Sabin Piso | Sabin Piso

Celgene Corporation and Juno Therapeutics, Inc. Collaborates for Improved Commercialization of Immunotherapies

July 25, 2015 by Sabin Piso

Celgene Corporation and Juno Therapeutics, Inc. announced a global collaboration for the development and commercialization of immunotherapies. The two companies will create T cell therapeutic strategies for treatments for patients with cancer and autoimmune diseases. Strategies will initially focus on Chimeric Antigen Receptor Technology (CAR-T) and T Cell Receptor (TCR) technologies.

The merger will allow Celgene an option to commercialize Juno programs outside North America and co-promote programs globally and on the other hand, Juno gains option to co-develop and co-promote select Celgene programs

According to the transaction, Celgene will make initial payment of approximately $1 billion which includes the purchase of ~9.1 million shares of Juno stock at $93.00 per share, with potential to increase its stake over time. A joint conference call scheduled today at 5:00 p.m. ET, 2:00 p.m. PT will further inform the public about the details of the merger transaction.

Bob Hugin, Chairman and CEO of Celgene mentioned in a statement, “This transaction strengthens Celgene’s position in the emerging and transformative area of immuno-oncology.” He also added, “Juno has assembled world class experts and built impressive capabilities and technologies in the areas of T cell biology and cellular therapy; we believe this long-term collaboration enhances the potential of both companies to deliver transformational therapies to patients with significant unmet medical needs.”

Hans Bishop, CEO of Juno also mentioned in a statement, “Celgene is the ideal partner for Juno to help us realize the full potential of our science and clinical research while maintaining the independence we, our employees, partners, and investors believe is so critical for true innovation.” He further explained, “This unique collaboration is designed to catalyze and create tremendous ongoing scientific and product development synergy by leveraging each company’s strengths and assets. In addition to its established global presence and commercial reach, Celgene has leading small molecule and protein capabilities that complement Juno’s advanced engineered T cell capabilities. By doing this together, we believe we can more quickly and effectively develop potentially disruptive therapies in this new field of medicine and make them more readily available to patients worldwide.”

Under the terms of the collaboration, Celgene has the option to be the commercialization partner for Juno’s oncology and cell therapy auto-immune product candidates. This includes Juno’s CD19 and CD22 directed CAR-T product candidates. B-Cell Maturation Antigen (BCMA) is excluded as a target in this collaboration.

Upon closing, Juno will receive an upfront payment of approximately $150 million, and in addition Celgene will purchase 9,137,672 shares of Juno’s common stock at $93.00 per share. This transaction has been approved by the boards of directors of both companies. Celgene and Juno currently expect to complete the transaction during the third quarter of 2015, subject to the expiration or termination of applicable waiting periods under all applicable antitrust laws and satisfaction of other usual and customary closing conditions.

About Celgene Corporation

Celgene Corporation is an American biotechnology company that manufactures drug therapies for cancer and inflammatory disorders. It is incorporated in Delaware and headquartered in Summit, New Jersey. The company’s major products are Thalomid (thalidomide), which is for the acute treatment of moderate to severe erythema nodosum leprosum (“ENL”) and Revlimid (lenalidomide), for which the company has received FDA and EMA approval for the treatment of multiple myeloma patients who have received at least one prior therapy. Celgene also receives royalties from Novartis Pharma AG on sales of the entire Ritalin family of drugs, which are widely used to treat Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD). Celgene stock market evolution: http://www.marketwatch.com/investing/stock/celg

About Bob Hugin

Mr. Hugin is the Chief Executive Officer of Celgene since June 2010 and Chairman since June 2011. He was previously President and Chief Operating Officer from May 2006 to June 2010, and was elected by the Board of Directors to serve as a Director in December 2001. Prior to joining Celgene, Mr. Hugin was a Managing Director with J.P. Morgan & Co. Inc. Mr. Hugin received an AB degree from Princeton University in 1976 and an MBA from the University of Virginia in 1985 and served as a United States Marine Corps infantry officer during the intervening period.

About Juno Therapeutics

Juno Therapeutics is a clinical-stage company developing novel cellular immunotherapies based on two distinct and complementary platforms – Chimeric Antigen Receptors (CARs) and T Cell Receptors (TCRs) technologies. Our goal is to revolutionize medicine by re-engaging the body’s immune system to treat cancer. Juno Therapeutics stock market evolution; http://www.marketwatch.com/investing/stock/juno

About Hans Bishop

Hans Bishop is one of the co-founders of Juno Therapeutics and has served as Chief Executive Officer since Juno’s inception. Prior to this, he acted as Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer for Dendreon, a Seattle-based biotechnology company that develops immunotherapy products used in cancer treatment. Mr. Bishop previously held various positions at Glaxo Wellcome and SmithKlineBeecham. He serves on the Board of Directors of Avanir Pharmaceuticals. Mr. Bishop earned a B.S. in chemistry from Brunel University in London.

Novartis Agrees to Purchase Spinifex Pharmaceuticals for $200 Million Upfront

July 25, 2015 by Sabin Piso

Swiss drug maker Novartis AG greatly improved its presence in pain management on Monday by agreeing to purchase U.S.-Australian biotech firm Spinifex Pharmaceuticals This was according to separate statements made by the two companies on Monday. Spinifex representatives said Novartis was paying $200 million upfront. This will allow Spinifex shareholders to get further payments based on clinical development and regulatory milestones. This transaction is expected to close in the second half of this year, pending regulatory approval.

The acquisition will allow Novartis to use Spinifex’s experimental neuropathic pain drug EMA401, which showed positive mid-stage Phase II clinical trial results for post-herpetic neuralgia (PHN). This is a painful condition that develops after a patient had shingles. The results of the clinical trials for EMA401 were published in The Lancet medical journal last year and it mentioned that there were no central nervous system side effects or any serious adverse events after the drug was administered.

Chronic neuropathic pain, from nerve problems, is a relatively common condition. This affects up to 7-8 percent of the adult population. But even with the increased prevalence of this condition, current treatment options are limited and can be problematic.

EMA401 is an amazing pain medication that acts outside the blood-brain barrier and thus it can avoid common side effects such as dizziness or confusion which are very often experienced by patients taking painkillers affecting the central nervous system. Novartis plans to continue the development of EMA401. It also intends to start Phase IIb clinical trials in patients with PHN a condition called painful diabetic neuropathy which affects people with diabetes.

The acquisition highlights the Swiss group’s drive to expand its new medicines at a time of growing investor confidence across the drugs sector.

David Epstein, head of Novartis Pharmaceuticals mentioned in a statement, “Neuropathic pain is a chronic and debilitating condition with high unmet need. EMA401 could provide a novel, differentiated treatment approach.”

Established in 2005 and based in Stamford, Connecticut and Melbourne, Australia, Spinifex is backed by venture capital groups including Novo A/S, Canaan Partners, GBS Venture Partners, Brandon Capital Partners, Uniseed and the University of Queensland.

Novartis on the other hand is in a strong position when it comes to recent advances with new drugs, including the heart failure medicine LCZ696 and a psoriasis injection called Cosentyx.

About Novartis International AG

Novartis International AG is a Swiss multinational pharmaceutical company with headquarters located in Basel, Switzerland. Novartis ranks number one in drug sales (57.9 billion US$) among the world-wide industry in 2013. Novartis manufactures such drugs as clozapine (Clozaril), diclofenac (Voltaren), carbamazepine (Tegretol), valsartan (Diovan) and imatinib mesylate (Gleevec/Glivec). Additional agents include cyclosporin (Neoral/Sandimmun), letrozole (Femara), methylphenidate (Ritalin), terbinafine (Lamisil), and others.

In 1996, Ciba-Geigy merged with Sandoz, and the pharmaceutical and agrochemical divisions of both companies formed Novartis. Other Ciba-Geigy and Sandoz businesses were sold, or like Ciba Specialty Chemicals, spun off as independent companies. The Sandoz brand disappeared for 3 years, but was revived in 2003 when Novartis consolidated its generic drugs businesses into a single subsidiary and named it Sandoz. Novartis divested its agrochemical and genetically modified crops business in 2000 with the spinout of Syngenta in partnership with AstraZeneca, which also divested its agrochemical business. Novartis International AG stock market evolution: http://www.marketwatch.com/investing/stock/nvs

About David Epstein

David Epstein is the Division Head of Novartis Pharmaceuticals at Novartis AG since 2010. He holds a BS Degree in Pharmacy with high honors from Rutgers University College of Pharmacy in 1984 and an MBA in Finance and Marketing from the Columbia University Graduate School of Business in 1987.

About Spinifex Pharmaceuticals

Spinifex is a pioneer in the development of new treatments for chronic pain – a debilitating and often poorly treated condition that affects millions of patients all over the world. The demand for pain drugs continues to increase and this increases the growth of a market that is expected to be worth over US$35 billion by 2010. Spinifex’s lead programs are in neuropathic pain, due to nerve dysfunction. Spinifex is also targeting inflammatory pain such as that caused by osteoarthritis. A significant opportunity exists for new candidates that can deliver improved efficacy, side effect profiles, and time to onset and simplified dosing in chronic pain. EMA401, Spinifex’s lead clinical candidate, is being developed to address this unmet need and has successfully completed a Phase 2 clinical trial in post herpetic neuralgia (PHN), a neuropathic pain which follows herpes zoster (shingles) in some patients. In addition to PHN, EMA401 is being advanced as a potential treatment in other chronic pain indications and Spinifex has an active drug discovery program around its AT₂ receptor antagonist technology.

General Cable Corporation Sells Asia Pacific Operations to MM Logistics Co., Ltd.

July 25, 2015 by Sabin Piso

General Cable Corporation announced a definitive agreement to sell its Asia Pacific operations to MM Logistics Co., Ltd. for cash consideration of approximately $205 million. This transaction includes preliminary estimated net cash of $30 million available at the closing of the purchased businesses and is subject to customary working capital adjustments at the respective closing dates.

General Cable’s Asia Pacific operations consist of businesses in Thailand, China, New Zealand and Australia. The Company expects to close the sale of the operations in the third quarter, subject to customary closing conditions. Proceeds of the sale are expected to be used to reduce outstanding borrowings and pay related fees and expenses.

John E. Welsh, III, Chairman of the Board of General Cable, mentioned in a statement, “We are pleased with the continued execution and positive momentum we have achieved in our divestiture program that we originally announced last October.” He also said, “This agreement to sell our Asia Pacific operations represents another significant step to simplifying our geographic portfolio and reducing organizational complexity. We remain focused on the divestiture process for our businesses in Africa which are advancing according to plan. We are also optimizing our business, reducing costs and driving efficiencies in our core markets in North America, Latin America and Europe as we continue to execute our restructuring program.”

Brian J. Robinson, Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer said, “We previously completed the sale of our interests in Phelps Dodge International Philippines, Inc., Keystone Electric Wire and Cable (China), and Dominion Wire and Cables (Fiji) which together represented approximately $88 million of cash proceeds. Upon completion of the sale of our operations in Thailand, China, New Zealand and Australia for an estimated $205 million of cash consideration, the Company will have generated approximately $293 million of cash proceeds from its divestiture program which is consistent with our previously communicated expectations.”

HSBC is the financial adviser to General Cable on the sale of its Asia Pacific operations (which includes China, Thailand, Australia and New Zealand). Credit Agricole Corporate and Investment Bank acted as co-financial adviser on the sale of General Cable’s operations in China.

About General Cable

General Cable is a company based in Highland Heights, Kentucky. It has offices and manufacturing facilities in several countries, that manufactures and distributes copper, aluminum, and optical fiber cables used for energy, communications, and other industries. General Cable was incorporated in New Jersey in 1927, merging several older companies founded in the 19th century, including Phillips Wire and Safety Cable Company, Rome Wire Company, and Standard Underground Cable. In 2013, General Cable was ranked by Fortune Magazine as the 425th largest U.S. public company with $6,014.3 million in revenue

General Cable produces copper, aluminum, and fiber optic wire and cable products for the energy, construction, industrial, specialty and communications markets. The company’s energy cables include low-, medium- and high-voltage power distribution and power transmission products. General Cable’s application-specific industrial and specialty cables are used in electrical power generation — traditional and renewable — the oil, gas and petrochemical industries; mining; industrial automation; automotive, marine, and transit; and military, aerospace and OEM applications. General Cable sells its products under several brands including Anaconda; GenSPEED; BICC; Brand Rex; Carol; Gepco; NextGen; NSW; PDIC; Phelps Dodge International Corporation; and Silec. General Cable stock market revolution http://www.marketwatch.com/investing/stock/bgc

About John E. Welsh III

Mr. John E. Welsh III is Chairman of the Board for General Cable Corp. since 2001. He is also the President of Avalon Capital Partners, LLC and Managing Director of CIP Management LLC. He received a BS in Economics and Finance from Lehigh University and an MBA in Finance from the Wharton School of Business, University of Pennsylvania.

About MM Logistics

MM Logistics’ mission is to provide real added value for its principals, customers and employees, MM Logistics & MML Transport concentrates on premium quality of services in the specific sector of logistic support in the oilfield business. MM Logistics & MML Transport believes strongly in the concept of global cooperation and in educating and stimulating Thai nationals to take part in this process and to give them the opportunity to equal, grow and prosper.

MM Logistics is one of MMSVS Group company. It was established in 1999. And most of its employee used to provide Customs Clearance and Transport Contract to support PTTEP Bongkot Operations from 1990 to mid-1998. MM Logistics was ISO9001:2000 certified since 2002. It has long experience in providing Customs Clearance, Ship Clearance, Transportation, Lifting Equipment Service, Warehouse Rental and Cargo Forwarding Service.

About Brian J. Robinson

Mr. Brian J. Robinson has been the Chief Financial Officer of General Cable Corp. He is also the Chief Financial Officer, Executive Vice President and Treasurer at Alcan Products Corporation. Mr. Robinson holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Accounting from the University of Dayton and received his Certified Public Accountant certification in 1993.

GigaMedia Has Acquired 70% Interest in Strawberry Cosmetics Holding Limited for US$93.1 Million

July 21, 2015 by Sabin Piso

GigaMedia announced that it has entered into a share purchase agreement to acquire a 70% equity interest in Strawberry Cosmetics Holding Limited. Strawberry Cosmetics is a global cosmetics e-commerce company. The total consideration payable by the Company for the acquisition is approximately US$93.1 million.

