TMCnet News
M&A Navigator: Deal pipeline - 4 January(M&A Navigator Via Acquire Media NewsEdge) The following is a list of deals covered in detail by M&A Navigator this week: - US TSYS TAKES FULL CONTROL OF FNMS US payment processing services provider Total System Services (NYSE:TSS), or TSYS, said it has bought the 49% it did not own in First National Merchant Solutions (FNMS) from First National bank of Omaha (FNBO) for nearly USD169.6m (EUR127.2m). Status: Closed - US GENBAND AGREES TO BUY CEDAR POINT COMMUNICATIONS US IP infrastructure and applications solutions provider Genband said it has agreed to purchase local IP switching systems maker Cedar Point Communications, in a move to raise its market share in the cable Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) segment. Status: Agreed - SOLAR THIN FILMS, GREENSOL ALTERNATIVE INTEND TO SET UP SOLAR FARMS JV US thin-film amorphous silicon specialist Solar Thin Films (OTC:SLTZ) said today it has signed a letter of intent to establish a joint venture with Israeli Greensol Alternative Energy to develop and syndicate solar farms. Status: Exclusivity - DELL ANNOUNCES DEAL TO BUY SECUREWORKS US personal computers (PCs) and software maker Dell (NASDAQ:DELL) said it had entered into a definitive deal to buy information security services firm SecureWorks, in a drive to boost its portfolio of IT-as-a-service and information security solutions. Status: Agreed - CPEX AGREES TO USD27.25 P/S TAKEOVER BID BY FOOTSTAR US speciality pharmaceutical firm CPEX Pharmaceuticals (NASDAQ:CPEX) said it has agreed to be acquired by FCB I Holdings, part of Footstar Inc (OTC:FTAR), for USD27.25 (EUR20.35) per share in cash. Status: Agreed - APTILO NETWORKS ANNOUNCES ACQUISITION OF BIRDSTEP'S ORBYTE UNIT Swedish wireless service management firm Aptilo Networks said it had agreed to buy Service Factory (Orbyte), a fully-owned unit in Sweden of Norwegian software group Birdstep Technology (OSL:BIRD), in a move to enhance its sector position and gain more customers. Status: Agreed - CERADYNE TO BUY SPECIALTY GLASS MAKER VIOX FOR USD27M US advanced technical ceramic products maker Ceradyne (NASDAQ:CRDN) said it had bought specialty glass manufacturer VIOX Corp for some USD27m (EUR20.2m) in cash, in a move to diversify its offering. Status: Closed - HUB INTL TAKES OVER INSURANCE AGENCY KESSLER TO EXPAND IN LOS ANGELES Chicago-based insurance broker Hub International said it had purchased sector player Sander A. Kessler & Associates in California, for an unrevealed amount, in a move to grow in the Los Angeles area. Status: Closed - EQT CORP TO SELL GAS PROCESSING UNIT TO MARKWEST FOR USD230M US natural gas producer EQT Corporation (NYSE:EQT) said it had agreed to sell its natural gas processing operations in Langley, Kentucky, and a related natural gas liquids (NGL) pipeline to MarkWest Energy Partners (NYSE:MWE) for USD230m (EUR172m). Status: Agreed - NORWAY’S GOVERNMENT READY TO SELL SAS HOLDING The government of Norway is open to divest its 14.29% stake in Scandinavian airline SAS (STO:SAS). Status: Auction - HUNGARIAN GOVT SAYS IN TALKS TO SELL AIRLINE MALEV The Hungarian national development ministry confirmed it was in "intensive" talks with professional investors potentially interested in buying its troubled air carrier Malev, but did not disclose their names. Status: Talks - ARCELORMITTAL STICKS TO CAD550M OFFER FOR CANADIAN BAFFINLAND Luxembourg-based steel producer ArcelorMittal (AMS:MT) does not plan to further increase its CAD550m (USD553m/EUR412.9m) takeover bid for Canadian miner Baffinland (TSE:BIM). Status: Bidding - US RENTRAK TAKES OVER MEDIA SALVATION US digital media measurement company Rentrak (NASDAQ:RENT) said it has