Lorne Abony
Lorne Abony | |
---|---|
Born | |
Nationality | Canadian |
Education | McGill University, (BA, 1991), University of Windsor Faculty of Law (JD/LLB, 1994), Columbia Business School, (MBA) |
Lorne Abony (born August 26, 1969) is a Canadian businessman, currently the managing partner of Texas Venture Partners, a venture capital company located in Austin, Texas.
Life and career
Abony was born and raised in Toronto.[1] After graduating from the University of Windsor law school in 1994, Abony practiced corporate and securities law at the Toronto firm Aird & Berlis.[2] In his role as CEO and founder of a number of successful ventures, Abony has raised over C$1.3 billion through the public and private debt and equity markets, including over $100 million for Petopia.com,[3] $190 million for FUN Technologies[4] and over $820 million for Mood Media.[5][6]
Abony previously owned the Orange County Breakers,[7] a professional sports franchise which competes in World TeamTennis.
Abony is the former CEO of
Petopia.com
In January 1998, Abony founded and served as the initial president of the online pet-supply business Paw.net in
FUN Technologies
In 2002, Abony co-founded Columbia Exchange Systems Software PLC with Andrew Rivkin after the two raised C$1.8 million from initial investors.[13] Later renamed FUN Technologies, Abony became the company's CEO and the largest individual shareholder. In 2003, FUN completed an IPO on the London Stock Exchange raising over $11 million.[13] Soon after, FUN listed its shares on the TSX raising over $56 million from a group of investors including Fidelity Investments, AGF Management and the Ontario Teachers Pension Fund. FUN became one of the fastest growing companies on the TSX and in three years raised over $160 million in five rounds of equity financing. FUN and its subsidiaries acquired seven businesses during Abony's tenure as CEO, including SkillJam Technologies Corporation, Don Best Sports, Fanball Interactive LLC, Octopi Inc., Teagames, WorldWinner Inc. and Fantasy Sports Inc.[14][15]
The Meridian, Colorado-based Liberty Media acquired a majority interest in FUN Technologies stock in 2005.[16] Liberty Media purchased the rest of FUN Technologies in late 2007.[17] The company was valued at nearly C$500 million at the time of its final sale to Liberty Media.[18][19]
Orange County Breakers
Abony was the owner of the Orange County Breakers for three seasons, selling the team in February 2017.[20] The Breakers is one of eight professional tennis teams in World TeamTennis, the professional tennis league co-founded by Billie Jean King in 1974.[21]
Mood Media
Abony is the former CEO of
In January 2013, Abony was featured in the CBS series Undercover Boss.
Green Dot (German: Der Grüne Punkt) Duales System Deutschland GmbH (DSD)
Abony was part of the private equity syndicate that acquired
Nuuvera
In November 2017, Abony became the CEO and founder of Nuuvera, a Canadian company that focused on health and wellness products. In March 2018, Aphria Inc. agreed to buy Nuuvera for $826 million CAD in cash and stock.[30] Abony continued working with Aphria to help grow the medical products globally with his international connections.[31]
EMMAC
Since 2020, Abony has been one of the shareholders of EMMAC, a European independent medical wellness and nutrition company. Abony helped EMMAC become a global leader in life sciences as their Executive Chairman.[32] In 2021, EMMAC was valued in a cash and share deal at approximately $345 million (USD).[33]
Pluri
Pluri is an Israeli based leading biotech company that transforms cells into solutions that promote wellbeing and sustainability. In 2023, Abony joined the Board of Directors of Pluri.[34]
Meatable
Meatable is a Dutch biotechnology company aimed at cultured meat. In 2023, Meatable raised $35 million in its latest funding round bringing the total to $95 million. In 2024, Abony joined the Board of Directors of Meatable.[35]
Education, academia and awards
Abony earned an MBA from Columbia Business School,[36] an LL.B/J.D. from the International Law Center at the University of Windsor and a B.A. from McGill University. He is a recipient of Canada's Top 40 Under 40 award[37] and an Ambassador for the Province of New Brunswick[38] and in 2006 was a recipient of the University of Windsor's Odyssey award.[39]
UATX
The University of Austin is a non-profit private liberal arts university located in Austin, Texas. Lorne and his wife, Valerie Abony became founders of UATX in 2021. In 2023, UATX received accreditation from the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board and plans to enroll their first undergraduate cohort in the Fall of 2024.[40]
Tennis
ATP
In August 2012, Abony was selected as one of two Players Representatives to sit on the newly formed 6-member Competition Committee of the ATP. The Competition Committee is composed of distinguished members of the international tennis community including former Wimbledon champion Richard Krajicek. The Competition Committee was created to "explore new and creative ideas for enhancing the competition and presentation of the sport."[11]
Competitive tennis
Abony is a competitive tennis player. He was a member of the Team Canada men's tennis team
In March 2014, Abony and doubles partner
In June 2014, Abony and doubles partner Robert Kendrick won the
References
- ^ Pachner, Joanna. Born to run — really fast Archived 2011-07-21 at the Wayback Machine, Profit. June 1, 2011 (accessed 1 June 2011)
- ^ Lorne Abony: Executive Profile & Biography – BusinessWeek (accessed 16 February 2011)
- ^ Petopia.com, Inc. (March 13, 2000). "FORM S-1 REGISTRATION STATEMENT Under THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933" (S-1 Form). Petopia.com, Inc. Retrieved 2011-03-23.
- ^ Fun Technologies plc. (December 31, 2005). "Management's Discussion and Analysis" (MD&A). Fun Technologies plc. Retrieved 2011-03-23.
