Company News

MERGERS AND ACQUISITIONS Alerus Financial Corp., Grand Forks, N.D., has purchased selected loans and deposits from Bnccorp Inc. in Scottsdale, Ariz., and the Twin Cities. Alerus employs over 200 people in the Twin Cites through its banking and wealth management operations, its RMG Mortgage Division, and Alerus Retirement Solutions. Alerus will serve its newly acquired customer base from existing branch locations in Minnetonka, Oakdale, and Maplewood.

Apogee Enterprises Inc., Bloomington, said that through its Owatonna, Minn.-based subsidiary Viracon Inc., it has acquired an architectural glass company in Brazil, Glassec Vidros de Seguranca Ltda. Terms were not disclosed. Glassec has a 100,000-square-foot fabrication facility 90 minutes outside of Sao Paulo and employs 250.

General Mills, Golden Valley, has agreed to purchase the Mountain High Yoghurt business from Dean Foods for an undisclosed price. Mountain High sells large-size -- 32 ounce and 64 ounce -- yogurt in the western United States. General Mills will retain the Mountain High name and it will become part of the firm's Yoplait USA division.

Pinnacle Financial Group, Minneapolis, a third-party debt collection service, has been acquired by National Asset Recovery Services Inc., St. Louis, which is a portfolio company of H.I.G. Capital, a Miami-based private equity firm. Pinnacle has 450 employees and three call centers. Combined, Pinnacle and National Asset Recovery Services will have about 3,500 employees. The Pinnacle management team will remain with National Asset Recovery Services.

NEW PRODUCTS Boston Scientific Corp., Natick, Mass., which has operations in Maple Grove, Arden Hills and Plymouth, said Friday that it has received European regulatory approval (CE Mark) for its Incepta, Energen and Punctua cardiac resychronization therapy defibrillators to treat patients suffering from heart failure and sudden cardiac death.