By Paritosh Bansal

(Reuters) – TransUnion’s owners are pursuing a possible sale that could fetch roughly $2 billion for the credit information firm, sources familiar with the matter said.

TransUnion, which is owned by private equity firm Madison Dearborn Partners and Chicago’s Pritzker family, said in July it planned to raise up to $325 million in an initial public offering.

But the Chicago-based company may instead be sold as the IPO market has effectively been shut amid geopolitical and economic uncertainty.

TransUnion is being advised by Deutsche Bank (DBKGn.DE: Quote, Profile, Research, Stock Buzz) and Bank of America (BAC.N: Quote, Profile, Research, Stock Buzz) on the sale, the sources said.

Bidders for the business, which competes with firms like Experian (EXPN.L: Quote, Profile, Research, Stock Buzz) and Equifax (EFX.N: Quote, Profile, Research, Stock Buzz), include private equity firms, the sources said.

The auction is at an advanced stage, but the process has been hit by problems in the financing markets, which have seen the availability of debt available to private equity firms shrink and the interest rates go up, the sources said.

NEW YORK, Sept 22 (Reuters) – Chris Ventresca, JPMorgan Chase’s (JPM.N: Quote, Profile, Research, Stock Buzz) co-head of North American M&A, still remembers the banker he worked for on his first deal as a young associate back in 1994.

It’s easy. The banker, Henry Harnischfeger, is still at JPMorgan and doing deals.

Such stability while many rivals have been walloped by crises, JP Morgan bankers said, has helped place their firm in the lead in the rankings of deal advisers this year.

“Keeping our focus on clients externally while others may have had more distractions or more volatility in terms of their people — that’s probably our greatest strength over the years,” said Ventresca, 45, a Princeton electrical engineer who started out at JPMorgan in 1988 as a computer programmer and never left.

The firm has jumped to the top spot in U.S. league tables from No. 5 last year, racing ahead of archrivals Morgan Stanley (MS.N: Quote, Profile, Research, Stock Buzz) and Goldman Sachs Group Inc (GS.N: Quote, Profile, Research, Stock Buzz), according to Thomson Reuters data through Sept. 22.

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Take a Look on dealmaking [ID:nS1E78L1U0]

NEW YORK (Reuters) – Three years ago after an aborted hostile bid for teller machine maker Diebold Inc (DBD.N: Quote, Profile, Research, Stock Buzz), United Technologies Corp (UTX.N: Quote, Profile, Research, Stock Buzz) Chief Executive Louis Chenevert pledged he would put forward a friendly face the next time.

In striking a $16.5 billion deal to acquire aircraft systems maker Goodrich Corp (GR.N: Quote, Profile, Research, Stock Buzz) on Wednesday, Chenevert made sure he got Goodrich’s Marshall Larsen on his side.

Chenevert’s courtship started more than a year ago, when he first broached the possibility of a takeover to Larsen, people familiar with the matter said.

The chemistry between the two played a big role in the companies reaching a deal, according to the people. Although it was an all-cash takeover, Chenevert invited Larsen to the deal announcement and also has given him the task of running the combined aerospace systems business for United Technologies.

“This is one that has been on the radar screen, and I think it has been in the works for over a year between Marshall and I,” Chenevert said. “It’s going to be a happy transition.”

Larsen added: “During this time period where we’ve got to know Louis and United Technologies better, we’ve come to the belief that our cultures are not different.”

Goodrich, which makes equipment for large planes such as landing gear, wheels and brakes, and smaller aerospace component manufacturer Rockwell Collins Inc (COL.N: Quote, Profile, Research, Stock Buzz), were both seen for many years as attractive takeover targets for United Technologies as it looked to boost its commercial aerospace exposure. Its aerospace business has lagged growth in its commercial building units, which include Carrier air conditioners, Otis elevators and fire and security systems.

NEW YORK, Sept 22 (Reuters) – Three years ago after an aborted hostile bid for teller machine maker Diebold Inc (DBD.N: Quote, Profile, Research, Stock Buzz), United Technologies Corp (UTX.N: Quote, Profile, Research, Stock Buzz) Chief Executive Louis Chenevert pledged he would put forward a friendly face the next time.

In striking a $16.5 billion deal to acquire aircraft systems maker Goodrich Corp (GR.N: Quote, Profile, Research, Stock Buzz) on Wednesday, Chenevert made sure he got Goodrich’s Marshall Larsen on his side. [ID:nS1E78L0BK] [ID:nS1E78K26R]

Chenevert’s courtship started more than a year ago, when he first broached the possibility of a takeover to Larsen, people familiar with the matter said.

