News and Analysis

During the White House Correspondents Dinner earlier this year, emcee Steven Colbert said of President Bush: “He believes on Wednesday exactly what he believed on Monday, regardless of what happened on Tuesday.” Kind of reminds me of what I keep seeing on the private equity beat. The first example came last month, when Sevin Rosen […]

Heartland Information Services of Toledo, Ohio has merged with Spryance Inc. of Boston, in order to form a single provider of offshore transcription services. No financial terms were disclosed. Spryance shareholders include Beecken Petty O'Keefe & Co. and International Finance Corp. www.heartlandis.com www.spryance.com

While the Department of Justice continues its primer course on private equity, some individual shareholders are taking action against perceived abuses. Three people have filed what they hope to be a class-action lawsuit against 13 private equity firms, for allegedly violating federal antitrust laws. The plaintiffs are/were shareholders in such companies as HCA, Harrah’s and […]

York Label, an Omaha-Neb.-based manufacturer of pressure-sensitive labels, has acquired SK Label Co., an El Dorado, Calif.-based label supplier to the wine, food and beverage industries. No financial terms were disclosed. York Label was formed earlier this year by Wind Point Partners, in tandem with CEO Rich Egan. www.yorklabel.com

NeoPhotonics Inc., a San Jose, Calif.

I am very interested in knowing your opinion on clothing store LBOs, like the Eddie Bauer one announced yesterday or the Burlington Coat deal by Bain. What is the extraordinary value to be extracted out of these companies which are no clear leader of their segments and concepts. Is it purely a financial play? Or competition for […]

I’m tentatively scheduled to be on CNBC’s Closing Bell at 3:30 this afternoon, to discuss a variety of possible public-to-private buyouts. Expect discussion of such companies as Clear Channel, Tribune and (it’s back) Ford Motor Co. Expect me to say yes, why and no. 4:10pm Update: Ummm…. Not quite the topics you were expecting? Me […]

MediaWhiz, a provider of performance-based online marketing services, has acquired Cincinnati-based Text Link Ads. No financial terms were disclosed for the deal , which was partially financed by existing MediaWhiz investor Lake Capital. www.mediawhiz.com

United BioSource Corp., a Bethesda, Md.-based provider of evidence-based services and information to the pharma and life sciences markets, has acquired BioCor LLC, a Yardley, Pa.-based provider of clinical data services to the pharmaceutical and biotechnology industries. No financial terms were disclosed. United BioSource is backed by Grotech Capital Group, J.W. Whitney and Oak Investment […]

SBS Broadcasting, a Luxembourg-based broadcasting company controlled by Permira and KKR, has completed its acquisition of the Radio Express network in Bulgaria. No financial terms were disclosed. www.sbsbroadcasting.com