Sign of the Financial Times

 Black Box (BBOX) merges with Schoeller
Connectivity

  
* 
Amount:        
Undisclosed

  
* 
Terms:           
n/a

  
* 
Premium:        n/a

  
* 
Industry:        Internet
services

  
* 
Scorecard:      B-

PITTSBURGH, July 6–Black Box Corporation
announced a merger with Schoeller Connectivity Gmbh, a subsidiary of
Schoeller Network Design Gmbh. Established in 1986 in Vienna, Austria, Schoeller Connectivity
provides technical services and computer networking products, including Black Box products, to the Austrian
market place and will now be called Black Box Austria. Financial terms were
not disclosed.




 

 DigitalThink (DTHK) acquires Arista Knowledge
Systems

  
* 
Amount:         $20
million

  
* 
Terms:           
n/a

  
* 
Premium:        n/a

  
* 
Industry:        Performance
software

  
* 
Scorecard:      B+

SAN FRANCISCO, July 6–DigitalThink , the
leading provider of end-to-end e-learning solutions, announced the
acquisition of Arista Knowledge Systems, an emerging leader in
providing Internet-based learning management systems. Privately held Arista Knowledge Systems, based in
Alameda, California, has been dedicated to the development of a
next-generation learning management system, which will be fully integrated
into DigitalThink’s e-learning
architecture to provide customers with a scalable, completely Web-based
solution for the management of e-learning and knowledge distribution
throughout an enterprise.




 

 NECX.com to acquire American IC
Exchange

  
* 
Amount:        
Undisclosed

  
* 
Terms:           
n/a

  
* 
Premium:        n/a

  
* 
Industry:        E-commerce
enablers

  
* 
Scorecard:      B

PEABODY, Mass., July 6–NECX.com LLC, a wholly owned
subsidiary of VerticalNet , announced that it has
signed a definitive agreement to acquire American IC Exchange, a
privately held electronics exchange based in Aliso Viejo, CA. NECX.com, one of the world’s largest
centralized market makers for semiconductors, electronic components,
computer products and networking equipment, will integrate AICE’s resources to expand the capabilities
of NECX’s Global Electronics Exchange, a leading trading community for
purchasing and materials management professionals in the electronics and
high technology industries.




 

 InsiderStreet.com (NSDR) acquires e-Biz
Street

  
* 
Amount:         $20
million

  
* 
Terms:           
n/a

  
* 
Premium:        n/a

  
* 
Industry:        E-tailers

  
* 
Scorecard:      C

TAMPA, July 6–Insi

derStreet.com , an
Internet marketing company specializing in the creation and distribution of
specialized financial and entertainment content, announced that it has
signed a definitive agreement with e-Biz Street. The acquisition
includes the newly merged companies HardwareStreet.com and AMS
Systems, Inc. InsiderStreet.com
will purchase e-Biz Street, which markets computer hardware, software and
consumables to governments, businesses, affinity organizations and
consumers both directly and through the Internet, for $20 million.




 

 Pearson Plc unit to acquire The Forum
Corporation

  
* 
Amount:         $90
million

  
* 
Terms:         &nbsp

; 
100% cash

  
* 
Premium:        n/a

  
* 
Industry:        Performance
software

  
* 
Scorecard:      B+

LONDON–British media giant Pearson Plc said on Thursday its
FT Knowledge unit would acquire
U.S.-based The Forum Corporation for $90 million in cash, further
boosting its presence in the online education market. Privately held Forum, headquartered in Boston, helps
companies in their training methods, using a Web-based development system.
The merger of FT Knowledge and Forum will create one of the world’s leading
corporate training and e-Learning companies, delivering significant revenue
synergies and a greatly enhanced service for customers.