Strawberry Cosmetics is an established online distribution and retail platform of beauty products. The company owns and operates the website “StrawberryNET.com” and the site’s related mobile application. Strawberry Cosmetics has a comprehensive sales and distribution network with customers in all the major countries all over the world.

StrawberryNET.com is translated into 38 languages, and has a customer base of over 3 million customers worldwide. It also has also established a global sourcing network of a comprehensive range of beauty products with more than 700 brands and 30,000 stock keeping units.

Consolidated sales revenues of Strawberry Cosmetics as well as its subsidiaries in the recent four years have been over US$200 million per year. The revenue contribution is mainly from its sales in the Oceania, United States and European markets. The Asian market on the other hand is still in the process of growth. Strawberry Cosmetics will benefit from the Company’s existing marketing resources for further expanding its Asian market. It will also benefit from the GigaMedia’s technology expertise for enhancing its future product strategy.

Strawberry Cosmetics is an established and proven e-commerce platform with existing customer base. The transaction would help diversify the Company’s overall business risks and improve the Company’s business portfolio in the Internet and technology sector. This will also allow the Company to tap into the fast growing beauty and cosmetics e-commerce market.

GigaMedia sees potential significant synergies with Strawberry Cosmetics from leveraging the its expertise in information technology, online and offline marketing, as well as its local connections in various Asian countries including China, Japan and South Korea. The completion of the Transaction is subject to the Company’s shareholders’ approval at an extraordinary general meeting of shareholders to be held on August 5, 2015 and other customary conditions. The Transaction is expected to be completed in the third quarter of 2015.

About GigaMedia Limited

GigaMedia Limited is a major provider of online entertainment software and services. Headquartered in Taipei, GigaMedia is a holding company with a diversified portfolio of businesses providing online games and cloud computing services.

GigaMedia develop software for online entertainment services, including the global online gaming market. GigaMedia’s FunTown game portal is a leading Asian casual games portal and the world’s largest online Mahjong game site in terms of revenue. FunTown generates revenues through access fees and also through the sales of various in-game items. It was founded in 1998 by the Acer computer company. They are based in Greater China, with offices in Shanghai, Hong Kong, and Taiwan. GigaMedia also operate the EverestPoker.com poker site.

GigaMedia’s online games business develops and operates a suite of games in Taiwan and Hong Kong, with focus on extending Giga’s online games platform to Web/mobile games, the fastest growing segment of online games, and supporting cross-platform play with strong self-development capabilities. On the other hand, the company’s cloud computing business is focused on providing SMEs in Greater China with critical communications services and IT solutions that increase flexibility, efficiency and competitiveness.

GigaMedia was incorporated in September 1999 as a company limited by shares organized under the laws of the Republic of Singapore, and completed an initial public offering of its shares on NASDAQ on February 24, 2000. GigaMedia stock market evolution: http://www.marketwatch.com/investing/stock/gigm

About Strawberry Ltd.

Strawberry Ltd. Is a skin care company that provides skincare, makeup and fragrance products online. It also provides hair care products, women’s and men’s fragrances, cosmetics, perfumes and colognes worldwide. Strawberry Ltd. was founded in 1996 and is based in Shau Kei Wan, Hong Kong. With over 10 years in business and backed by a dedicated team devoted to improving your shopping experience, we’re proud to call ourselves “The Fresh Cosmetic Company” because we’re innovative and modern with a determination to become the leader in the future of ‘E’Tailing. The company is the first truly global offer of branded products at a discounted price and they believe in providing a hassle-free environment to purchase favorite skincare, makeup and fragrances at prices that customers can easily afford. With over 30,000 items from over 750 brands, it has the largest discount range available in the world of Make Up, Skincare and Fragrance, all at hugely discounted prices

All of Strawberry Cosmetics products are fresh and genuine brand items and their special offers are very irresistible. Strawberry Cosmetics is a totally international company that purchases all genuine products duty free and delivers anywhere in the world. It has hundreds of thousands of satisfied customers in over 200 countries worldwide.

Sabra Health Care REIT Purchases Four Transitional Care Facilities in Maryland

July 20, 2015 by Sabin Piso

Sabra Health Care REIT has agreed to purchase a portfolio of four transitional care facilities located in Maryland. Four skilled nursing facilities that specialize in transitional care and medically complex post-surgical, ventilator and dialysis patients are included in the transactions, collectively called “NMS Portfolio,” located in Maryland for $234 million.

Upon completion of the acquisition, Sabra and the current operator will have a triple-net master lease agreement on three of the facilities and a triple-net lease agreement on the fourth facility which is encumbered by a HUD loan. Each of the master lease and the lease for the fourth facility will have an initial term of 15 years with two 10-year renewal options and annual rent escalators equal to the greater of 2.50% or CPI, but not to exceed 2.75%.

The leases are collectively expected to create an annual lease revenue determined in accordance with GAAP of $24.5 million and an initial yield on cash rent of 8.75%. Closing on the acquisition of three of the facilities, with an allocated purchase price of $175.2 million, is expected to occur on or before June 30, 2015. The fourth facility is expected to close upon the assumption of an existing $10.8 million HUD loan having an interest rate of 5.60% per annum.

The closing of the acquisition of the NMS Portfolio is subject to customary conditions, including the satisfactory completion by Sabra of its due diligence and, as to the fourth facility, the HUD loan assumption. In addition to the HUD loan assumption, Sabra expects to fund the remainder of the acquisition with available cash and proceeds from their revolving credit facility.

Rick Matros, CEO and Chairman, mentioned in a statement, “The Canadian acquisition we recently announced reduced our skilled nursing exposure to approximately 50%, opening up the opportunity for us to look more seriously at skilled nursing acquisitions. The NMS Portfolio will only increase that exposure to 55.9%, and our intent is to maintain our skilled nursing exposure at or around 50%. We had first looked at this portfolio a few years ago and were very impressed with the team. Their focus was and is on short stay post-surgical patients and longer term complex medical patients requiring ventilator care and other complex conditions. They’ve continued to build on that capability since we were first introduced to them. The State of Maryland, like numerous other states, has specialized Medicaid rates for complex medical patients that approximate Medicare rates so the operating team can access Medicare, Managed Care and non-traditional Medicaid reimbursement sources for these services. Other operators in our portfolio do the same in select states.”

Mr. Matros also added, “Currently, there is a small percentage of operators in the skilled nursing sector that have strategically moved their model in this direction which we believe to be the future of the business. Over time that number will increase. We are fortunate to have quite a few operators in our portfolio whose business model reflects ‘the new world order’ including the Vision portfolio we acquired in the 4th quarter of 2014. Genesis is moving in that direction with their PowerBack model. Our focus is to populate our skilled nursing portfolio with more of this higher end model.”

Delhaize Group and Royal Ahold N.V. Combine to Create Ahold Delhaize

July 20, 2015 by Sabin Piso

Delhaize Group and Royal Ahold N.V. (Ahold) today announced that they have entered into an agreement to merge. The combined company will be named Ahold Delhaize and this will have a portfolio of trusted local brands. Ahold Delhaize will have more than 375,000 associates serving more than 50 million customers weekly in the United States and Europe.

Because of the amazing advantages from each of the two companies, the combined company will have enhanced scale across regions and will have leading market retail offerings. Ahold Delhaize will also benefit from the strong heritage and values of both companies.

Jan Hommen, Chairman of Ahold, and Mats Jansson, Chairman of Delhaize, said: “This is a true merger of equals, combining two highly complementary businesses to create a world-leading food retailer. The transaction delivers a compelling value proposition for our shareholders, a superior offering for our customers and attractive opportunities for our associates.”

Frans Muller, CEO of Delhaize, said: “We believe that the proposed merger of Ahold and Delhaize will create significant value for all our stakeholders. Supported by our talented and committed associates, Ahold Delhaize aims to increase relevance in its local communities by improving the value proposition for its customers through assortment innovation and merchandising, a better shopping experience both in stores and online, investments in value, and new store growth. We look forward to working closely with the Ahold team to implement a smooth integration process and realize the targeted synergies.”

Dick Boer, CEO of Ahold, said: “The proposed merger with Delhaize is an exciting opportunity to create an even stronger and more innovative retail leader for our customers, associates and shareholders worldwide. With extraordinary reach, diverse products and formats, and great people, we are bringing together two world-class organizations to deliver even more for the communities we serve. Our companies share common values, proud histories rooted in family entrepreneurship, and businesses that complement each other well. We look forward to working together to reach new levels of service and success.”

The merger will take place through a cross-border legal merger of Delhaize into Ahold. Included in the transaction, Delhaize shareholders will receive 4.75 Ahold ordinary shares for each Delhaize ordinary share. Ahold will terminate its ongoing share buyback program; €1 billion will be returned to Ahold shareholders via a capital return and a reverse stock split prior to completion of the transaction

Ahold Delhaize will be listed on the Amsterdam Stock Exchange and the Brussels Stock Exchange. Delhaize’s ADS program will be terminated at completion and Delhaize ADS holders will have the choice to receive either Ahold ADRs under the current Ahold OTC ADRs program or Ahold Delhaize ordinary shares. Pending shareholder approvals and regulatory clearance, as well as other customary conditions, the deal is expected to complete mid-2016

About Delhaize

Delhaize Group is a food retailer headquartered in Anderlecht, Brussels, Belgium which operates in seven countries and on three continents. The principal activity of Delhaize Group is the operation of supermarkets. In June 24, 2015, Delhaize Group reached an agreement with Royal Ahold to merge. Forming a Parent Company of Ahold Delhaize. Delhaize stock market evolution: http://www.marketwatch.com/investing/stock/deg

About Mats Jansson

Mr. Jansson has served as Chairman of the Board of Directors of Delhaize since May 24, 2012. He also previously served as a director of Axfood, Mekonomen, Swedish Match, Hufvudstaden and Danske Bank. Mr. Jansson studied economical history and sociology at the University of Örebro.

About Frans Muller

Mr. Muller is President and CEO of Delhaize Group since November 8, 2013. In 1988, he joined KLM Cargo where he served in various management and executive positions in Amsterdam, Frankfurt, and Vienna, Singapore. Muller holds a Master of Business Economics from the Erasmus University, Rotterdam (The Netherlands).

About Ahold

Koninklijke Ahold N.V. is a Dutch international retailer based in Zaandam, The Netherlands. Ahold is an AEX-listed company on NYSE Euronext Amsterdam. The company started in 1887, with the founding of an Albert Heijn grocery store in Oostzaan, The Netherlands. The grocery chain expanded through the first half of the 20th century, and went public in 1948. In June 24, 2015, Delhaize Group reached an agreement with Royal Ahold to merge. Forming a Parent Company of Ahold Delhaize. Ahold stock market evolution: http://www.bloomberg.com/quote/AH:NA0

About Jan Hommen

Jan Hommen is the Chairman of the Selection and Appointment Committee of Ahold. He was appointed to the Supervisory Board at the General Meeting of Shareholders on April 2013. He is the former CEO of ING Group N.V., former CFO and vice chairman of the board of management of Royal Philips Electronics N.V. and former CFO of Aluminum Company of America.

About Dick Boer

Mr. Dick Boer has been the Chief Executive Officer of Koninklijke Ahold N.V since March 1, 2011 and serves as its President. Mr. Boer serves as the Chairman of Management Board and President of Koninklijke Ahold N.V. He studied Executive MBA at program IBO (Zeist).

3M Acquires Capital Safety from KKR for $2.5 Billion

July 20, 2015 by Sabin Piso

3M and Capital Safety from KKR have entered into a definitive agreement. 3M acquires Capital Safety and this acquisition has a total enterprise value of $2.5 billion, including the assumption of approximately $0.7 billion of debt.

Capital Safety is a leading provider of fall protection equipment in the world. This is one of the fastest-growing safety categories in global personal protective equipment industry. The personal protective equipment industry is very important to 3M simply because the demand for personal protective equipment is rapidly growing.

Some of the personal safety products and solutions that are developed by Capital Safety include harnesses, lanyards, self-retracting lifelines and engineered systems sold under well-known global brands DBI-SALA and PROTECTA.

On the other hand, 3M’s Personal Safety business which is a part of 3M’s Safety and Graphics Business Group is provider of respiratory and hearing protection solutions that help improve the safety and security of workers. Aside from these there are also reflective materials for high-visibility apparel, protective clothing and eyewear.

Inge G. Thulin, 3M chairman, president and chief executive officer, mentioned in a statement “Personal safety is a large and strategically important growth business in the 3M portfolio.” He said. “The acquisition of Capital Safety bolsters our personal safety platform and will build on our fundamental strengths in technology, manufacturing, global capabilities and brand.”

Pete Stavros, member of KKR and head of the Industrials team, mentioned in a statement “We have had an absolutely fantastic partnership with the management and employees of Capital Safety. Over the past three years, the company has driven impressive top-line growth, broadened its geographic presence and further optimized its operations. Today, Capital Safety is a clear global leader in fall protection.” He said, “3M is a perfect home for a company and team that is so deeply committed to safety.”

Stephen Oswald, chief executive officer, Capital Safety, said “This is a great strategic fit and provides Capital Safety and its employees with a strong platform for future growth. Each company also highly values innovation and this will enable us to drive further product development and provide a broader array of solutions to both Capital Safety and 3M customers.”

3M estimates the acquisition to be $0.04 dilutive to earnings in the first 12 months following completion of the transaction. This excludes purchase accounting adjustments and anticipated one-time expenses related to the transaction and integration, 3M estimates the acquisition to be $0.12 accretive to earnings over the same period. The effective enterprise value multiple is approximately 14 times annual adjusted EBITDA for the first 12 months following the completion of the transaction.

The transaction is expected to close in the third quarter, subject to customary closing conditions and regulatory approvals. 3M will finance the transaction with existing cash, a portion of which will come from outside the U.S.

About 3M

The 3M Company, formerly known as the Minnesota Mining and Manufacturing Company, is an American multinational conglomerate corporation with headquarters in St. Paul, Minnesota. 3M employs 88,000 people worldwide and produces more than 55,000 products, including: adhesives, abrasives, laminates, passive fire protection, dental and orthodontic products, electronic materials, medical products, car-care products, electronic circuits, and optical films. 3M has operations in more than 65 countries including 29 international companies with manufacturing operations and 35 companies with laboratories. 3M stock market evolution: http://www.marketwatch.com/investing/stock/mmm

About Capital Safety

Capital Safety is a manufacturer of fall protection, confined space, and rescue equipment for oil and gas, construction, utilities, wind energy, transportation, telecommunication, mining, and general industries. Capital Safety also provides in-house and on-site fall protection and rescue training services. It partners with insurance providers to hold 4-hour to 5-day safety training classes. Capital Safety is based in Bloomington, Minnesota. Capital Safety stock market evolution http://finance.yahoo.com/q?s=KKR

About Inge Thulin

Mr. Inge Thulin is the Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer of 3M Company. He holds an MBA in Economics and Marketing from Gothenburg University / IHM Business School, Gothenburg, Sweden School of Economics and Commercial Law in 1978. He received a DHIM degree in Marketing and Strategy from Gothenburg University’s IHM Business School in Gothenburg, Sweden.

