TMCnet News
M&A Navigator: Deal pipeline - 13 May(M&A Navigator Via Acquire Media NewsEdge) The following is a list a of deals covered in detail by M&A Navigator this week: - LAVAZZA WRAPS UP ONDA COFFEE BREAK PURCHASE IN BULGARIA Italy's Lavazza Coffee Shops has completed the previously announced acquisition of coffee chain Onda Coffee Break in Bulgaria for EUR6m (USD7.5m), the companies said. Status: Closed - RUSSIA'S SVYAZINVEST LOOKING TO RELAUNCH TALKS ON MEGAFON STAKE BUY IN JUNE-AUG--CEO Russian state-owned telecommunications holding Svyazinvest wants to restart in the summer talks on a potential acquisition of the stake of Russian billionaire Alisher Usmanov in home mobile operator Megafon, CEO Yevgeny Yurchenko said. Status: Talks - US GRANT THORNTON TAKES OVER AVALION CONSULTING OPS Chicago-based accounting firm Grant Thornton said it has bought assets of Avalion Consulting, an IT consulting and software firm in Dallas, for an undisclosed sum. Status: Closed - RUSSIAN SYNTERRA'S PETERSTAR TAKES 98.51% OF HOME TELECOM SZKTI PeterStar, the St Petersburg unit of Russian telecommunications group Synterra, has bought 98.51% of fixed-line and broadband operator Northwest Telecommunications and Informatics Company, or SZKTI, in the Murmansk region, for an undisclosed sum, Synterra's press office said. Status: Closed - US ACORN ENERGY WRAPS UP TAKEOVER OF GRIDSENSE US energy technology specialist Acorn Energy (NASDAQ:ACFN) said it has wrapped up the takeover of 100% in Sydney-based GridSense in a cash and stock transaction. Status: Closed - HONEYWELL TO ACQUIRE CANADIAN MATRIKON FOR USD142M US manufacturing and technology group Honeywell International (NYSE:HON) said it would take over Canadian industrial intelligence solutions provider Matrikon (TSE:MTK) for USD142m (EUR113m) in cash. Status: Agreed - CADENCE DESIGN TO TAKE OVER PEER DENALI SOFTWARE FOR USD315M US electronic design automation (EDA) software and hardware provider Cadence Design Systems (NASDAQ:CDNS) said it has agreed to buy privately-held sector player Denali Software for USD315m (EUR250m) in cash. Status: Agreed - SWEDEN-BASED CENTRAL ASIA GOLD SEEKS BUYER FOR RUSSIAN TYVA Sweden-based gold miner Central Asia Gold (NGM:CAG) is looking to dispose of Tyva Prospectors Artel, a placer gold miner in the Tuva Republic, a Tyva spokesperson said. Status: Auction - US CINCINNATI BELL AGREES ON TAKEOVER OF CYRUSONE FOR USD525M US telecommunications company Cincinnati Bell Inc (NYSE:CBB) said it has agreed to take over data centre operator CyrusOne from private equity company ABRY Partners for almost USD525m (EUR665m) in cash. Status: Agreed - US SILVER OPPORTUNITY TAKES OVER SILVER MINING FIRM STERLING, SUNSHINE MINE US mining firm Silver Opportunity Partners LLC said it has wrapped up the takeover of local silver miner Sterling Mining Company (OTC:SRLMQ), including the ownership of the Sunshine Mine, for an undisclosed sum. Status: Closed - INDIA'S GLODYNE TO BUY US DECISIONONE FOR USD104M Indian IT services firm Glodyne Technoserve (BOM:532672) said it has inked an agreement to buy US technology support services provider DecisionOne Corp for USD104m (EUR83m). Status: Agreed - EXECUTIVE BUYS 44.46% IN GERMAN MARBERT HOLDING Laura Caravante-Beucke, an executive at German cosmetics manufacturer and distributor Marbert Holding AG (FRA:MBT1), has taken over 564,601 shares in the company for a total of EUR1.25m (USD1.58m). Status: Closed - WPP BUYS TWO DIGITAL AGENCIES IN BRAZIL Irish marketing and advertising agency WPP (LON:WPP) said it has taken over Brazilian digital and search marketing agencies Midia Digital and I-Cherry. Status: Closed - ING UK RET SAYS IT HAS 96.43% OF RUGBY