The chemistry between the two played a big role in the companies reaching a deal, according to the people. Although it was an all-cash takeover, Chenevert invited Larsen to the deal announcement and also has given him the task of running the combined aerospace systems business for United Technologies.

“This is one that has been on the radar screen, and I think it has been in the works for over a year between Marshall and I,” Chenevert said. “It’s going to be a happy transition.”

Larsen added: “During this time period where we’ve got to know Louis and United Technologies better, we’ve come to the belief that our cultures are not different.”

Goodrich, which makes equipment for large planes such as landing gear, wheels and brakes, and smaller aerospace component manufacturer Rockwell Collins Inc (COL.N: Quote, Profile, Research, Stock Buzz), were both seen for many years as attractive takeover targets for United Technologies as it looked to boost its commercial aerospace exposure. Its aerospace business has lagged growth in its commercial building units, which include Carrier air conditioners, Otis elevators and fire and security systems.

Sept 21 (Reuters) – United Technologies Corp has reached a $16.5 billion cash deal to acquire aircraft components maker Goodrich Corp , in what would be the diversified U.S. manufacturer’s biggest deal in a decade.

United Tech said on Wednesday it would pay $127.50 a share for Goodrich, a 47 percent premium over the stock’s closing price last Thursday. It also includes $1.9 billion in assumed debt.

The deal comes as blue-chip United Tech looks to cash in on the upswing in plane orders and production as declining global spending on defense pressures its military business.

The acquisition can help it build critical mass in new aircraft technology and plane services as civil demand rebounds.

Goodrich is poised to grow as key commercial plane programs such as the Boeing 787 Dreamliner and upcoming Airbus A320neo ramp up production.

“It’s a good deal,” said Virginia-based defense consultant Jim McAleese.

“This is definitely a step forward in the growth of United Technologies in commercial aerospace, and it reduces the company’s exposure to defense,” he said.

LONDON/NEW YORK, Aug 31 (Reuters) – U.S. antitrust regulators may have dealt a body blow to an already fragile mergers and acquisitions market with their decision to block AT&T Inc’s (T.N: Quote, Profile, Research, Stock Buzz) $39 billion deal to buy T-Mobile USA.

For AT&T and T-Mobile’s advisers, the immediate cost if the deal collapses would be about $150 million in fees.

For the dealmaking industry, costs could add up to billions of dollars in lost fees as the U.S. Justice Department’s decision on Wednesday forces companies to think twice about the regulatory risks in takeover attempts, bankers said.

“This shows the severe execution risks M&A deals are facing currently,” a senior investment banker close to the AT&T/T-Mobile deal said. “It takes much longer to close a deal and some companies won’t even start to negotiate a merger due to these heightened risks.”

Indeed, the surprise move led to the widening of the spread on another large deal that faces a tough antitrust review.

Medco Health Solutions Inc’s (MHS.N: Quote, Profile, Research, Stock Buzz) shares are now trading 23.4 percent below Express Scripts Inc’s (ESRX.O: Quote, Profile, Research, Stock Buzz) $27.7 billion bid, with the spread widening about 9 percent since Tuesday.

The regulator’s move comes as companies are already shying away from mergers and acquisitions as they deal with global economic uncertainty and market volatility.

NEW YORK, Aug 30 (Reuters) – Billionaire investor Carl Icahn said on Tuesday his nominees for Clorox Co’s (CLX.N: Quote, Profile, Research, Stock Buzz) board would try to sell the bleach maker if elected, with him backstopping an auction with a $10.26 billion bid.

The move is the latest salvo in an intensifying battle for Clorox, where Icahn launched a proxy fight after the board rejected two of his buyout offers, the last one worth $10.52 billion, or $80 a share. Icahn is Clorox’s largest shareholder, with a 9.51 percent stake.

Icahn also sought to resolve questions about how he would finance his latest $78 per share bid, saying he would pay at least half in cash and the rest in bonds.

That effectively means Clorox shareholders would have to partly finance his bid. Icahn did not give any details of who would issue the unsecured notes or what the terms would be.

For his earlier bids, Icahn had secured a “highly confident” letter of financing from Jefferies Group Inc (JEF.N: Quote, Profile, Research, Stock Buzz), which unlike committed financing does not guarantee the funds.

Doubts remained about the latest move by Icahn, whose bid is widely seen as an attempt to see if any other buyer will emerge.

The shares of the 99-year-old company, which makes a range of products from bleach to Burt’s Bees lotions, were up 2.7 percent, but were nearly $8 below Icahn’s offer of $78 per share.

