Gardner Denver (NYSE: GDI), a Wayne, Penn.-based maker of industrial machinery, said that it has hired Goldman Sachs to help it explore strategic alternatives, including a possible sale of the company. Shares rose more than 20% on the news, giving it a market cap at Thursday market close of around $3.2 billion. Reuters reports that likely suitors include Bain Capital, Blackstone Group, KKR, Onex Corp. and TPG Capital (with Onex and TPG working together). www.gardnerdenver.com
Apax Partners and Apollo Global Management are frontrunners to win the education unit of McGraw-Hill Cos. (NYSE: MHP), according to Dow Jones. The deal could be valued at upwards of $4 billion.
Apollo Global Management has agreed to purchase $100 million worth of newly-issued 10% convertible second lien notes in Prospect Global Resources Inc. (Nasdaq: PGRX), a Denver-based energy exploration and development company focused on a potash deposit located in the Holbrook Basin of eastern Arizona. Apollo also has an option to purchase 16.7 million shares of Prospect Global common stock for $3 per share (total of $50.1m). www.agm.com
Aterian Investment Partners has acquired 10 heat treating facilities in the U.S. and Canada fromBluewater Thermal Solutions. No financial terms were disclosed. The acquired plants will continue to operate under the Bluewater brand. www.aterianpartners.com
Canada Pension Plan Investment Board has agreed to acquire a 39% stake in Dorna Sports, a Spain-based organizer of motorcycle grand prix events, from privte equity firm Bridgepoint. No financial terms were disclosed, but Reuters puts the deal price at around €400 million. www.dorna.com
Kohlberg Kravis Roberts & Co. is weighing a bid for the Save-A-Lot store brand of troubled supermarket chain Supervalu Inc. (NYSE: SVU), according to Dow Jones. Prior reports have suggested that Cerberus Capital Management is considering a bid for the entire company. Goldman Sachs and Greenhill & Co. are advising Supervalu. www.supervalu.com
Primeritus Financial Services, a Nashville, Tenn.-based portfolio company of Kinderhook Industries, has acquired Renovo Services LLC, a Grand Rapids, Mich.–based provider of indirect automotive repossession services and online auctions. No financial terms were disclosed.www.renovoservices.com
Waud Capital Partners has acquired ProNerve LLC, a Broomfield, Colo.–based provider of intraoperative neuromonitoring services. No financial terms were disclosed. www.pronerve.com
Sign up for Dan’s daily email newsletter on deals and deal-makers: GetTermSheet.com
