M&A Navigator: Deal pipeline – 6 April

The following is a list a of deals covered in detail by M&A Navigator this week:

- GOLDMAN SACHS BUYS MINORITY IN HEDGE FUND

Goldman Sachs (NYSE:GS) has bought, via its buyout unit, a minority stake in David Ganek's hedge fund Level Global Investors.

Status: Closed

- DUTCH VAN GANSEWINKEL TO BUY BELGIAN PEER LEYSEN

Dutch waste processing firm Van Gansewinkel said it has agreed to buy Belgian sector player Leysen from Belgium's Thenergo (EBR:THEB), which is engaged in the biomass clean energy sector.

Status: Agreed

- MOBISTAR COMPLETES TAKEOVER OF KPN'S BELGIAN B2B, CARRIER OPS

Belgian mobile operator Mobistar (EBR:MOBB) said it has completed the acquisition of the Belgian business-to-business (B2B) and carrier activities of Dutch telecom group KPN (AMS:KPN) for EUR65m (USD87.6m) on a cash and debt-free basis.

Status: Closed

- FINLAND'S KONE BUYS AKAMAI ELEVATOR

Finnish KONE (HEL:KNEBV), a major player in the elevator and escalator industry, announced the acquisition of the assets of Honolulu-based Akamai Elevator Company, in a move to further beef up its presence on the Hawaiian market.

Status: Closed

- US JARDEN CLOSES MAPA SPONTEX ACQUISITION

US consumer products company Jarden (NYSE:JAH) said it has completed the acquisition of the Mapa Spontex baby care and home care unit of French energy company Total (EPA:FP) for USD500m (EUR372.3m), including debt.

Status: Closed

- THOMAS & BETTS WRAPS UP SWISS PMA ACQUISITION

US electrical components manufacturer Thomas & Betts (NYSE:TNB) announced the completion of the acquisition of Swiss cable protection systems maker PMA for EUR84.5m (USD113.9m).

Status: Closed

- ORBITAL SCIENCES WRAPS UP ACQUISITION OF GENERAL DYNAMICS' SPACECRAFT DEVELOPMENT UNIT

US space technology company Orbital Sciences Corporation (NYSE:ORB) said it has completed the acquisition of the spacecraft development and manufacturing unit of US General Dynamics Corporation (NYSE:GD).

Status: Closed

- UK IMPERIAL INNOVATIONS INVESTS GBP750,000 TO RAISE OSSPRAY STAKE

UK technology commercialisation and investment firm Imperial Innovations (LON:IVO) announced it had raised its interest in OSspray, an emerging company focused on innovation of biomaterials for minimally invasive dentistry and caries management, to 37.7% for GBP750,000 (USD1.14m/EUR851,000).

Status: Closed

- SANDRIDGE ENERGY INKS USD1.55BN DEAL TO BUY ARENA RESOURCES

US oil and gas exploration company SandRidge Energy (NYSE:SD) announced an agreement to buy home sector player Arena Resources (NYSE:ARD) for some USD1.55bn (EUR1.15bn).

Status: Agreed

- KBR BUYS HOUSTON-BASED ENERGO ENGINEERING

US engineering and construction group KBR (NYSE:KBR) announced the acquisition of Houston-based Energo Engineering, without providing financial details.

Status: Closed

- CEPHALON WRAPS UP CEPTION THERAPEUTICS ACQUISITIONS

US biopharmaceutical company Cephalon (NASDAQ: CEPH) announced the completion of the acquisition of home privately-held biotech firm Ception Therapeutics.

Status: Closed

- UK INTERTAKE ACQUIRES SWISS CIBA EXPERT SERVICES OPS TO GROW IN REGULATORY CONSULTING

UK Intertake (LON:ITRK), a top provider of quality and safety solutions to various industries, announced it had bought the Environmental, Safety, Testing and Regulatory operations of Swiss Ciba Expert Services, including Cantox Health Sciences and Ashuren Health Sciences, to enhance its position in regulatory consulting.

Status: Closed

- US GEODIGM BUYS NATIONAL DENTEX

US GDC Holdings, the holding firm of laboratory company Geodigm, inked a definitive agreement to buy dental prosthetic appliances maker National Dentex (NASDAQ:NADX).

