Boston Scientific buys asthma firm: Medical device maker Boston Scientific Corp. announced today it has signed a definitive merger agreement under which it will acquire Asthmatx Inc., a Sunnyvale, Calif., company that manufactures a catheter-based bronchial thermoplasty procedure for treatment of asthma. The deal could be worth up to $443.5 million. Boston Scientific, which is based in Natick, Mass., but has major operations in Arden Hills and Maple Grove, is paying $193.5 million up front, and up to $250 million contingent of revenue-based criteria through 2019. Read full story
Hecker friend Gustafson faces new federal charges: Another Denny Hecker associate faces federal charges related to the auto mogul’s fraud case. Minnesota’s U.S. Attorney’s Office has charged longtime Hecker employee James Carl Gustafson with lying to investigators and mail fraud, according to documents filed Friday. If convicted, he could be sentenced to up to 25 years in prison. Read full story
NexGen Digital expanding to Twin Cities and other markets: Semiconductor distributor NextGen Digital plans to expand into the Twin Cities, along with eight other cities. The Irvine, Calif.-based company said it will open offices in Minneapolis, as well as Atlanta, Boston, Chicago, Denver, Huntsville, Ala., Phoenix, Salt Lake City and San Diego. Read full story
