PLAINVIEW, NY — A pair of private equity firms have agreed to purchase test equipment maker
Aeroflex Inc. in a deal worth about $1 billion.
General Atlantic and
Francisco Partners said they would purchase the company, subject to standard stockholder approval and closing conditions.
The deal contains a "go shop" provision under which Aeroflex may solicit other offers through April 18. However, Aeroflex would have to pay fees of up to $37 million to call off the deal.
Aeroflex, a global provider of high-technology test, measurement, and microelectronic products, offers a strong platform, track record, and service record, said Dipanjan Deb, co-founder and managing partner at Francisco.
For Francisco Partners, it would be the second major electronics manufacturing acquisition in a year. Last fall, the firm acquired
Universal, Vitronics-Soltec and
Hover-Davis.