Sprint Nextel (NYSE: S) shareholders have approved a $21.6 billion sale of a majority stake in the company to Japan’s Softbank for $21.6 billion. www.sprint.com
Absolute Software Corp. (TSX: ABT) has acquired the assets of Palisade Systems, an Ames, Iowa–based provider of data security and data loss prevention solutions. No financial terms were disclosed. Palisade Systems had raised VC funding from such firms as DeWaay Investment Partners, Cedar Valley Venture Fund and Principal Life Insurance Co. www.absolute.com
Lazard Australia Private Equity is in talks to sell its majority stake in Scottish Pacific Debtor Finance to Next Capital for approximately A$90 million, according to Dow Jones. www.lazard.com
Charterhouse Capital Partners is considering an IPO for French catering company Elior for as early as November, after acquisition bids came up short of Charterhouse’s €4 billion asking price, according to the FT. www.elior.fr
Esperion Therapeutics Inc., a Plymouth, Mich.-based developer of oral low-density lipoprotein cholesterol lowering drugs, raised $70 million in its IPO. The company priced 5 million shares at $14 per share, compared to plans to offer 4.5 million shares at between $13 and $15 per share. Esperion will trade on the Nasdaq under ticker symbol ESPR, while Credit Suisse and Citigroup served as lead underwriters. Esperion had raised around $33 million in VC funding from firms like Alta Partners (21.8% pre-IPO stake), Aisling Capital (21.8%), Domain Associates (21.8%), Longitude Capital (20%) and Arboretum Ventures (6.8%). www.esperion.com
Hellman & Friedman is seeking to float its 30% stake in GTT, a maker of cryogenic hull linings for LNG tankers, via an IPO that could value the company at upwards of $2.4 billion, according to Reuters. GDF Suez holds a 40% stake in GTT. www.gtt.fr
Luxoft Holdings, a Swiss provider of software development services and IT solutions that is being spun off by Russia’s IBS Group, raised $70 million in its IPO. The company priced 4.09 million shares at $17 per share (midpoint of $16-$18 range). It will trade on the NYSE under ticker symbol LXFT, while UBS, Credit Suisse and JPMorgan served as lead underwriters. The company reports $37 million of net income on around $315 million in revenue for the year ending March 31, 2013. www.luxoft.com
Markit Group, UK financial data provider, has hired Goldman Sachs to lead manage an upcoming U.S. IPO that would be designed to raise more than $1 billion, according to Reuters.
www.markit.com
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