REIT, OFFER UNCONDITIONAL UK property investor ING UK Real Estate Income Trust (LON:IRET), or ING UK RET, said that its takeover offer for Rugby Estates Investment Trust (LON:RUGB), or Rugby REIT, has become unconditional after securing acceptance from shareholders owning 96.43% by 12 May, the first closing date. Status: Bidding - MID EUROPA TAKES STRATEGIC STAKE IN CZECH SOLAR POWER CO ENERGY 21 Central and eastern Europe (CEE)-focused private equity firm Mid Europa said it has struck a deal to buy a strategic stake in Czech-based renewable energy company Energy 21 without disclosing the purchase price and exact size of the stake. Status: Agreed - US CMG HOLDINGS CLOSES ACQUISITION OF HOME SOFTWARE FIRM AUDIO EYE US CMG Holdings (OTC:CMGO), a full service marketing communications company, announced it had finalised the acquisition of home Internet content publication and distribution software maker Audio Eye, announced on 31 March. Status: Closed - GERMAN VITA 34 TAKES ABOVE 50% IN SPANISH PARTNER German blood bank Vita 34 International AG (ETR:V3V) said it has bought 100% in Novel Pharma SL and thus has become an indirect owner of 51.62% in Spanish sector company Secuvita SL for EUR3m (USD3.8m). Status: Closed - UK FUTURAGENE ACCEPTS GBP59.2M CASH TAKEOVER OFFER FROM BRAZIL'S SUZANO The board of UK Futuragene (LON:FGN), an agricultural bio-technology specialist, announced it has recommended the takeover cash offer from Suzano Bidco, a fully-owned unit of Brazilian pulp and paper maker Suzano Papel e Celulose (SAO:SUZB5). Status: Bidding - US NEXCEN BRANDS TO SELL FRANCHISE OPS TO LLCP FOR USD112.5M, TO CUT DEBT US franchise brands manager NexCen Brands (OTC:NEXC) said it had agreed to dispose of its franchise business to Global Franchise Group, an affiliate of home investor Levine Leichtman Capital Partners, or LLCP, for USD112.5m (EUR89.4m), to reduce debt. Status: Agreed - WAL-MART REPORTEDLY IN TALKS TO BUY RUSSIAN RETAILER LENTA US retailer Wal-Mart Stores (NYSE:WMT) is in preliminary talks to buy Russian hypermarket chain Lenta in a move to enter new growth markets. Status: Talks - CZECH COMPETITION AUTHORITIES GREENLIGHT DALKIA-CEZ DEALS French environmental and water utility Veolia Environnement (EPA:VIE) said that the Czech competition watchdog has cleared the two deals between its energy services joint venture Dalkia and Czech utility CEZ (PRG:BAACEZ). Status: Agreed - GLOBAL EARTH ENERGY WRAPS UP RCI SOLAR BUY US-based Global Earth Energy (OTC:GLER) unveiled the completion of the previously announced acquisition of North America's renewable energy company RCI Solar. Status: Closed - UK TOROTRAK ANNOUNCES 50/50 JV WITH DANISH ROTREX UK Torotrak (LON:TRK), a full-toroidal traction drive technology specialist, said it had set up a 50/50 joint venture with Danish centrifugal supercharger company Rotrex, to enhance efficiency of downsized vehicle engines. Status: Agreed - US SOLARCITY TAKES OVER BUILDING SOLUTIONS TO BOOST SERVICE PORTFOLIO US solar power systems designer and services provider SolarCity said it had bought home Building Solutions, a top energy efficiency services and technologies provider, for an undisclosed sum, to enhance service portfolio. Status: Closed - INDIA'S XL TELE, SPANISH SDEM TEGA JOINS FORCES IN SOLAR POWER JV India's solar energy-focused XL Telecom & Energy (BOM:532788) said it has inked a joint venture agreement with Spanish solar EPC contractor SDEM TEGA to bid and execute solar power projects together. Status: Agreed - US ACXIOM BUYS BRAZILIAN GODIGITAL TO EXPAND IN S AMERICA US interactive marketing specialist Acxiom (NASDAQ:ACXM) said it had entered into a definitive agreement to buy a controlling interest