Francisco Partners News

The Norwalk, Conn.-based company, which trades on the Nasdaq, is bidding alongside private-equity firms Kohlberg Kravis Roberts & Co., Providence Equity Partners and Francisco Partners.

Kewill jumped 27.3 per cent after agreeing to be bought by Francisco Partners , a US private equity house specialising in technology investments.

Inter-Tel Inc has postponed the shareholder vote on the $723-million buyout bid by Mitel Networks Corp and Francisco Partners.

Applied Materials and Francisco Partners have decided to end negotiations to acquire a key part of the wafer processing division of ASM International, Europe's second-largest maker of semiconductor equipment.