VCJ Staff

River Associates Investments of Chattanooga, Tenn. has agreed to acquire Wheaton Science Products from Alcan Inc. (NYSE: AL). Wheaton is a Millville, N.J.-based maker of equipment for scientific laboratories. No financial terms were disclosed for the sale, which is expected to close later this month. www.alcan.com

3M has agreed to sell its global pharmaceuticals division in three separate deals worth a total of around $2.1 billion. First, Graceway Pharmaceuticals, a Bristol, Tenn.-based drug company owned by GTCR, will pay $875 million for 3M's pharma operations in the U.S., Canada and Latin America. Graceway also will subsume fellow GTCR portfolio company Chester […]

TotalStone, a Millstone Township, N.J.-based warehouse distributor of Owens Corning Cultured Stone, has raised an undisclosed amount of private equity funding from Brookstone Partners. www.brookstonepartners.com

Golden Gate Capital has acquired Neways International, a Springville, Utah

Harrah's Entertainment's (NYSE: HET) board today is expected to examine the $15.5 billion buyout offer on the table from Texas Pacific Group and Apollo Management. www.harrahs.com

Broad Oak Energy Inc. of Dallas, Texas has received a private equity commitment of up to $150 million from Warburg Pincus, in order to pursue the acquisition, exploration and development of oil and gas leasehold interests in certain onshore regions of the United States. www.broadoakenergy.com

Archer Capital has agreed to buy listed Australian sporting goods retailer Rebel Sport for Au$4.60 per share. The deal values Rebel Sport at approximately Au$370 million. www.rebelsport.com.au

JCDecaux SA may soon enter the auction for rival Clear Channel Outdoor Holdings Inc., according to the Wall Street Journal. The paper says that the French company is discussing a joint bid with two undisclosed private equity firms. Two private equity consortiums already have formed to bid. The first includes Blackstone Group, KKR and Providence […]

Baring Asia Private Equity has acquired a 25% stake in AirTAC Automatic Industrial Co., a Chinese manufacturer and distributor of pneumatic components. No financial terms were disclosed. www.airtacworld.com

GP Investments has acquired a 14.4% stake in Brazilian shopping center developer Grupo Ecisa for approximately $45 million. In related news, a U.S.-based real estate private equity firm also will subscribe for an equal equity stake. www.gpinvestimentos.com