in Brazilian data quality and precision marketing firm GoDigital, for an undisclosed price and in a move to expand into South America. Status: Agreed - GORENJE IN TALKS TO ACQUIRE SWEDISH WASHING MACHINE MAKER ASKO Slovenian domestic electric appliances maker Gorenje (LJE:GRVG) is in talks to acquire Swedish washing machine producer Asko, part of Italy's Antonio Merloni group. Status: Talks - DUTCH MEDIQ TO BUY FINNISH ORIOLA'S HEALTHCARE TRADE BIZ Dutch drug and medical supplies distributor Mediq (AMS:MEDIQ) has agreed to acquire the healthcare trade business of Finnish sector player Oriola (HEL:OKDBV) for EUR85m (USD107m), Mediq said in a press release. Status: Agreed - OLYMPUS PARTNERS TAKES OVER US FINANCING PROVIDER CHURCHILL FINANCIAL HOLDINGS US private equity firm Olympus Partners said it has bought New York-based financial company Churchill Financial Holdings LLC for an undisclosed sum. Status: Closed - US NGMOCO TAKES OVER MOBILE GAME DEVELOPER San Francisco-based ngmoco, a developer and publisher of iPhone and iPod touch games, said it had bought home mobile Internet game developer Stumptown Game Machine, the creator of pet simulation Touch Pets Dogs, for an undisclosed sum. Status: Closed - UK TULLETT PREBON SAYS TALKS ON POTENTIAL TAKEOVER BREAK DOWN London-based inter-dealer broker Tullett Prebon (LON:TLPR) said that talks with a third party over a potential takeover bid for the company have ended, without an offer being made. Status: Terminated - SHAREHOLDERS OF US BRINK'S HOME SECURITY APPROVE DEAL WITH TYCO US security services provider Brink's Home Security Holdings Inc (NYSE:CFL) said its shareholders have voted in favour of the takeover by sector company Tyco International Ltd (NYSE:TYC). Status: Agreed - IMPERIAL CAPITAL BUYS US PET FOOD CO PETRA PET Canadian private equity company Imperial Capital Group said it has taken over US pet products firm Petra Pet Inc and its affiliated company Petra Vet LLC for an undisclosed sum. Status: Closed - VERAZ NETWORKS TO TEAM UP WITH DIALOGIC US voice infrastructure solutions provider Veraz Networks (NASDAQ:VRAZ) and privately-held media gateways and software specialist Dialogic Corporation unveiled an all-stock merger deal. Status: Agreed - STEPSTONE CLOSES DISPOSAL OF SOFTWARE DIVISION FOR EUR110M Norwegian online job portal operator StepStone said late it has wrapped up the sale of its StepStone Solutions talent management software division to British private equity firm HgCapital for EUR110m (USD139m). Status: Closed - SARA LEE TO EXIT INDIAN JV WITH GODREJ CONSUMER PRODUCTS US consumer products giant Sara Lee (NYSE:SLE) said it has struck a deal to sell its 51% stake in Godrej Sara Lee Ltd, a joint venture with India's soap maker Godrej Consumer Products (BOM:532424), to the latter for EUR185m (USD234m). Status: Agreed - SILVER LAKE SAID TO JOIN PRIVATE EQUITY BATTLE FOR FIDELITY NATIONAL US private equity firm Silver Lake plans to join a group of three major private equity firms that is currently bidding for US electronic payment processor Fidelity National Information Services (NYSE:FIS). Status: Bidding - NEP BROADCASTING BUYS PREMIERE ENTERTAINMENT US broadcaster NEP Broadcasting announced the acquisition of home production company Premiere Entertainment, without disclosing financial details. Status: Closed - SUTHERLAND GLOBAL SERVICES BUYS ADVENTITY US business process outsourcing (BPO) specialist Sutherland Global Services said it has bought home business and financial research and analytical services provider Adventity Global Services for an undisclosed sum in cash. Status: Closed - BERMUDA-BASED MAX CAPITAL, HARBOR POINT COMPLETE TIE-UP Bermuda-based re-insurers Max