A Medical Device Daily

Flexpoint Ford, a private equity firm focused on financial services and healthcare with offices in Chicago, New York and Dallas, reported the closing of its second investment fund, Flexpoint Ford Fund II, along with a sidecar fund, Flexpoint Ford Overage Fund II.

Total committed capital between the two funds is $1.28 billion. Fund II is an $800 million fund, and the Overage Fund is a $480 million pool intended to invest alone or alongside Fund II in larger transactions.

The general partner is committing $150 million of its own capital to the funds. Flexpoint Ford, the successor organization to Flexpoint Partners, represents the formal integration of the Fund I general partner with a team of executives led by financial services investor and Fund I special limited partner, Gerald Ford.

Ford will serve as chairman of Flexpoint Ford and Donald Edwards as CEO.

In addition, Flexpoint Ford reported the hiring of two new principals, Stephen Begleiter and Harris Hyman IV. Begleiter will lead Flexpoint Ford's office in New York. Hyman will join Flexpoint Ford's healthcare effort.

In other financings news, Zila (Phoenix) reported that it has retained investment bank William Blair & Co. to assist it in exploring strategic business opportunities.

"In recent months, we have established a solid foundation upon which to grow our business by reducing expenses, restructuring our operations and adding new international markets for ViziLite Plus," said David Bethune, chairman/CEO of Zila. "The engagement of William Blair is an important element in our plan to shore up our capital structure and further evaluate opportunities for growth."

Zila is an oral diagnostic company dedicated to the prevention, detection and treatment of oral cancer and periodontal disease.