purchased local sales and financial reporting systems provider Media Salvation, without disclosing the purchase price. Status: Closed - DUTCH APG JOINS GOODMAN OFFER FOR IIF IN AUSTRALIA Dutch pension fund APG has joined a consortium led by Australian property firm Goodman (ASX:GMG) offering AUD1.1bn (USD1.11bn/EUR829m) to buy Australian real-estate fund ING Industrial Fund (ASX:IIF), an affiliate of Dutch financial services group ING (AMS:INGA). Status: Bidding - SANDERS CLOSES ACQUISITION OF MAJORITY IN GLOBAL FINANCIAL SERVICES US wealth management firm Sanders Morris Harris (NASDAQ:SMHG) said it has finalised its previously announced acquisition of a 50.1% stake in local sector player Global Financial Services. Status: Closed - SUZLON ENERGY DENIES REPORTS ON GAMESA BUYING MAJORITY STAKE Indian wind power company Suzlon Energy (BOM:532667) said in a bourse filing that reports on Spanish rival Gamesa (MCE:GAM) buying a majority stake in it were “speculative†and “inaccurate†, adding that it had no further clarifications to make regarding this information. Status: Denied - POLISH EMPERIA EYES LOCAL RIVAL BOMI Polish food retailer Emperia (WAR:EDR) will consider taking over rival Bomi (WAR:BMI) as the company is now seeking to make its first acquisition in the first half of 2011. Status: Bidding - ISTANBUL SETS DEADLINE FOR IDO BIDS ON 31 MAR The Istanbul municipality announced it would accept bids for 100% in maritime passenger transport company IDO until the end of March and said it would publish the advertising for the tender on 6 January. Status: Auction - WESTHOUSE HOLDINGS IN DEAL TO BUY SMITH'S HOLDINGS UK corporate finance and broking house Westhouse Holdings (LON:WHL) said it had agreed to take over corporate broking and investor relations firm Smith's Holdings and its subsidiary Smith's Corporate Advisory in a bid to grow in the natural resources and closed-end funds areas. Status: Agreed - IRISH DPS ENGINEERING ANNOUNCES BUY OF US BIOMETICS Ireland-based project management and process engineering company DPS Engineering said it has taken over US engineering specialist Biometics LLP in a move to extend its North American business. Status: Closed - INDUTRADE CLOSES BUY OF SWISS INDUSTRIAL GROUP ABIMA Swedish industrial components maker Indutrade (STO:INDT) said it had finalised the purchase of Swiss Aschera Holding, the parent of local industrial group Abima, in a drive to grow in central Europe. Status: Closed - UK ULTRA ELECTRONICS BUYS US ADAPTIVE MATERIALS FOR USD23M UK electronic systems maker Ultra Electronics Holdings (LON:ULE) said it has taken over US portable power solutions manufacturer Adaptive Materials from its founders Aaron and Michelle Crumm for an initial cash payment of USD23m (EUR17.2m). Status: Closed - ING MULLS OVER SELLING PROPERTY INVESTMENT UNIT Dutch banking and insurance group ING (AMS:INGA) is considering a possible sale of its real estate investment management unit. Status: Auction - TRUFFLE CAPITAL REVEALS MEDIAFACTORY BUY IN BRAZIL Paris-based private equity company Truffle Capital said it has taken over Brazilian online performance marketing specialist MediaFactory for an undisclosed sum. Status: Closed - SHELL, COSAN WIN EU APPROVAL FOR USD12BN ETHANOL AND SUGAR JV The European Union (EU) cleared Anglo-Dutch oil and gas giant Shell (LON:RDSA) and Brazilian sugar and ethanol group Cosan (SAO:CZLT11) to create a USD12bn (EUR8.99bn) ethanol and sugar joint venture. Status: Agreed - GERMAN COLONIA OFFLOADS STAKE IN JV WITH OAKTREE CAPITAL MANAGEMENT German Colonia Real Estate AG (ETR:KBU) said it has divested of its 4.8% in a joint venture with Oaktree Capital Management LP for EUR4.5m (USD6m). Status: Closed - ANGLO AMERICAN CLOSES