National

City Wide Moving HQ and Opening D.C. Branch

Lenexa-based City Wide Maintenance, a growing national franchiser of commercial janitorial and building-maintenance services, is moving its headquarters and openings its first location in Washington, D.C. The company is staying in Lenexa, moving into a new 28,000-square-foot space under construction… more

Tallgrass Energy Accepts $4B Investor Buyout

Leawood-based Tallgrass Energy, LP, is selling its outstanding stock to an investor group that includes an arm of private-equity firm Blackstone and Spain-based energy corporation Enagas, and others, for just over $4 billion. The investors are paying $22.45 each for… more

KC Renters Spent $24.3B in 2010s

Rents paid for housing in the Kansas City metro area over the last decade hit a total of $24.3 billion, according to a recent analysis by home-selling site Zillow, and the total amount paid this year were 69.1 percent higher… more

Hostess Buying Voortman for $320M

Hostess Brands is purchasing Voortman Cookies Limited for $320 million from a San Francisco-based private-equity firm, boosting its exposure to the cookie category. “Voortman is a leading brand with a well-defined consumer position that complements and extends the growing Hostess… more

EPR Divests Charter-School Portfolio

EPR Properties, one of the Kansas City area's largest public companies, has exited the charter-school business to better focus on its core portfolio of experiential-entertainment real estate. The Kansas City-based real estate investment trust sold 47 assets in its charter-school… more

Westlake Ace Hardware Buying N.Y. State Chain

Lenexa-based Westlake Ace Hardware continues its national expansion, purchasing a three-store chain in New York State, its first locations in the Northeast. Westlake is buying Haggerty Ace Hardware, founded in 1992, with stores in Cooperstown, Delhi and Walton, all in… more

Q&A: Chase Exec Outlines KC Expansion Plans

JP Morgan Chase & Co. has started its expansion into the Kansas City area. Last week was the official opening of a retail branch in Leawood, and another location, on the Missouri side in Kansas City, will open at 7701… more

Ferrellgas Lands Lending Agreement in Face of Defaults

Ferrellgas, L.P. has reached a lending agreement with TPG Specialty Lending to address "alleged events of default" that occurred under its current credit facility, the propane distributor said. The $300-million revolving credit facility sub-limit for the issuance of letters of… more

DFA May Acquire Dean Foods Assets

Dairy Farmers of America, the largest private company by revenue based in the Kansas City area, might get bigger. The Kansas City, Kan.-based national cooperative is reportedly in talks to buy all of the assets of Dallas-based dairy products producer… more

Auditor: Visit KC Needs More Accountability

The City Auditor's Office has released a report saying that Visit KC, the city's economic development agency devoted to promoting tourism, is not reporting its finances in a way that gives a clear picture of how it spends money. Visit… more