Today’s Deals: Covad Heading into Spain

 Covad Communications (COVD) purchases stake in
Loop Telecom

  
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Amount:         $50
million

  
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Terms:           
n/a

  
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Premium:        n/a

  
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Industry:        ISPs/Access
providers

  
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Scorecard:      B

SANTA CLARA, Sept. 14–Covad Communications , a U.S.-based broadband services provider utilizing DSL
technology, and its newly formed Covad Communications International, B.V.,
announced its first European investment, an agreement to purchase a
majority share of Loop Telecom, Spain’s first full-service broadband
service provider for small and medium sized businesses. Under the
agreement, Covad will acquire Loop
Holdings Europe AsP, which holds shares representing a 70% interest in
privately held Loop Telecom, for $15
million US and notes for additional payments of $15 million US six months
after close and $20 million US one year after close.




 

 Homestore.com (HOMS) acquires The Hessel
Group

  
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Amount:        
Undisclosed

  
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Terms:           
n/a

  
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Premium:        n/a

  
* 
Industry:       
Content/Communities

  
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Scorecard:      A-

THOUSAND OAKS, Sept. 14–Homestore.com ,
an Internet home and real estate network, announced that it has acquired
The Hessel Group, a provider of technology-driven solutions and
services to the relocation industry. For over a decade, the Hessel Group
has provided services to many Fortune 500 companies and their transferring
employees as well as relocation management organizations that support them.
Homestore.com will integrate THG
into a new unit to be called Homestore Mobility Technologies. Financial
terms were not disclosed.




 

 Baltimore Technologies (BALT) acquires Content
Technologies

  
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Amount:         $992
million

  
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Terms:           
91 million shares

  
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Premium:        n/a

  
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Industry:        Security

  
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Scorecard:      B-

LONDON, Sept. 14–Baltimore Technologies ,
the Irish e-security company, announced that it has signed a definitive
agreement to acquire U.K.-based Content Technologies Holdings to
boost its offering of security products to corporate customers. The total
consideration is 91 million Baltimore
Technologies’ shares, valuing Content Technologies at
approximately $992 million.




 

 O2, Essential Marketing Technologies (THD) to
acquire LookSonic.com stake

  
* 
Amount:        
Undisclosed

  
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Terms:           
n/a

  
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Premium:        n/a

  
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Industry:        Internet
services

  
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Scorecard:      C

MARINA DEL REY, Sept. 14–O2, Essential Marketing
Technologies announced plans to acquire a controlling
majority interest

in LookSonic.com, a developer of a commercial
builder technology that empowers an Internet business to sell, build and
implement Internet commercials on their web site quickly and efficiently.
The deal is intended to help position O2 to become a leader in providing
interactive marketing technologies for content rich web site businesses and
offline businesses seeking highly effective Internet marketing. Under the
terms of the deal, O2 will acquire 50.1% of LookSonic.com in exchange for the
issuance of options to purchase 150,000 shares of O2 at 8 1/2.




 

 Watchout! (WTCH) acquires Cormax Businesss
Solutions (CVLC)

  
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Amount:         $6.2
million

  
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Terms:           
stock swap

  
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Premium:        n/a

  
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Industry:       
Consultants/Designers

  
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Scorecard:      C

CALGARY, Alberta, Sept. 14–High-Technology Incubator
Watchout! has acquired Cormax Business
Solutions , developer of Watchout!’s new Web site
launched this past July, in a $6.2-million (USD) share exchange. The
positioning of Cormax Business
Solutions’ executives is expected to direct the development of Watchout!, establishing a solid
foundation and sound business practices for the corporation, while
enhancing share value. Terms of the transaction were not disclosed.




 

 vitacost.com presents merger offer to
MotherNature

.com (MTHR)

  
* 
Amount:        
Undisclosed

  
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Terms:           
n/a

  
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Premium:        n/a

  
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Industry:        E-tailers

  
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Scorecard:      n/a

BOYNTON BEACH, Fla., Sept. 14–vitacost.com, an online
wholesaler of nutritional supplements and comprehensive resource for
nutraceutical information, announced that it has submitted a formal offer
letter to merge with MotherNature.com on a
one-for-one share basis. Vitacost.com
presently has approximately 27,425,000 shares outstanding, and MotherNature.com approximately
15,153,590.