New York City’s Katzman family, which controls Kaz Inc., maker of Vicks humidifiers and Honeywell air purifiers, is putting the company up for sale, the New York Post reported. The third-generation company, now led by Richard Katzman, invented the electric humidifier in 1926, according to the article. “In 2003, the family sold convertible shares in Kaz to private-equity firm Centre Partners in order to raise cash to buy Honeywell’s air purifier, heater and fan business,” the article said. “Those shares have been accumulating, and sources said Centre now wants to collect,” though Kaz is short of cash and could go bankrupt if it paid Centre what it owes, the Post reported. A group of charities that owns 30% of the company also wants to sell its shares, the article said. The company generates $450 million in revenue. Richard Katzman’s brother John, who founded test-preparation company Princeton Review, sold 1 million shares in the company, reducing his stake in Princeton Review to 20%, the Post article noted. (Source: New York Post, July 2, 2009.)
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