Status: Agreed

- US TEMPUR-PEDIC BUYS CANADIAN DISTRIBUTOR

US mattresses and pillows producer Tempur-Pedic International (NYSE:TPX) announced the acquisition of its Canadian distributor, Tempur Canada, without providing financial details.

Status: Closed

- DUTCH AEGON COMPLETES FUNERAL INSURANCE UNIT SALE

Dutch insurer Aegon (AMS:AGN) said it has completed the sale of its funeral insurance unit Aegon Nabestaandenzorg for EUR212m (USD 284.7m) to home investment firm Egeria.

Status: Closed

- AUSTRIAN LENZING ACQUIRES CZECH PULP MAKER

Austrian cellulose fibres producer Lenzing (WBAG:LNZ) said it has bought a 75% stake in Czech pulp maker Biocel Paskov from Austrian Heinzel Holding.

Status: Agreed

- UNILEVER TO START SELLING ITALIAN FROZEN FOOD UNIT

Anglo-Dutch consumer goods group Unilever (AMS:UNA, LON:ULVR) is ready to open the auction process for its Italian frozen food unit Findus in the next few weeks.

Status: Auction; Speculation

- NORWAY'S KOMPLETT CLOSES DUTCH, BELGIAN, IRISH OPS SALE

Norway-based Internet retailer Komplett (OSL:KOM) announced the completion of the sale of its unit Komplett BV to Dutch sector firm ParaDigit Holding for an undisclosed sum.

Status: Closed

- SPANISH BREWER DAMM UPS EBRO PULEVA STAKE TO 7.46% FOR EUR6.09M

Spanish brewer Damm (BCN:DAM) invested EUR6.09m (USD8.2m) to raise its stake in home food group Ebro Puleva (MCE:EVA) to 7.46% from 7.18%.

Status: Closed

- SWISS RE, RELIANCE SAID TO DISCUSS HEALTH INSURANCE JV

Indian financial services provider Reliance Capital (BOM:500111) and reinsurer Swiss Re (VTX:RUKN) are in talks for an eventual health insurance tie-up.

Status: Speculation; Talks

- SHELL WEIGHS DIVESTING FROM FINNISH BIZ

Dutch oil and gas company Royal Dutch Shell (LON:RDSA, NYSE:RDS.A) is mulling over a sale of its Finnish activities under a strategy to offload non-core assets and concentrate on larger markets.

Status: Auction

- FRENCH M6 OPPOSES TF1 BUYING TMC, NT1 CHANNELS

French broadcaster M6-Metropole Television (EPA:MMT) had filed an appeal with France's highest court against the approval by local regulator CSA of TV broadcaster TF1's (EPA:TFI) acquisition of digital terrestrial television (DTT) channels TMC and NT1.

Status: Closed

- BELGIAN EVS TAKES OVER FRENCH MXF TECHNOLOGY CO OPENCUBE

Belgian specialist in digital video applications for TV production EVS Broadcast Equipment (EBR:EVS) announced it had bought French OpenCube Technologies, providing technology solutions for MXF media, to boost its presence in production and postproduction studios.

Status: Closed

- US AVNET BUYS OPS OF INDONESIA DATAMATION

US value-added IT distributor Avnet (NYSE:AVT) announced it had bought certain assets of Indonesian sector player PT Datamation Purwana Utama and PT Mitra Bisinfo Utama (Datamation) for an undisclosed sum, to expand in emerging markets.

Status: Closed

- BOARD OF SPANISH BANK CAIXANOVA APPROVES MERGER NEGOTIATIONS WITH CAIXA GALICIA

The board of Spanish savings bank Caixanova voted in favour of launching merger negotiations with local peer Caixa Galicia.

Status: Talks

- NNS HOLDING MAY TAKE 2.1% MORE OF FRENCH LAFARGE

NNS Holding, controlling 13.9% of French building materials maker Lafarge (EPA:LG), may acquire a further 2.1% in the company by the end of 2012.

Status: Bidding

- MONTENEGRIN EPCG TO SET UP CLEAN ENERGY JV WITH NORWAY'S NTE

Montenegro's power utility Elektroprivreda Crne Gore (NEXM:EPCG) plans to create Zeta Energy, a clean energy joint venture, with Norway's utility NTE, to renovate small hydro-power plants, extending their lifecycle and boosting their output.

