Excite@Home (ATHM) to merge int'l operations with chello broadband

   *  Amount:         $5.1 billion

   *  Terms:            n/a

   *  Premium:        n/a

   *  Industry:        Speed/Bandwidth

   *  Scorecard:      B+

LONDON, July 18--U.S.-based high speed Internet provider Excite@Home and European cable operator United Pan-Europe Communications NV (UPC) said they would take an 86% chunk of new Web group Excite Chello, which will be formed through the merger of UPC's chello broadband subsidiary with Excite@Home's international operations. The merger will create a firm, operating in 15 countries, with more than 300,000 broadband Internet subscribers and is estimated to be worth about $5.1 billion. Read analysis of this deal in Kelly Black's DealTracker.

 

 Global TeleSystems (GTS) acquires CS-COMPEX

   *  Amount:         Undisclosed

   *  Terms:            n/a

   *  Premium:        n/a

   *  Industry:        Speed/Bandwidth

   *  Scorecard:      B-

LONDON & PRAGUE, Czech Republic, July 18--Global TeleSystems , a provider of e-business and borderless broadband services across Europe, announced that it has acquired the Internet division of CS-COMPEX a.s. The acquired assets include an Internet services business and a metropolitan wireless local network in Brno, the second largest city in the Czech Republic. The CS-COMPEX acquisition will enhance Global TeleSystems' position as a major Internet and telecommunications services provider across the Czech Republic.

 

 PDS Financial (PDSF) acquires CasinoSlotExchange.com

   *  Amount:         Undisclosed

   *  Terms:            n/a

   *  Premium:        n/a

   *  Industry:        Content/Communities

   *  Scorecard:      C-

LAS VEGAS, July 18--PDS Financial Corporation , which finances, leases, sells, manufactures and refurbishes gaming equipment for the casino industry, announced that it has acquired CasinoSlotExchange.com, all customer lists and certain other assets from CJ's Slot Connection for an undisclosed price. CasinoSlotExchange.com provides a virtual marketplace for the purchase and sale of used slot equipment and will be integrated into Slot Source, the division of PDS Financial Corporation that reconditions and sells used gaming devices to the casino industry, expanding its distribution channels online.

 

 CraftClick.com (CTCK) acquires Craftville.com

   *  Amount:         Undisclosed

   *  Terms:            n/a

   *  Premium:        n/a

   *  Industry:        Content/Communities

   *  Scorecard:      C+

PLAYA DEL REY, July 18--CraftClick.com announced the acquisition of Craftville.com, an Arts and Crafts portal in the United Kingdom, that has been catering to professional craftspeople and craft hobbyists for over three years. The addition of Craftville.com to the CraftClick.com network furthers CraftClick.com's mission to become the leading resource for crafters throughout the world.

 

 Laredo Investment (LRDI) acquires Web Search Technologies

   *  Amount:         Undisclosed

   *  Terms:            n/a

   *  Premium:        n/a

   *  Industry:        Search/Portals

   *  Scorecard:      C

LAS VEGAS, July 18--Laredo Investment announced that it has reached an agreement to purchase 100% of the issued and outstanding shares of privately held Web Search Technologies and its next generation Internet information search technologies. Web Search Technologies, which was founded by Dr. Mengchi Liu, an influential scientist in deductive databases (the core science that underlies the foundation of the next generation Internet search engine operation), will become a wholly owned subsidiary of Laredo and will operate independently with its own Board of Directors and management team. Terms were not disclosed.

 

 Internet Venture Group (ITVI) acquires GeewhizUSA.com

   *  Amount:         Undisclosed

   *  Terms:            100% stock

   *  Premium:        n/a

   *  Industry:        E-commerce enablers

   *  Scorecard:      C-

HOUSTON, July 18--Internet Venture Group announced that it has finalized its acquisition of Houston, TX based GeewhizUSA.com, a B2B exchange for fiber optic illuminated promotional products, in a stock exchange transaction. The acquisition was structured as a merger of interests, whereby the shares of GeewhizUSA were exchanged for shares of Internet Venture Group. Further details of the transaction were not disclosed.