This weeks acquisitions and IPO news as compiled by AIRS newsletter.

IPO - No companies are scheduled to go public this week.


Mergers and Acquisitions -

M&A - Book Publishing


Buyer: Author Solutions, Inc., Bloomington, IN


Target: Xlibris Corporation, Philadelphia, PA



Print-on-demand publisher Author Solutions will acquire rival Xlibris Corporation for an undisclosed amount, creating one of the world's largest publishers by annual titles. Print-on-demand publishing is a service provided to an author in exchange for payment, as opposed to traditional book publishing where an author receives payment.
The Wall Street Journal, January 8, 2009




M&A - Computer Services


Buyer: Lockheed Martin Corporation, Betheseda, MD


Target: Universal Systems & Technology, Inc., Centreville, VA



Defense contractor Lockheed Martin will acquire Universal Systems & Technology Inc., known as Unitech, for an undisclosed amount. Unitech, a company with more than 400 people, provides interactive training and simulation services. It will be managed by Lockheed Martin's Simulation, Training and Support divison based in Orlando, Fla.
Washington Business Journal, December 24, 2008




M&A - Greeting Cards


Buyer: American Greetings Corporation, Chicago, IL


Target: Recycled Paper Greetings, Inc., Cleveland, OH


American Greetings Corp., the second-largest U.S. greeting card company, will acquire bankrupt Recycled Paper Greetings to supplement its humorous greeting card offerings. The deal is subject to various Chapter 11 reorganization conditions.
Reuters UK, December 30, 2008



M&A - Media


Buyer: Lionsgate Entertainment Corp., Santa Monica, CA


Target: TV Guide Network and TVGuide.com, Tulsa, OK and New York, NY



Lionsgate Entertainment Corp., best known as a movie studio, will buy TV Guide Network and TVGuide.com from Macrovision Solutions Corporation for $255 million. The move will allow Lionsgate to expand its cable reach.
Los Angeles Times, January 6, 2009



M&A - Motion Picture Production & Distribution


Buyer: Relativity Media, West Hollywood, CA


Target: Rogue Pictures, Universal City, CA



Relativity Media, a media and entertainment company that finances motion pictures, has purchased Rogue Pictures, a low-budget film production arm of GE's Universal Pictures, for an undisclosed price. Universal, like other large studios, continues to shift away from specialty films. Rogue's specialty, horror films, attracted Relativity, which now owns the entire Rogue library, along with more than 30 films the company has in production.
The Wall Street Journal, January 5, 2009



M&A - Online Retail Brokerages


Buyer: TD Ameritrade Holding Corporation, Omaha, NE


Target: thinkorswim Group Inc., New York, NY


TD Ameritrade Holding Corp., a leading online brokerage firm, will buy online broker thinkorswim, formerly Investools, for $606 million in cash and stock. The deal will help shore up Ameritrade's assets, which have been declining in the current market.
The Wall Street Journal, January 8, 2009