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Deal Round-up (04.09.2008)

Sep 04 2008

In today's headlines, software company Computershare has acquired childcare vouchers business Busy Bees for an undisclosed sum, while private equity firm Advent International has taken a majority stake in Swiss duty-free retailer Dufry by means of a share swap.

• Software solutions firm Computershare has acquired childcare vouchers company Busy Bees for an undisclosed sum

• Catering firms Hummus Bris and Couture have secured £250,000 funding from The Capital Fund

• UK-based Abingworth has sold medical equipment developer Clinical Designs to Mundipharma International Corporation for an undisclosed sum

• Nomura, an Asian investment bank has completed a $93.5 million (£52.4 million) investment in Indian technology company Moser Baer

• Vodafone has completed the purchase of Australian phone retailer Crazy John’s. The deal values the firm at between £71 million and £93.5 million.

• Software company TIBCO has bought Insightful Corporation for an undisclosed sum

• Boston-based Eastern Bank Corporation has acquired MASSBANK for $170 million (£95.3 million)

• Private equity firm Advent International has taken a majority stake in Swiss duty-free retailer Dufry by means of a share swap that combines it with the US firm’s airport retailer Hudson

• Seraphim Capital has invested £1 million in Testplant, a newly established platform business designed to make acquisitions in the software testing market

• Asia Distribution Solutions has completed the acquisitions of Shanghai Run Ke and Chengdu Gao Li Yuan Beverage for £127,700 and £71,800 respectively

In the pipeline

• Novolipetsk, a Russian steel maker owned by billionaire Vladimir Lisin, has agreed to acquire US steel producer Beta steel in a $400 million (£224.3 million) deal

• Wolters Kluwer Health intends to acquire UpToDate, an evidence-based electronic clinical information firm

• Oil and Gas firm Total, has entered an agreement with Talisman Energy to purchase the shares of its Dutch subsidiary, Goal Petroleum, for $480 million (£269.2 million)

• Grupo Clarin has agreed to by 25 per cent of Pol-Ka Producciones and SB Producciones for $2.5 million (£1.4 million)

Click here for more VC and AIM deals.

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