About Stephen G. Oswald

Mr. Stephen G. Oswald has been Chief Executive Officer of Capital Safety, Inc. Since March 201, Mr. Oswald oversees Capital Safety’s global operations, which includes 20 manufacturing, distribution and training facilities worldwide. Mr. Oswald holds an MBA from the University of Chicago. He also holds a Master’s degree in Industrial Engineering from the University of Cincinnati and a Bachelor’s Degree in Industrial Engineering from Polytechnic University in Brooklyn, New York. He is a graduate of GE’s Manufacturing Management Program.

About Pete Stavros

Pete Stavros is a Partner, Head of the Industrials investment team, and member of the Investment Committee within KKR’s Private Equity platform in the Americas. He holds an A.B. and B.S., magna cum laude, from Duke University and an M.B.A. with high distinction, Baker Scholar, from Harvard Business School. Mr. Stavros is a member of the Board of Visitors at the Fuqua School of Business at Duke University.

Home Properties To Be Acquired by Affiliate of Lone Star Funds for $7.6 Billion

July 14, 2015 by Sabin Piso

Home Properties announced that it has entered into a definitive agreement to be acquired by an affiliate of Lone Star Funds. This transaction was valued at approximately $7.6 billion and this includes Home Properties existing debt. Upon completion of the transaction, Home Properties will become a privately held company.

Lone Star Funds will purchase all of the outstanding common stock of Home Properties for $75.23 per share in an all-cash transaction. The offer price represents a premium of approximately 9% over Home Properties’ unaffected closing stock price on April 24, 2015, the last trading day prior to media reports on a potential transaction, and a premium of approximately 11% over the average closing price of Home Properties’ common stock for the 60 days ended April 24, 2015.

Edward J. Pettinella, President and Chief Executive Officer of Home Properties, mentioned in an interview: “The Home Properties team has built a great company, as reflected by our strong platform, unique assets, and differentiated business strategy.” He added, “We believe this transaction with Lone Star Funds provides our stockholders with compelling value for their investment, consistent with our long-term strategy.”

Hugh J. Ward III, Co-Head of Real Estate Investments at Lone Star Funds, added, “We are pleased to enter into an agreement to acquire Home Properties and look forward to working with their talented team to complete this transaction and integrate the Company’s portfolio into Lone Star Funds’ existing multifamily portfolio. This is Lone Star Funds’ second large, recent apartment purchase following the 2014 acquisition of a 64 property, 20,439 unit portfolio, and is consistent with our strategy of buying primarily Class B apartments, including workforce housing, located in in-fill markets with strong underlying fundamentals.”

Before the Home Properties Merger will be enacted and pursuant to the Merger Agreement, Lone Star Funds will acquire all of the Home Properties OP Units that are not owned by Home Properties and have not been exchanged as described above pursuant to a merger of Home Properties OP with a wholly owned subsidiary of Lone Star Funds. In connection with the OP Merger, holders of Home Properties OP Units that have not exchanged OP Units as described above will receive $75.23 per unit in cash upon the closing of the OP Merger.

Tom Toomey, President and Chief Executive Officer of UDR, also mentioned, “We appreciate Home Properties and Lone Star Funds reaching out to create an opportunity for UDR to offer the Home Properties OP Unitholders an alternative that will allow them to continue to participate in the strong multifamily space and continued growth in UDR.”

Approvals, Anticipated Closing The Board of Directors of Home Properties have unanimously approved the merger agreement and have recommended approval of the Home Properties Merger by the Home Properties stockholders and of the Home Properties OP Merger by the Home Properties OP unitholders.

The transaction is expected to close during the fourth quarter of 2015, subject to the approval of the Home Properties Merger by the Home Properties stockholders and the approval of the Home Properties OP Merger by the Home Properties OP unitholders.

About Home Properties

Home Properties, Inc. is a publicly traded apartment real estate investment trust that owns, operates, develops, acquires and rehabilitates apartment communities primarily in selected Northeast and Mid-Atlantic markets. It operates over 38,000 apartment units. The company is headquartered in Rochester, New York. Home Properties, Inc. stock market evolution http://www.marketwatch.com/investing/stock/hme

About Edward Pettinella

Mr. Edward J. Pettinella is President, Chief Executive Officer, Director of Home Properties Inc., since January 1, 2004. He is also a Director. He joined the Company in 2001 as an Executive Vice President and Director. He is also a Board member of Rochester Business Alliance, National Multi Housing Council and Syracuse University, as well as a member of ULI and NAREIT. Mr. Pettinella is a graduate of the State University of New York at Geneseo and holds a Masters in Business Administration degree in Finance from Syracuse University.

About Lone Star Funds

Lone Star Funds is a private equity firm that invests in distressed assets both in the United States and internationally. The founder established its first fund in 1995 (under a different name) and Lone Star has to date organized fifteen private equity funds with total capital commitments since inception of over $59 billion (as of June 2015). Lone Star’s investors include corporate and public pension funds, sovereign wealth funds, university endowments, foundations, fund of funds and high-net-worth individuals. Lone Star Funds has affiliate offices in North America, Europe and Japan.

About Hugh J. Ward III

Hugh J. Ward III is the Senior Managing Director and Co-Head of Real Estate Investments at Lone Star Funds

Sequential Brands Acquires All Outstanding Shares of Martha Stewart Living Omnimedia, Inc.

July 14, 2015 by Sabin Piso

Sequential Brands has signed a definitive merger agreement to acquire 100% of the outstanding shares of Martha Stewart Living Omnimedia, Inc. The Merger improves Sequential’s platform, which is expected to generate nearly $3.75 billion in annual global retail sales from a combined categories of consumer brands.

The terms of the merger agreement have been approved by the boards of directors of both companies. It states that Martha Stewart will continue to be an integral part of the brand that she founded and will serve as Chief Creative Officer. Ms. Stewart will become a significant stockholder of the new public holding company of Sequential and MSLO and will be nominated to serve on its board of directors as of the closing.

Founder Martha Stewart mentioned in a statement “This is a transformational merger for Martha Stewart Living Omnimedia, the company I founded in 1997. This merger is positioned to further the growth and expansion of the unique Martha home and lifestyle brand. In 1991, I started a magazine, Martha Stewart Living, which was the first of its kind. Out of our groundbreaking editorial content grew an influential brand which quickly evolved into other media, merchandising and digital platforms and products which have helped consumers, worldwide, live better, more fulfilling lives.” She also said, “With our media business operations now successfully transitioned to Meredith, we now have the opportunity to tap into Sequential’s expertise and resources to expand our merchandising business both domestically and abroad. The Sequential team is smart, hardworking, and understands the power and limitless opportunity of the Martha Stewart brand and its formidable design, editorial and marketing teams. I’m looking forward to working with them.”

Yehuda Shmidman, CEO of Sequential, commented, “Martha Stewart’s impact around the world is staggering, and the empire she founded is unmatched in its industry. In fact, research shows that the Martha Stewart brand has 96% awareness among women in the U.S. and 7 out of 10 women say that Martha has and does influence the way they think about, organize, and manage their homes. Looking ahead, we believe that we can leverage our global activation platform at Sequential in partnership with Martha and her team to develop the next chapter of growth for the Martha Stewart brand. We are honored to have this opportunity and thrilled to be working together with Martha Stewart.”

Martha Stewart Living Omnimedia is a leading provider of the earliest versions of “how-to” information. The company has also inspired consumers with unique lifestyle content and high-quality products. MSLO has approximately 100 million consumers across all media platforms each month and has a growing retail presence in thousands of locations with leading retailers such as Macy’s, The Home Depot, PetSmart, Michaels and Staples. It has earned multiple national magazine awards, 19 Emmys, 4 James Beard Awards, several Webby Awards and more.

William Sweedler, Chairman of Sequential, stated, “This transformational acquisition marks an incredible milestone for Sequential as it not only delivers on the vision we put in place when we founded Sequential, but also sets the stage for the Company’s next phase of growth. Once we close, our run rate will surpass our published three year financial plan, and we will be set up to publish a new three year financial plan that is more than double our current goals for both revenue and adjusted EBITDA.” Mr. Sweedler added, “I look forward to Martha Stewart joining our Board of Directors and I’m excited for our future.”

Dan Dienst, Chief Executive Officer of MSLO also mentioned, “I am truly proud of the hard work that has been done by the team at MSLO, particularly over the past 18 months, to take our iconic, peerless American brand that Martha Stewart has built into its next phase of growth.” He also said, “Against the backdrop of Martha’s vision, an invigorated, strong and competitive MSLO and the new partnership with Sequential and its leadership team, I am excited to help execute on this next chapter of shareholder wealth creation.”

The acquisition, which is expected to close in the second half of 2015 is subject to customary closing conditions and approval by the holders of a majority of the MSLO outstanding common stock not owned directly or indirectly by Martha Stewart or her affiliates. The Company will provide further details on plans for the newly acquired family of brands and financial impact associated with today’s announcement when the transaction is completed.

About Sequential Brands Group, Inc.

Sequential Brands Group, Inc. owns, promotes, markets, and licenses a portfolio of consumer brands to retailers, wholesalers, and distributors in the United States and internationally. It licenses brands in the apparel, footwear, eyewear, and fashion accessories, including Avia, AND1, Ellen Tracy, Revo, Caribbean Joe, DVS, and The Franklin Mint. Sequential Brands Group, Inc. was incorporated in 1982 and is headquartered in New York, New York. Sequential Brands Group stock market evolution: https://finance.yahoo.com/q/pr?s=SQBG+Profile

About Yehuda R. Shmidman

Yehuda R. Shmidman is the President at SBG Universe Brands, LLC. He has been the Chief Executive Officer of Sequential Brands Group, Inc. since November 2012. He has been named in the “40 Under 40” list by Crain’s New York. He has a Bachelor’s Degree in Political Science from Yeshiva University.

About William Sweedler

Mr. William Sweedler serves as the Chairman of the Board of Sequential Brands Group, Inc. Mr. Sweedler was appointed to the Board of Directors in connection with financing transaction

About Martha Stewart Living Omnimedia Inc.

Martha Stewart Living Omnimedia Inc. is a diversified media and merchandising company founded by Martha Stewart. It is organized into four business segments: Publishing, Internet, Broadcasting media platforms, and Merchandising product lines. MSLO’s business holdings include a variety of print publications, television and radio programming, and e-commerce websites. MSLO stock market evolution http://www.marketwatch.com/investing/stock/mso

About Martha Stewart

Martha Helen Stewart is an American businesswoman, writer, and television personality. As founder of Martha Stewart Living Omnimedia, she has gained success through a variety of business ventures, encompassing publishing, broadcasting, merchandising, and electronic commerce. She has written numerous bestselling books and hosted two long-running syndicated television shows, Martha, which ran from 2005 to 2012, and Martha Stewart Living, which ran from 1993 to 2005.

About Daniel W. Dienst

Daniel Dienst has been the Chief Executive Officer of Martha Stewart Living Omnimedia Inc. since October 2013. He is a graduate of Washington University and received a J.D. from The Brooklyn Law School.

Medtronic Acquires CardioInsight Technologies, Inc. to Become Part of Medtronic Atrial Fibrillation Solutions

July 13, 2015 by Sabin Piso

Medtronic announced that it has acquired CardioInsight Technologies, Inc., a privately-held, medical device company based in Cleveland that has developed a unique strategy to improve the mapping of electrical disorders of the heart. CardioInsight will now become a part of the Medtronic Atrial Fibrillation Solutions business in the Cardiac Rhythm and Heart Failure division.

Medtronic has finished its acquisition of CardioInsight on a debt-free basis in a transaction worth approximately $93 million, net of CardioInsight’s cash of $7 million, plus performance-based contingent consideration completed post-closing. The transaction includes an initial cash payment of $75 million and retirement of a Medtronic loan outstanding to CardioInsight in the amount of $25 million. Other details about the acquisition were not disclosed

Reggie Groves, vice president and general manager of the AF Solutions business, mentioned in a statement: “This investment aligns with our goal to deliver breakthrough technologies for patients who have atrial fibrillation and other arrhythmias.” He said “CardioInsight will broaden and enhance the existing AF Solutions program at Medtronic, and will provide meaningful clinical and economic solutions for patients, hospitals, physicians and payers.”

The CardioInsight ECVUE(TM) system is the company’s latest technology that non-invasively generates images of the electrical activity of the heart through the use of body surface electrical data with 3-dimensional (3-D) anatomical data. The 3-D maps gathered are reconstructed along with other useful measures of cardiac electrical activity. The ECVUE system has been used with more than 1,400 patients in Europe and the U.S. It has been widely acclaimed and in fact it was also featured in more than 120 peer reviewed journals and presentations.

Medtronic will include revenue from the CardioInsight product line as part of the Cardiac Rhythm and Heart Failure division within the Cardiac and Vascular Group. This acquisition is deemed to meet Medtronic’s long-term financial metrics, and the annualized earnings impact of this acquisition is not expected to be material. Along with leading clinicians, researchers and scientists worldwide, Medtronic offers the broadest range of innovative medical technology for the treatment of cardiovascular disease and cardiac arrhythmias.

About Medtronic

Medtronic plc is an Irish company with its principal executive office located in Ireland and its operational headquarters is in suburban Minneapolis, Minnesota. It is the world’s third largest medical device company. In 2015, at the time of its acquisition of Covidien, Medtronic’s market cap was about $100 billion while the market cap for CRH, Ireland’s largest indigenous business, was $18.4 billion. Medtronic operates in more than 140 countries. The company employs more than 85,000 people and has more than 53,000 patents

Medtronic was founded in 1949 in northeast Minneapolis by Earl Bakken and his brother-in-law Palmer Hermundslie as a medical equipment repair shop. They originally planned on selling basketball pumps due to a shortage in the Midwest in the 20th century. In June 2014, Medtronic announced its acquisition of Covidien, PLC of Ireland for $42.9 billion. Following the acquisition, Medtronic ceased to be a Minnesota-based company, officially renamed Medtronic PLC and headquartered in low-tax Ireland. Medtronic stock market evolution http://www.marketwatch.com/investing/stock/mdt.