USD1.08BN SALE OF MOLY-COP, ALTASTEEL TO ONESTEEL UK-based global miner Anglo American (LON:AAL) said it had finalised the disposal of its units Moly-Cop and AltaSteel to Australian miner and steelmaking raw materials supplier OneSteel (ASX:OST) for USD1.076bn (EUR807m) in cash. Status: Closed - ACS EXCEEDS 30% IN HOCHTIEF Spanish builder ACS (MCE:ACS) said it had secured 30.34% in German rival Hochtief (ETR:HOT) by the end of its takeover offer on 29 December 2010. Status: Bidding - DUTCH FORNIX COMPLETES SALE OF GERMAN UNIT ARTU BIOLOGICALS Dutch drug maker Fornix Biosciences (AMS:FORBI) said it has completed the sale of its money-losing subsidiary Artu Biologicals Deutschland to Roelke Pharma. Status: Closed - GERMAN FMC SIGNS DEAL TO TAKE OVER EUROMEDIC'S DIALYSIS CENTRES German Fresenius Medical Care (ETR:FME), or FMC, said it has sealed an agreement to take over International Dialysis Centers (IDC), the dialysis service activities of Netherlands-based Euromedic International, for EUR485m (USD646.8m). Status: Agreed - STANDARD LIFE EXTENDS OFFER FOR FOCUS, OWNS 82.65% UK insurer Standard Life (LON:SL) said it had extended its cash GBP42m (USD65m/EUR49m) takeover offer for software firm Focus Solutions (LON:FSG) until 14 January 2010, after securing some 82.65% in the company by the closing date on 31 December 2010. Status: Bidding, Agreed - SALESFORCE.COM CLOSES HEROKU TAKEOVER US enterprise cloud computing company Salesforce.com (NYSE:CRM) said it has completed the acquisition of Ruby cloud application platform Heroku for nearly USD212m (EUR159m) in cash. Status: Closed - GERMAN GFK BOOSTS STAKES IN SIRVALUSE, NURAGO German market research services provider GfK SE (ETR:GFK) said it has raised its shareholdings in user experience consultancy SirValUse Consulting and digital brand, media and usability research specialist Nurago by 20% to 60%. Status: Closed - FISHER REBUFFS HUNTINGDON'S USD211M BUYOUT OFFER US media company Fisher Communications (NASDAQ:FSCI) rejected a USD211m (EUR158.2m) takeover bid by Canadian Huntingdon Real Estate Investment Trust (TSE:HNT.UN). Status: Bidding - GDF SUEZ SAID TO BE LOOKING FOR PARTNERS FOR GAS TRANSPORT ARM French power utility GDF Suez (EPA:GSZ) is seeking investors for its gas transport unit, GRTGaz. Status: Auction - NEWS CORP CURRENTLY NOT NEGOTIATING MYSPACE SALE Media conglomerate News Corp (NASDAQ:NWSA) is still studying the divestment of its social networking website MySpace, but is not in discussions with possible buyers at the moment. Status: Auction - BULGARIAN NAVIBULGAR TO FORM TRANSPORT JV WITH BRP Bulgaria's marine fleet operator Navibulgar and river shipping group BRP, part of industrial conglomerate Chimimport (BUL:6C4), are planning to set up a 50/50 transportation joint venture, the country's Financial Supervision Commission (FSC) said in a statement. Status: Agreed - FNB CORP WRAPS UP USD70M CASH-AND-STOCK BUY OF COMM BANCORP US bank holding company FNB Corp (NYSE:FNB) said it has completed the acquisition of Pennsylvania-based Comm Bancorp (NASDAQ:CCBP) for some USD70m (EUR52.5m) in cash and stock. Status: Closed - LEROY SEAFOOD TO TAKE MAJORITY OF FINNISH JOKISEN EVAAT Norwegian seafood distributor Leroy Seafood Group (OSL:LSG) said it had struck a deal to buy 51% of Finnish sector player Jokisen Evaat as part of its plan to expand in the Nordic region and enhance its position in Finland. Status: Agreed - US MERCER CLOSES HAMMOND ASSOCIATES BUY US consulting, outsourcing and investment services provider Mercer said it has completed the previously announced acquisition of Hammond Associates, an institutional fund consultancy, for an undisclosed sum. Status: Closed - SWEDISH SECURITAS BUYS DUTCH INTERSECO