02.02.12 | Jonathan Blue to expand Shell network in Jamaica

Blue Equity LLC is now focused on integrating new asset Shell gas operator Cool Petroleum Holdings into the group, and says it will be expanding the network of gas stations nationwide. The private equity firm also hinted at another acquisition later this year, saying it re… Read full article

01.31.12 | Artspace.com Closes $2.5 Million Series A Round of Financing From Notable Professional and Institutional Investors

The Leading Online Art Marketplace Also Announces Partnerships with World-Renowned Art Fairs and the Hiring Of Andrew Goldstein as Editor-In-Chief Read full article

01.30.12 | Art-Sales Web Site Announces New Financing and Partnerships

Artspace.com, one of a wave of online art dealers that is starting to change the way contemporary art is bought and sold, said on Monday that it had raised $2.5 million from a group of investors. Additionally, it said, it had signed up several prominent museums and gal… Read full article

01.30.12 | Blue, Hill plan to transform Molee Building into apartments

Local businessmen Jonathan Blue and Gant Hill plan to transform the aging Molee Building in downtown Louisville into apartments. Hill said the partners are working with local preservation and landmarks officials on the planned project, and details have not been finalized… Read full article

01.11.12 | Blue buys Cool, pumping US$30 million into Shell

JOEY Issa has sold a chunk of his stake in Cool Petroleum --- the operator of Shell service stations in Jamaica --- which along with Neal and Massy's 40 per cent block has given Kentucky-based private equity firm Blue Equity a controlling interest. Read full article

01.10.12 | Blue Equity Announces Acquisition of a Controlling Interest in Cool Petroleum Jamaica (a Shell Licensee) From Cool Corp and Neal and Massy

LOUISVILLE, KY and KINGSTON, JAMAICA--(Marketwire - Jan 10, 2012) - BWI -- Blue Equity, LLC and Cool Corp Limited announced today that Blue Equity has acquired a controlling interest in Cool Petroleum Holdings Limited ("Cool Petroleum"), the licensed user of Shell br… Read full article

01.09.12 | US Private Equity Firm Buys Controlling Stake in Largest Jamaican Fuel Retailer

United States private equity firm Blue Equity has purchased a controlling interest in Cool Petroleum, the largest fuel retailer in Jamaica, according to a company release. Cool Petroleum is the licensed user of Shell brands in Jamaica, and the largest fuel retailer by v… Read full article

01.09.12 | Blue Equity buys controlling interest in Cool Petroleum Jamaica

Louisville based Blue Equity, LLC has purchased a controlling interest in Cool Petroleum Holdings Ltd., the licensed user of Shell brands in Jamaica. The purchase price was not disclosed. Read full article

01.09.12 | Jamaican Fuel Distributor Gets New Owner

Private-equity firm Blue Equity LLC is taking control of Jamaica's largest fuel distributor for an undisclosed sum, as it expands its presence in the Caribbean nation, The acquisition of a controlling stake in Cool Petroleum Holdings Ltd., which in 2010 reported revenue… Read full article

10.31.11 | Jonathan S. Blue ranked sixth in Louisville Magazine's "Top 50 Powerful Louisvillians"

PowerUp. In our first survey in five years, Mayor Greg Fischer tops a list filled with both familiar names and some surprising newcomers. Read full article

10.20.11 | RIP Ken Meyerson, President of Lagardère Unlimited Tennis

The entire sports agent and sports business community mourns the death of a respected individual who was at the top of Lagardère Unlimited’s tennis division at the time of his passing. Read full article

08.25.11 | Nurses Now International earns ethics certification

Nurses Now International, a company backed by Louisville-based Blue Equity LLC, has earned accreditation from the Alliance for Ethical International Recruitment Practices, according to a news release. Read full article

02.01.11 | The 25 Stories that Shaped the 2010 Sporting Year

Lagardere completes its empire: when the French media giant set up its own talent management agency in 2009, few could have predicted that it would acquire a burgeoning American agency BEST just over a year later. Read full article

06.21.10 | Lagardere interested in looking into new sports, Blue says

Lagardère Unlimited may be looking to acquire agents representing athletes in sports it isn’t active in now — such as baseball, hockey and Olympic sports — but any deals will come only after it fully integrates new acquisition Blue Entertainment Sports Television. Read full article

06.14.10 | Jonathan Blue tells ACG that diversity is key to his success

Business First – by Terry Boyd

He might be young, brash and wealthy. But Jonathan Blue also is misunderstood.