About CardioInsight

CardioInsight is a Cleveland, Ohio based medical device company that has developed a non-invasive advanced cardiac mapping technology to map electrical disorders of the heart. The technology uses body surface electrical data with heart and torso anatomy to provide single beat epicardial 3D electroanatomic maps of the heart. The technology was initially developed by Yoram Rudy, Ph.D. while he was Director of Cardiac Bioelectricity Research at Case Western Reserve University in Cleveland, Ohio. CardioInsight ECVUE™ system is the first, non-invasive mapping system to provide simultaneous, 3D, multi-chamber mapping and localization of cardiac arrhythmia mechanisms. It uses a proprietary, single-use, disposable multi-sensor “vest” to capture electrical signals from the body surface, and sophisticated software to compute and visualize epicardial 3D electroanatomic maps and virtual electrograms from the heart. This system is the first advanced mapping technology to non-invasively generate 3D electrical maps of the heart in a single beat, thus providing the unique opportunity to enable advanced cardiac mapping.

About Reggie Groves

Reggie Groves is the Vice President and General Manager at Medtronic. Through Mr. Groves, Medtronic has expanded global entry plans for the Launch/re-launch products in over 97 countries globally, including engaging key industry thought leaders, working with the government to avoid a local clinical trial, and designing a go-to-market plan which resulted in exceeding plan performance. Prior to being the VP and GM, Mr. Groves was the Vice President for Quality and Regulatory and Vice President and General Manager for Patient Management. Before he worked for Medtronics, he was Global Managing Partner for Scient, Inc. Mr. Groves earned his Master of Business Administration at Harvard Business School and Bachelor’s degree, Pharmacy at the University of Florida.

Can–Fite BioPharma Announces OphthaliX’s Acquisition of Improved Vision Systems Ltd.

July 9, 2015 by Sabin Piso

Can-Fite BioPharma has announced that its subsidiary, OphthaliX has signed a definitive agreement to purchase Improved Vision Systems Ltd. an Israel-based company. According to the agreement OphthaliX will issue to the sellers and option holders of I.V.S. at the initial closing such number of shares of OphthaliX common stock and OphthaliX options which are equal to an aggregate of approximately 14% of the issued and outstanding capital stock of OphthaliX on a fully diluted basis. This is immediately following the initial closing.

According to the transaction, OphthaliX has agreed to issue to the sellers and option holders of I.V.S. such number of shares of OphthaliX common stock and OphthaliX options which is also equal to an aggregate of approximately 11% of the issued and outstanding capital stock of OphthaliX on a fully diluted basis upon the attainment of certain milestones.

The closing of the acquisition is subject to certain closing conditions including the raising of capital by OphthaliX and an up-listing of OphthaliX to a national securities exchange in the United States. No shares of OphthaliX’s parent company, Can-Fite BioPharma, are included in this acquisition transaction.

Improved Vision Systems creates breakthrough medical device technologies that aims to improve sight, diagnose and offer therapy for a variety of ocular diseases such as glaucoma, age related macular degeneration (AMD), diabetic retinopathy and oculo-motor pathologies. The company is also developing an indoor eye tracking solution, attachable to any screen including TVs, computers, tablets, etc., that manipulates the image shown to the user in such a way as to best compensate for such user’s specific clinical impairment. It is also currently developing a goggles-based mobile device which generates high definition displays that are manipulated and moved according to the device’s ability to track each eye individually. All these new technologies aim to restore mobility and independence to visually impaired people.

Upon initial closing, I.V.S. executives Ran Yam and Dan Oz will join OphthaliX’s Board of Directors. Ran Yam will be appointed Chief Executive Officer of OphthaliX and Dan Oz Chief Technology Officer.

Dr. Pnina Fishman, Can-Fite and OphthaliX CEO, mentioned in a statement “We are thrilled to take this important step towards acquiring I.V.S and are excited about the potential of this acquisition as we pursue our strategy of re-positioning OphthaliX as a company that addresses substantial ophthalmologic markets through both medical devices and pharmaceutical products. We welcome the I.V.S. team to OphthaliX.”

Ran Yam, I.V.S. CEO, also mentioned in a statement “There are significant synergies between OphthaliX and I.V.S. and we believe that our combined pharmaceutical and medical device development program presents a compelling opportunity. The visions of the OphthaliX team and I.V.S. team are shared and we look forward to working together.”

About Can – Fite

Can-Fite has a number of drugs in various stages of research and development. These drugs are synthetic, highly specific agonists and an allosteric modulator, all targets the A3 adenosine receptor. All drugs are orally bioavailable with an excellent safety profile. Can – Fite stock market evolution http://www.marketwatch.com/investing/stock/canf

About OphthaliX Inc.

OphthaliX Inc. is an advanced clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company that is focused on developing therapeutic treatments for the treatment of ophthalmic disorders. OphthaliX is committed to continuing its development program for its drug candidate CF101, a neuro-protective and anti-inflammatory drug, for the treatment of glaucoma. Patients are currently enrolled for the second segment of the Phase II study and are treated orally with CF101. OphthaliX Inc. stock market evolution http://www.marketwatch.com/investing/stock/opli

About Improved Vision Systems

Improved Vision Systems Ltd. develops medical device technologies to improve sight and diagnose and provide therapies for ocular diseases such as glaucoma, age related macular degeneration (AMD), diabetic retinopathy and oculo-motor pathologies. The company has headquarters in Even Yehuda, Israel.

About Ran Yam

Ran Yam is the CEO of Improved Vision Systems (IVS). He was VP of R&D at Visionix before working for IVS. He was also head of mechanical department and project manager at Negevtech, Product R&D manager at Trellis Photonics and Mechanics Team Leader at ELOP. Mr. Yam received his education from the Technion – Israel Institute of Technology.

About Pnina Fishman, Ph. D.

Professor Fishman is the founder of Can Fite. She was previously a professor of Life Sciences and head of the Laboratory of Clinical and Tumor Immunology at the Felsenstein Medical Research Institute at the Rabin Medical Center. She is an accomplished scientist and an author of more than a hundred publications. She was the CEO of seven years at Mor Research Application. She was also involved in the establishment and served as a member of the Board of Directors of various life sciences technology projects.

PetroVietnam Completes Acquisition of Chevron’s Assets in Vietnam

July 8, 2015 by Sabin Piso

Vietnam Oil and Gas Group (Petrovietnam) has acquired full interest in Chevron Corp.’s companies in Vietnam. This acquisition provides PetroVietnam the firm operatorship of two production sharing contracts (PSCs) offshore Vietnam and a huge advantage in a gas development project. PetroVietnam has also made itself one of the strongest oil and natural gas group in the region because of this important acquisition deal. This was announced by the country’s national oil company Wednesday.

PetroVietnam will take over Chevron Vietnam (Block B) Ltd., the operator of Blocks B and 48/95, this is a 42.38 percent interest in the PSC. The Vietnamese company will also be the new owner of Chevron Vietnam (Block 52) Ltd. that has a 43.4 percent operating stake in Block 52/97. This is located in the same area as Blocks B and 48/95. Chevron has found gas in the two PSCs. These are located in the Malay Basin off the coast of south western Vietnam which was more than a decade ago.

PetroVietnam will hold a 28.7 percent non-operating stake in the Block B Gas Development Project. This will ensure delivery of natural gas from Blocks B & 48/95 and Block 52/97 to existing and proposed power plants located at southern Vietnam. This is after acquiring Chevron Southwest Vietnam Pipeline Co. Ltd.

Vietnam’s NOC mentioned in a press release “Petrovietnam thanks Chevron for its efforts in discovering and proving this large gas resource.” Joint venture partners and the Vietnamese government have approved PetroVietnam’s acquisition. This acquisition took effect June 17.

Nguyen Xuan Son, Chairman of the Members’ Council of Petrovietnam, mentioned in an interview “The Block B gas project is Petrovietnam’s main oil and gas project. The project is of major significance, contributing to ensuring the energy security of the country and promoting the socio-economic development of the region.”

Nguyen Xuan Son also mentioned “Petrovietnam’s completion of the acquisition of Chevron’s assets in Vietnam will facilitate the acceleration of field development and the implementation of the component projects in order to make gas more quickly available to serve the development needs of the national economy.”

About PetroVietnam

PetroVietnam is the trading name of Vietnam Oil and Gas Group (PVN). In Vietnamese: Tập đoàn Dầu khí Quốc gia Việt Nam. PetroVietnam has become a vital resource in the industry since it was established in 1977. The company’s activities, through its various companies and wholly owned subsidiaries, covers all the operations from oil and gas exploration and production to storage, processing, transportation, distribution and services. PetroVietnam is wholly owned by the Vietnamese central government, it is responsible for all oil and gas resources in the country. It has also become its country’s largest oil producer and second-largest power producer.

About Nguyen Xuan Son

Mr. Nguyen Xuan Son is the Chairman, Chief Executive Officer and President of Vietnam Oil and Gas Corporation. He has been a prominent officer and chairman in numerous ventures and companies in the industry and serves as a Member of the Advisory Board at Providential Capital Management Limited. Mr. Son has a Bachelor of Oil Economics degree from the Soviet Union. He is an Economics Engineer and holds a BA in Economics from the Economic Department of Vietnam National University in Hanoi, Vietnam in 1984.

About Chevron Corporation

Chevron Corporation is an American multinational energy corporation. It is one of the successor companies of Standard Oil. Chevron is headquartered in San Ramon, California, and is active in more than 180 countries. Chevron is involved in all the aspects of the oil, gas, and geothermal energy industries, such as exploration and production; refining, marketing and transport; chemicals manufacturing and sales; and power generation.

As of 2014, Chevron is one of the world’s largest oil companies. Chevron ranked third in the Fortune 500 list of the top US closely held and public corporations and sixteenth on the Fortune Global 500 list of the top 500 corporations worldwide.

Chevron’s manufactures and sells products such as fuels, lubricants, additives and petrochemicals. The company’s most significant areas of operations are the west coast of North America, the U.S. Gulf Coast, Southeast Asia, South Korea, Australia and South Africa. In 2010, Chevron sold an average 3.1 million barrels per day of refined products like gasoline, diesel and jet fuel. Chevron’s alternative energy operations are all about geothermal, solar, wind, biofuel, fuel cells, and hydrogen. In the past few years, the company planned to spend at least $2 billion on research and acquisition of renewable power ventures. The company claims it is the world’s largest producer of geothermal energy. Chevron Corporation stock market evolution: http://www.marketwatch.com/investing/stock/cvx

Health Care REIT and Revera, Inc. Acquires Regal Lifestyle Communities Inc. for CAD$766 Million

July 7, 2015 by Sabin Piso

Health Care REIT and Revera, Inc. (“Revera”) announced that they have entered into a definitive agreement to purchase Regal Lifestyle Communities Inc. (“Regal”) in a 75/25 joint venture (JV) for CAD$12.00 per share in cash. This is a total enterprise value of approximately CAD$766 million, or US$623 million.

Regal is a publicly traded Canadian corporation that operates 23 seniors housing communities that has more than 3,600 units. It has 13 communities in Ontario, seven in Quebec, and one each in British Columbia, Saskatchewan and Newfoundland. 83% of the portfolio’s net operating income is from Toronto, Montreal, Ottawa and Vancouver.

Tom DeRosa, HCN’s Chief Executive Officer, mentioned in a statement “Together with our partner, Revera, we continue to deliver compelling housing and care settings for Canada’s growing senior population.” He said. “The acquisition of Regal is a rare opportunity to add a large, high-quality private pay portfolio concentrated in Canada’s largest metropolitan markets, where there is strong underlying demand. HCN’s unparalleled relationship model continues to drive transparent and consistent new investment growth. We will continue pursuing strategic international investment opportunities through our teams on the ground in Toronto and London.”

HCN and Revera go a long way together. The two companies have formed a joint venture in May 2013, when HCN acquired 47 seniors housing communities from Revera for CAD$1.34 billion. Including the acquisition of Regal, the deal is projected to comprise of gross investments of CAD$2.8 billion. More details about the acquisition will be provided in the following weeks to come.

Thomas G. Wellner, President and Chief Executive Officer of Revera, also mentioned in a statement “Revera is entering an exciting period of expansion in the senior living sector focused on growth and innovation across its private pay portfolio in Canada, the United States and the United Kingdom.” He said. “We are pleased to strengthen our relationship with HCN and to grow our leadership position in Canada through the acquisition of these high-quality retirement communities. We look forward to welcoming the Regal teams to Revera and to working together to continue to create a great experience for seniors in our communities.”

About Health Care REIT

Health Care REIT or HCN is one of the partners of families in health care. The company has formed relationships with leading health care systems and seniors for housing operators in the U.S and abroad. Health Care REIT stock market evolution http://www.marketwatch.com/investing/stock/hcn

About Thomas J. DeRosa

Mr. DeRosa is Chief Executive Officer of HCN. Mr. DeRosa has served as Chief Executive Officer since April 2014. Mr. DeRosa has extensive knowledge of the real estate industry and capital markets from his experience as Vice Chairman and Chief Financial Officer of The Rouse Company and at Deutsche Bank and Alex. Brown & Sons and his leadership of the Company as Chief Executive Officer provides him with intimate knowledge of the Company’s business and operations.

About Revera, Inc.

Revera Inc., is a privately owned Canadian provider of accommodation, care and services for retirees and seniors. It operates long term care and seniors housing retirement residences. Formerly named Retirement Residences Real Estate Investment Trust, it used to be publicly traded on the TSX under the symbol RRR.UN and other various symbols but was taken private in 2007. The company is now the second-largest network of accommodation, care and services for seniors in North America, serving older adults at more than 500 locations in Canada and the United States. It also has holdings in the UK. The company is headquartered in Mississauga, Ontario. There are also corporate offices in Cambridge, Ontario and Meriden, Connecticut (USA)

About Thomas Wellner

Thomas Wellner has extensive global experience in biotech, pharmaceuticals and health care services in public and private businesses. Mr. Wellner joined Revera in 2014. Mr. Wellner holds an Honours Bachelor of Science in Life Sciences from Queen’s University, recently completed his ICD Directors Education Program at the Rotman School of business and has completed executive education through Harvard Business School.

