VCJ Staff
Fenway Partners has agreed to acquire a majority interest in Gemini Traffic Sales Inc., an Edison, N.J.-based regional truckload carrier specializing in the transportation of time- and temperature-sensitive products. No financial terms were disclosed for the deal, which is being done in partnership with Gemini management. www.fenwaypartners.com www.geminitrafficsales.com
Superior Vision Services Inc., a Rancho Cordova, Calif.-based provider of managed vision care plans, has completed a $54.25 million recapitalization. The deal included $19.25 million of equity led by ABS Capital Partners and sourced by DCA Capital Partners, while the $35 million debt tranche was provided by ORIX Venture Finance. www.superiorvision.com
Advent International has acquired an 80% interest in Pronto, a consumer credit company in Uruguay, from a group of local individuals. No financial terms were disclosed. Advent was joined on the deal by Argentinean firm Grupo de Servicios y Transacciones SA. www.adventinernational.com
Weston Presidio has completed its acquisition of Evenflo Inc. from Harvest Partners. Evenflo is a Vandalia, Ohio-based maker of baby products like car-seats, strollers and highchairs. LBO Wire previously reported that Credit Suisse was syndicating a $205 million financing package for the deal. www.evenflo.com
American Securities Capital has acquired steel bridge fabricator PDM Bridge LLC from Kirtland Capital Partners, according to LBOWire. No financial terms were disclosed. Kirtland had acquired the Eau Claire, Wis.-based company in March 2002 from Pitt-Des Moines Inc. www.pdmbridge.com
RedZone Capital, a private equity firm run by Washington Redskins owner Daniel Snyder, has agreed to acquire the Johnny Rockets restaurant chain for an undisclosed amount. Snyder said that he hopes to help expand the 2000-restaurant chain to around 1,000 locations within the next five years (including smaller Johnny Rockets Express shops).
The Riverside Company has acquired two companies as add-ons to portfolio platform Veritext Corp., a Florham Park, N.J.
Ares Management and the Ontario Teachers' Pension Plan have agreed to acquire Pittsburgh-based nutritional products retailer GNC from Apollo Management for a total enterprise value of $1.65 billion. Apollo acquired GNC in 2003 for approximately $750 million, and later filed for a $345 million IPO that it later withdrew due to adverse market conditions. www.gnc.com
Eddie Bauer Holdings Inc. (Nasdaq: EBHI) shareholders have rejected a $9.25 per share buyout offer from Sun Capital Partners and Golden Gate Capital. The total deal would have been valued at approximately $614 million, including around $328 million of debt to be repaid. Only 44% of the company's outstanding shares were voted in favor of […]
3i Group has completed its acquisition of VNU Business Media Unit from The Nielsen Co. No financial terms were disclosed. The unit is a B2B publisher operating throughout Europe. www.3i.com