Capital Group (NASDAQ:MXGL) and privately-held Harbor Point have completed their previously announced merger, creating Alterra Capital Holdings Limited, the latter said. Status: Closed - LULULEMON ATHLETICA BUYS MAJORITY IN AUSTRALIA'S NEW HARBOUR YOGA North America's technical athletic apparel retailer lululemon athletica (NASDAQ:LULU) said it has increased its stake in its Australian joint venture partner, New Harbour Yoga Pty Ltd, to 80.3% from 13%. Status: Closed - BNP PARIBAS RAISES TELEFONICA STAKE TO 3.40% French bank BNP Paribas (EPA:BNP) has increased its stake in Spanish telecom group Telefonica (MCE:TEF) to 3.40% from 2.57%, a filing with Spain's stock market regulator CNMV showed. Status: Closed - GERMAN SAP STRIKES USD5.8BN DEAL TO BUY SMALLER RIVAL SYBASE German software company SAP (ETR:SAP) announced an agreement to buy smaller sector player Sybase (NYSE:SY) for USD5.8bn (EUR4.6bn) in a move to add new technology to its existing portfolio. Status: Agreed - FORD, MAZDA SEEK REGULATORY NOD TO END CHINA JV Car maker Ford Motor (NYSE:F) and its partners Mazda Motor Corp (TYO:7261) and Chongqing Changan Automobile Co (SHE:000625) are seeking approval from the Chinese government to terminate their Chinese joint venture. Status: Speculation - DISNEY, SKT TO FORM KOREAN JV US entertainment giant Disney (NYSE:DIS), via its Disney Channel International unit, and South Korean wireless telecom operator SK Telecom (SEO:017670), or SKT, have agreed to start a joint venture to broadcast Disney-branded channels in Korean language. Status: Agreed - CHINA'S ZHU JUN REPORTEDLY IN TALKS TO BUY UK'S LIVERPOOL FC Zhu Jun, the chairman of Chinese online gaming firm The9 Limited (NASDAQ:NCTY), was cited by the Beijing Times as saying he was in talks to acquire UK's Liverpool premier league football club, but there was no certainty of a deal. Status: Speculation; Talks - CONSORTIUM LED BY GOLDMAN SACHS TO BUY STAKE IN TAIKANG A group led by US investment bank Goldman Sachs (NYSE:GS) is close to buying a 15.6% stake in Chinese life insurer Taikang from French insurance giant AXA (EPA:AXA) for nearly USD1bn (EUR789m). Status: Talks - COPEC SAID TO BE EYEING AEI'S STAKE IN TERPEL Chilean fuel distributor Compania de Petroleos de Chile (Copec) is keen on buying a 24.96% stake in Colombian peer Terpel from US energy investment fund AEI. Status: Speculation - TURKEY TO START BASKENT DOGALGAZ SALE ON THURSDAY The Turkish privatisation agency said it would launch the sale of 80% in gas distributor Baskent Dogalgaz, which is active in Ankara, tomorrow. Status: Auction - DUTCH ACOMO CONSIDERS MORE ACQUISITIONS Dutch agricultural products trader Amsterdam Commodities (AMS:ACOMO) will review various options for additional potential acquisitions. Status: Bidding - NUEVA RUMASA'S DAIRY BUSINESS ATTRACTS MAJOR INTEREST Madrid-based holding company Nueva Rumasa said six companies are in the run for its dairy unit Cacaolat ahead of the latter's planned initial public offering. Status: Bidding - RHEINMETALL STARTS TENDER OFFER FOR SIMRAD German automotive and defence group Rheinmetall (FRA:RHM) has initiated the tender offer for Norwegian Simrad Optronics (OSL:SIT), a producer of electro-optical equipment, at NOK8.25 (USD1.34/EUR1.06) per share in cash. Status: Bidding - FRANCE TELECOM EYES BUYS IN EMERGING MARKETS, AFRICA - MAIN TARGET France Telecom (EPA:FTE) is again on the hunt for acquisitions in emerging markets, particularly in Africa. Status: Bidding - POLAND EXPECTS TO CASH IN EUR1.8BN FROM PRIVATISATIONS NEXT YEAR The Polish treasury hopes to pocket nearly PLN7bn (USD2.2bn/EUR1.8bn) from privatisation deals in 2011. Status: Auction - PRIVATE EQUITY DEAL FOR