On Tuesday, Blue, chairman and managing partner of Louisville-based private investment firm Read full article

06.07.10 | Blue Equity Announces Sale of Portfolio Company BEST (Blue Entertainment Sports Television)

Blue Equity, LLC and Lagardere SCA announced today that the newly branded Lagardere Unlimited (www.lagardere-unlimited.com) has acquired BEST (Blue Entertainment Sports Television), the sports and entertainment affiliate owned and operated as a portfolio company of Blu… Read full article

06.02.10 | Lagardere Sports becomes Lagardere Unlimited

Arnaud Lagardère has held a press conference about the business of sports after the acquisition of the American-based sports and entertainment agency Best. The CEO of Lagardère has announced the creation of a new division called Lagardère Unlimited, which i… Read full article

05.31.10 | Lagardere Takes Aim at IMG in Sports Marketing Push

"European companies getting into this type of business in the U.S. can be a bit of a problem,"said Conor O'Shea, an analyst at Kepler Capital Markets in Paris. "Things are done in the U.S. on a different scale." Read full article

05.21.10 | Blue Equity division places Mexican nurses in U.S. hospitals

Eighteen Mexican nurses are in the process of getting jobs in U.S. hospitals, thanks to a training and placement business backed by Louisville-based Blue Equity LLC. Read full article

05.17.10 | State of the Sports Agent Industry

Opinion by Sports Agent Blog

It was not all that long ago that IMG was known for its Client Management division, which included many talented athletes not named Tiger Woods. Jonathan… Read full article

05.03.10 | BEST's Dan Fegan Signs NBA Prospect John Wall For Representation

BEST agent DAN FEGAN has signed NBA draft prospect G John Wall "for contract representation," according to sources cited by Liz Mullen of SPORTSBUSINESS JOURNAL. Read full article

04.26.10 | Lagardere might be close to buying Blue Entertainment Sports Television

Blue Entertainment Sports Television, the fast-growing, Louisville-based sports and entertainment agency founded by local entrepreneur Jonathan Blue, might be sold soon to a French company looking to become a major player in the United States. Read full article

04.09.10 | French Sports Company Lagardere SA Nearing Acquisition of BEST

French sporting and publishing giant Lagardere SA is close to acquiring BEST, multiple sources said, which would introduce a player with significant financial wherewithal into the U.S. sports agency marketplace. A deal could be consummated as early as next week, the source… Read full article

04.08.10 | Lagardere negotiating to buy BEST

Lagardère, the Paris-based media and sports giant, is in negotiations to buy Blue Entertainment Sports Television (BEST), Tennis.com has learned. Lagardère, who represents Andy Roddick, Justine Henin and Fernando Gonzalez, among others, is headed by Ken Meyerson,… Read full article

03.16.10 | Blue Entertainment Sports Television forms partnership with IF Management

IF Management Inc., a company that represents radio and television personalities, has formed a partnership with Blue Entertainment Sports Television, a division of Blue Equity LLC. Read full article

08.12.09 | BEST, GlowTouch make Inc. 500

Blue Entertainment Sports Television and GlowTouch Technologies have been named to the Inc. 500 list of fastest growing private companies. The ranking is based on year-over-year sales growth from the previous three years. Read full article

05.28.09 | Blue Equity dominating the game

For many Central Kentuckians, the state has always been the center of their sports world, with UK, Churchill Downs and Keeneland as well as University of Louisville sports. Read full article

05.28.09 | Blue's Views: Blue Equity and BEST entrepreneur Jonathan Blue shares his perspectives on Kentucky sports, life and business

Blue Equity/BEST entrepreneur Jonathan Blue shares his perspectives on Kentucky sports, life and business. Read full article

05.04.09 | Private-Equity Group Has Agents Seeing Blue

One of the Kentucky Derby's big winners this weekend was Jonathan Blue, chairman of the Louisville-based private equity group Blue Equity, which has been snapping up major sports agents recently at bargain prices. Read full article

02.25.08 | Blue Equity Puts a Little Music into its Mix with Acquisition

Blue Equity's acquisition of the business of Kenneth Crear, manager to musical artists including Janet Jackson, is only the beginning of the sports company's plans to build an entertainer management business. Read full article

09.28.07 | Blue Streak

Local private-equity firm has exploded into sports marketing in past year By John R. Karman III Business First Staff Writer Blue Equity's recent acquisitions mean it now represents NBA players Rasheed Wallace and Brevin Knight, more thatn 50 NFL players including… Read full article

