Comment on Five things, VC deals, thwarted corporate gifts and judging chubby grizzlies

Good morning, Boston. Here are five things you need to know in local business news to start your busy Thursday.  Apollo Global Management, a former lender to the landlords of eight failed Massachusetts hospitals owned by Steward Health Care, is now helping Rhode Island-based Lifespan purchase two of those hospitals out of bankruptcy, Mary Serreze reports. A four-year-old startup that works with consumer brands like Mars, L'Oreal and Colgate plans to grow its team to 100 people and improve…