About Regal Lifestyle Communities

Regal Lifestyle Communities’ goal is to provide the highest-quality retirement care in Canada; it is the innovation and guidance of our Leadership Team that makes this possible. Regal Lifestyle Communities employs great people to provide residents with an exceptional retirement experience. All residences are locally-operated by the best staff . Regal Lifestyle Communities’ approach is simple: they emphasize care, comfort, and peace of mind. They provide customers with peace of mind through consistent, comprehensive, and high-quality care services offered in accommodations designed for safety and comfort. Regal Lifestyle Communities stock market evolution http://www.bloomberg.com/quote/RLC:CN

CVS Health Acquires Target’s Pharmacy and Clinic Business for $1.9 Million

July 7, 2015 by Sabin Piso

CVS Health Corporation and Target Corporation have announced that they have created a definitive agreement. CVS Health will acquire Target’s pharmacy and clinic businesses for approximately $1.9 billion. CVS Health will also acquire Target’s more than 1,660 pharmacies located in 47 states. These will be operated through a store-within-a-store format and branded as CVS/pharmacy.

A CVS/pharmacy brand will be included in every new Target store that offers pharmacy services. The new Target clinics will be called MinuteClinic, and CVS Health will also open up to 20 new clinics in Target stores as a part of the transaction. The new clinics will be part of CVS/minute clinic’s plan to operate 1,500 clinics by 2017.

Also a part of the transaction, CVS Health and Target plan to develop five to 10 small, stores over a two-year period following the closing of the transaction. These will be branded as TargetExpress and include a CVS/pharmacy.

Larry Merlo, CVS Health President and CEO, mentioned in a statement: “This strategic relationship with Target supports the highly complementary customer base, brand and culture we share.” He said. “When we introduced the new name for our company, CVS Health, we began a new era of growth with a broader health care focus and an appreciation of the rise of health care consumerism with consumer choice and accountability growing. This relationship with Target will provide consumers with expanded options and access to our unique health care services that lead to better health outcomes and lower overall health care costs.”

Brian Cornell, Target Chairman and CEO, also mentioned in a statement “At Target, we’ve talked a lot about the evolving preferences of our guests and this partnership demonstrates that we’re committed to putting them at the forefront of everything we do.” He added “By partnering with CVS Health, we will offer our guests industry leading health care services, and at the same time, sharpen our focus on elevating the way we deliver wellness products and experiences to our guests.”

Following completion of the transaction, Target guests will have access to CVS Health’s leading pharmacy care programs and medical clinic services. Pharmacy programs, including Pharmacy Advisor, Specialty Connect and Maintenance Choice, will help consumers achieve better medication adherence through convenience and enhanced pharmacy care counseling. The company is also committed to providing low-cost generic drug option. This acquisition is consistent with each company’s stated goals of investing in core businesses that help drive growth.

The transaction is subject to customary closing conditions, including necessary regulatory clearance. In-store changes will be rolled out over a period of several months thereafter, as CVS Health and Target work to ensure the smoothest possible transition for all pharmacy and clinic patients. CVS Health is committing to offering the approximately 14,000 in-store Target health care professionals comparable positions with CVS Health as part of the transition. Also following the deal closing, Target will further evaluate the business impact and related support needs at its headquarters locations.

About CVS Health

CVS Health (formerly CVS Caremark Corporation) is an American retailer and health care company. CVS Health operates over 7,700 CVS Pharmacy and Longs Drugs stores; a pharmacy benefit manager, mail order and specialty pharmacies, a retail-based health clinic subsidiary, MinuteClinic; and an online pharmacy, CVS.com. CVS Health is chartered in Delaware, and is headquartered in Woonsocket, Rhode Island, where its four business units are also headquartered. CVS Health stock market evolution: http://www.marketwatch.com/investing/stock/cvs

About Larry Merlo

Larry Merlo is President and Chief Executive Officer of CVS Health. Under Merlo’s leadership, the company is transforming health care by delivering breakthrough products and services. Merlo has received numerous professional honors, including his past role as chairman of the Board for the National Association of Chain Drug Stores (NACDS), where he still serves on the Board’s Executive Committee. He is a graduate of the University of Pittsburgh School of Pharmacy.

About Target Corporation

Target Corporation is an American retailing company, founded in 1902 and headquartered in Minneapolis, Minnesota. Target operates 1,934 stores in the United States; it began operations in Canada in March 2013 and operated 127 locations through its Canadian subsidiary. By 2015, it had 133 stores in Canada. Target stock market evolution: http://www.marketwatch.com/investing/stock/tgt

About Brian Cornell

Brian Cornell is chairman of the board and chief executive officer of Target Corporation. He joined Target in 2014 after serving as CEO of PepsiCo Americas Foods, the largest business sector of PepsiCo. Cornell has served on the board of directors for Home Depot and OfficeMax and on the board of trustees for the Culinary Institute of America. He currently serves on the board of directors for the UCLA Anderson Board of Visitors and Polaris Industries Inc. Cornell earned a bachelor’s degree at the University of California Los Angeles in 1981 and attended UCLA’s Anderson School of Management.

Cairn India Will Merge with Vedanta Ltd – Board Approves Merger

July 3, 2015 by Sabin Piso

Cairn India merges with Vedanta Ltd. The board of directors of the two companies have approved of the merger. Stocks of Vedanta India and Cairn India climbed as much as 3.6 per cent in trade following the announcement of merger. Vedanta India jumped 2.8 per cent to hit an intraday high of Rs 189.20 in the morning trades. Cairn India also surged 3.5 per cent to hit its day’s high of Rs 187.15.

Metal and mining company Vedanta Ltd and its subsidiary Cairn India will merge in a deal that will include all shares will give the parent access to Cairn’s $2.7 billion, or about Rs 17,000 crore. This is an amount that will help it reduce debt.

Independent boards of directors of the companies which were owned by billionaire Anil Agarwal, have approved the merger. Minority shareholders of Cairn India will receive one equity share of Vedanta and one redeemable preference share of Rs 10 face value with 7.5% annual dividend, for each share held in Cairn India. Existing Cairn India shareholders will get exposure to metal and mining assets and better shareholder returns.

Ani Agarwal, chairman of Vedanta Plc, mentioned in a statement: “The merger consolidates our position as India’s leading diversified natural resources champion, uniquely positioned to support India’s economic growth.” A diversified portfolio from metal to oil exploration will help Vedanta increase earnings volatility in an economic slowdown, allocate capital to projects with better returns, build a stronger balance sheet and lower overall cost of capital.

Tom Albanese, chief executive at Vedanta Ltd, also mentioned in a statement: “The merger will result in improved financial flexibility to allocate capital to the highest return projects and sustain higher dividends.” He added: “The combined entity is uniquely positioned to help unlock India’s wealth of world class energy and mineral resources.”

Vedanta Ltd, which has already refinanced $400 million is now in the process of refinancing additional $2 billion, or about Rs 12,000 crore, by replacing loans from foreign banks with loans from Indian banks to maintain cost of interest at $7.5% or a shade lower. Experts however expect an improvement due to the merger although there may not be any impact on its earnings per share.

About Vedanta Ltd

Vedanta Resources plc is a global diversified metals and mining company with headquarters in London, United Kingdom. It is the largest mining company in India with operations in Australia and Zambia and oil and gas operations in three countries. Its main products are copper, zinc, aluminum, lead and petroleum. It is managing commercial power stations in India. The company is principally owned by Indian billionaire Anil Agarwal through Volcan Investments. According to the New York Times, Vedanta Resources is “known in some parts of the world for having left financial and environmental problems in their wake.” Vedanta Ltd. Stock market evolution: http://www.bloomberg.com/quote/VED:LN

About Anil Agarwal

Anil Agarwal is the founder and chairman of Vedanta Resources Plc. which he controls through Volcan Investments, a holding vehicle with a 61.7% stake in the business. According to the New York Times, the company is “known in some parts of the world for having left financial and environmental problems in their wake.

About Cairn India

Cairn India is an oil and gas exploration and production company, with headquarters in Gurgaon, India. It is a subsidiary of Vedanta Resources. Cairn India is one of the largest independent oil and gas exploration and production companies in India. Cairn India has a portfolio of nine block located in four strategically focused areas: one in Rajasthan; two on the west coast of India; five on the east coast of India (including one in offshore Sri Lanka) and one in offshore South Africa.

Cairn produces oil and gas from three blocks in India. Top 250 Global Energy Company Rankings by Platts, ranked Cairn India for being the World’s fastest-growing energy company in 2011. Cairn plans to invest $3 billion in the next three years in searching for oil from Rajasthan oilfields. Cairn stock market evolution: http://www.moneycontrol.com/india/stockpricequote/oil-drilling-and-exploration/cairnindia/CI37

About Tom Albanese

Mr. Tom Albanese is the CEO of Vedanta Resources Plc and Vedanta Limited (formerly known as Sesa Sterlite Ltd/Sesa Goa Ltd), a subsidiary of Vedanta Resources Plc. Mr. Albanese was formerly the Chief Executive of Rio Tinto, a global diversified mining company, from May 2007 to January 2013. Mr. Albanese holds a Bachelor’s degree in Mineral Economics and a Master’s in Mining Engineering from the University of Alaska. Mr. Albanese was awarded the ‘Mining Foundation of the Southwest’ 2009 American Mining Hall of Fame Award, for his dedication, knowledge, leadership and inspiration to his peers in the mining industry.

Canada Pension Plan Investment Board Won Bidding for General Electric Co.’s Private – Equity Lending Business

July 2, 2015 by Sabin Piso

Canada Pension Plan Investment Board won the bidding for General Electric Co.’s private-equity lending business. The pension board agreed to pay $12 billion for the transaction. It has managed to lead its way towards the acquisition and has overtaken private-equity firms such as Apollo Global Management LLC and KKR & Co. Experts believe that this is one of the most aggressive bids compared to other competitors’ offers.

Chief Executive Mark Wiseman, leader of the fund, has more than 260 billion Canadian dollars (US$211 billion) under management, up from C$219.1 billion a year ago. Canada’s chief actuary estimates that these will reach C$300 billion by 2020.

The Canadian funds are “no longer content just being passive investors in private-equity funds,” said Jonathan Melmed, head of the Canada practice and co-chair of the global private-equity and buyout practice at law firm Morrison & Foerster LLP. The fund’s aggressive approach in acquiring GE Capital’s private-equity lending unit. The business lends money to private-equity firms for the acquisition and operation of middle-sized companies and is responsible for 400 loans. The company employs about 300 people who manage new loans and transactions for customers.

About the Canada Pension Plan Investment Board

The Canada Pension Plan Investment Board operates a debt business, which was established in 2009 to take advantage as banks backed out during the credit crunch. The midsize-lending market, where the GE business is considered a leader, appealed to the Canadian fund due to a much higher recurring returns it offered, said Mark Jenkins, head of the fund’s private investments.

Under the direction of the then Canadian Finance Minister Paul Martin, the CPP Investment Board was created in 1997 as a group that was independent of the government to monitor and invest the funds held by the Canada Pension Plan (CPP). The CPP Investment Board is a crown corporation created by an Act of Parliament. It oversees the operation of various aspects of the CPP reserve fund. It also plans changes in the direction and the board of directors that is accountable to but independent from the federal government. The CPP Investment Board’s mandate is in its founding legislation, the Canada Pension Plan Investment Board Act. Its investing mandate is to achieve a “maximum rate of return, without undue risk of loss.”

About Mark Wiseman

Mark Wiseman is the President and Chief Executive Officer of CCP. Mark assumed the role of President and CEO in July 2012. He is responsible for leading the CPP Investment Board and its investment activities. Mark Wiseman joined the CPP Investment Board in June 2005 as the organization’s Senior Vice-President, Private Investments. He was later named Executive Vice-President, Investments, responsible for managing all of the investment activities of the CPP Investment Board – Public Market Investments, Private Investments and Real Estate Investments. Born in Niagara Falls, Ontario, Mark holds a BA from Queen’s University and a law degree and MBA from the University of Toronto. In 2006, Mark was named to Canada’s Top 40 Under 40.

Jonathan M.A. Melmed

Jonathan M.A. Melmed, Age 35, New York Office, Corporate. Mr. Melmed’s practice focuses on international corporate mergers and acquisitions private equity and venture capital. He is a member of Chadbourne’s Canada practice and private equity group. Mr. Melmed represents corporations as well as private equity, venture capital and hedge funds in domestic and cross-border M&A, private equity and venture capital transactions, including U.S.-Canada and U.S.-Israel. He has also represented numerous companies and investment banks in U.S. securities transactions, including initial public offerings, as well as both public and private debt and equity offerings. While Mr. Melmed has broad sector experience, including in the media and life sciences sectors, his recent practice has focused heavily on renewable energy. Mr. Melmed received a B.A., with Great Distinction and Dean’s Honour List, from McGill University in 1994 and an LL.B. and a B.C.L., with Distinction, from McGill University, Faculty of Law, in 1998. He is a member of the New York and Quebec, Canada bars.

About General Electric

General Electric (GE) is an American multinational conglomerate corporation incorporated in New York. General Electric has headquarters in Fairfield, Connecticut. As of 2015, the company operates through the following segments: Power and Water. Oil and Gas, Energy Management, Aviation, Healthcare, Transportation, and Capital. In 2011, General Electric has ranked among the Fortune 500 companies as the 26th-largest firm in the U.S. by gross revenue. As of 2012 the company was listed the fourth-largest in the world among the Forbes Global 2000, further metrics being taken into account. General Electric stock market evolution http://www.marketwatch.com/investing/stock/ge

Lavazza Agrees to Purchase Danish Coffee Brand from D. E. Master Blenders

July 1, 2015 by Sabin Piso

Italy’s Lavazza coffee brand has reached agreement to purchase a Danish coffee brand from D.E. Master Blenders. Dutch group D. E. Master Blenders is seeking to comply with European competition authorities’ conditions for approving its merger with Mondelez’s coffee business. One of the conditions for the merger to be cleared was that Mondelez must also sell French brand Carte Noire. Lavazza in April mentioned that it was in contention to purchase Carte Noire. Lavazza however declined to say whether that was still the case after the acquisition o the Danish coffee brand.

The Italian coffee group said on Friday in a statement sent to Reuters. “Lavazza has agreed in terms with D.E. Master Blenders 1753 BV to meet the conditions of the European Commission regarding divestment of the Merrill brand.” Closing of the deal is subject to the Commission’s approval, it also mentioned.

