Today's Deals: Private Sector Heads Today's M&A Patch

 Digital Island (ISLD) acquires Thomson Financials' Web-hosting unit

   *  Amount:         Undisclosed

   *  Terms:            n/a

   *  Premium:        n/a

   *  Industry:        Internet services

   *  Scorecard:      B

SAN FRANCISCO, Oct. 31--Digital Island announced that it has acquired a portion of Thomson Financials' Web-hosting operations in Medford, Massachusetts, establishing a regional presence for enterprises that require managed Internet infrastructure services for global e-business. In addition to acquiring the operations, Digital Island will also host Web-based delivery of online publishing tools and products for several Thomson Financial businesses, Thomson which is a part of The Thomson Corporation, a leading e-information and solutions business traded on the Toronto Stock Exchange.

 

 ChemConnect acquires Universal Chemical Brokerage

   *  Amount:         Undisclosed

   *  Terms:            n/a

   *  Premium:        n/a

   *  Industry:        E-commerce enablers

   *  Scorecard:      C+

SAN FRANCISCO, Oct. 31--ChemConnect, a leading global Internet exchange for chemicals, plastics, and industrial gases, announced that it has acquired Universal Chemical Brokerage Ltd. (UCB), a company that dominates the US spot market in petrochemical brokering. Assimilated into ChemConnect, UCB, which had previously only conducted its business in the traditional manner, will now marry traditional phone service with the immediacy and convenience of online trading. Terms of the transaction were not disclosed.

 

 MyFamily.com acquires ThirdAge Media

   *  Amount:         Undisclosed

   *  Terms:            n/a

   *  Premium:        n/a

   *  Industry:        Content/Communities

   *  Scorecard:      C+

SAN FRANCISCO, Oct. 31--MyFamily.com, the premier destination site for families on the Web and backed by CMGI @Ventures, announced that it has signed an agreement to acquire ThirdAge Media, adding the largest online population of first-wave baby boomers to its rapidly growing Internet network. The combination of ThirdAge's recognized brand and leading relationship with the 40 and over audience, its customer database system, experienced management team, and Fortune 500 sponsors with MyFamily.com's subscription-based business model will catapult MyFamily.com into a dominant position in the explosive boomer demographic. Terms of the deal were not disclosed.

 

 High Speed Net Solutions acquires Summus Ltd.

   *  Amount:         Undisclosed

   *  Terms:            100% stock

   *  Premium:        n/a

   *  Industry:        Internet services

   *  Scorecard:      n/a

RALEIGH, N.C., Oct. 31--High Speed Net Solutions, a provider of rich media advertising and content delivery, and Summus Ltd., a pioneer in wavelet compression technology, announced the signing of an Asset Acquisition Agreement that will enable consumers and companies worldwide to gain faster and higher quality access to the Internet, using both wireless and traditional computing devices. Together, High Speed and Summus intend to use their pioneering wavelet and compression technologies to bring to market a broad array of rich media products and services for use on wireless and broadband networks, raising the level of image and video quality possible on these networks. The acquisition involves the transfer of stock, the sharing of technologies and a 50-50 ownership in the new company.

 

 The Home Service Store acquires ServiceBeyond.com

   *  Amount:         Undisclosed

   *  Terms:            n/a

   *  Premium:        n/a

   *  Industry:        Content/Communities

   *  Scorecard:      C+

RUTLAND, Vt., Oct. 31--The Home Service Store (HSS), a national home improvement, maintenance and repair company, has acquired ServiceBeyond.com, an online home repair and maintenance service operating under the Internet moniker, JoeFixit.com. The combined company will gradually integrate JoeFixit's unique online scheduling technology into the existing HSS national operation, giving customers Internet and order-by-phone access to a nationwide network of skilled trades professionals. Terms of the transaction were not disclosed.

 

 MatchNet acquires doYOU2.com

   *  Amount:         Undisclosed

   *  Terms:            n/a

   *  Premium:        n/a

   *  Industry:        Content/Communities

   *  Scorecard:      B-

BEVERLY HILLS, Oct. 31--MatchNet PLC, traded on the Neuer Market under the symbol MHJG and a global online dating services provider, has acquired doYOU2.com, creator of patented Internet-based anonymous messaging and matching technology, through an exchange of shares. San Mateo-based doYOU2.com is expected to give MatchNet key competitive advantage as its matchmaking sites grow and become relationship portals, while also opening MatchNet up to a younger audience.