Notable deals of the past 12 months
JUNE 2008
Provide Commerce acquired gifts cataloger Red Envelope in a bankruptcy auction.
Staples acquired fellow office supplies distributor Corporate Express for $2.6 billion.
JULY 2008
Party supplies and costumes merchant Celebrate Express was sold to holding company Liberty Media (parent company of Provide Commerce) for $31 million in cash.
Highsmith, a direct marketer of library supplies, furniture and equipment, was bought by the Lab Safety Supply division of W.W. Grainger.
Airgas, a marketer of industrial gases and safety gear, acquired Oilind Safety and Refron.
Monomoy Capital Partners bought the Missy apparel division of Redcats USA.
AUGUST 2008
Food gifts mailer Harry & David acquired citrus fruits marketer Cushman Fruit Co.
Blyth bought women's apparel and personal care products merchant As We Change for $2.3 million.
The assets of DMSI were purchased by a new Swiss Colony unit called Midwest Catalog Brands.
SEPTEMBER 2008
Multititle mailer Orchard Brands, a Golden Gate Capital company, bought most of the Crosstown Traders apparel and shoes catalogs from Charming Shoppes. The transaction did not include food gifts cataloger Figi's.
Boca Java, an online gourmet coffee marketer, acquired assets of Web coffee merchant Café Belmondo from The Thompson Group.
Catalog Holdings, a portfolio company of Golden Gate Capital, sold Spiegel Brands to an investor group led by Granite Creek Partners.
Teen apparel retailer Delia's sold its extreme-sports gear merchant CCS to retail chain Foot Locker for $102 million in cash.
OCTOBER 2008
Multititle gardening mailer Gardens Alive! bought gifts book The Paragon, a former BlueSky Brands title. Gardens Alive! in May 2008 had purchased games catalog Bits and Pieces, two months after BlueSky Brands shut down.
NOVEMBER 2008
Private equity firm Sun Capital Partners, through an affiliate called Childrenswear, acquired children's clothing cataloger/retailer Hanna Andersson Corp. and Gerber Childrenswear for $179 million.
DECEMBER 2008
Airgas purchased Great Lakes Oxygen, a distributor of gas and welding supplies.
JANUARY 2009
Healthcare products and services provider Henry Schein acquired Noviko, a distributor of veterinary supplies in the Czech Republic; DNA Anthos Impianti (DNA), the Italian distribution arm of Cefla Dental; and Medka, a Berlin-based provider of medical products and services.
FEBRUARY 2009
Toy and baby products retailer Toys ‘R' Us acquired the e-commerce site eToys.com from The Parent Co.; the deal also included the BabyUniverse.com e-commerce site and ePregnancy.com parenting resource site.
MARCH 2009
Networking products cataloger Black Box Corp. purchased Scottel Voice & Data.
Henry Schein bought Ortho Organizers, a manufacturer/distributor of orthodontics items.
MAY 2009
Toy and baby products retailer Toys 'R' Us acquired upscale toy merchant FAO Schwarz.
Computers manufacturer/marketer Systemax won a bankruptcy auction for the Circuit City e-commerce business and brand.
JUNE 2009
Newport Corp. acquired the New Focus business and product portfolio in an exchange of assets and cash with Oclaro.
Patterson Medical, a division of Patterson Cos., bought Empi Therapy Solutions from DJO.
Talbots sells J. Jill to Golden Gate Capital.
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