AC Nielsen owner VNU sells directories unit for US&#36;2.6B to investors group
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AMSTERDAM  - The Dutch publisher VNU, which owns the Nielsen TV ratings service, said Monday it signed a deal to sell its World Directories unit for &#36;2.6 billion US to a group assembled by the private-equity firms Apax Partners Worldwide and Cinven Group Ltd.
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Arts and crafts retailer Michaels  Stores Inc.  said on Friday it agreed to be bought by  two private equity groups for more than &#36;6 billion in a deal  that attracted many of the world&#039;s largest buyout firms.
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By Dave Flessner, Chattanooga Times/Free Press, Tenn.  Feb. 19--Like most of the 600,000 items it helped sell through eBay's online auction, NuMarkets itself is getting a new owner in a new location.
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WPP Group PLC, the London-based advertising giant, said Monday it was buying U.S.-based Grey Global Group in a &#36;1.52 billion cash and stock deal.
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The Dutch retailer Ahold has sold its network of almost 600 Spanish retail stores to the private equity group Permira in an $850 million deal, the two companies said on Sunday.
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Nuveen Investments Inc. , a money manager whose clients include institutional and wealthy investors, has agreed to be acquired by an investor group led by private equity firm Madison Dearborn Partners LLC for $5.75 billion, the companies said on Wednesday.
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The Catalina Marketing Corporation agreed to be acquired by ValueAct Capital, in a deal that values the company at nearly $1.6 billion.
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Shares in Dutch publisher VNU (VNUN.AS: Quote, Profile, Research) rose more than 2 percent on Monday, supported by news it had completed the sale of a division and that a court case in the United States against a key unit had
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Two private equity groups -- The Carlyle   Group CYL.UL and Apax Partners -- said on Sunday they have   signed an agreement to sell healthcare marketing services firm   MediMedia USA Inc. to Vestar Capital Partners.
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RICHMOND, Va. -- Gas and electric company Dominion Resources Inc. said Monday it will sell most of its U.S. onshore oil and gas exploration and production operations through two transactions for a combined $6.5 billion.
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LOS ANGELES: A group headed by Sony Corp of America on Monday agreed to buy Hollywood film studio Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer for about US$2.
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Petco Animal Supplies Inc.  on  Friday said it agreed to be acquired by two private equity  groups for about &#36;1.68 billion in cash, the latest in a string  of retailers agreeing to go private.
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Hotel operator Wyndham International Inc.  on Friday said it agreed to sell 25 hotels for &#36;366 million to a private investment fund managed by Goldman Sachs Group Inc.  and affiliates of Highgate Holdings.
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United Dominion Realty Trust Inc. , one of the largest U.S. apartment owners, said on Tuesday it plans to buy &#36;897 million worth of apartment homes, moving from lower-rent housing to more expensive properties based mainly in fast-growing Southern California.
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Company send a notice to employees saying its business user organization will move over to Business Objects, a company it's acquiring as part of a $6.8 billion deal.
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The Dutch publisher VNU, which owns the Nielsen TV ratings service, said Monday it signed a deal to sell its World Directories unit for $2.
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Vertical Alliance Group Inc.  (VAG) today launched BestHousingValue.com,  a Web site that connects developers and dealers of modular and  manufactured homes with interested home buyers.