Swedish security solutions provider Securitas (STO:SECU B) announced the acquisition of Dutch security consulting firm Interseco, without providing financial details. Status: Closed - SWEDISH BONG BUYS DANISH EGA OFFSET TO BOOST ENVELOPE BUSINESS Swedish packaging group Bong (STO:BONG) took over Danish envelope and printing company Ega Offset, in a bid to become Denmark's major print envelope supplier, the company said in a press release. Status: Closed - CITI CLOSES STUDENT LOAN UNIT DIVESTMENT Citigroup (NYSE:C) said it finalised the sale of its student loan business to US credit card issuer Discover Financial Services (NYSE:DFS) and SLM Corporation (NYSE:SLM), or Sallie Mae, for USD600m (EUR450m) on 31 December. Status: Closed - TAIWAN SECOM MAKES ALTERNATIVE PROPOSAL FOR AIG'S TAIWAN UNIT Security firm Taiwan Secom (TPE:9917) made an alternative proposal to AIG (NYSE:AIG) for its Taiwan unit Nan Shan Life, which the US insurer is seeking to sell. Status: Auction, Bidding - ARROW ELECTRONICS WRAPS UP USD130M BUY OF NU HORIZONS US electronic components maker Arrow Electronics (NYSE:ARW) announced the completion of its acquisition of sector player Nu Horizons Electronics (NASDAQ:NUHC) in an all-cash USD130m (EUR97.5m) deal. Status: Closed - KBR FINALISES M.W. KELLOGG BUYOUT US engineering, construction and services company KBR (NYSE:KBR) said it has completed the acquisition of the remaining 44.94% it did not already own in British full-service contractor M.W. Kellogg Limited from Japan-based JGC Corporation (TYO:1963) for GBP106.6m (USD164.8m/EUR123.6m). Status: Closed - LAWSON SOFTWARE COMPLETES ENWISEN ACQUISITION US enterprise software provider Lawson Software (NASDAQ:LWSN) announced the completion of the acquisition of California-based sector player Enwisen for USD70m (EUR52.5m) in cash. Status: Closed - US TUTOR PERINI CLOSES FISK ELECTRIC TAKEOVER US construction company Tutor Perini (NYSE:TPC) announced the completion of the acquisition of privately-held electrical construction firm Fisk Electric for USD105m (EUR78.4m) in cash. Status: Closed - GERMAN GERRESHEIMER TO SPEED UP GROWTH VIA TAKEOVERS German packaging specialist Gerresheimer AG (ETR:GXI) wants to speed up its expansion on emerging markets via acquisitions. Status: Bidding - SWEDISH AUTOLIV PURSUES ACQUISITIONS IN ACTIVE SAFETY SYSTEMS MARKET Swedish car safety systems maker Autoliv (STO:ALIV) is seeking acquisitions in the active safety systems sector. Status: Bidding - IGATE CANCELS NEWS CONFERENCE, PATNI DEAL STILL PENDING US software company iGate (NASDAQ:IGTE) announced the cancellation of a news conference scheduled for today playing down expectations for a deal with UK private equity firm Apax Partners on a majority stake purchase in Indian IT firm Patni Computer (BOM:532517, NYSE:PTI) for over USD900m (EUR676.8m). Status: Bidding - GERMAN COLONIA'S BOARDS REJECT TAKEOVER OFFER BY TAG The managing and supervisory boards of German property company Colonia Real Estate (ETR:KBU) said they would not recommend the takeover offer of sector player TAG Immobilien (ETR:TEG) to shareholders. Status: Bidding - US HEARST KEEN TO BUY LAGARDERE'S INTL PRESS AND MAGAZINE ARM US media group Hearst Corporation is exclusively negotiating the purchase of French Lagardere's (EPA:MMB) international press and magazine business. Status: Exclusivity - ARCELORMITTAL SWEETENS BAFFINLAND OFFER TO CAD1.40 P/S Luxembourg-based steel producer ArcelorMittal (AMS:MT) has revised up its takeover bid for Canadian miner Baffinland (TSE:BIM) to CAD1.40 (USD1.41/EUR1.05) per share from CAD1.25, valuing it at some CAD550m. Status: Bidding ((Comments on this story may be sent to [email protected])) (c) 2011 M2 COMMUNICATIONS |