Growth-minded Vertellus buys Dow Chemical unit
Indianapolis-based chemical producer Vertellus Specialties Inc. has announced its second big acquisition in as many months, in a deal believed to be worth as much as $200 million.
Mergers & Acquisitions
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Ice Miller names new managing partner
Steven Humke is set to take the helm of the city’s third-largest law firm Jan. 1, assuming duties from outgoing chief managing partner Phil Bayt.
Order-fulfillment firm sells for $55M in cash
A publicly traded e-commerce firm has acquired Indianapolis-based Fifth Gear, a company with more than 500 employees that specializes in fulfilling consumer orders through catalogs and digital retail.
Health care deals lead big year for M&A activity
The health care industry has announced about $438 billion worth of mergers and acquisitions worldwide so far in 2014, about 14 percent of the $3.2 trillion total for all industries.
First Merchants closes $49M acquisition of Community Bank
The deal gives First Merchants a stronger foothold in affluent Hamilton County, and a total of 107 locations in three states.
Local steel fabricator to buy Vincennes steel firm
Indianapolis-based Lenex Steel Corp. plans to acquire Wabash Steel LLC of Vincennes from its Ohio-based owner, the local company announced Wednesday.
City’s top website developer merges with Ohio company
The merger of Indianapolis-based Fusion Alliance and Columbus-based Quick Solutions forms a company with 550 employees and annual revenue of $75 million.
Report: Herff Jones set to be sold for $1.5 billion
Class ring maker Herff Jones is set to be acquired by a private-equity group for about $1.5 billion, Reuters reported, citing people familiar with the deal.
Maker of class rings may fetch $1 billion
Herff Jones might be on the verge of a sale for as much as $1 billion. The 94-year-old maker of class rings and yearbooks, quietly renamed Varsity Brands Inc. in June, has hired the investment banking firm Jefferies to explore a sale, unidentified sources told Reuters.
European regulators OK Lilly’s $5.4B Novartis deal
The European Union's antitrust authority has approved the $5.4 billion sale of Novartis' animal health division to Indianapolis-based pharmaceutical firm Eli Lilly and Co.
UPDATE: Angie’s suitors could include Amazon, Yelp, IAC
Amazon has been developing its own local services marketplace. Yelp is the leading consumer-review service in the retail space. Website Holding company IAC, meanwhile, has a big stash of cash and owns competitor HomeAdvisor.com.
LDI acquisition could be latest springboard for growth
Indianapolis-based private investment company LDI Ltd. has acquired a small biotech manufacturer in a deal it says could be the launching point for many more acquisitions.
Simon spinoff plans $4.3B merger with Ohio mall firm
Washington Prime Group Inc. has agreed to buy Glimcher Realty Trust of Columbus, Ohio, in a deal valued at about $4.3 billion when including assumed debt. As part of the transaction, Simon Property Group will acquire two malls for $1.09 billion in cash.
Demise of Radio Disney causing static; local station in play
Walt Disney Co. announced earlier this month that it would sell its 23 radio stations that target children ages 3 to 15. The only Radio Disney outpost on the FM dial, WRDZ-FM 98.3 in Indianapolis, could be particularly sought after if the stations are sold individually.
Insurance agencies Shepherd, Consolidated merge
Two local insurance agencies with long histories and well-known leaders have merged, creating a firm with eight Indiana offices, 145 agents and more than 160 employees.
Lilly among those eyeing antibiotic maker Cubist, analyst says
The rising threat from drug-resistant germs and increasing calls from global health groups for more potent antibiotics is placing a premium on companies such as Cubist. The $4.8 billion drug developer is preparing to introduce four new medicines by 2020.
Mainstreet’s Turner to sell REIT in $2.3B deal
HealthLease Properties REIT, which is led by Mainstreet Property’s Zeke Turner, will be sold to Ohio-based Health Care REIT Inc., along with 17 projects Mainstreet has under construction. The deal includes 45 future projects.
KAR Auction Services makes $30M acquisition
Carmel-based KAR Auction Services Inc., which released a solid quarterly earnings report Tuesday, acquired a 50-percent stake in Toronto-based Nth Gen Software Inc., which makes the TradeRev automotive remarketing system.
WRTV Channel 6 parent grows in major media merger
Journal Communications Inc. and E.W. Scripps Co. have an agreement to merge broadcasting operations while spinning off newspaper holdings into a separate public entity, the companies announced late Wednesday.
Hunt Construction acquired by L.A. engineering firm
The city’s largest construction contractor, whose local projects include Lucas Oil Stadium and the JW Marriott hotel, has been acquired by Los Angeles-based engineering firm Aecom Technology Corp.