MARCH 2008: DEAL WATCH
OMSI adds
millions to the equation
By Robin Doussard
Problem for the day: $2.9 million + X = Y.
If you’re afraid of algebra, you’ve just turned
the page. Maybe your fear began as a kid in school, and it
ended your math interest and sent you straight into the arms of
a career that didn’t need higher mathematics. Like
waiting tables or journalism. Those dreams of being a scientist
or architect were squelched by algebra anxiety.
The $2.9 million in the equation is the grant amount awarded
by the National Science Foundation in mid January to OMSI, the
popular Oregon Museum of Science and Industry in Portland, to
further the daunting cause of teaching algebra to youngsters.
It’s the largest award ever received by OMSI in its 64
years. Over the past 10 years, NSF has awarded OMSI more than
$10 million.
The exhibit, Access Algebra, will debut at OMSI in May
2010, where it will stay for six months before traveling the
country for five to 10 years. The exhibit is expected to reach
more than 3.5 million visitors nationwide.
The X in the equation is the project’s ambition.
“Algebra is a difficult topic, and for most people hard
to visualize that they could learn it in a large
exhibit,” says Marilyn Johnson, OMSI director of research
and development, adding that this is a new area that advances
the field of informal math education.
Access Algebra targets middle-schoolers and includes a
“training package” for volunteers and staff at
other museums. Johnson says this undertaking is one of the most
complex they’ve tackled. OMSI is also going to partner
with middle-school students from the Blazers Boys and Girls
club in Northeast Portland to help conceive the exhibit, along
with Oregon State University’s College of Education and
TERC, a Boston-based nonprofit math and science research
center.
And the Y in the equation? More math literacy for more kids
that leads to more choices.
Now, about those polynomial functions.
LIST RESEARCHED BY MARK DRUSKOFF
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MERGERS AND ACQUISITIONS
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ANNOUNCED
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EXP. CLOSE
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BUYER / PARENT (HQ)
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SELLER (HQ) / PARENT
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PRICE (TERMS)
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Jan. 2
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1Q ‘08
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Barrett Business Services (Vancouver, WA.)
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First Employment Services (AZ)
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$5m (cash + earn-out)
|
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Jan. 15
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1Q ‘08
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Harry & David Holdings (Medford)
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Wolferman’s (KS) /Williams Foods
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ND
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Jan. 16
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1Q ‘08
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Universal Systems (Baker City)
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5,000-mile-long submarine cable (offshore)/Darrell
Throckmorton
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$102m (convertible debenture)
|
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Jan. 22
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1Q ‘08
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Art Technology Group (MA)
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CleverSet (Corvallis)
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$10m (cash)
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REAL ESTATE TRANSACTIONS
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ANNOUNCED
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BUYER / PARENT (HQ)
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REAL ESTATE (LOCATION) / SELLER (HQ)
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PRICE
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Jan. 5
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Meadow Wood Associates (Portland)
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Meadow Wood apartments (Vancouver, WA ) / Orchards
Retirement
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$26.6m
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Jan. 5
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Vancouver Prairie View (WA)
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Prairie View apartments (Vancouver, WA) / Prairie
View Associates (WA)
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$26.7m
|
|
Jan. 5
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12000 SW Pioneer Lane (Portland)
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Scholls Terrace apartments (Beaverton) / Scholls
Terrace
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$14.5m
|
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Jan. 9
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The Ashforth Co. (CT)
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Pacwest Center (Portland) / Mitsubishi Estate and
Meiji Yasuda Realty
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$161.5m
|
|
Jan. 15
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PNWC-Continental
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Continental apartments (Portland) / Kai and Lily Chow
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$1.17m
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Jan. 16
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BPG Properties Ltd. (PA)
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two apartments (Wilsonville) / Boston Capital Real
Estate Investment Trust
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ND
|
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Jan. 18
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Water Tower (Portland)
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Water Tower retail (Portland) / Water Tower
Associates (Portland)
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$19.7m
|
|
Jan. 21
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GM Wyndham
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Preston’s Crossing apartments (Beaverton)
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$26.2m
|
|
Jan. 21
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Highland Rentals (Portland)
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Larch Drive Townhomes (Beaverton) / Larch Properties
(Portland)
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$1.75m
|
|
Jan. 23
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Carson Oil Co.
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service station (Wilsonville) / Horizon Oil
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$1.97m
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Jan. 23
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Bayshore Apartments Oregon
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The Bayshore apartments (Astoria) / Gryphon
Enterprise & McCardle 1991 Family Trust
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$3.85m
|
|
Jan. 24
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Sloy Dahl & Holst
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office condo (Portland) / One Jefferson Partners
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$1.5m
|
|
Jan. 28
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Guardian Management (Portland)
|
San Remo apartments (Beaverton) / Fairfield
Residential (CA)
|
$24.2m
|
|
Jan. 28
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Briar Lane Properties
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Canby Place retail (Canby) / JCR Resources
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$6.3m
|
|
Jan. 28
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MRV Property
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Vermont Village apartments (Portland) / ND
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$3.75m
|
|
Jan. 28
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Jorken Oregon
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7.6 acres of land (Canby) / Ray L. Burden estate
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$1.68m
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|
Jan. 28
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Davis Properties
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industrial building (Canby) / Pioneer Properties
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$1.055m
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|
Jan. 28
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San Rafael Group
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industrial building (Gresham) / Anson R. Baker
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$2.6m
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|
Jan. 28
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SVF Hedges Creek Tualatin / American Realty Advisors
(CA)
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Hedges Creek apartments (Tualatin) / Monadnick
Property Trust (CO)
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$55m
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Jan. 28
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Church of Scientology (Portland)
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Stevens Building (Portland) / OCF Joseph E Weston
Public Foundation
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$5.38m
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Jan. 28
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Phillips Edison & Company (MD)
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Hermiston Plaza retail (Hermiston) / Kimco Realty
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~$15m
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Jan. 30
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Vocational Development Foundation (Portland)
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Goodwill building (Portland) / Carlyle Investment Co.
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$4.5m
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CAPITAL RAISING
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ANNOUNCED
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COMPANY (HQ) / LEADERSHIP
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INVESTOR (HQ)
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PRICE (TERMS)
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Jan. 17
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Oregon Museum of Science and Industry (Portland) /
Nancy Stueber, president
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National Science Foundation
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$2.9m (grant)
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Jan. 21
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Nautilus (Vancouver, WA.) / Gregg Hammann, chairman
& CEO
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Bank of America
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$100m (line of credit)
|
|
Jan. 23
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Calypte Biomedical Corporation (Portland) / Roger I.
Gale, CEO
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Fusion Capital Fund II (IL)
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$8m (cash)
|
|
Jan. 25
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Umpqua Community Development (Roseburg) / Betty Tamm,
executive director
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Northwest Area Foundation (MN)
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$100k (award)
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Jan. 31
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VirtenSysTM, Ltd. (Beaverton) / Ahmet Houssein,
president & CEO
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Scottish Equity Partners, Celtic House VP & GIMV
(U.K.)
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$12m (series B)
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|
