Thermo Electron taking Spectra-Physics private

WALTHAM – Thermo Electron Corp., the largest maker of measuring instruments for manufacturing and laboratories announced that it was buying shares of laser-optics maker Spectra-Physics, Inc. and taking it private. A spokesperson for Thermo Electron said if all the shares are bought it would result in an $84 million purchase, Bloomberg News reported. It was the last of Thermo Electron’s 23 once publicly traded units to be taken private.