Lavazza did not disclose the financial terms of the deal. Last month, the EC approved the merger of Mondelez’s coffee business with D.E. Master Blenders (DEMB) to create the world’s biggest standalone coffee company, Jacobs Douse Egberts, on condition they sell certain businesses first. ($1 = 0.8914 euros)

About Lavazza

Luigi Lavazza S.p.A. is an Italian manufacturer of coffee products. Lavazza was founded in Turin in 1895 by Luigi Lavazza. The popular coffee brand was initially run from a small grocery store at Via San Tommaso 10. Now the company is being run by the third and fourth generation of the Lavazza family.

Lavazza imports coffee from around the world. Countries in South America, Central America, Africa, Asia and in North America. Branded as “Italy’s Favourite Coffee,” the company claims that 16 million out of the 20 million coffee purchasing families in Italy choose their brand. Among its offerings today are products such as Top Class, Super Crema, Crema e Gusto, Grand’Espresso, Dek (decaffeinated), and coffee capsules A Modo Mio, “Espresso Point” and BLUE. Lavazza is official coffee at the Italy Pavilion, Expo 2015.

About DE Master Blenders

Douse Egberts is the main brand name for D.E. Master Blenders 1753, a multinational tea and coffee company from the Netherlands. It was founded in Joure in the Netherlands by Egbert Douwes in 1753 as By 1925 it had changed its name to Douse Egberts (which is meaning Douse, the son of Egbert), and had introduced the red seal as its logo. The company expanded through Europe, acquiring other tea, coffee and tobacco companies, such as the UK tea distributor Hornimans, until it was taken over by the Sara Lee Corporation in 1978. The tobacco interests, Van Nelle and Drum rolling tobacco, were sold to Imperial Tobacco in 1998.

In 2001 the company in collaboration with Philips produced the Senseo coffee maker system. With profits from the coffee division are considers from rivals such as Nestlé and Kraft, and being unable to find a buyer, in 2012 Sara Lee split off the coffee division into D.E Master Blenders 1753, offering share-holders one share in the new company for each main share they held. In 2013 German investor group Joh. A. Benckiser made an offer to purchase D.E Master Blenders 1753 for $9.8 billion. D. E. Masters stock market evolution http://www.marketwatch.com/investing/stock/dembf

About Mondalez

Mondelēz International, Inc. is a North American multinational confectionery, food and beverage company. Currently it has around 107,000 people around the world. It comprises the global snack and food brands of the former Kraft Foods Inc. The Mondelēz name, adopted in 2012, came from the input of Kraft Foods employees at the time, a combination of the words for “world” and “delicious” in Romance languages.

Mondelēz International manages snack brands around the globe, including cookies and crackers (Oreo, Chips Ahoy!, TUC, Evita, Triscuit, Club Social, Barni, Peek Freans) and gum and candy such as popular Cadbury Dairy Milk and Dentyne. The company is headquartered in Deerfield, Illinois, a Chicago suburb, and is a manufacturer of chocolate, biscuits, gum, confectionery, coffee, and powdered beverages. The company consists of the global snacking and food brands from Kraft Foods Inc. following the spin-off of its North American grocery operations in October 2012. Mondelēz International’s portfolio includes several billion-dollar brands such as Cadbury (acquired through a buy out of Cadbury in 2010) and Milka chocolate, Jacobs coffee, Toblerone, Nabisco and Oreo cookies, powdered beverages, and Trident gums. Mondelēz International has annual revenue of approximately $36 billion and operations in more than 80 countries. Mondelēz Canada controls the rights to Christie Brown and Company, which consists of brands such as Mr. Christie and Dad’s Cookies. The headquarters in Mississauga, Ontario with operations in Scarborough and Montreal. Mondelez stock market evolution http://www.marketwatch.com/investing/stock/mdlz

Buffalo Wild Wings Acquires More Assets of Alamowing Development, LLC

June 30, 2015 by Sabin Piso

Buffalo Wild Wings has exercised its right of first refusal to acquire substantially all of the assets of Alamowing Development, LLC, B III Wing, LLC, RioWing Development, LLC, AlamoWing NM Partners, LLC, AlamoWing NM Partners II, LLC, Southseas Wings, LLC and certain subsidiary and affiliated operating entities.

According to the transaction, Buffalo Wild Wings’ total assets to be acquired consist primarily of 38 existing Buffalo Wild Wings® restaurants. These restaurants are located in key areas in the states of Texas, New Mexico and Hawaii. Aside from these, 3 Buffalo Wild Wings restaurants under development in New Mexico and Hawaii are also part of the deal. The total purchase price for the assets is approximately $160 million.

Buffalo Wild Wings is an American dining restaurant and over the years it has evolved from serving the most popular wild wings menu to a more casual dining atmosphere. It is now a sports bar franchise that is not just found in the US but also in Canada, Mexico and in the Philippines.

The acquisition of the restaurant branches are subject to negotiation and execution of a final purchase agreement and certain regulatory approvals, including a filing under the Hart-Scott-Rodino Antitrust Improvements Act of 1976, as amended. After the purchase agreement has been executed, the transaction will be closed but the end of the third quarter of the year.

Sally Smith, President and Chief Executive Officer, commented: “We believe that the acquisition of these Buffalo Wild Wings locations will provide our shareholders with additional long-term net earnings growth. In the transition to company-owned locations, we anticipate incurring $5 million in one-time expenses. Updates to the timing and financial impact of the acquisition will be provided in our second quarter earnings announcement in late July 2015. We are excited to acquire these well-run locations.”

About Buffalo Wild Wings

Buffalo Wild Wings is an American casual dining restaurant and sports bar franchise in the United States, Canada, México and The Philippines. The house specialty is spicy chicken wings and delicious sauces. The franchise has become a popular venue for watching live sporting events.

Jim Disbrow and Scott Lowery founded Buffalo Wild Wings. The two came up with the idea one weekend when they got together in Kent, Ohio. Disbrow was to judge an amateur figure skating competition at Kent State University in 1980. The two have decided to open up their own restaurant in Columbus, Ohio, and then in Westerville, Ohio.

Originally called Buffalo Wild Wings & Weck, from which the abbreviation bw-3 was created. It was in 1990 when Buffalo Wild Wings & Weck began to franchise. As of February 2015, the restaurant had 1070 locations (485 directly owned by the company, and 585 franchised locations) across all 50 states in the US. An alternate nickname in recent usage by the company is B-Dubs. The corporate headquarters was located in Cincinnati, Ohio until 1997 before moving to Minneapolis, Minnesota. In 2010, the Buffalo Wild Wings company announced an expansion into Canada. In February 2012, Buffalo Wild Wings reported $495 million in total assets. Buffalo Wild Wings stock market evolution: http://www.marketwatch.com/investing/stock/bwld

About Alamowing Development, LLC

Alamowing Development, L.L.C. filed as a Domestic Limited Liability Company (LLC) in the State of Texas. Alamowing Development, L.L.C. also lists another corporation as a key member of the company. Alamowing Development, L.L.C. serves as Manager.

About Sally J. Smith

Sally J. Smith is President and Chief Executive Officer of Buffalo Wild Wings, Inc. Sally Smith was born in Sioux Falls, South Dakota. She graduated from the University of North Dakota in 1979, with a degree in Bachelor of Science in Business Administration and Accounting. Smith has experience with KPMG Peat Marwick. She was with the company for 11 years at their office in Dahlberg, Inc. Smith’s last post was Chief Financial Officer. Smith started working at Buffalo Wild Wings in 1994 as the Chief Financial Officer. She was promoted two years after as President and CEO in 1996. Buffalo Wild Wings then had only 70 locations. Sally Smith played a vital role in the development and growth of Buffalo Wild Wings and while she has been at the company, it has expanded from 35 locations in 1994 to 751 as of March 2011. She has also served as chair of the National Restaurant Association. Smith is the daughter of Dick Wold, who was the leader of First National Bank of Grand Forks, which is now Alerus Financial.

BlackRock and Infraestructura Institucional Enters Into Agreement Strengthening BlackRock Global Platform

June 30, 2015 by Sabin Piso

BlackRock has entered into a definitive agreement with Infraestructura Institucional, a leading independently managed, infrastructure investment firm in Mexico. This is an acquisition of BlackRock which will expand BlackRock’s infrastructure capabilities in the country and deepening its presence in the country.

This agreement plans to improve BlackRock’s existing $6 billion global infrastructure platform. This will also strengthen the company’s business in Mexico. The acquisition also states that BlackRock will be able to complete the needs of its local and international clients. BlackRock infrastructure investment platform will now manage more than $7 billion of invested and committed assets. Along with these are over 80 employees that are located in 6 offices globally. BlackRock’s Mexico office will be under new management and this will expand to over 50 employees and around $26 billion of assets under management.

Jim Barry, global head of BlackRock Infrastructure Investment Group has mentioned in a statement regarding the acquisition: “As our clients’ demand for high quality infrastructure assets continues to grow, we believe that Mexico presents a rapidly evolving investment opportunity for institutional investors globally.” He added “Adding the Infraestructura Institucional team will enhance BlackRock’s ability to deliver previously untapped investment opportunities in Mexico to our local and international clients,”

Armando Senra, head of the Latin America & Iberia Region at BlackRock has also commented on the acquisition: “This acquisition advances BlackRock’s growth strategy in Mexico and Latin America and builds upon our well-established track record in the region.” He added: “Mexico is well-positioned for long-term economic growth and we are excited to further expand our presence in the country.”

Infraestructura Institucional is one of the most popular and most trusted companies with a broad range of infrastructure projects in Mexico. The company manages approximately $1 billion of invested and committed capital. The team in Infraestructura Institucional has extensive experience investing across infrastructure project types in Mexico and this includes transportation, energy and social infrastructure.

The deal is subject to regulatory approvals and is expected to close by the end of the fourth quarter of 2015. The financial effects of this deal are not material to BlackRock earnings per share. Terms of the deal were not disclosed.

About BlackRock

BlackRock, Inc. is a multinational investment management corporation with headquarters in New York City. BlackRock was initially as a risk management and fixed income institutional asset manager, it is one of the world’s largest asset managers with over $4.77 trillion in assets under management. At the end of 2014, 65 percent of Blackrock’s assets under management were from institutional investors. Stock is owned by institutional and individual investors, including BlackRock employees.

BlackRock Solutions (BRS) serves two roles within BlackRock. It is the in-house investment analytics and “process engineering” department for BlackRock, BlackRock Solutions (BRS) and the three primary, FMA, and client solutions. As of 2013, the platform had nearly 2,000 employees. BlackRock stock market evolution: http://www.marketwatch.com/investing/stock/blk

About Jim Barry

Jim Barry is the Managing Director is global head of BlackRick Infrastructure Investment Group with BlackRoot Alternative Investors. Prior to joining BlackRock in 2001, Mr. Barry spent 11 years as the CEO of NTR plc. Prior to joining NTR, he worked at Bain and Company and in the investment banking division of Morgan Stanley. Mr. Barry earned a BComm from University College Cork and an MBA from Harvard Business School.

About Armando Senra

Armando Senra is the Head, Latin America and Iberia Region, BlackRock, USA. Senra is also the Managing Director, is Head of the Latin America & Iberia Region at BlackRock. Mr. Senra is also a member of BlackRock’s Global Operating Committee, Human Capital Committee and Global Executive Committee Client Subcommittee. Mr. Senra became Head of BlackRock’s Latin America and Iberia region in 2008. Senra began his career in 1994 at Merrill Lynch in the US, taking on a number of roles in New York and Princeton. He joined Merrill Lynch Investment Managers (MLIM) in 1997, which merged with BlackRock in 2006. In 1998 Mr. Senra became MLIM’s Head of Distribution for Merrill Lynch Global Wealth Management in EMEA, based out of London. Mr. Senra earned a double BA degree in economics and business administration from Universidad Antonio de Nebrija, Madrid, Spain while spending two years in North Carolina University.

About Infrastructura Institutional

Infrastructura Institucioal S. de RL de CV is a venture capital firm specializing in mezzanine seed/startup, early venture, mid- venture and late venture investments in infrastructure projects and development. It seeks to invest between MX350 million and MX500 million per project. The company was founded in 2009 and is based in Mexico City, Mexico. It operates as a subsidiary of Black Creek group.

Campbell Soup Acquires Assets and Business of Garden Fresh for $231 Million

June 28, 2015 by Sabin Piso

Campbell Soup has announced that is has agreed to purchase the assets and business of Garden Fresh Gourmet for $231 million. The agreement is one of the biggest transactions made by the leading Camden, New Jersey soup company. Garden Fresh Gourmet is known as the top branded refrigerated salsa in the U.S. The company also makes hummus, dips and tortilla chips.

Denise Morrison, Campbell’s President and Chief Executive Officer, mentioned in a statement about the acquisition: “The acquisition of Garden Fresh Gourmet is another milestone in reshaping our portfolio toward faster-growing categories, including packaged fresh and organic foods. Garden Fresh Gourmet’s on-trend products will provide Campbell with another growth engine to help us continue to shift our center of gravity.”

Jeff Dunn, President–Campbell Fresh has made the following comment: “Garden Fresh Gourmet will allow the Campbell Fresh division to expand in the deli section of the grocery store perimeter and will complement our strong presence in the produce section. It is a logical extension of our fresh food and beverage platform that resonates with today’s consumers. This is a critical next step in our journey to becoming the leader in the fast-growing packaged fresh category.” He added “Garden Fresh Gourmet is an American success story, whose leadership has built a vibrant brand with a loyal following in faster-growing categories like refrigerated salsas and hummus. We will leverage our packaged fresh production and distribution, sales and brand-building capabilities to help Garden Fresh Gourmet become a national brand.”

Garden Fresh Gourmet will become part of the Campbell Fresh division, leveraging the Bolthouse Farms refrigerated fresh platform. According to Campbell’s new enterprise structure, the new division will focus on expanding packaged fresh categories. The division also includes the Bolthouse Farms portfolio of fresh carrots, super-premium refrigerated beverages, salad dressings and kids snacks. This also includes the newly launched 1915 brand of ultra-premium cold-pressed organic juices and retail refrigerated soups.

Jack Aronson, who will stay on as an adviser to the business, said, “We believe Campbell is the right company to take Garden Fresh Gourmet to the next level and introduce our great products to more customers and more consumers. I know Campbell is a fitting home for the Garden Fresh Gourmet family.”

