Chiquita Brands International Inc. Friday said it sold its interest in the Cincinnati-based Castellini produce companies to the privately held Castellini group for $45 million.

The Castellini group, one of the largest produce distributors in the United States, markets fruits and vegetables in 16 Midwest states. The size of Chiquita's interest wasn't disclosed.

Chiquita said the sale was part of its effort to focus its business and reduce debt. The purchase includes $21 million in cash and debt assumption. The sale will reduce net sales by $330 million annually and earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization by $8 million, Chiquita said.

Enerfab buys Trinity division

Winton Place-based Enerfab Inc., which builds steel tanks for chemical firms and food and beverage makers, has acquired the assets of Trinity Industries Inc.'s tank head division off Mosteller Road in Sharonville for $3 million.

Enerfab plans to relocate equipment and inventory from the Trinity Brighton Tru-Edge division to its Winton Place plant and hire some of the company's 40 employees to expand its production of tank heads.

3M completes Corning purchase

3M Precision Optics Inc. is the new name of Corning Precision Lens in Union Township, Clermont County.

St. Paul, Minn.-based 3M on Friday completed its previously announced purchase of the leading maker of lens systems for large-screen TVs for $850 million in cash from Corning Inc.

- Staff reports