VCJ Staff

MidOcean Partners has agreed to sell its interest in Thompson Publishing Group to Avista Capital Partners. No financial terms were disclosed. Thompson Publishing is a Washington, D.C.-based provider of subscription-based information services. MidOcean acquired its interest in May 2004, and one year later helped back the company's strategic acquisition of Sheshunoff. Avista acquired a position […]

Vector Capital of San Francisco has agreed to acquire the Discovery Informatics business of Tripos Inc. (Nasdaq: TRPS) for approximately $25.6 million in cash. Tripos is a St. Louis-based provider of informatics and research technologies to the drug discovery market. www.vectorcapital.com www.tripos.com

Cerberus, Lone Star Funds and BayernLB have been short-listed to bid for Austrian bank Bawag, according to AFX. The sale is expected to be worth at least Euro 2.5 billion.

The Blackstone Group has agreed to acquire Chicago-based office building owner and manager Equity Office Properties Trust (NYSE: EOP) for $48.50 per share. The total deal is valued at approximately $36 billion, with acquisition financing to be led by Goldman Sachs, Bank of America and Bear Stearns. www.blackstone.com www.equityoffice.com

HCA Inc. (NYSE: HCA), a Nashville, Tenn.-based hospital company, has been acquired by Bain Capital, Kohlberg Kravis Roberts & Co., Merrill Lynch Global Private Equity, HCA founder Dr. Thomas F. Frist, Jr. and HCA management. The total deal was valued at approximately $33 billion, including the assumption or repayment of approximately $11.7 billion of debt. […]

Audax Group has acquired AAMP of America from ICV Capital Partners for an undisclosed amount. AAMP is a Clearwater, Fla.-based maker of 12-volt mobile audio after-market accessories.

Leonard Green & Partners has agreed to buy David's Bridal from Federated Department Stores (NYSE: FD) for approximately $750 million. Federated also will sell its tuxedo business to Men's Wearhouse for approximately $100 million. Both transactions are expected to close in Q1 2007. www.fds.com

Cinven has agreed to acquire Sweden-based in vitro testing company Phadia AB from PPM Capital and Triton Partners for Euro 1.285 billion. The deal is expected to close in January, with leverage being provided by The Royal Bank of Scotland, Bayerische Hypo and Vereinsbank AG and UBS. www.cinven.com www.phadia.com

HCA Inc. (NYSE: HCA) shareholders yesterday approved a $51 per share buyout offer from private equity firms KKR, Bain Capital and Merrill Lynch Global Private Equity. Around 82% of shareholders voted, with 73% of them voting in favor of the deal. The deal could close as early as tomorrow.

Norvestor has agreed to acquire a 70% interest in BecoTek, a Norway