Motorola to buy Japan wireless firm

SCHAUMBURG -- Motorola Inc. said Monday its subsidiary, MI Inc., has agreed to acquire a controlling interest in Vertex Standard Co. Ltd., a provider of 2-way radio communication solutions, for about $108 million. Upon completion of the deal, Motorola will own 80 percent of Vertex Standard and Tokogiken, a privately held Japanese company controlled by Jun Hasegawa, president and CEO of Vertex Standard, will retain 20 percent, forming a joint venture

Otto selects IFS software

SCHAUMBURG -- Otto Roth Group, a German manufacturer of assembly elements and distributor of fasteners, has selected IFS Applications to provide support that enhances agility and communication. The agreement is valued around $1.6 million. The solution will be start being used in January. Otto Roth has a wholesale business for standard parts, stocking more than 60,000 articles from mechanical fasteners to tubing lines.