North Bay Business Journal

Lennar buys Linwood development from Christopherson

SONOMA COUNTY — National homebuilder Lennar Corporation has purchased Santa Rosa-based Christopherson Homes’ Linwood properties near the Sonoma County Fairgrounds and expects to have a sales office open within a month.

Riechers Spence acquires Yountville land surveyor

NAPA — Civil engineering firm Riechers Spence & Associates is acquiring land surveying firm Michael W. Brooks & Associates of Yountville as of Aug. 1.

The Doctors Co. expands with $386 million American Physicians Capital deal

NAPA — The Doctors Company, a national insurer of physician and medical liability based in Napa, entered into an agreement to acquire American Physicians Capital Inc., a provider of health care liability insurance, for $41.50 per share in cash, or approximately $386 million.

Zap acquires majority stake in Chinese auto maker

SANTA ROSA — Electric vehicle maker Zap will acquire 51 percent of Chinese vehicle manufacturer Jonway Auto for $29.03 million in cash. Zap will also acquire exclusive international distribution rights to Jonway’s automobiles in a stock deal valued at $31.5 million based on $1 per share.

The merger agreement was signed by the boards of directors for both companies on July 2.

Union Bank plots its strategy after Tamalpais buyout

NORTH BAY — San Francisco-based Union Bank, which nearly quadrupled its presence in the North Bay with the recent purchase of troubled Tamalpais Bank in Marin County, has expanded in Sonoma and will add an additional branch in Mill Valley in September.

REIT acquires Napa Valley wine assets from Diageo in $269 million sale-leaseback

NAPA VALLEY — Escondido-based real estate investment trust Realty Income Corp. (NYSE: O) today announced a $269 million sale-leaseback deal with London-based drinks conglomerate Diageo for Sterling Vineyards in Calistoga, Beaulieu Vineyards in Rutherford and 2,000 acres of winegrape vines in Napa Valley.

Environmental Resolutions merges with Cardno

PETALUMA — Irvine-based Environmental Resources Inc., which has a 35-employee local office, merged with Cardno Limited of Australia.

Foley to buy Chalk Hill Winery

SONOMA — Financial services industry giant turned vintner Bill Foley announced today he is acquiring Chalk Hill Winery as well as Fred Furth’s 500-acre estate home.

Sonic Solutions to acquire DivX

NOVATO — Video management solutions provider Sonic Solutions (NASDAQ: SNIC) has agreed to acquire rival digital media company DivX (NASDAQ DIVX) in a stock deal worth about $323 million, it was announced today.

Black Stallion purchased

NAPA – Delicato Family Vineyards purchased family-owned Black Stallion Winery in the Napa Valley.