Probably not, but vertical search engine provider Convera Corp. (NASDAQ: CNVR) was recently named by Outsell as a rising star in the Information Industry Outlook 2008 survey. Convera has recently signed contracts with Access Intelligence, Advanstar Communications, and Grand View Media to provide customized search applications for specialist audiences in the medical, mortgage, and kitchen/bath industries. Convera has one product, a search platform for website publishers of trade business publications. By narrowing the search, Convera's search platform helps expand the specialized user base and increase targeted advertising revenues. Convera makes its money by taking a percentage of the advertising revenues.

Investors looking for a microcap tech growth stock might want to check out Convera. The stock traded at $16 late in 2005, but now trades under $3.00, so one cannot really argue the stock is overpriced. Convera currently has one customer that accounts for 92% of revenues, but that is changing rapidly as Convera continues to sign contracts with more publishers, serving the information needs of more and diverse specialist end users. Presently Convera has at least 16 vertical search sites in operation with 40+ more in the pre-launch stage. The company hopes to have 50 sites in production by the end of FY 2008.

Convera realized $23 million on the sale of Retrieval Ware, is discontinuing nonstrategic activities, shedding staff, and cutting costs in order to shrink operating losses until the company becomes profitable. Net losses from continuing operations in 2Q FY2008 were $6 million, a 40% reduction from net losses one year ago. Every portfolio needs a couple of pure spec stocks. Convera just might be one.

Back during the heady times of 2000, DLJ Merchant Banking Partners purchased Advanstar Communications for $900 million. The previous owner was the private equity firm Hellman & Friedman.

Well, DLJ has sold it once again. And, yes the buyers include private equity firms (this is known as a secondary buyout).

The price tag on the Advanstar deal is for $1.14 billion in cash and the suitors include Veronis Suhler Stevenson, Citigroup Private Equity and New York Life Capital Partners.

Advanstar is a media company that has trade shows, trade publications and a myriad of web sites. For the nine months ending September 30, 2006, the company generated roughly $261.8 million in revenue. There was also a net loss of $640,000.

Veronis Suhler Stevenson has extensive experience in the media industry and should be a strong financial partner. And it does look like Advanstar needs some TLC.

Tom Taulli is the author of various books, including the Complete M&A Handbook and the EDGAR-Online Guide to Decoding Financial Statements.