- ^ Mood Media Corporation (March 7, 2011). "MANAGEMENT'S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS" (MD&A). Mood Media Corporation. Retrieved 2011-03-23.
- ^ FLUID MUSIC CANADA, INC. (March 31, 2009). "MANAGEMENT'S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS" (MD&A). FLUID MUSIC CANADA, INC. Retrieved 2011-03-23.
- ^ "Breakers Tennis".
- ^ Pachner, Joanna (June 1, 2011). "Born to run — really fast". Profit Guide. Archived from the original on January 10, 2013. Retrieved 2012-11-23.
- ^ Watson, Thomas (January 9, 2006). "Fun and Games: at 35, Lorne Abony is a young, ambitious—and very accomplished—CEO". Canadian Business. Archived from the original on July 22, 2012. Retrieved 2012-11-23.
- ^ "Mood Media CEO dumping his Palm Beach manse". 2014-01-08. Retrieved 2024-03-22.
- ^ a b [1] (accessed 05 September 2012) [dead link]
- ^ Petco laps up the assets of Petopia.com (accessed 16 February 2011)
- ^ a b Thomas Watson (March 14, 2005). "Fun and Games: at 35, Lorne Abony is a young, ambitious—and very accomplished—CEO". Canadian Business. Archived from the original (Newspaper Article) on June 29, 2006. Retrieved 2009-06-25.
- ^ FUN Technologies Inc. Backgrounder Archived 2011-07-11 at the Wayback Machine (accessed 23 February 2011
- ^ FUN Technologies Acquires UK Casual Games Site, Teagames Archived 2011-07-11 at the Wayback Machine (accessed 23 February 2011
- ^ FUN TECHNOLOGIES PLC – Acquisition[dead link] (accessed 8 December 2010)
- ^ Liberty Media Corporation to Acquire FUN Technologies Inc. for GBP 1.75 per Share (accessed 8 December 2010)
- ^ The New Masters Of The Universe Archived 2012-03-06 at the Wayback Machine (accessed 9 December 2010)
- ^ Potter, Beth p (2005-11-22). "Liberty has a go at games on Web". The Denver Post. Retrieved 2024-03-22.
- ^ "NB Tennis Team Sold". ocbj.com. 8 February 2017.
- ^ Szabo, Matt (2013-11-22). "Breakers moving to Texas". L.A. Times. Retrieved 2024-03-22.
- ^ https://www.nytimes.com/2013/02/05/business/muzak-background-music-to-life-to-lose-its-name.html
- ^ "Fluid Music Completes Acquisition of Mood Media Group". www.newswire.com.
- ^ Fluid Music Canada Inc. (March 31, 2010). "Annual Information Form Year Ended December 31, 2009" (Annual Information Form). Fluid Music Canada Inc. Retrieved 2010-08-03.
- ^ Anupreeta Das (March 24, 2011). "Mood Media to Acquire Muzak for $305 Million" (Newspaper Article). Wall Street Journal. Retrieved 2011-03-24.
- ^ PROFIT 200 – Canada's fastest-growing companies (accessed 1 June 2011)
- ^ a b Sheahan, Maria (2010-11-11). "KKR sells German recycling group DSD". Reuters. Archived from the original on 2011-03-18. Retrieved 2018-09-26.
- ^ "Advisory Board - der Grüne Punkt". Archived from the original on 2012-08-02. Retrieved 2011-06-12.
- ^ a b "Facts & Figures - der Grüne Punkt". Archived from the original on 2013-02-11. Retrieved 2011-06-21.
- ^ "Aphria Buys Nuuvera for $670 Million as Pot Deals Heat Up". www.bloomberg.com. Retrieved 2024-03-23.
- ^ "SEC - Aphria". www.sec.gov. Retrieved 2024-03-23.
- ^ "European Cannabis Leader EMMAC Gets Lifted Through a SPAC". Yahoo Finance. 2020-07-23. Retrieved 2024-03-23.
- ^ "Law firm doubles up on value of deals completed in first half | TheBusinessDesk.com". North West. 2021-09-29. Retrieved 2024-03-23.
- ^ "Pluri (PLUR) Appoints Lorne Abony to its Board". www.streetinsider.com. Retrieved 2024-03-23.
- ^ Achard, Sepehr (2024-03-22). "Meatable Latest News: Achieves Breakthrough in Cultivated Meat Production". iGrow News. Retrieved 2024-03-23.
- ^ "Executive Profile" (Executive Profile). BusinessWeek Magazine. December 11, 2008. Retrieved 2008-11-16.[dead link]
- ^ Kathy English (May 2, 2006). "Canada's Top 40 Under 40". Globe & Mail Report on Business. Toronto. Retrieved 2006-05-06.
- ^ Ryan, Donaghy (October 19, 2007). "Ambassador program reaches 100 members". Press Release. Retrieved 2007-10-19.
- ^ "Odyssey award". Archived from the original on 2009-03-13. Retrieved 2008-12-23.
- ^ "UATX - Forging a New Generation of Founders".
- ^ Tennis Masters Men (accessed 17 February 2011)
- ^ "Norwalk Scores and Standings: Sept. 13". Norwalk, CT Patch. 12 September 2011.
- ^ "Local roundup: SC's Young falls short at Oakley World Pro Junior Bali - San Jose Mercury News". Archived from the original on 2014-03-17. Retrieved 2011-10-07.
- ^ "USTA Tournaments Home". tennislink.usta.com.
- ^ "USTA National Men, Women & Mixed 30's Hard Court Championship: Home". tennislink.usta.com.
- ^ "Midcoast Tennis Association USTA National Men's 35 Indoor Championship: Home". tennislink.usta.com.