VELDHOVEN, NETHERLANDS -- Last month, H2 Equity Partners announced a deal to acquire Assembléon, putting to rest the lingering speculation over where the placement OEM would end up after longtime parent Philips put the company on the block.

H2 is buying a company that has rebounded strongly -- revenue was up 90% in 2010 -- from the last recession, and comes with its channel and equipment partners (namely, Yamaha) intact. CIRCUITS ASSEMBLY Editor in Chief Mike Buetow spoke this week with Assembléon CEO Andre Papoular about the pending deal and what it means for the company going forward.