07.09.07 | New to Blue: Rep for college coaches, events

Blue Equity, continuing the acquisition spree it started last year, has purchased Game Seven Sports Marketing. With the acquisition, Louisville, Ky.-based Blue Equity expands its growing talent representation business to college coaches and adds events including the Bask… Read full article

06.18.07 | Blue Equity stays active, buys owner of Hoop It Up event

Blue Equity, the Louisville, Ky.-based private equity firm that has built a sports agency through acquisitions over the last year, has bought sports events company Team Championship International. Read full article

05.30.07 | Blue Equity adds NFL agent to stable

National Football League player agent Joel Segal has added his practice to the growing sports holdings of Blue Equity -- a step that Managing Director Jonathan Blue says pushes the Louisville-based private investment company into the big leagues. Read full article

05.30.07 | Blue out to make Louisville 'a more worldly place'

Eric Crawford The Courier-Journal Jonathan Blue says his sports dreams were born while he was watching a dream come true at court level: "Ball boy, University of Louisville basketball team, 1980." Read full article

05.28.07 | Blue grows into NFL

Sports agency adds Segal firm to tennis, hoops presence Liz Mullen, Staff Writer Sports Business Journal Blue Equity, which launched a sports agency business last year by buying the former SFX tennis, events and television divisions, has acquired the firm of top… Read full article

04.26.07 | Agency: Corey Brewer and Joakim Noah Sticking Together

Jonathan Blue is the Chairman and Managing Director of Blue Equity. I talked to him today and he confirms that his agency will represent a couple of big-name Gators: Joakim Noah and Corey Brewer. Read full article

04.16.07 | Dell a second-generation agent for the Noahs

By Liz Mullen Sports Business Journal Sports agency pioneer Donald Dell has an oral agreement to represent Joakim Noah, power forward on the NCAA championship Florida team who is projected to be one of the top NBA draft picks this year as well as one of the most… Read full article

02.23.07 | Rezoning OK'd for development

By Sheldon S. Shafer The Courier-Journal A zoning change that will allow a 38-acre development to be built on a longtime farm near Holiday Manor shopping center was approved by the Louisville Metro Council last night. Read full article

02.20.07 | Pro beach volleyball event coming to Louisville

AVP Inc., a company that produces and markets professional beach volleyball events, is bringing its AVP Crocs Tour to Louisville for the first time this year. Los Angeles-based AVP Inc. said it partnered with SFX Worldwide, a sports marketing company owned by Louisvil… Read full article

12.12.06 | Jonathan Blue named Small Company Business Leader of the Year

Blue sets innovative pace Jonathan Blue's private equity firm made a name for itself on the national scene earlier this year when it acquired the tennis, sports media and live sporting events divisions of the former SFX Sports Group from Live Nation Inc. Read full article

11.24.06 | Group buys historic Landmark building

"It really is going to help us from a recruiting standpoint," Miller said. Being at Third and Liberty "will bring more individuals in and attract local and regional talent who want to work downtown." Read full article

10.24.06 | TELMEX Acquires Enlace Spanish Yellow Pages

Blue Equity, LLC and Telefonos de Mexico, S.A. de C.V. announced today that TELMEX has acquired an 80% controlling interest in the affiliate of Blue Equity, LLC that publishes Enlace Spanish Yellow Pages. In connection with the acquisition, such affiliate has changed it… Read full article

10.24.06 | Telmex to buy Spanish-language directories in U.S.

Telefonos de Mexico SA, or Telmex, is expected to announce the purchase of a group of Spanish-language phone directories based in the U.S. today, marking a notable foray into one of the country's fastest-growing demographic markets. As the deal is currently desi… Read full article

08.21.06 | Louisville firm buys into sports

"We have gone out and built, almost overnight, an elite organization with some of the pioneers and founders of the industry." Read full article

07.21.06 | Fletcher names appointees to U of L board of trustees

Kentucky Gov. Ernie Fletcher has named Rebecca Jackson, Jonathan Blue and Ronald Butt to the University of Louisville board of trustees. Read full article

06.07.06 | Enlace leads the Spanish Language Directory Industry

Enlace Spanish Yellow Pages, the nation's largest independent Spanish directory company (based on number of cities served), has acquired Las Super Páginas Amarillas, the premier independent New York City area Spanish Yellow Pages directory. Read full article

