Latest news with #VistaEquity
Yahoo
03-07-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
From gatekeeper to coach: Xactly CFO's finance, operations merge
This story was originally published on CFO Dive. To receive daily news and insights, subscribe to our free daily CFO Dive newsletter. The evolution of the CFO's role has continued throughout the year as businesses confront ongoing change, with finance chiefs, more and more often being asked to take on operational responsibilities. Doing so successfully, however, 'requires a bit of a mindset shift' — both from the CFO and from their fellow executives, said Jason Godley, CFO of AI-powered revenue intelligence platform Xactly. 'Step one is, my mindset has to shift, and step two is, the [mindset of] people with whom I work with has to shift,' Godley told CFO Dive in an interview. ''Oh, Jason's not the gatekeeper,'' he said of the change in perspective which needs to take place. ''He will be at some point, because we need that, but at the end of the day he's here to help us, guide us, coach us.'' Since February of 2023, Godley has served as finance chief for Denver-based Xactly, a Vista Equity portfolio company, according to his LinkedIn profile. Prior to Xactly, he served in a variety of roles for logistics and transportation firm Booster, including a period as president and a one-year stint in the combined role of chief operating officer and CFO. At Xactly, COO is not a part of his title and his operational responsibilities at the company are informal, Godley said. Whether or not the title is formalized at a business, in Godley's view, largely depends on what leadership thinks will be most effective for the culture of the company, he said. Software platform Salesforce, for example, recently tapped an executive in dual role of CFO and COO. Regardless of title, however, there's a growing expectation for finance chiefs, 'in addition to the day job, the functional role of CFO, and CFO being a strategic advisor to the CEO, to also move into supporting, directly or indirectly, the operations of the business,' he said. That's only been accelerated in an age where businesses are tasked with crafting a clear long-term growth strategy in an age of rapid change and complexity. Part of the reason CFOs are being tapped to take on operations is because they already have a bird's eye view of the business. The CFO 'traditionally, is seeing all the activities that a company does,' Godley said. 'Every function…is ultimately reflected in the financial statements.' However, to be effective in an operational capacity, CFOs also need to be sure they can step out of the finance box, he said. 'You kind of take off your CFO hat, boom, and then can establish a variety of things to support the CEO, who's busy doing a bunch of stuff to help ensure that the plan that we put in place for the year is being executed,' he said. 'So while I'm not responsible directly for the plan, I can put in place mechanisms which we can talk about that help run the business.' For some, taking off the finance hat may not come easily — how different steps will ultimately impact financial outcomes is always going to be in the back of one's mind as CFO, Godley said. Sharpening the ability to peer outside finance, and the skillsets one needs to serve as an effective operations leader, starts with 'an almost unhealthy degree of curiosity about everything going on,' as well as a high dose of humility, he advised. When it comes to working with other leaders to set and drive strategy, for example, CFOs should be 'hyper-curious about their function, try and learn what matters to them,' he said. 'Just be very open minded about what it is like to be in the lived experience of one of these functions and come to the table offering ideas, ways of thinking that have nothing to do with finance,' Godley said. Such leaders should also be on the lookout for opportunities in other functions over the course of their career, he said. Godley, for instance, has been 'fortunate to be in situations where, 'hey, the sales leader is gone for nine months, run sales,'' he said. 'Or, can you run operations for 12 months? 24 months?' 'Not only do you learn the tactical and practical [applications] of what they do, but I would say, more importantly, you become more empathetic to the problems that they face that you previously did not understand,' he said. Recommended Reading Pitney Bowes CFO exit brings more C-suite churn Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
Bloomberg
02-07-2025
- Business
- Bloomberg
Blackstone Buys Rest of Cvent From Vista in $1.3 Billion Deal
Buyout firm Vista Equity Partners has struck a deal to sell its minority stake in Cvent Holding Corp. to Blackstone Inc., marking a full exit for Vista from the events software company. Blackstone is acquiring Vista's stake in Cvent for $1.3 billion, according to people familiar with the matter, who asked not to be identified discussing non-public information. Vista retained the stake following Blackstone's $4.6 billion takeover of the company in 2023.
