B. Riley Completes United Online Buyout

B. Riley Financial Inc. on Friday completed its acquisition of internet service provider United Online Inc. of Woodland Hills. The Woodland Hills financial services company purchased United Online, which owns internet service providers NetZero and Juno, for $11 a share or approximately $170 million. As part of the agreement, Robert Taragan will become United Online’s new chief executive. He previously worked for the company for 15 years, most recently as president of NetZero’s communications segment. “The acquisition of United Online is consistent with our plan of making financially prudent acquisitions that provide outsized risk-adjusted returns,” Bryant Riley, chief executive of B. Riley Financial, said in a statement. “We look to benefit from the experience of United Online’s seasoned employees and the company’s ability to achieve predictable recurring revenue and EBITDA, while operating the business to maximize free cash flow for distribution to our shareholders.”