Caterpillar (NYSE: CAT) said that it will offer to acquire China’s ERA Mining Machinery Ltd. for up to $885 million.
Fireman Capital Partners has sold Evolution Fresh Inc., a San Bernadino, Calif.-based maker of natural juices, to Starbucks Corp. for around $30 million. Starbucks plans to use the acquisition to launch a chain of juice bars. www.firemancapital.com
E*Trade Financial Corp. (Nasdaq: ETFC) said that it is no longer for sale, after a strategic review.www.etrade.com
Quadrant Private Equity is looking to sell Virtus Health Group, an Australian provider of in vitro fertilization services, for around A$500 million, according to the Australian Financial Review.
Regions Financial Corp. (NYSE: RF) has resumed sales talks for its Morgan Keegan unit to Stifel Financial after private equity firms lowered their bids in the wake of MF Global, according to Bloomberg. PE suitors had included THL Partners/Aquiline Capital Partners and Blackstone/Carlyle.
Sinopec Group of China has agreed to pay $3.54 billion for a 30% stake in the Brazilian unit of Spain’sGalp Energia.
THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 10
Salix Pharmaceuticals Ltd. (Nasdaq: SLXP) has agreed to acquire Oceana Therapeutics LLC, an Edison, N.J.-based provider of gastroenterology and urology therapeutics. The deal is valued at $300 million in cash. Oceana shareholders include Frazier Healthcare Ventures and Kelso & Co.www.oceanatherapeutics.com
TPH Partners has sold the assets of Storm Peak Energy LLC, a Midland, Texas-based exploration and production company in the Permian Basin, to an undisclosed private company. www.tphpartners.com
WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 9
Landy’s Restaurants Inc. (NYSE: LNY) has agreed to acquire McCormick & Schmick’s Seafood Restaurants Inc. (Nasdaq: MSSR). The deal is valued at $131.6 million, or $8.75 per share (29% premium to Monday’s closing price).
Rakuten, a Japanese Internet services company, has agreed to buy Canadian e-reader and e-book company Kobo for $315 million in cash. Kobo shareholders include Indigo Books & Music, Borders Group, Cheung Kong Holdings, Horizon Ventures and REDgroup Retail. www.kobo.com
Julius Baer Group has bid to acquire a stake in Swiss bank Bank Sarasin & Cie that currently is held byRabobank, according to Bloomberg.
Pfizer (NYSE: PFE) has agreed to sell a set of respiratory products, including a generic version of Advair, to Mylan Inc. (Nasdaq: MYL) The deal is valued at $17.5 million, plus possible earn-outs.www.pfizer.com
Siemens has agreed to acquire Vistagy Inc., a Waltham, Mass.–based maker of computer-assisted design software. No financial terms were disclosed. www.siemens.com
Sony Corp. is in talks to acquire country music label Big Machine Label Group, according to Bloomberg. The deal could be worth more than $200 million, with Universal Music Group also said to have interest. www.sony.com
Vestar Capital Partners has hired Goldman Sachs to advise on a sale of Lake Forrest, Ill.-based Solo Cup Co., according to Reuters. The company has around $1.6 billion in annual revenue.www.vestarcap.com
TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 8
Sterling Financial Corp.(Nasdaq: STSA) has agreed to purchase Vancouver, Wash.-based First Independent Bank for an $8 million premium to NAV. Sterling last year recapped with a pair of $171 million investments from Warburg Pincus and THL Partners.www.firstindy.com
HMS Holdings Corp. (Nasdaq: HMSY) has agreed to acquire HealthDataInsights Inc., a Las Vegas–based provider of tech-enabled healthcare claims integrity solutions. The deal is valued at approximately $400 million. HDI backers include GRP Partners, Redhills Ventures and Ticonderoga Capital. www.healthdatainsights.com
Facebook has acquired Digital Staircase, a developer of mobile video and image apps. No financial terms were disclosed. www.digitalstaircase.com
Warburg Pincus has agreed to sell MLM Information Services, a New York-based provider of corporate tax management and compliance solutions, to Corporation Service Co. No financial terms were disclosed. www.warburgpincus.com
MONDAY, NOVEMBER 7
Best Buy (NYSE: BBY) has agreed to acquire full ownership of its North American joint cellphone venture it formed with UK-based Carphone Warehouse Group. The deal is valued at around $1.3 billion.www.bestbuy.com
Bank of America may sell part of its remaining stake in China Construction Bank Corp., according to the South China Morning Post. BoA sold around half of its 10% position in CCB back in August, with a remaining stake valued north of $9 billion.
General Dynamics (NYSE: GD) has agreed to acquire defense contractor Force Protection Inc.(Nasdaq: FRPT) for around $360 million, or $5.52 per share (31% premium to Friday’s closing price).www.forceprotection.net
Best Buy (NYSE: BBY) has agreed to acquire MindShift Technologies, a Waltham, Mass.-based managed service provider for small and mid-sized businesses, for $167 million. MindShift has raised over $157 million in VC funding since 1999, including a recap in 2007 from TD Fund, Columbia Capital and Fidelity Ventures. www.bestbuy.com
TA Associates has sold American Access Care, a Glen Rock, Penn.-based operator of vascular access centers dedicated to patients suffering from end-stage renal disease, to Fresenius Medical Care(NYSE: FMS). No financial terms were disclosed. TA acquired AAC in 2006 for $130 million. www.ta.com
Videocon Industries of India is looking to sell a 25% stake in its direct-to-home broadcast services business (DH2), according to Reuters. The deal could be valued at between $75 million and $100 million, with ICICI Venture identified as a possible suitor. www.videoconworld.com