Associated Press
28-06-2025
- Business
- Associated Press
KNBE Stock News: Former KnowBe4 (KNBE) Stockholders Should Contact Robbins LLP for Information Regarding the Securities Fraud Class Action on Their Behalf
SAN DIEGO, June 27, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Robbins LLP reminds stockholders that a class action was filed on behalf of investors (i) who held KnowBe4, Inc. (NASDAQ: KNBE) common stock as of the December 7, 2022, record date that were entitled to vote on the 'take private' acquisition ('Merger') by Vista Equity Partners Management LLC and its affiliates, or (ii) sold shares of KnowBe4 common stock from the October 12, 2022, announcement date through the February 1, 2023, close of the Merger. For more information, submit a form, email attorney Aaron Dumas, Jr., or give us a call at (800) 350-6003. The Allegations: Robbins LLP is Investigating Allegations that KnowBe4, Inc. (KNBE) Misled Investors Regarding its Acquisition by Vista Equity Partners Management LLC According to the complaint, defendants issued or caused to be issued SEC filings that contained numerous false or misleading statements or omitted material facts concerning: (i) the unfair sales process that provided distinct advantages to Vista; (ii) the Special Committee's purported independence; (iii) KKR's intention to increase its rollover or reinvestment into the post-close KnowBe4 by 50-100% after learning the deal price; (iv) the Special Committee's favoritism towards Vista over other potential bidders; (v) the Special Committee's failure to consider strategic alternatives other than a sale of KnowBe4; and (vi) the Company's largest non-Rollover Stockholder, Mitnick, owed his personal fortune and professional legitimacy to Sjouwerman, and therefore was not independent from members of the Control Group. These filings contained materially false and misleading statements and omissions, thereby denying stockholders an appropriately informed vote on the Merger and an appropriately informed opportunity to decide whether to accept the Merger consideration or instead exercise their appraisal rights. What Now: You may be eligible to participate in the class action against KnowBe4, Inc. Shareholders who want to serve as lead plaintiff for the class must file a motion for lead plaintiff by August 5, 2025. The lead plaintiff is a representative party who acts on behalf of other class members in directing the litigation. You do not have to participate in the case to be eligible for a recovery. If you choose to take no action, you can remain an absent class member. For more information, click here. All representation is on a contingency fee basis. Shareholders pay no fees or expenses. About Robbins LLP: A recognized leader in shareholder rights litigation, the attorneys and staff of Robbins LLP have been dedicated to helping shareholders recover losses, improve corporate governance structures, and hold company executives accountable for their wrongdoing since 2002. To be notified if a class action against KnowBe4, Inc. settles or to receive free alerts when corporate executives engage in wrongdoing, sign up for Stock Watch today. Attorney Advertising. Past results do not guarantee a similar outcome.
Bloomberg
25-06-2025
- Business
- Bloomberg
Vista Raises $5.6 Billion for Cloud Software Continuation Fund
Vista Equity Partners gathered $5.6 billion in order to keep Cloud Software Group for longer, tapping its own buyout funds and new investors to seal a blockbuster single-asset continuation fund, according to people with knowledge of the matter. Vista raised a record $2.7 billion of fresh capital for the deal, according to the people, who asked not to be named because the transaction is private. It turned to other vintages of its flagship private equity funds — Vista Equity Partners VII and Vista Equity Partners VIII — to commit about $2.2 billion to the continuation fund, some of the people said.
Forbes
01-05-2025
- Sport
- Forbes
Robert F. Smith's Grand Slam Track Makes U.S. Debut. Here's How To Watch The Miami Meet
USA's Melissa Jefferson reacts after winning the women's 100m event during the Grand Slam Track ... More competition at the National Stadium in Kingston, Jamaica, on April 5, 2025. (Photo by Ricardo Makyn / AFP) (Photo by RICARDO MAKYN/AFP via Getty Images) With Grand Slam Track officially off and running following its debut in Kingston, Jamaica at the top of April, this weekend will mark the second installment and the U.S. debut of the new league featuring Olympians Sydney McLaughlin, Fred Kerley, Kenny Bednarek, Gabby Thomas, Cole Hocker and Grant Fisher. Led by four-time Olympic gold medalist and commissioner Michael Johnson—not to mention, overseen by Robert F. Smith, a board member of the league and the billionaire founder and chairman of Vista Equity—Grand Slam Track's first outing in Jamaica featured some top-line moments on the track, including its first array of $100,000 winners like McLaughlin and Bednarek. That wasn't all, though. Grand Slam Track even netted some major surprises, such as Challengers Ejgayehu Taye, Danielle Williams and Emmanuel Wanyonyi walking away with life-changing paydays. In fact, Wanyonyi's stunning performance in the short distance category may have been the moment of the meet, with the Kenyan taking down a stacked lineup that included Hocker, Josh Kerr and Yared Nuguse. This week's Slam in South Florida at the Ansin Sports Complex—which, to be fair, is actually in Miramar, Florida, and roughly a 21 mile drive north from Miami—will highlight some different players in the Challenger category, including Great Britain's Amber Anning (women's long sprints); the U.S.'s Trey Cunningham (men's short hurdles), Tamari Davis (women's short sprints) and Anna Hall (women's long hurdles); and Canada's Andre De Grasse (men's short sprints). The competition will be as fierce as ever. Let's dive into what you should know. USA's Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone competes to win the women's 400m event during the Grand Slam Track ... More competition at the National Stadium in Kingston, Jamaica, on April 6, 2025. (Photo by Ricardo Makyn / AFP) (Photo by RICARDO MAKYN/AFP via Getty Images) Fortunately for track fans stateside, there are a number of options to view the meet. The most convenient is the over-the-top (OTT) stream with Peacock, which will air all three days from start to finish on its app. The meet will begin on May 2 at 6:00 p.m. EST and will end at 9:00 p.m. EST. Days two and three will go from 6-9 p.m. EST and 3-6 p.m. EST, respectively. On the second and third days, The CW will offer a linear option, with the broadcast partner airing the meet from 6-9 p.m. EST and 3-6 p.m. EST. Grand Slam Track's results can be accessed at Grand Slam Track's greatest attribute is its roster. The league signed long-term contracts with 48 'racers' to compete in each of its four Slams, including McLaughlin, Bednarek, Thomas, Kerley, Hocker and Fisher. On the other side, 48 'challengers' will make-up the remaining slots across the six events—short sprints, short hurdles, long sprints, long hurdles, short distance and long distance. While those six U.S. athletes in the racers category may be the quote-unquote 'stars of the show,' none are guaranteed to walk away with the top money. That's the beauty of Grand Slam Track. In fact, only four of them–McLaughlin, Bednarek, Fisher and Thomas–earned the top prize pool in Kingston. If we're going by the 'Heroes vs. Villains' storyline, the league's racers represent the top contenders in each of the disciplines. Brazil's Alison dos Santos, Great Britain's Matthew Hudson-Smith and Josh Kerr, and France's Sasha Zhoya are also key performers headed for their second Slams. From a standpoint of redemption, you have to look at Americans Masai Russell, Hocker, Yared Nuguse and Nikki Hiltz first. All four have the ability to win their categories, though none was able to achieve that feat the first time around. Hiltz was the closest to the bag, with the middle-distance racer finishing second overall to Diribe Wellteji overall—despite winning the 800 meter distance in 1:58.23, Hiltz's third-place finish in the 1,500 meters pushed her back. They should be right back in the mix this weekend. Russell, meanwhile, probably has the most to gain. The Olympic gold medalist in the women's 100 meter hurdles was sixth in the first installment. The same can be said of Nuguse and Hocker, who were third and fourth in their first Slams. From a challenger standpoint, American Chris Bailey was second overall in the long sprints category in Jamaica and remains in incredible form, while Cunningham might be the most in-form hurdler entering the men's lineup after beating Olympic gold medalist Grant Holloway in a world-leading time of 13.09 seconds at the Tom Jones Memorial meet two weeks ago. Of course, it only lasted a week because Cordell Tinch, who is also a challenger in Miami, ran 13.06 to win in the Diamond League's opening meet in Xiamen, China, this past week. Hall will be a welcome addition to Grand Slam Track this week. The Olympian and World Championship silver medalist is a superstar heptathlete who's headed for the women's long hurdles. Alaysha Johnson, meanwhile, will enter into the short hurdles category and is a threat to win, too. The women's winners from the Kingston Slam were Ejgayehu Taye (women's long distance), Sydney McLaughlin (women's long hurdles), Gabby Thomas (women's long sprints), Diribe Welteji (women's short distance), Danielle Williams (women's short hurdles) and Melissa Jefferson-Wooden (women's short sprints). The men's winners from the Kingston Slam were Grant Fisher (men's long distance), Alison dos Santos (men's long hurdles), Matthew Hudson-Smith (men's long sprints), Emmanuel Wanyonyi (men's short distance), Sasha Zhoya (men's short hurdles) and Kenny Bednarek (men's short sprints). The Miami Slam is the second of four meets scheduled for the Grand Slam Track League. The schedule includes Slams in Kingston, Jamaica; Miami, Florida; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania; and Los Angeles, California. USA's Kenneth Bednarek of team Nike celebrates winning the men's men 100m short sprint during the ... More Grand Slam Track competition at the National Stadium in Kingston, Jamaica on April 4, 2025. (Photo by Ricardo Makyn / AFP) (Photo by RICARDO MAKYN/AFP via Getty Images) In a slightly complicated way. Track fans and casual fans who tune in will have to navigate the way the league positions its results and scoring. With more emphasis on points and less of it on times, the format is sometimes bogged down by, well, math. But, here's how it breaks down: Each Slam holds six events for each gender, while eight athletes will be on the line for each event. Winners of each event earn points, which then combine over two events to give them their overall score. The athlete with the top overall score during an event will win the Slam. The top prize for the winner of a Slam is $100,000, while each descending athlete will also receive a guaranteed payout. The total prize pool for each Slam is a total of $3.15 million dollars. The next Slam on the schedule is Grand Slam Track Philadelphia, which will take place from May 30-June 1 at Franklin Field.