Status: Agreed

- CROATIA ASKS HEP, PLINACRO TO SET UP JV TO BID FOR STAKE IN LNG TERMINAL

The government of Croatia had recommended power utility HEP to form a joint venture with gas grid Plinacro aimed at taking 11% of a liquefied natural gas (LNG) terminal project on the Krk island.

Status: Talks

- RUSSIAN FORTUM SELLS ITS 49% OF KURGAN GENERATING COMPANY

Russian power producer Fortum (RTD:TGKJ) has disposed of its 49% of the charter capital of local Kurgan Generating Company.

Status: Closed

- ITALIAN BANK VBH AGREES TO ACQUIRE BIM BANK

Italy's cooperative bank Veneto Banca Hollding, or VBH, has entered agreement to buy home private bank Banca Intermobiliare (BIT:BIM).

Status: Agreed

- GERMAN EBERSPACHER TAKES OVER SUTRAK

German J Eberspacher GmbH & Co KG, providing exhaust gas technology and vehicle heaters, said it has bought home bus air-conditioning systems specialist Sutrak, for an undisclosed sum and became a full-range provider of bus and coach heating and cooling systems.

Status: Closed

- US KEYON CLOSES RTV NETWORK BUY

US provider of rural wireless broadband KeyOn Communications Holdings (OTC:KEYO), announced it has completed the acquisition of RidgeviewTel's (RVT's) Illinois network assets, to expand in Illinois and boost client base.

Status: Closed

- US 3M WRAPS UP ACQUISITION OF A-ONE OPS IN JAPAN

US diversified technology company 3M (NYSE:MMM) announced it has closed the purchase of a controlling stake in Japanese A-One, a top branded office and consumer label producer, for an undisclosed sum, to grow in the global sector.

Status: Closed

- US ADVISOR SHESHUNOFF TAKES OVER PEER BRINTECH

Texas-based advisor to the financial sector Sheshunoff Consulting + Solutions (SCS) said it has bought home bank consultants Brintech for an undisclosed sum, to expand across the US, boost business and add to its offering.

Status: Closed

- YOUBET.COM SHAREHOLDERS OKAY ACQUISITION BY CHURCHILL DOWNS

US online wagering firm Youbet.com (NASDAQ:UBET) said its shareholders have approved the company's planned acquisition by home racetrack operator Churchill Downs (NASDAQ:CHDN) for USD126.8m (EUR94.9m) in cash and stock.

Status: Agreed

- AOL UNVEILS PLANS TO SELL OR WIND DOWN SOCIAL SITE BEBO

US web services company AOL (NYSE:AOL) announced plans to sell or close its struggling social site Bebo due to the highly competitive social networking environment.

Status: Auction

- MATLINPATTERSON PUTS POLYMER GROUP UP FOR SALE

New York-based private equity firm MatlinPatterson is seeking to sell its non-woven materials unit Polymer Group (OTC:POLGA).

Status: Auction; Speculation

- YAHOO! KEEN ON BUYING FOURSQUARE FOR USD100M

US web portal and online services provider Yahoo! (NASDAQ:YHOO) is seeking to buy start-up, social networking site Foursquare for some USD100m (EUR74.8m).

Status: Bidding

- GRAHAM PACKAGING TO BUY CHINA ROOTS PACKAGING

US Graham Packaging Company (NYSE:GRM) announced an agreement to buy plastic container manufacturing firm China Roots Packaging from Malaysian investment company PCCS Group Berhad (KUL:PCCS).

Status: Agreed

- CEDAR FAIR, APOLLO CALL OFF PLANNED DEAL

US private-equity firm Apollo Management and Ohio-based theme-park company Cedar Fair (NYSE:FUN) announced their mutual decision to terminate the proposed USD635m (EUR475.1m) acquisition of Cedar Fair by Appollo.

Status: Terminated

- DUTCH TIE HOLDING WRAPS UP MAMBOFIVE BUYOUT

Dutch software firm TIE Holding (AMS:TIE) said it has bought the remaining 24.5% it did not already own in home sector player MamboFive.

Status: Closed

- ENEL GREEN POWER, FINPIEMONTE GET REGULATORY NOD TO CREATE JV

Italian power giant Enel's (BIT:ENEL) renewables unit Enel Green Power and Finpiemonte, controlled by the Piedmont region, received regulatory approval to create a joint venture for renewable sources development.

Status: Agreed

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