu Tissue Holdings, Inc., a leading North American tissue company, with an Outperform rating and Aggressive company profile.

March 1, 2010 – William Blair & Company’s Esther Berg and Mike Placencia will be included in panel discussions at Information Management Network’s 8th Annual California Municipal Finance Conference.

February 19, 2010 - Brent Gledhill, principal and global head of Corporate Finance, will be a panelist at the 9th Annual Beecken Petty O'Keefe & Company Private Equity Conference today.

February 19, 2010 - William Blair & Company hosted a Pharmaceutical Outsourcing Industry Discussion & Reception during the informEx 2010 conference in San Francisco.

February 18, 2010 - William Blair & Company announced today that Daniel P. Charles will join the firm as global head of distribution for William Blair Investment Management, effective March 10.

February 17, 2010 - Please join us for William Blair & Company’s next Financial Talk Series webinar as William Blair & Company’s Tina Milligan and Michael Lee will discuss the planning opportunities and challenges that exist amid a dynamic environment.

February 11, 2010 - William Blair & Company initiated research coverage of Red Hat, Inc., the leading provider of open-source infrastructure software, with an Outperform rating and Aggressive Growth company profile.

February 8, 2010 - William Blair & Company today announced that Charles Watson has joined the firm’s financial sponsors group as head of southeast coverage.

February 3, 2010 - William Blair & Company's Jason Ader is a guest on CNBC's "Squawk Box" to give a preview of Cisco Systems, Inc. earnings.

January 28, 2010 - William Blair & Company today announced that Marina S. Bozilenko has joined the firm's healthcare investment banking group as head of biotechnology and pharma.

January 26, 2010 - Please join us for William Blair & Company’s next Financial Talk Series webinar as Jim McKinney and Michael Lee will discuss potential opportunities in the municipal bond market and the role municipal bonds can play in a diversified portfolio.

January 14, 2010 - William Blair & Company recently announced that it has named 11 new partners. This announcement is made as the firm celebrates its 75th anniversary this month.

January 14, 2010 - William Blair & Company acted as exclusive financial advisor to AMR Research, Inc. in connection with its sale to Gartner, Inc. for total consideration of $63 million.

January 12, 2010 - William Blair & Company issued a report on the data storage market and initiated research coverage of four companies in the space.

January 12, 2010 - William Blair & Company announces the success of its client, PharmaForce, in connection with its acquisition by Luitpold Pharmaceuticals, a subsidiary of Daiichi-Sankyo Company, Ltd.

January 6, 2010 - William Blair & Company initiated research coverage of Transcend Services, Inc., the third-largest medical transcription outsourcing company in the United States, with an Outperform rating and Core Growth company profile.

January 5, 2010 - William Blair & Company initiated research coverage of Sharps Compliance Corp., a leading provider of medical waste management solutions outside the hospital setting, with an Outperform rating and Aggressive Growth company profile.