8 automakers recall over 12M vehicles for Takata air bags

Eight automakers are recalling more than 12 million vehicles in the U.S. to replace potentially dangerous Takata air bag inflators. Documents detailing recalls by Honda, Fiat Chrysler, Toyota, Mazda, Nissan, Subaru, Ferrari and Mitsubishi were posted by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. They’re part of a massive expansion of Takata air bag recalls announced earlier this month. The best way to see if your car is affected is to go to https://vinrcl.safercar.gov/vin/ and key in the vehicle identification number. It may take several weeks for all the newly recalled vehicles to be entered into the databases.

Alcoa files lawsuit against its Australian partner

Alcoa has filed a lawsuit alleging its Australian partner is threatening to scuttle its plans to split into two companies later this year. The suit states that Alumina Limited wants to block the split unless it receives concessions. It was filed Friday in Delaware Chancery Court. Alcoa and Alumina operate a bauxite and alumina mining venture, with Alcoa owning 60 percent and Alumina 40 percent. Alcoa said it is proceeding with plans to separate its mining and smelting business from its fabrication businesses.

Lager law: Attorneys’ guild formed for craft brewers, others

A legal trade group has been formed for the makers of craft beer and other alcoholic beverages, recognizing the rapid rise of the industry and a desire to deal with a thick brew of regulations across the U.S. The Craft Beverage Lawyers Guild launched to represent mainly small, independent breweries, but also wineries and distilleries. The guild’s governing committee consists of about a dozen lawyers specializing in the craft beverage industry, including attorneys working directly for some of the nation’s biggest brewpubs and microbreweries. Industry officials say there are roughly 4,200 U.S. breweries operating today.

Scientific instrument firm Thermo Fisher to buy FEI

Leading scientific instrument company Thermo Fisher Scientific said it will buy Hillsboro, Ore.-based FEI Co. for about $4.2 billion in cash. FEI has more than 3,000 employees globally, and its business, which brought in $930 million in revenue last year, will become part of Thermo Fisher’s analytical instruments division. FEI designs electron microscopes used to study proteins, a task and technology that labequipment giant Thermo Fisher seems eager to expand.

IHeartMedia accused of using one unit like piggy bank

IHeartMedia Inc. shouldn’t be allowed to treat its Clear Channel Outdoor Holdings unit like a piggy bank and siphon off revenues to repay debts, according to a shareholder suit. Gamco Asset Management Inc., which owns almost 10 percent of the outdoor-media subsidiary’s publicly traded shares, accused CCOH’s board of violating a duty to protect its shareholders interests. Gamco complained about an agreement that automatically routes daily CCOH revenues to iHeart. The company considers the suit without merit. IHeart, the largest U.S. radiostation owner, has scrambled to stay current on roughly $20.8 billion in debt accumulated in 2008, when it was acquired by private equity giants Bain Capital Partners LLC and Thomas H. Lee Partners LP.