Lett Direct Inc. Bethany Beach, DE, and Marketsmith Inc. of Morristown, NJ, have signed an agreement to offer joint services.

Vertis Inc. has successfully completed its prepackaged Chapter 11 plan and its merger with American Color Graphics this week. The new combined company, headquartered in Baltimore and unified under the Vertis Communications brand, has 100 locations worldwide and nearly 8,000 employees.

While 2007 was a record year for M&A in most business sectors, including direct marketing services, a different picture has emerged in 2008. The collapse of financial institutions, commodity price volatility and economic uncertainty across the globe have made it challenging to complete transactions in industries, including direct marketing.

Business optimization software provider Omniture has acquired Mercado's site search and merchandising business for $6.5 million and the assumption of certain liabilities. The deal will enable Orem, UT-based Omniture to expand its site search and merchandizing solutions, especially in the retail space.

Macrovision Solutions Corporation has announced it will sell TV Guide to private equity firm OpenGate Capital. Macrovision, according to a company news release, described the sale as in keeping with the company's plans outlined in January, following the announcement of its acquisition of Gemstar-TV Guide.

Media holding company WPP Group PLC has acquired British market research firm Taylor Nelson Sofres (TNS) for $1.93 bil­lion after a months-long pursuit.

E-commerce auction giant eBay Inc. has announced plans to cut its staff by 10%, laying off about 1,000 employees. The firm has attributed the cutbacks to restructuring and streamlining — not to the weakening economy or poor expectations in e-commerce.

The Washington Post Co. has purchased Foreign Policy magazine for an undisclosed sum. The bimonthly magazine has a circulation of 100,000 readers across the US and in more than 160 other countries.

Foot Locker Inc. has signed a definitive agreement to purchase Delia's Inc.'s direct-to-consumer business, CCS, for $102 million in cash. Delia's CCS sells skateboard footwear, apparel and accessories through catalogs and e-commerce.

Bonnier Corp. has acquired Working Mother Media Inc., publisher of the magazine Working Mother. The acquired company also produces a number of events and conferences, as well as the research initiative "The 100 Best Companies for Working Mothers."