FIDELITY NATIONAL COULD GO UP TO USD15BN The negotiated acquisition of US electronic payment processor Fidelity National Information Services (NYSE:FIS), eyed currently by a group of three major private equity firms, may reach a value of some USD15bn (EUR11.9bn). Status: Talks - CEO SAYS GERMAN SAP ON THE HUNT FOR MAJOR ACQUISITIONS German software company SAP (ETR:SAP) is exploring various takeover opportunities in an attempt to add new technologies to its existing product offering. Status: Bidding - STANCHART NEGOTIATES USD10BN ACQUISITION OF S AFRICAN NEDBANK UK bank holding company Standard Chartered (LON:STAN) is negotiating to take over South African bank Nedbank (JNB:NED) for USD10bn (EUR7.9bn). Status: Talks - BULGARIA TO OFFLOAD 33% STAKE IN E.ON BULGARIA Bulgaria has decided to sell its 33% interest in the local unit of German utility E.ON (ETR:EOAN) to raise funds under an anti-crisis strategy. Status: Auction - GE PLANS TO PUT OVER USD1BN IN ACQUISITIONS US conglomerate General Electric (NYSE:GE) is planning to spend over USD1bn (EUR792m) on acquisitions given a projected cash of more than USD25bn at the end of the year. Status: Bidding - INDUSTRIAS ROMI RAISES OFFER FOR HARDINGE TO USD10 Brazilian machine tools maker Industrias Romi (SAO:ROMI3) said it has sweetened its bid to acquire US sector player Hardinge (NASDAQ:HDNG) to USD10 (EUR7.8) per share in cash, adding this is Romi's "best and final offer". Status: Bidding - PORTUGAL TELECOM GETS EUR5.7BN OFFER FOR VIVO STAKE Portugal Telecom (ELI:PTCA) said its Spanish rival Telefonica (MCE:TEF) has submitted an unsolicited EUR5.7bn (USD7.3bn) offer for its 50% stake in Brazil's mobile phone operator Vivo (SAO:VIVO3). Status: Bidding - SEADRILL PLACES MANDATORY CASH BID FOR SCORPION OFFSHORE Oslo-listed offshore drilling contractor Seadrill (OSL:SDRL) said it had made a cash NOK36 (USD5.9/EUR4.6) per-share mandatory offer for the remaining shares of Scorpion Offshore (OSL:SCORE). Status: Bidding - LIONS GATE STOCKHOLDERS GET NEW EXTENSION BY ICAHN GROUP The Icahn Group, owned by activist shareholder Carl Icahn, announced a new extension of its tender offer for Canada-based movie production studio Lions Gate Entertainment (NYSE:LGF). Status: Bidding - ITALY'S INTESA SANPAOLO SAYS IN TALKS TO SELL FIDEURAM STAKE TO US HELLMAN & FRIEDMAN Italian banking group Intesa Sanpaolo (BIT:ISP) said it was in preliminary discussions with US private equity investor Hellman & Friedman over the sale of a minority stake in its unit Banca Fideuram, to be soon listed. Status: Talks - CVC REPORTEDLY AUCTIONS 4% IN IG GROUP UK-based private equity firm CVC Capital Partners has put a 4% stake in British spread betting firm and bookmaker IG Group (LON:IGG) on the market through Barclays Capital. Status: Auction; Speculation - DEUTSCHE POST STILL IN TALKS WITH CARAVELLE TO SHED FRENCH PARCEL UNIT German mail and logistics group Deutsche Post (ETR:DPW) is still negotiating to sell its loss-making parcel business in France, DHL France, to financial investor Caravelle. Status: Talks - HONG KONG BILLIONAIRE PREPARES BID FOR EDF'S UK DISTRIBUTION NETWORK Hong Kong tycoon Li Ka-Shing is preparing a GBP4bn (USD5.9bn/EUR4.6bn) bid for the UK electricity distribution network of French energy group EDF (EPA:EDF). Status: Bidding; Speculation - BOEING, BAE SYSTEMS, RAYTHEON SAID INTERESTED IN ARGON'S TAKEOVER US planemaker Boeing (NYSE:BA), UK defence group BAE Systems (LON:BA) and US sector company Raytheon (NYSE:RTN) are said to be among the suitors for the takeover of US defence company Argon ST (NASDAQ:STST). Status: Speculation; Bidding - SERBIAN GOVT SAYS CITIGROUP CONSORTIUM SOLE BIDDER TO ADVISE ON TELEKOM