Campbell has added a trio of growth engines over the past years to its successful business and these are through acquiring Bolthouse Farms in 2012 and organic baby-food company Plum and biscuit company Kelsen in 2013. The acquisition of Garden Fresh Gourmet is the latest in a series of acquisitions Campbell has made to cater to the needs of consumers for fresh foods and health and well-being.

Campbell expects the transaction not to affect its previously announced fiscal 2015 guidance and to be slightly accretive beginning in fiscal 2016. The closing of the transaction is subject to regulatory approvals and customary closing conditions and is expected to occur in the fourth quarter of fiscal 2015.

About Campbell Soup Company

The Campbell Soup Company, also known as Campbell’s, is an American company that produces canned soups and other food products. The company’s products are sold in 120 countries around the world. Its headquarters are located in Camden, New Jersey. Campbell’s has a total of three divisions: the simple meals division, which consists largely of soups both condensed and ready-to-serve, the baked snacks division, which consists of Pepperidge Farm, and the health beverage division, which includes V8 juices. Campbell Soup Company stock market evolution: http://www.marketwatch.com/investing/stock/cpb

About Denise M. Morrison

Denise Morrison is President and CEO of Campbell Soup Company. Denise has a distinguished track record of building strong businesses and growing iconic brands. She became Campbell’s CEO in August 2011. Previously, Denise was Executive Vice President and General Manager of Kraft Foods’ Snacks and Confections divisions. Denise earned her B.S. degree in economics and psychology from Boston College.

About Jeff Dunn
Jeff Dunn was named President-Packaged Fresh in February 2015. He reports to Denise Morrison, Campbell’s President and Chief Executive Officer. Between 2008 and 2015, Jeff was President of Bolthouse Farms. He previously had leadership positions with The Coca-Cola Company, culminating with his role as President of Coca-Cola North America. Jeff earned his B.A. degree in business from the University of Georgia and his M.B.A. degree in management from The George L. Graziadio School of Business and Management at Pepperdine.

About Garden Fresh Gourmet

Garden Fresh is a food company in Ferndale, Michigan, USA. Garden Fresh started the fresh salsa revolution in 1998, when Jack and Annette Aronson made their first batch of salsa. Today, they make the #1 fresh salsas in North America, along with chips, hummus and dips.

About Jack Aronson

Jack Aronson is the Founder, Chairman and CEO of Garden Fresh Gourmet in Ferndale, Michigan. Aronson also has been involved in relief efforts in Haiti, including visiting victims in person. He also mentors local entrepreneurs and has invested in the Just Baked cupcake shop and bakery company. In 2007, he was named Ernst & Young’s Entrepreneur of the Year in the marketing and consumer products category.

Stifel Financial Will Acquire Barclay’s Wealth and Investment Management

June 25, 2015 by Sabin Piso

Stifel Financial has announced a transaction with Barclay’s Wealth and Investment Management. The St. Louis, Missouri company has entered a definitive purchase agreement to acquire Barclays’ Wealth and Investment Management, Americas franchise in the U.S. (“Barclays Wealth Americas”). According to the agreement between the two financial giants, Stifel will be the U.S. private wealth distribution partner for Barclays’ equities and this includes crediting new issue securities in the U.S.

Ronald J. Kruszewski, Chairman and CEO of Stifel mentioned in a statement: “We are excited about today’s announcement and our continued growth in our Global Wealth Management business. Barclays’ Wealth franchise in the U.S. is a high-touch, high-service business for sophisticated clients. Combining the depth of Barclays’ franchise and breadth of Stifel’s product offerings, coupled with an entrepreneurial and client-focused culture, will create the premier wealth management platform in the industry today. Importantly, we know that you do not acquire people, but we are excited about partnering with the professionals at Barclays.”

Akshaya Bhargava, Barclays’ Chief Executive of Global Wealth and Investment Management, also gave his comment about the transaction. He said, “The sale of our U.S. Wealth franchise to Stifel represents a good outcome for Barclays and for our clients. We are pleased to have been able to find in Stifel a buyer that is committed to helping the franchise to grow over the long term, and providing for our clients an expanded range of products and services.”

As of May 31, 2015, Barclays had approximately 180 financial advisors in the U.S. providing expert financial management services to approximately $56 billion in total client assets. Barclays’ business had on balance sheet assets of approximately $1.4 billion and client loans of approximately $1.5 billion held through Barclays’ clearing firm. Barclays’ advisory business is based in New York and 11 other major metropolitan cities in the U.S.

The transaction is expected to close in mid-November of 2015, subject to regulatory approvals and customary conditions.

About Stifel Financial Corp.

Stifel Financial Corp. is as a financial services holding company. The company started in July 1983 and is listed on the New York Stock Exchange on November 24, 1986. Its predecessor company was founded in 1890 as the Altheimer and Rawlings Investment Company. Stifel has headquarters in downtown St. Louis, Missouri. Stifel offers securities-related financial services in the United States and Europe through several wholly owned subsidiaries. The company’s broker-dealer affiliates offers securities brokerage, trading, investment banking, investment advisory, and related financial services to individual investors, professional money managers, businesses, and municipalities. Stifel Bank & Trust offers a full range of consumer and commercial lending solutions. Stifel Trust Company, N.A. offers trust and related services. Stifel stock market evolution: http://www.marketwatch.com/investing/stock/sf

About Ronald J. Kruszewski

Ronald J. Kruszewski is Chairman of the Board of Stifel Financial Corp. and Stifel, Nicolaus & Company, Incorporated. He joined the firm as Chief Executive Officer in September 1997.
Mr. Kruszewski is also active in community affairs. He serves as Chairman of Downtown Now! and as a member of the Board of Directors of the St. Louis Regional Chamber and Barnes-Jewish Hospital. He is also past Chairman of the Board of Directors of Downtown St. Louis Partnership, Inc. and past non-executive Chairman of the Board of Directors of Angelica Corporation. Mr. Kruszewski is a member of the Regional Business Council in St. Louis and of the St. Louis Chapter of World Presidents’ Organization.

About Barclays Wealth and Investment Management

Barclays Wealth and Investment Management is a company that focuses on wealth management providing private banking, investment management, brokerage and fiduciary services to private clients and financial intermediaries. Barclays provides Wealth and Investment Management in 20 offices to clients in 50 countries and has client assets of £202.8 billion. In May 2013, Peter Horrell was appointed interim Chief Executive of the Wealth and Investment Management division of Barclays and permanently appointed Chief Executive in September 2013. Akshaya Bhargava is the current Chief Executive appointed on October 13, 2014. The Wealth and Investment Management division is part of the Barclays Group. This financial company has a strong presence in Europe, the USA, Africa and Asia.

About Akshaya Bhargava

Akshaya Bhargava is the Chief Executive of Barclay’s Wealth and Investment Management. With over 35 years’ experience in the financial services industry, Akshaya joins Barclay’s from InfraHedge Ltd which he founded in 2010 and was acquired by State Street Corporation in2013. Before this appointed he was CEO of Butterfield Fulcrum Group Ltd and founding CEO of Infosys BPO. He spent 22 years at Citibank in London, India and the Czech Republic.

Vodafone Reported to be in Early Talks with Liberty Global – No Merger Yet

June 24, 2015 by Sabin Piso

Vodafone has earlier mentioned that it is in the early stages of talking with Europe’s largest cable company, Liberty Global. The British mobile company states that it has plans of swapping assets with n the early stages of talks about swapping assets with the US company Liberty Global, which is Europe’s largest cable provider, but the British mobile operator said a merger was not yet discussed.

It was only this year that speculations that Vodafone might combine with the owner of Virgin Media. This was rumored to create a £100 billion telecoms group. Last month, Liberty’s chairman, John Malone, said that its networks would be a perfect fit with their cable assets.

On Friday morning, the UK company said: “Vodafone confirms that it is in the early stages of discussions with Liberty Global regarding a possible exchange of selected assets between the two companies.

“There is no certainty that any transaction will be agreed, nor is there certainty with respect to which assets will ultimately be involved.

“Vodafone is not in discussions with Liberty Global concerning a combination of the two companies.”

Experts have raised the possibility of special transactions that would include a swap of mobile network owners between Virgin Media or Vodafone. And due to this rumored deal, Vodafone shares rose sharply in early trading on Friday. However, before investor disappointment at the lack of discussions about a full-scale merger sent the stock down 2.4% to 242p.

Malone identified several countries that will fit for its company such as Germany, the UK and the Netherlands. These countries are where Vodafone is the second largest mobile phone company. However, Malone said that Liberty had no interest in the mobile operator’s businesses in India and South Africa. The UK, Ireland, Germany and the Netherlands account for 40% of Vodafone’s sales and earnings. These countries are almost three-quarters of Liberty’s, which owns 12 networks in Europe. Liberty has revenues of £12 billion and 38,000 employees serving 27 million customers. On the other hand, Vodafone employs 13,000 in the UK and 53,000 worldwide, with revenues of £42 billion a year, 446 million mobile customers and 12 million fixed line broadband customers.

Malone mentioned last month about the possible merger: “We’ve looked at that from our side and there would be very substantial synergies if we could find a way to work together or combine the companies with respect to western Europe.”

This news of a potential merger came as Vodafone’s annual report showed that its chief executive, Vittorio Colao, has collected a £1.3 million bonus last year, bringing his total pay to £2.8 million. The chief executive’s base salary rose by £30,000 to £1,140,000, his overall remuneration was lower than last year. In 2014, long-term incentive payouts helped boost his earnings to £8m for the year.Vodafone has carefully developed its financial strategies so that the company owed no corporation tax in the UK for the last financial year. Vodafone also recognized £5.5billion of tax losses in 2015 related to its German and Luxembourg operations. These can now be used to reduce its tax in these countries for years to come

About Vodafone Group

Vodafone Group plc is a British multinationaltelecommunications company with headquarters in London and registered office in Newbury, Berkshire.Vodafone is the world’s 2nd-largest mobile telecommunications company based on both subscribers and 2013 revenues and number of subscribers at 434 million as of 31 March 2014. The companyhas subscribers in 21 countries and has partner networks in over 40 additional countries. Its Vodafone Global Enterprise division provides telecommunications and IT services to corporate clients in more than 65 countries. Vodafone is the third-largest of any company listed on the London Stock Exchange. It has a secondary listing on NASDAQ. Vodafone Group stock market evolution: http://www.marketwatch.com/investing/stock/vod

About John C. Malone

John C. Maloneis a billionaire American business executive, landowner and philanthropist. Malone is now chairman of Liberty Media, Liberty Global, and Liberty Interactive. He was interim CEO of Liberty Media, and was succeeded by former OracleCFO Greg Maffei.

About Liberty Global

Liberty Global plc is an international telecommunications and television company. Liberty was created in 2005 by the merger of the international arm of Liberty Media and UGC (UnitedGlobalCom). The company is one of the largest broadbandinternet service providers outside of the United States.Liberty Global is the world’s largest international cable company since 2013, with operations in 14 countries, and 35,000 employees. Its cable services pass 47 million homes, with 24.5 million customers or 48.3 million RGUs which includes video, internet, and voice subscribers. Liberty Global has headquarters in London and has offices in Amsterdam and in Douglas County, Colorado.Liberty Global stock market evolution: http://www.marketwatch.com/investing/stock/lbtya

AZZ, Inc. Acquires Assets of U.S. Galvanizing – AZZ Increases Network of Plants in North America

June 22, 2015 by Sabin Piso

AZZ, Inc. acquired the assets of U.S. Galvanizing, LLC, the two companies have announced in a special statement. US Galvanizing is a premier provider of steel corrosion coating services, and a wholly-owned subsidiary of Trinity Industries, Inc.

According to the transaction, the purchase of these assets will increase the network of AZZ Galvanizing Services especially its hot-dip galvanizing plants to 42 sites in the United States and Canada. The acquisition may have also stemmed from the fact that U.S. Galvanizing, LLC has generated revenue of approximately $34 million in sales in a twelve-month basis as of March 31, 2015.

U.S. Galvanizing, LLC assets that were acquired by AZZ includes six galvanizing facilities found in Hurst, Texas; Kennedale, Texas; Big Spring, Texas; San Antonio, Texas; Morgan City, Louisiana; and Kosciusko, Mississippi. The transaction also included Texas Welded Wire, a secondary business integrated within U.S. Galvanizing’s Hurst, Texas facility.

As part of this acquisition, AZZ and Meyer Steel Structures, a manufacturer of steel structures for electricity transmission and distribution, and a wholly-owned subsidiary of Trinity Industries, have also entered into a long-term supply and service agreement. This includes a provision wherein AZZ will be the primary supplier of hot-dip galvanizing services for Meyer Steel Structures.

Tom Ferguson, president and chief executive officer of AZZ has mentioned in a statement, “This is an important strategic acquisition for AZZ, as we expand our network of galvanizing plants and solidify our relationship with Trinity. Additionally, this further expands our penetration in the states of Texas, Louisiana and Mississippi and it further solidifies our position as the leading North American hot-dip galvanizing provider to the steel fabrication industry for corrosion protection.”

Mr. Ferguson also added, “The ability to acquire six galvanizing properties in one transaction represents a unique opportunity given the current dynamics of the industry. Closer proximity to our clients in the area of the acquired properties will enhance service and turnaround times and provides us the opportunity to develop and attract new clients with the increased capacity and capabilities that we have now added to our portfolio of services. We are also pleased to be the primary provider of galvanizing services to Meyer Steel Structures. While we have provided services to Meyer in the past, with this new agreement we will continue to generate additional efficiencies and value for both parties. We anticipate this acquisition to be accretive to the current fiscal year. We are excited with the opportunities ahead.”

AZZ incorporated (NYSE:AZZ) is a company that was established in 1956 and has headquarters in Fort Worth, TX. The company is a specialty electrical equipment manufacturer and provider of highly engineered services to various industries. Their specialties are power generation, transmission, distribution and industrial as well as a leading provider of hot dip galvanizing services to North American steel fabrication market.

About AZZ, Inc.

AZZ, Inc. is an equipment manufacturer and provider of engineering services to various companies and industries. It has several divisions. AZZ Energy is the leading provider of specialized products and services designed to support industrial, nuclear and electrical applications. AZZ Energy has the most technologically advanced solutions and engineering resources developed from a legacy of proven, reliable product options; AZZ Energy is ideally positioned to meet the most challenging application-specific demands to ensure safe, productive facilities.