04.07.06 | Making a Splash

Blue is chairman and managing director of Blue Equity, LLC, a recently formed private equity firm with a wide-ranging portfolio of businesses, including financial services, media, real estate, and sports and entertainment concerns. He has an extensive list of civic activit… Read full article

02.27.06 | The Midlands: Plans Filed to Redevelop Farm

"This process can work, and it can yield positive results," Fenley said. "It's the best approach to mitigate problems. It eliminated a lot of the polarization and brings (residents) into the fold and gives them an opportunity to participate." Read full article

01.20.06 | Louisville Magazine's Power People

At number 18, Jonathan Blue is the youngest person in the top 20 of the Power 50. Read full article

12.09.05 | Blue Joins Forces with New Investors

"I'm all about Louisville (developing) its younger people to take over this community. We need to try to nurture that kind of base here." Read full article

10.20.05 | Cobalt Invades South Florida

By Patrick Howington The Courier-Journal Cobalt Publishing in Louisville has acquired its largest Spanish-language yellow pages directories yet, in South Florida. Miami En Sus Manos and Broward-Palm Beach En Sus Manos distribute about 250,000 copies a year, said Cob… Read full article

10.19.05 | The Midlands - Farm May Sprout Buildings

Matt Batcheldor The Courier-Journal A developer who wants to transform a 36-acre farm at the Watterson Expressway and U.S. 42 into a mixed-use development intends to file for a rezoning in the next month. Read full article

05.03.05 | Preston Pointe - Distinctive Design Takes Shape

The distinctive roofline, which slopes sharply from a spear-like apex, gives Preston Pointe an appearance unlike any other building in downtown Louisville. Read full article

09.17.04 | Young Professionals See Room for Growth

Jennifer Gordon, Staff Writer Business First Louisville has come a long way, but the city has no time to rest on past successes, according to a recent survey of local young professionals. Although the city of Louisville and Jefferson County government merger is one… Read full article

08.23.04 | Cobalt Unveils El Enlace Latino Directory

Officials from Louisville-based Cobalt Ventures LLC launched an expanded version of the Hispanic business directory they acquired earlier this year. The directory is called El Enlace Latino, which in Spanish means the Latin link, according to a news release. It replaces an… Read full article

08.16.04 | Cobalt Buys Spanish-Language Directory in Indy

Toya Richards Hill, Staff Writer Business First Continuing its strategy of expanding into Spanish-language telephone books, Cobalt Publishing LLC has purchased Indianapolis-based El Directorio yellow pages Cobalt Publishing completed the Indianapolis telephone directory p… Read full article

08.01.04 | Tyson Could Fight in Louisville Again

Mike Tyson's manager, Shelly Finkel, said yesterday that if the fighter returns to the ring, it could well be in Louisville. "I haven't spoken to Mike about it, and I haven't talked to Jonathan Blue," Finkel said. "But I would like for Mike to come back here." Read full article

06.09.04 | Farm at Ky. 22, Watterson is Sold

The 38-acre Hildebrand farm off Brownsboro Road at the Watterson Expressway survived virtually unchanged through decades of development around it. But no longer. Read full article

05.14.04 | Cobalt Publishing moves offices to downtown Louisville

Cobalt Publishing LLC has moved its corporate offices from Shelbyville to downtown Louisville, according to co-director Jonathan Blue. Read full article

05.13.04 | User-Friendly Phone Book Acquires Blue Book Telephone Directory

"The sale of the Blue Book to User-Friendly will allow Cobalt Publishing to focus on the growth of its core asset base of Spanish Language Directories which meet the needs of the rapidly emerging Hispanic market and provide a unique opportunity for our advertisers." Read full article

01.17.04 | Cobalt Acquires Hispanic Directories

Cobalt Ventures in Louisville has acquired publishers of Spanish-language yellow-pages directories serving Nashville and the Golden Triangle region of Louisville, Lexington and Cincinnati. Read full article

10.02.03 | Hispanic radio station to simulcast on FM

The owners of Louisville's only Hispanic-format radio station, WTSZ-AM, plan to simulcast the station's programming on WTSZ-FM. Read full article

12.06.02 | PM Partners develops $12 million Preston Pointe

A rather unusual-looking building is taking shape against the downtown Louisville skyline -- a building distinguished by its sloping roof that comes to a point 172 feet above the ground. Read full article

06.02.98 | Progress Rail acquires majority assets of Blue Industrial Group

Progress Rail Services Corporation announced today that it has entered into an agreement to acquire the majority of the assets of the Blue Industrial Group, based in Louisville, Kentucky. Read full article