M&A Deal Summary

VSS Capital Partners Acquires Advanstar Communications

On March 29, 2007, private equity firm VSS Capital Partners acquired media company Advanstar Communications from aPriori Capital Partners for 1.1B USD

Acquisition Highlights
  • This is VSS Capital Partners’ 16th transaction in the Media sector.
  • This is VSS Capital Partners’ largest (disclosed) transaction.
  • This is VSS Capital Partners’ 40th transaction in the United States.
  • This is VSS Capital Partners’ 3rd transaction in California.
Investment Fate
  • Advanstar Communications was sold to a publicly-traded strategic buyer in 2014 for 972M USD.

M&A Deal Summary
Date 2007-03-29
Target Advanstar Communications
Sector Media
Buyer(s) VSS Capital Partners
Sellers(s) aPriori Capital Partners
Deal Type Secondary Buyout
Deal Value 1.1B USD
Advisor(s) Credit Suisse Investment Banking (Financial)
Davis Polk & Wardwell LLP (Legal)

Target

Advanstar Communications

Santa Monica, California, United States
website
Advanstar Communications Inc. is a media company providing integrated marketing solutions for the Fashion, Life Sciences and Powersports industries. Advanstar serves business professionals and consumers in these industries with its portfolio of 87 events, 58 publications and directories, 125 electronic publications and Web sites, as well as educational and direct marketing products and services.

Search 184,358 Deals Now

SEARCH BY

  • Buyer Type (PE or Strategic)
  • Deal Size ($10M to $10B+)
  • Sector (60 Sectors)
  • Deal Type
  • Geography
  • & More

Try For Free 7-Day Free Trial

Buyer(S) 1

Buyer

VSS Capital Partners

New York, New York, United States

Investor Investor Investor Investor Investor

website

Category Private Equity Firm
Founded 1981
PE ASSETS 4.0B USD
Size Large
Type Sector Agnostic
DESCRIPTION

VSS Capital Partners is a private equity firm that targets investments in the media, communications, education, and information services sectors. VSS looks for opportunities with valuable brand franchises, stable cash flows, and infrastructure to support add-ons. The Firm will consider businesses throughout North America and Europe valued between $50 and $750 million. Prospective investment situations include management buyouts/buy-ins, expansion or acquisition financings, recapitalizations, build-ups, going private transactions, and partnerships. VSS was formed in 1981 and is based in New York City.

DEAL STATS #
Overall 52 of 94
Sector (Media) 16 of 19
Type (Secondary Buyout) 1 of 12
State (California) 3 of 7
Country (United States) 40 of 75
Year (2007) 6 of 12
Size (of disclosed) 1 of 5
PREVIOUS DEAL
DATE TARGET DEAL TYPE VALUE
2007-03-20 Remedy Health Media

New York, New York, United States

Remedy Health Media is a digital health platform specializing in inspirational video-based storytelling and award-winning digital brands. The Company's portfolio of brands includes HealthCentral, TheBody, TheBodyPro, BerkeleyWellness, and Healthcommunities. Remedy Health Media was founded in 1994 and is based in New York City.

Buy -
FOLLOWING DEAL
DATE TARGET DEAL TYPE VALUE
2007-04-19 Zed Group

Las Rozas, Spain

Zed Group develops and markets entertainment and community products and services for mobile and the Internet. The company is a mobile value-added player in the world in terms of revenue and geographical footprint.

Buy -

Seller(S) 1

SELLER

aPriori Capital Partners

Investor Investor Investor

website

Category Private Equity Firm
Founded 1985
PE ASSETS 2.0B USD
Size Large
Type Sector Agnostic
DESCRIPTION

aPriori Capital Partners (formerly DLJ Merchant Banking Partners) is a middle-market private equity firm focused on middle-market buyouts in the US and Europe. Sectors of interest include healthcare, retail, consumer, energy, business services, and industrial. aPriori was originally established in 1985 and has offices in New York and Los Angeles.

DEAL STATS #
Overall 22 of 51
Sector (Media) 1 of 2
Type (Secondary Buyout) 5 of 13
State (California) 5 of 7
Country (United States) 18 of 38
Year (2007) 3 of 4
Size (of disclosed) 11 of 21
PREVIOUS DEAL
DATE TARGET DEAL TYPE VALUE
2007-03-14 Biopartners

Baar, Switzerland

Biopartners GmbH is a biopharmaceuticals company in the emerging field of multi-source biopharmaceuticals.

Sell $78M
FOLLOWING DEAL
DATE TARGET DEAL TYPE VALUE
2007-04-18 Laramie Energy

Denver, Colorado, United States

Laramie Energy LLC is engaged in the exploitation and production of unconventional natural gas reserves in domestic onshore markets.

Sell $1.0B
Mergr

Product

Company

Legal