• The Wisconsin-based motion control specialist Regal-Beloit has bought General Electric`s HVAC motors and capacitors operation for $379m in cash and equity. The acquired business, which has manufacturing sites in the US, Mexico and India, is expected to generate sales of around $520m in 2005.

• Texas-based UGS, which specialises in PLM (product lifecycle management) software has bought the Israeli MPM (manufacturing process management) company Tecnomatic Technologies in a deal that values Tecnomatix at $227m.

• Schneider Electric has donated $1m to the relief programme for the Asian nations struck by the Boxing Day tsunami. It has also donated services and equipment worth a further $1m to help establish water and power systems, and expects to contribute a total of more than $3m including fundraising drives at its sites. Omron is donating ¥100m (about £500,000) to Unicef to help victims of the disaster.

• The US motor manufacturer, Bodine Electric is celebrating its centenary with a competition offering three $1,000 prizes for: the oldest Bodine product still working; the oldest Bodine product, even if it is not running; and the most unusual use of its motors. An extra $1,000 will be donated to charities chosen by the three winners. The competition closes on June 30. Details from www.Bodine-Electric.com/oldmotor

• Meggitt has agreed to buy the Maryland-based sensor specialist, Wilcoxon Research, for $15.5m in cash. Wilcoxon`s products include rugged, low-cost vibration sensors as well as laboratory instrumentation. Its sales last year were $11.6m..