News and Analysis

Chemtura Corp. (NYSE: CEM) has sold its optical monomers business to Acomon AG, a Switzerland-based affiliate of German private equity firm Auctus Management. No financial terms were disclosed for the deal, which included Chemtura's manufacturing facility in Ravenna, Italy. PRESS RELEASEIn order to place greater focus on its core businesses, Chemtura Corporation (NYSE: CEM) announced […]

Aero Systems Engineering Inc., a St. Paul, Minn.-based provider of turbine engine, wind tunnel and aerodynamic testing services, has acquired Celtech Corp., a Carlsbad, N.M.-based maker and refurbisher of mobile jet turbine and turbo prop test stands for military customers. No financial terms were disclosed. ASE is a portfolio company of Tonka Bay Equity Partners.

Zipcar has agreed to merge with fellow car sharing company Flexcar. No financial terms were disclosed. The combined company will be known as Zipcar, with Zipcar CEO Scott Griffith running the show. Zipcar has raised around $38 million in VC funding from firms like Benchmark Capital, Greylock and Globespan Capital Partners. PRESS RELEASEZipcar and Flexcar, […]

Nycomed AS, a Danish drug company, has agreed to acquire Bradley Pharmaceuticals Inc. (NYSE: BDY) for $20 per share. The total equity purchase price would be $346 million, with a close expected by Q1 2008. Nordic Capital holds a 51% stake in Nycomed, with other shareholders including DLJ Merchant Banking Partners, Blackstone Group and AlpInvest. […]

Western Express has acquired fellow truckload carrier Smithway Motor Xpress of Fort Dodge, Iowa. The deal was supported by $40 million in subordinated debt from Key Principal Partners. PRESS RELEASEKey Principal Partners (KPP), a $1 billion private equity and mezzanine firm, announced today an investment of $40 million in subordinated debt in Western Express to […]

Boston Ventures has agreed to sell Vista III Media, an Atlanta-based regional provider of cable television, high-speed Internet and telephony services, to Harron Communications LP, a Frazer, Penn.-based multi-system cable and communications services company doing business as MetroCast Communications. No financial terms were disclosed. Boston Ventures also is an investor in Harron.   PRESS RELEASEBoston […]

Fender Musical Instruments Corp., a Scottsdale, Ariz.-based guitar maker partially owned by Weston Presidio, has agreed to acquire Kaman Music Corp. from Kaman Corp. (Nasdaq: KAMN) for approximately $117 million in cash.   PRESS RELEASEKaman Corporation announced today that it has entered into a definitive agreement to sell its wholly owned subsidiary, Kaman Music Corporation […]

I was in Chicago Friday to moderate a discussion on private equity investment in the travel and tourism sector. Lots of talk about corporate governance, with a particular focus on corporate social responsibility. The event was unfortunately off-the-record, so I can’t share the particulars. But I can at least provide some data from Daddy Thomson, […]

Xtera Communications, an Allen, Texas-based optical networking and services company, has acquired AscenVision Technologies, a San Jose, Calif.-based developer of IP networking solutions. No financial terms were disclosed. Xtera has raised over $218 million in total VC funding, including a $52 million seventh round earlier this year. Backers include The Wellcome Trust, New Enterprise Associates […]

Liquid Air Lab GmbH, a Germany-based developer of “spodradio” mobile radio and podcasting solutions, has acquired Rocket Science, developer of the Poison framework. Liquid Air has raised over $12 million in VC funding from Balderton Capital and Baytech Venture Capital.     PRESS RELEASERocket Science, founded in 2002, developed the Poison framework which allows XML-based UI […]