Social gaming company Digital Chocolate Inc. has acquired casual gaming company Sandlot Games, the maker of mobile and web games like Super Granny and Cake Mania. Terms of the deal were not released. Digital Chocolate is backed by a slew of high-profile investors, including Bridgescale Partners, Sequoia Capital, Kleiner Perkins Caufield & Byers and Sutter Hill Ventures.
2 min read · 16 August 2011
Thought Equity Motion Inc., a Denver-based provider of video platform and footage licensing services, has raised $25 million from Shamrock Capital Advisors. The money will help Thought Equity with growth efforts, including the expansion of its cloud storage infrastructure. Shamrock is a Los Angeles-based private equity firm focused on media, entertainment and communications.
4 min read · 16 August 2011
The commercial arm of the British broadcaster BBC is selling a group of magazines to buyout shop Exponent Private Equity, Reuters reported. The deal is valued at 121 million pounds ($198 million). The sale is part of the BBC’s strategy to focus on video and digital services, Reuters said.
1 min read · 16 August 2011
John Kahan, general manager of business and customer intelligence for Microsoft’s Online Services Division, has joined its board of social targeting platform company 33Across Inc., the company announced. 33Across is backed by investors including Flybridge Capital.
3 min read · 16 August 2011
BNY Mellon-Alcentra Mezzanine Partners, a division of Alcentra and part of BNY Mellon Asset Management, invested $13.4 million to support DC Capital Partners’ acquisition of Sallyport Global Holding, the firm announced Monday. Sallyport is a government construction and engineering firm. DC Capital completed the investment in Sallyport through its portfolio company Kaseman.
2 min read · 15 August 2011
KPS Capital Partners is selling its portfolio company Attends Healthcare Inc. to Domtar Corp. for $315 million in cash. The deal is expected to close in the third quarter. Attends Healthcare is a maker of adult incontinence products.
3 min read · 15 August 2011
A trust representing creditors of bankrupt motel chain Extended Stay America Inc. have filed a complaint against Lightstone Holdings and other parties, Reuters reported Monday. The complaint is aimed at avoiding obligations arising from the loans made by them to fund the 2007 leveraged buyout of the hotel chain, Reuters wrote. Private equity giant Blackstone Group sold Extended Stay in 2007 in an $8 billion deal. The complaint, filed in Manhattan’s bankruptcy court, is seeking to recover funds to benefit creditors.
2 min read · 15 August 2011
Blackstone and PAI Partners, which are looking to exit their investments in United Biscuits, may break up the business, Reuters reported, citing news in the Sunday Times. United Biscuits makes Hula Hoops and Jaffa Cakes. The two private equity firms plan to begin talks about selling United Biscuits at the end of the year.
1 min read · 15 August 2011
Advertising agency Interpublic Group said that it sold half its holdings in Facebook, sealing net cash proceeds of $133 million. The company first invested in Facebook in 2006. Specifics of its exit were not disclosed.
2 min read · 15 August 2011
Buyout shop OpenGate Capital says it’s acquiring the Waukesha, WI-based dairy processing plant and related assets from publicly traded Dean Foods Co. OpenGate will acquire the Golden Guernsey and La Vaca Bonita brands as part of the transaction. Terms of the deal were not released. OpenGate Capital is based in Los Angeles, Calif.
2 min read · 15 August 2011
