Exits

Amadeus IT Group has reached an agreement with lenders to amend the travel reservations company’s loans, in order to pave the way for an IPO. Company backers include BC Partners, Cinven, Air France, Iberia and Lufthansa.

BC Partners has hired four investment banks for an IPO of German chemicals distributor Brenntag, which is expected to generate upwards of $2.2 billion. The banks are: Deutsche Bank, Goldman Sachs, J.P. Morgan and Merrill Lynch. Brenntag is expected to go public in the first half of 2010.

China Pacific Insurance, the third-largest life insurer in China, raised $3.1 billion in a Hong Kong IPO. The company was already listed in Shanghai, and is partially owned by The Carlyle Group.

Cobalt International Energy LP (NYSE: CIE) shares closed flat in their first day of trading, at $13.50 per share. The Houston, Texas-based oil and gas exploration and production company focuses on the Deepwater Gulf of Mexico, and had received private equity funding from First Reserve Corp., Goldman Sachs, Carlyle/Riverstone, KERN Partners and company management.

Crimson Exploration Inc., a Houston, Texas-based natural gas and crude oil company backed by Oaktree Capital Management, raised around $100 million in its Nasdaq flotation. The company sold 20 million shares at $5 per share, compared to a plan to sell 18 million shares at between $6 and $8 per share. Barclays Capital and Credit Suisse served as co-lead underwriters. Crimson closed its first day of trading down 17.12 percent at $4.31 per share.

Concord Medical Services, a Beijing-based network of radiotherapy and diagnostic imaging centers in China, raised around $132 million via an IPO. The company priced 12 million American depository shares at $11 per share (middle of $9.50-$11.50 range), and closed its first day trading down 13.6 percent. It trades on the NYSE under ticker symbol CCM, while J.P. Morgan, Morgan Stanley and CICC served as co-lead underwriters. Company shareholders include The Carlyle Group (via Carlyle Asia Growth Partners) and Starr Investments.

Falck, a Danish ambulance operator backed by Nordic Capital and ATP Private Equity Partners, said it is “in the process of selecting advisers for the company’s potential IPO.”

Financial Engines, a Palo Alto, Calif.-based provider of technology-enabled portfolio management and investment services, has filed for a $100 million IPO. It plans to trade on the Nasdaq under ticker symbol FNGN, with Goldman Sachs serving as lead underwriter. Shareholders include Foundation Capital (17.4 percent pre-IPO stake), New Enterprise Associates (14.4 percent) and Oak Hill Capital Partners (9.3 percent). The company posted revenue of $58.8 million in the nine months ended Sept. 30, up 12.6 percent from $52.3 million a year ago, and net income of $1.7 million, compared with a $1.5 million loss a year ago.

HM Capital Partners has agreed to sell Sturm Foods, a maker of hot cereal and powdered soft drink mixes, to TreeHouse Foods (NYSE: THS). The deal is valued at $660 million, and is expected to close by the end of the first quarter of 2010.

International Meal Co., a Brazilian restaurant chain controlled by Advent International, reportedly has indefinitely delayed its IPO due to weak demand.

Interpark, a South Korean online mall operator, has submitted a preliminary bid for local convenience store chain Buy The Way, which is being shopped by owner Unitas Capital. The sale is expected to be worth more than $260 million.

KAR Auction Services Inc., a Carmel, Ind.-based provider of vehicle auction services in North America, raised approximately $300 million via its IPO. The company priced around 25 million common shares at $12 per share, compared to its plans to sell 23 million shares at between $15 and $17 per share. KAR plans to trade on the NYSE under ticker symbol KAR, with Goldman Sachs and Credit Suisse serving as co-lead underwriters. Shareholders include Kelso & Co. (42 percent pre-IPO stake), Parthenon Capital, Goldman Sachs and ValueAct Capital.

Kraton Performance Polymers, a Houston-based maker of polymers used in products such as disposable baby diapers and razor blades, raised $139 million in its IPO. The company priced served as lead underwriter. Shareholders include TPG and JPMorgan Partners.

Lion Capital reportedly is in talks to sell Salem, Ore.-based potato chip-maker Kettle Foods for around $700 million. Possible suitors include Frito-Lay and Snyder’s of Hanover.

ModusLink Global Solutions Inc. (Nasdaq: MLNK) has acquired Tech for Less LLC from private equity firm Dixon Midland Company. No financial terms were disclosed. TFL is a -based acquirer and refurbisher of consumer electronics and business technology products. It and Dixon Midland were advised on the sale by Livingstone.

The Nielsen Company, a New York-based media company whose shareholders include Blackstone Group and KKR, has agreed to sell Billboard magazine and seven sister titles to e5 Global Media LLC, a joint venture of Pluribus Capital Management and Guggenheim Partners. Nielsen also announced plans to shutter Kirkus Reviews and Editor & Publisher. It also agreed to sell its theater ticket sales data unit (Nielsen EDI) to Rentrak Corp. (Nasdaq: RENT). The deal reportedly is valued at $15 million in cash.

Rambus Inc. (Nasdaq: RMBS) has agreed to buy the technology and IP parents of Global Lighting Technologies Inc., a Brecksville, Ohio-based maker of backlighting modules for flat panel display devices, for $26 million. GLT raised a $25 million funding round in 2000, from firms like Warburg Pincus and Baring Private Equity Partners.

Roper Industries Inc. (NYSE: ROP) has acquired Verathon Inc., a Bothell, Wash.-based provider of medical devices and services like a noninvasive bladder-scan device. No financial terms were disclosed. Verathon has raised nearly $16 million, from firms like DW Healthcare Partners.

Sirona Dental Systems Inc. (Nasdaq: SIRO) has filed to sell 7.35 million shares via a secondary public offering. The deal could be worth around $257 million, based on a closing price of $34.93 per share. Most of the shares will be offered by Madison Dearborn Capital Partners, which currently is Sirona’s majority shareholder.

Team Health Holdings LLC (NYSE: TMH) shares rose 6.75 percent on their first day of trading, following a low IPO price of $12 per share. The Knoxville, Tenn.-based company provides outsourced health care professional staffing and administrative services to hospitals and other healthcare providers. The Blackstone Group held over a 90 percent pre-IPO ownership position.

Travelport, a travel services provider owned by The Blackstone Group, reportedly is prepping a $2 billion IPO, which would be listed on the London Stock Exchange.

Trony Solar Holdings Co., a Chinese thin-film solar company, indefinitely postponed its IPO due to market conditions. The company had planned to offer 19.5 million American depository shares at between $9 and $11 per share. Backers include Intel Capital and JPMorgan Special Situations.

The Wicks Group of Cos. has completed its $170 million cash sale of career education company Penn Foster Education Group Inc. to The Princeton Review Inc.