The Deal: BMG Surfs With Primary Wave

What: BMG has signed a definitive agreement to acquire most of Primary Wave's publishing assets and has initiated a joint venture with the latter in a deal valued at $150 million. Of that, $130 million was in cash for the acquired publishing assets, which include the writer's share of high-profile catalogs like those of Aerosmith's Steven Tyler, Kurt Cobain, Holland-Dozier-Holland's Lamont Dozier and Julian Lennon's share of both John Lennon's Beatles songs and Hall & Oates songs.