SRBIJA STAKE SALE The Serbian finance ministry said that a Citigroup (NYSE:C)-headed consortium is the only bidder to advise in the country's sale of a 40% stake in telecommunications operator Telekom Srbija. Status: Auction - GENERAL ELECTRIC REPORTEDLY MULLS OVER WAYS OF DIVESTING GARANTI STAKE US industrial giant General Electric (NYSE:GE) is said to be mulling over a block sale or public placement as ways to dispose of its 20.85% shareholding in Turkish Garanti Bank (IST:GARAN). Status: Speculation; Auction - UK STEEL MAKER CORUS PICKS CITIGROUP TO SELL ITS TEESSIDE PLANT US steel company Corus is disposing of its Teesside production facility in northern England and had selected US Citigroup (NYSE:C) to arrange the sale, a Corus spokesman said. Status: Talks - US ROCK OF AGES GETS TAKEOVER PROPOSAL BY SWENSON GRANITE CO US Rock of Ages Corporation (NASDAQ:ROAC) said Swenson Granite Company LLC has filed a takeover bid for the granite quarrier and producer, offering USD4.38 (EUR3.35) per outstanding share in cash. Status: Bidding - ROMANIAN GOVT TO START TALKS ON SALE OF STAKE IN UKRAINIAN KRIVOY ROG TO ARCELORMITTAL GALATI The Romanian economy minister, Adriean Videanu, said that the government will initiate talks this week for the sale of its stake in Ukrainian ore processing plant Krivoy Rog to Romanian steel company ArcelorMittal Galati. Status: Talks - UK GOLD MINER AVOCET SAYS IN TALKS TO DISPOSE OF SE ASIAN MINES UK gold miner Avocet Mining (LON:AVM) denied media speculation that it had concluded the sale of its South East Asian mines to PT Lebong Tandai, a unit of Indonesian coal miner PT Merukh, for USD250m (EUR191.5m), and said it was in early talks with interested buyers. Status: Talks - US MONEY4GOLD PLANS TO BUY MOBILE PHONE RECYCLING FIRM OPRA US precious metals recycling company Money4Gold Holdings Inc (OTC:MFGD) said it has sealed a letter of intent to take over Kansas-based mobile phone recycling firm Office Products Recycling Associates (OPRA). Status: Exclusivity - APAX PARTNERS TO ACQUIRE CONTROLLING STAKE IN BRAZILIAN TIVIT British private equity firm Apax Partners is to buy a controlling 54% interest in Brazilian IT group Tivit (SAO:TVIT3). Status: Speculation; Bidding - PRIVATE EQUITY FUND EVA GRUPE TO BID FOR POLISH MIESZKO Lithuanian private equity firm EVA Grupe is seeking clearance from the Polish competition regulator to acquire confectionery Mieszko (WAR:MSO). Status: Bidding - SPANISH MARSANS TO SELL TOUR OPERATOR VIAJES MARSANS IN FEW DAYS Spain-based tourism group Marsans is planning to dispose of tour operator Viajes Marsans within the next few days. Status: Auction - SONY MUSIC PLANNING BID FOR BRITISH RIVAL EMI US recording giant Sony Music mulls over a potential bid for struggling British competitor EMI, Sony Music CEO Rolf Schmidt-Holz said. Status: Bidding - LOTOS LIKELY TO BUY OUT LITHUANIAN GEONAFTA Polish refiner Lotos (WAR:LTS) is considering the acquisition of the residual 58% in Lithuanian oil exploration major Geonafta, Lotos CEO Pawel Olechnowicz said. Status: Bidding - GOLDSMITH CAPITAL PARTNERS EYES GERMAN KAUFHOF Asset manager Goldsmith Capital Partners is one of the interested parties for German Cologne-based department-store chain Kaufhof, part of Metro (ETR:MEO), a spokesman for Goldsmith said. Status: Talks - PEABODY ENERGY FILES DEFINITIVE, REVISED OFFER FOR AUSTRALIAN SECTOR CO MACARTHUR US coal miner Peabody Energy (NYSE:BTU) said it has filed a definite offer of AUD15 (USD13.52/EUR10.47) per share in cash to take over the control at Australian sector company Macarthur Coal (ASX:MCC). Status: Bidding ((Comments on this story may be sent to [email protected])) (c) 2010 M2 COMMUNICATIONS |