DISH Network Corp. (Nasdaq: DISH) has offered to acquire Sprint Nextel Corp. (NYSE: S) for $25.5 billion in cash ($17.3b) and stock ($8.2b). The $7 per share offer represents a 13% premium to an existing agreement between Sprint and Japan’s SoftBank. www.dish.com
Scripps Networks Interactive (NYSE: SNI) has acquired the Asian Food Channel, a Singapore-based food-focused pay television network. No financial terms were disclosed. Sellers include Vickers Venture Partners and Symphony International Holdings. www.asianfoodchannel.com
Apax Partners and Morgan Stanley Principal Investments are seeking to sell Chicago-based insurance brokerage Hub International for around $2 billion, according to Reuters. The firms took Hub private 2007 for $1.8 billion. www.hubinternational.com
Avago Technologies Ltd. (Nasdaq: AVGO) has agreed to acquire CyOptics, a Breinigsville, Penn.-based maker of indium phosphide optical chip and component technologies, for approximately $400 million in cash. CyOptics last year withdrew registration for an IPO. It has raised around $77 million in VC funding from JVP (54.4% stake), Sprout Group (10.8%), Soros Fund Management (5.5%), TL Ventures (5.2%), Birchmere Ventures and Eurofund. www.cyoptics.com
Bright Horizons Family Solutions (NYSE: BFAM) has acquired Kidsunlimited, a UK provider of nursery care centers, for £45 million in cash from private equity firm LDC. Bright Horizons went public earlier this year, but remains majority-owned by Bain Capital. www.brighthorizons.com
CSL Capital Management has sold PyraMax Ceramics LLC, a Texas-based ceramic proppant manufacturer, to Imerys SA (Paris: NK). The deal includes a $235 million up-front payment and up to $100 million in performance-based milestone payments. www.pyramaxceramics.com
Jacobson Partners has acquired Swan Hose, a maker of consumer and industrial hoses, from Tekni-Plex Inc., a portfolio company of Oaktree Capital Partners and Avenue Capital. No financial terms were disclosed. www.tekni-plex.com
LinkedIn (Nasdaq: LNKD) announced that it has acquired news-reading app Pulse for approximately $90 million (90/10 stock/cash split). Pulse had raised around $10 million in VC funding from e.Ventures, Greycroft Partners, Harrison Metal Capital, Lerer Ventures, Lightspeed Venture Partners, Mayfield Fund, New Enterprise Associates and Redpoint Ventures. www.linkedin.com
Foursquare, a New York-based geo-based social networking app, has raised $41 million in new convertible debt funding. Silver Lake Waterman led the round, and was joined by existing VC backers Andreessen Horowitz, OATV, Spark Capital and Union Square Ventures. www.foursquare.com
J.C. Penney Co. (NYSE: JCP) has hired The Blackstone Group to help it raise at least $1 billion in new capital, according to Bloomberg. www.jcp.com
Joh. A. Benckiser, a German holding company, has agreed to acquire European coffee company D.E Master Blenders 1753 (Amsterdam: DE) for approximately €7.5 billion, or €12.50 per share.www.demasterblenders1753.com
Sinclair Broadcast Group Inc. (Nasdaq: SBGI) has agreed to acquire Seattle-based television and radio broadcasting company Fisher Communications Inc. (Nasdaq: FSCI) for approximately $373 million, or $41 per share (5% premium to Wednesday’s closing price). www.fsci.com
Time Warner Inc. (NYSE: TWX) is in talks to acquire Turkish television network ATV from Calik Holdings AS, according to Bloomberg. The deal could be valued at around $1 billion.
Twitter has acquired We Are Hunted, a San Francisco-based mobile music app maker. No financial terms were disclosed. www.twitter.com
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