Lauren Thomas

Illinois-based Consolidated Communications Holdings Inc. announced Monday it has entered into a definitive agreement to acquire Charlotte-based FairPoint Communications Inc., another broadband communications provider, for $1.5 billion. The deal will be completed via an all-stock transaction. The companies said the merger was “unanimously approved” by both boards of directors. “This transaction combines two companies with extensive fiber networks, complementary strategies focusing on being the leading business and broadband solutions provider,” Bob Udell, president and chief executive officer of Consolidated, said in a statement. After the transaction closes, Udell will continue to serve as president and chief executive officer of the combined company,...

Inc. Research Holdings Inc. announced third-quarter earnings on Monday that topped analysts’ consensus estimate, and the company raised its full-year guidance, according to a filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Inc reported third-quarter earnings of 64 cents per share, 1 cent better than analysts’ estimate of 63 cents, according to StreetInsider.com. Revenue for the quarter came in at $259.56 million, slightly missing the consensus estimate of $259.89 million. The company saw “net new business awards” of $330.1 million for the quarter, compared to awards of $327.7 million for the previous quarter. The company added that its business awards were...

A North Carolina-based venture capital firm has filed to raise $125 million in a private stock offering, according to a filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Durham-based SJF Ventures filed a Form D with the SEC on Oct. 24. The filing listed a total offering amount of $125 million with $56.8 million remaining to be sold. The filing said 38 investors are involved with the offering so far. SJF also said approximately $1.4 million will go toward a “first year management fee,” based on the current number of limited partnership interests subscribed. No other details were offered in the filing regarding the...

Washington, D.C.-based The Carlyle Group sold 11.5 million shares of telecom equipment company CommScope Inc., which is located in Hickory, for $333 million. Carlyle sold 11.5 million shares at a price of $29.04, according to a Form 4 filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The assent management firm in Washington took CommScope private in 2010 for $3.9 billion. This was the biggest takeover in the telecommunications-equipment industry in at least two years, Bloomberg reported. After three years under Carlyle’s ownership, CommScope’s sales began to increase, and CommScope, which is now listed on the NASDAQ under the ticker symbol “COMM,” had its public debut in...