Week in Review: TWC, Energy, and Paula Deen

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The big news from this week is Comcast’s $45.2 billion acquisition of Time Warner Cable. The all-stock deal values TWC at $159 per share, significantly higher than the $132.50 per share offer from Charter that was deemed “grossly inadequate.” While the deal still has to pass through anti-trust proceedings, it is unlikely the DOJ will block it.

In other news, Joseph A. Bank got tired of courting Men’s Wearhouse and bought the parent company of Eddie Bauer instead.

Opinions:

• Private equity dealmakers see increased competition
• Paula Deen gets a private equity revival
• The IPO bogeyman is dead
• Harvard loses another private equity investment boss
• Private equity funds pour into North American energy
• 5 things you need to work in private equity
• Branding is becoming more important for PE firms
• 2013 saw $100 billion in retail, consumer goods mergers
• There’s something called the ‘self-IPO‘
• Alternative asset managers are the new ‘titans of finance’

Transactions:

• Blaze Energy to acquire Kentucky Energy Company
• Klout may be acquired by Lithium Technologies for $100 million
• Jacobs acquires Eagleton Engineering
• STV acquires GWD
• Catalyst Investors sells Advantage Business Media
• RLJ Credit closes $135 million SBIC fund
• Warburg Pincus invests $32 million in Specialists on Call
• High Road Capital Partners completes acquisition of Canadian Processes Controls

Member Spotlight:

Clearview Capital, LLC is a private investment firm specializing in the acquisition and recapitalization of North American companies with operating profits of $4 – $20 million. As a team, the firm’s investment professionals have invested in over 50 companies including nineteen platform companies and have also completed numerous add-on acquisitions.

After a successful 2013, Clearview is excited for a productive 2014. The firm still has $300 million of remaining capital available in Fund III and is planning to deploy the capital in new platforms and add-on acquisitions. Industries of focus include manufacturing, specialized services (health care services, energy services, business outsourcing), and niche branded products.

Photo from: 360b / Shutterstock.com