VCJ Staff

Vertrue Inc. (Nasdaq: VTRU), a provider of Internet direct marketing services, has agreed to be acquired by One Equity Partners, Oak Investment Partners and Rho Ventures. The deal is valued at a total of $800 million, with Vertrue stockholders to receive $48.50 per share (21% premium to price prior to first media report of a […]

Bertelsmann is considering a bid for Thomson Corp. subsidiary Thomson Learning, according to The Financial Times. Such a deal could be valued at up to $5 billion. Bertelsmann might partially finance the deal via a

CVC Capital Partners reportedly has teamed with Indian drug maker Aurobindo Pharma Ltd. in order to bid on Merck KGaA's global generics business. Prior reports suggest that rival bids will come from Apax Partners/Bain Capital and KKR/Warburg Pincus. The sale is expected to generate between Euro 4 billion and Euro 5.5 billion.

Guardian Media Group reportedly will receive three bids for Trader Media, which publishes auto classified magazine Auto Trader and related online products. The deal is expected to be worth between Gbp1 billion and Gbp1.5 billion, with suitors including The Blackstone Group, Apax Partners and Cinven. Candover initially expressed interest, but dropped out earlier this year.

Deutsche Lufthansa and an unnamed U.S. private equity firm have requested financial information on Spanish airline carrier Iberia Lineas Aereas de Espana SA, according to El Pais. A separate news report suggested that TPG is searching for a Spanish partner in order to make a bid.

Riverlake Partners has acquired O'Currance Teleservices Inc., a Salt Lake City-based telemarketing company. No financial terms were disclosed, although LBO Wire reports that Riverlake committed around $6.5 million in equity while Fifth Street Capital arranged just under $10 million in senior debt. www.ocurrance.com

Affiliated Computer Services Inc. (NYSE: ACS) has been hit with two shareholder lawsuits, related to its agreed-upon $6 billion buyout by Cerberus Capital Management and ACS founder and chairman Darwin Deason. The complaints argue that the company did not adequately search out the best possible price. www.acs-inc.com

Black Diamond Capital Management and Brencourt Advisors have been named “stalking horse” bidders for Werner Holding Co., a bankrupt Greenville, Pa.-based manufacturer and distributor of ladders, climbing equipment and ladder accessories. The deal would provide Werner with an enterprise value of approximately $255.75 million.

NetStar-1 Inc., an IT solutions provider to government and commercial clients, has raised an undisclosed amount of private equity funding from Lake Capital. www.netstar-1.com

GI Partners has acquired Park Resorts from Close Brothers Private Equity and ABN Amro Capital for Gbp440 million. Park Resorts was formed in May 2001, when Close Brothers 12 coastal caravan parks from Bourne Leisure for a total consideration of Gbp46 million. It subsequently invested Gbp20 million into redeveloping the parks, plus added four additional […]