NEW YORK (Reuters) – Skip McGee’s most fulfilling moment as an investment banker came in 2002, when his team at Lehman Brothers helped Williams Cos (WMB.N: Quote, Profile, Research, Stock Buzz) avert bankruptcy.

“They had this big celebration,” recalled McGee, now head of Global Investment Banking at Barclays Capital. (BARC.L: Quote, Profile, Research, Stock Buzz) “People were coming up and asking, ‘You’re from Lehman Brothers?’ And they were just giving us hugs.”

Six years later, McGee was not able to guarantee the same outcome for his own firm, but was able to help orchestrate a deal to sell Lehman’s North American operations to Barclays.

Turns out, the timing could not have been better. Since Lehman’s bankruptcy came early in the financial crisis, the combined bank was also the first to become stable, allowing McGee and Paul Parker, head of global M&A, to hire aggressively in 2009 as others tottered.

“They were all in their foxholes with their chinstraps buckled,” McGee said. “We were the only firm hiring then.”

As the third anniversary of Lehman’s collapse approaches next month, McGee and Parker said Barclays’ buildout of the M&A team outside the United States is nearly complete.

Barclays — long an also-ran in the field of M&A — is taking on the likes of Goldman Sachs (GS.N: Quote, Profile, Research, Stock Buzz), Morgan Stanley (MS.N: Quote, Profile, Research, Stock Buzz) and JPMorgan Chase. (JPM.N: Quote, Profile, Research, Stock Buzz)

NEW YORK, Aug 25 (Reuters) – Skip McGee’s most fulfilling moment as an investment banker came in 2002, when his team at Lehman Brothers helped Williams Cos (WMB.N: Quote, Profile, Research, Stock Buzz) avert bankruptcy.

“They had this big celebration,” recalled McGee, now head of Global Investment Banking at Barclays Capital. (BARC.L: Quote, Profile, Research, Stock Buzz) “People were coming up and asking, ‘You’re from Lehman Brothers?’ And they were just giving us hugs.”

Six years later, McGee was not able to guarantee the same outcome for his own firm, but was able to help orchestrate a deal to sell Lehman’s North American operations to Barclays.

Turns out, the timing could not have been better. Since Lehman’s bankruptcy came early in the financial crisis, the combined bank was also the first to become stable, allowing McGee and Paul Parker, head of global M&A, to hire aggressively in 2009 as others tottered.

“They were all in their foxholes with their chinstraps buckled,” McGee said. “We were the only firm hiring then.”

As the third anniversary of Lehman’s collapse approaches next month, McGee and Parker said Barclays’ buildout of the M&A team outside the United States is nearly complete.

Barclays — long an also-ran in the field of M&A — is taking on the likes of Goldman Sachs (GS.N: Quote, Profile, Research, Stock Buzz), Morgan Stanley (MS.N: Quote, Profile, Research, Stock Buzz) and JPMorgan Chase. (JPM.N: Quote, Profile, Research, Stock Buzz)

NEW YORK (Reuters) – Berkshire Hathaway Inc’s (BRKa.N: Quote, Profile, Research, Stock Buzz) $3.25 billion offer for reinsurer Transatlantic Holdings Inc (TRH.N: Quote, Profile, Research, Stock Buzz) has expired but the two sides are still in talks over a deal, two sources familiar with the situation said on Tuesday.

The sources, speaking on condition of anonymity, said the talks were ongoing even though Berkshire Chief Executive Warren Buffett told PBS talk-show host Charlie Rose late on Monday that the offer had expired.

In fact, Transatlantic officials and Ajit Jain, the head of Berkshire’s reinsurance business, were in talks on Monday, the sources said. The sources said it has been Jain driving Berkshire’s participation in the deal and that Buffett has thus far not been involved.

Berkshire made its $52-a-share offer on August 5, outbidding Transatlantic’s agreed partner Allied World Assurance Co Holdings Ltd (AWH.N: Quote, Profile, Research, Stock Buzz) and hostile suitor Validus Holdings Ltd (VR.N: Quote, Profile, Research, Stock Buzz).

“As Transatlantic announced Friday, the company has entered into a confidentiality agreement and discussions with National Indemnity,” a Transatlantic spokesman said, referring to the Berkshire unit.

Transatlantic and Allied agreed to an all-stock deal in June that is now worth $2.91 billion. A month later, Validus made its unsolicited cash-and-stock offer, which it took directly to shareholders after it could not come to a confidentiality agreement with Transatlantic.

That offer is now worth $2.98 billion.