AZZ Galvanizing on the other hand provides hot dip galvanizing to the steel fabrication industry through facilities located throughout North America. It is North America’s Largest Galvanizer. AZZ’s vast network of facilities is adequately positioned to serve a variety of industries and applications. Hot-dip galvanizing is a metallurgical process in which molten zinc used to prevent corrosion to fabricated steel. This process extends the life of steel for up to 50 years. AZZ, Inc. stock market evolution: http://www.marketwatch.com/investing/stock/azz

About Tom Ferguson

Mr. Thomas E. Ferguson is the President, Chief Executive Officer and Director of AZZ incorporated. He has extensive experience in the industries in which AZZ operates, having served as Chief Executive Officer of FlexSteel Pipeline Technologies, Inc., a provider of pipeline technology products and services. Prior to serving in this position, Mr. Ferguson spent 25 years serving in various executive capacities with Flowserve Corp. global provider of fluid motion and control products and services, and its affiliates.

About U.S. Galvanizing

U.S. Galvanizing, LLC is a premier provider of steel corrosion coating services. The company offer high-value, hot dip galvanizing services to the steel industry. U.S. Galvanizing, LLC stock market evolution: http://www.bloomberg.com/research/stocks/private/snapshot.asp?privcapid=114340253

About Trinity Industries

Trinity Industries Inc. owns a variety of businesses which provide product and services to the industrial, energy, transportation and construction sectors. The company has five business groups which are Rail Group, Construction Products Group, Inland Barge Group, Energy Equipment Group and Railcar Leasing & Management Services Group. Trinity Industries stock market evolution: http://www.marketwatch.com/investing/stock/trn

Cardinal Health will acquire The Harvard Drug Group for $1.115 Billion in Cash and New Debt

June 19, 2015 by Sabin Piso

Cardinal Health has announced its plans to purchase The Harvard Drug Group a distributor of generic pharmaceuticals, over-the-counter medications and products to retail, institutional and alternate care customers.

Assuming this timing, Cardinal Health expects accretion in non-GAAP diluted earnings per share (EPS) from continuing operations of greater than $0.15 per share in fiscal 2016, net of the $0.03 to $0.04 per share of interest expense for the related debt financing. Cardinal Health expects accretion in non-GAAP diluted EPS of more than $0.20 in fiscal 2017 and for accretion to be increasingly greater thereafter.

The acquisition expands Cardinal Health’s existing telesales programs and will also improve Cardinal Health’s company’s portfolio of over-the counter pharmaceutical products. It will also provide better packaging offerings which will meet the needs of hospital systems and other institutions.

Court Square Capital Partners owns The Harvard Drug Group; Cardinal Health will pay Court Square $1.115 billion in existing cash and new debt. The transaction is expected to close in the beginning of fiscal year 2016 and will be subject to regulatory approvals and other customary closing conditions.

George Barrett, chairman and chief executive officer of Cardinal Health mentioned in a statement: “The Harvard Drug Group aligns perfectly with our commitment to provide the most comprehensive line of pharmaceutical products for the broadest range of customers.” He also said: “This acquisition enhances our ability to support retail and institutional customers and further utilizes Red Oak, our joint venture with CVS Health to source generics.”

About Cardinal Health

Cardinal Health, Inc. is a Fortune 500 health care services company which has headquarters in Dublin, Ohio, USA. The company is known for the distribution of pharmaceuticals and medical products which is present in more than 60,000 locations. Cardinal Health is also one of the top manufacturers of medical and surgical products such as gloves, surgical apparel and fluid management products. On December 10, 2013, it was announced that Cardinal Health would team up with CVS Caremark, which would form the largest generic drug sourcing operation in the United States. The venture was named Red Oak Sourcing and started operations in July 2014. Cardinal Health stock market evolution: http://finance.yahoo.com/q?s=CAH

About George S. Barrett

George Barrett, chairman and chief executive officer of Cardinal Health. Mr. Barrett is one of the top business executives in the pharmaceutical industry. He is seen as “one of the leaders and leading thinkers” in the pharmaceutical industry. Mr. Barrett received his Bachelor of Arts degree from Brown University and his M.B.A. from New York University. He also holds an honorary Doctor of Humane Letters degree from Long Island University’s Arnold & Marie Schwartz College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences.

About The Harvard Drug Group

The Harvard Drug Group is a corporation with a wide variety of brands under its vast portfolio. It started as an independent family business. Over nearly half a century and several acquisitions later, the family business transformed into one of the country’s largest suppliers of prescription and OTC medications and related products. The Harvard Drug Group offers affordable and safe branded, generic and OTC products to healthcare providers. The company’s mission is “to drive value for pharmaceutical partners and consumers.” Buying from The Harvard Drug Group is a confident buying decision that its customers have made through the years. The company maintains rigorous quality standards to ensure the integrity of their products, from procurement through packaging and distribution. The Harvard Drug Group supplier qualification and management process ensures products meet the highest quality standards for customers. The Harvard Drug Group stock market evolution: http://www.bloomberg.com/research/stocks/private/snapshot.asp?privcapId=4217472

About Court Square Capital Partners

Court Square Capital Partners is a private equity firm with a business that focuses on leveraged buyout transactions. Court Square was originally a captive private equity firm within Citigroup known as Citigroup Venture Capital Equity Partners. Its investment professionals have invested over $4.5 billion in more than 150 transactions, which have returned $14 billion to date.

The company currently manages approximately $6 billion of investor commitments. It focuses on several industry sectors such as business services, health care, industrials, media and publishing, and technology and telecommunications. Court Square has headquarters in New York City and was from Citigroup in 2006. The name of the company was from the location of Citigroup’s offices at One Court Square in Queens, New York. The firm’s predecessor Citicorp Venture Capital Equity Partners traces its roots to 1968 with the founding of Citicorp Venture Capital. In the 1980s, CVC Equity Partners began to focus primarily on leveraged buyout transactions.

OPKO Health and Bio – Reference Laboratories, Inc. Merger – Enhance Delivery of Quality Health Products

June 12, 2015 by Sabin Piso

OPKO Health and Bio-Reference Laboratories, Inc. have announced a definitive merger agreement. According to the transaction OPKO will acquire Bio-Reference Laboratories. The Boards of Directors of both companies have agreed on the terms of the agreement. Holders of BRLI common stock will receive 2.75 shares of OPKO common stock for each share of BRLI common stock. This is according to the closing price of $19.12 per share of OPKO common stock on June 3, 2015. This merger is valued at approximately $1.47 billion, or $52.58 per share of BRLI common stock. This transaction is expected to be completed on the second half of 2015 and is subject to approval of Bio-Reference Laboratories’ shareholders and other customary conditions.

Phillip Frost, M.D., OPKO’s Chairman and Chief Executive Officer has commented on the merger: “I have long admired Bio-Reference Laboratories which, for almost 30 years, has enjoyed an impressive record of organic growth through constant innovation and clinical awareness.” He further commented: “Bio-Reference Laboratories is a true success story that has culminated in cutting edge diagnostic solutions accompanied by a worldwide franchise in the diagnosis of rare diseases. GeneDx was the first commercial laboratory to offer next generation sequencing for rare disorders and almost a quarter of a million patients have benefited from these services including almost 20,000 patients who have undergone exome analysis. Their newly introduced sequencing services for use in oncology are both innovative and impressive.”

Marc Grodman, M.D., Bio-Reference Laboratories’ Chairman, CEO and President have commented on the transaction: “Over the years we have learned that diagnostics are integral to drug discovery.” He added: “This has never been more apparent than today when new sequencing technologies have afforded us the opportunity to understand the biological basis of disease in far greater depth. At Bio-Reference Laboratories we have prided ourselves in finding disruptive diagnostic solutions that are clinically relevant. Dr. Frost is a visionary in the pharmaceutical world who, during a legendary career, has demonstrated the foresight to see new clinical applications for therapeutics before others. I am thrilled that I will be working and learning from him in the coming years as we seek to leverage our outstanding capabilities to improve lives of patients. In addition to identifying a synergistic partner for the value we have built over the past three decades, we are pleased that our shareholders will be rewarded by being able to share in the upside of the combined company.”

OPKO plans on leveraging the marketing, sales, and distribution resources of Bio-Reference Laboratories to further support sales of its 4Kscore test. This is a blood test to determine the risk of a patient for aggressive prostate cancer as well along with other OPKO diagnostic products. Bio-Reference Laboratories’ genetic sequencing laboratory, and GenPath Diagnostics, its Oncology and Women’s Health business units will also have a wide array of genetic and genomics data from OPKO. This data will greatly enhance drug discovery and clinical trial programs.

About OPKO Health

OPKO Health is a company that focuses on medical tests and medications as well as diagnostics and pharmaceuticals. OPKO Health specializes in treatments for hyperparathyroidism and has recently completed Phase III trial against insufficiency in Vitamin D. OPKO Health stock market evolution: http://www.marketwatch.com/investing/stock/opk

About Phillip Frost, M.D.

Dr. Frost has been the CEO and Chairman of OPKO since March 2007. Dr. Frost has successfully founded several pharmaceutical companies and overseen the development and commercialization of a multitude of pharmaceutical products. He is a demonstrated leader with keen business understanding and is uniquely positioned to help guide OPKO through its transition from a development stage company into a successful, multinational biopharmaceutical and diagnostics company.

About BioReference

BioReference is the third largest full service clinical diagnostic laboratory in the U.S. providing testing and related services to physician offices, clinics, hospitals, long term care facilities, employers, governmental units and correctional institutions. BioReference has an international presence in more than 50 countries around the world. In addition, BioReference has pioneered the development of business solutions by providing data and analytics to help them operate at their fullest potential. BioReference stock market evolution: http://www.marketwatch.com/investing/stock/brli

About Dr. Marc D. Grodman, M.D.

Dr. Marc D. Grodman, M.D. has been the Chairman, Chief Executive Officer and President of Bio-Reference Laboratories Inc. at PSIMedica.com since December 1981 and is the Managing Director. Dr. Grodman founded Bio-Reference Laboratories in December 1981 and has been a member of the Board of Directors of the American Clinical Laboratory Association. From 1980 to 1983, he attended the Kennedy School of Government at Harvard University and was a Primary Care Clinical Fellow at Massachusetts General Hospital. Dr. Grodman received a B.A. degree from the University of Pennsylvania and an M.D. degree from Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons.

Stock Building Supply Merges with Building Materials Holding Corporation for Enhanced Services and Products

June 11, 2015 by Sabin Piso

Stock Building Supply and Building Materials Holding Corporation have signed a definitive merger agreement under which the two companies combine through an all-stock transaction. The new company as a result of the merger is expected to have an implied pro forma enterprise value of $1.5 billion, a value that is based on Stock Building Supply’s closing price on June 2nd.

The merger of Stock Building Supply and Building Materials Holding Corporation will create a premier provider of lumber, building products and construction services with over $2.7 billion in pro forma 2014 revenues as well as enhanced product and service offerings. The combined company will also enjoy a larger geographic reach in productive regions across the United States. The combination will also benefit from huge technology capabilities and deep industry expertise that will lead to profitable growth and customer service.

Jeff Rea, President and Chief Executive Officer of Stock Building Supply, has mentioned in a statement “We expect this compelling strategic merger will provide significant benefits for customers, shareholders, suppliers and associates of both companies.” He also said “The continuing recovery of the U.S. housing market is expected to generate strong demand for building materials, services and solutions, and together we believe BMC and Stock Building Supply are better positioned to capitalize on this opportunity. Upon close of this transaction, I look forward to continuing on our board to support the combined company and have great faith in the combined leadership team’s ability to create significant shareholder value by accelerating the implementation of our common strategies.”

Peter Alexander, BMC’s Chief Executive Officer, said “We are very pleased to be uniting two leading companies with complementary strategies, products and services; a shared commitment to superior customer experiences; strong internal performance-based cultures and operations in high-demand geographies. The combination of our two highly complementary platforms will enhance our ability to provide customers with best-in-class products and services across an expanded geographic footprint. We have great respect for what the team at Stock Building Supply has accomplished and upon close of this transaction; I look forward to leading the combined team as we enter the next exciting phase of our transition and the ability to fund our growth.”

The Board of Directors of both companies has approved the details of the merger. BMC shareholders will receive 0.5231 newly issued Stock Building Supply shares for each BMC share. Upon the closing of the transaction, BMC shareholders will own approximately 60% of the merged entity, with Stock Building Supply shareholders owning approximately 40%. The transaction is structured to be tax-free to the shareholders of both companies, and is expected to close in the fourth quarter of 2015, subject to approval by both Stock Building Supply and BMC shareholders and typical regulatory clearances.

About Stock Building Supply

Stock Building Supply is a leading building materials and solutions company in the United States. The company specializes in high quality customer experience for builders and contractors who are engaged in single- and multi-family residential, repair and remodel and light commercial construction. Stock was founded as Carolina Builders Corporation (CBC) in Raleigh, North Carolina, in 1922. The Gores Group, LLC, a private equity firm focused on acquiring controlling interests in mature and growing businesses purchased a majority ownership of Stock in 2009. Because of Gores’ expertise, Stock is now a stronger, more focused and innovative company with great locations found across the United States. In addition to its core residential building materials business operating under the Stock name, other Stock subsidiaries are Coleman Floor, Smoot Lumber and Bison. Stock Building Supply stock market evolution: http://finance.yahoo.com/q?s=STCK

About Jeff Rea

Jeff Rea is the President and CEO of Stock Building Supply. Jeff Rea joined Stock Building Supply in 2010 as President and CEO. Before joining Stock, he served as President of the Specialty Products Group at TE Connectivity (TEL), which was comprised of four separate global businesses. Jeff has a degree in mechanical engineering from Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology in Terre Haute, Indiana.

About Building Materials and Construction Services

BMC – Building Materials & Construction Services is an American construction supply company headquartered in Boise, Idaho. It provides diversified building materials, trusses and components, doors and millwork, and construction and installation services across 88 business units in 16 markets in 10 states, 8 of which are in the top 25 single family construction markets. Building Materials and Construction Services stock market evolution: http://www.bloomberg.com/quote/BLG:US
About Peter C. Alexander

Peter C. Alexander is the CEO of Building Materials and Construction Services. He has served as a board director, and was named CEO in 2010. He has led businesses in the U.S. and over 25 countries. He has completed and integrated 41 acquisitions across the globe. Mr. Alexander attended the University of Stockholm, holds a Bachelor of Arts degree from The Ohio State University and a Master of Business Administration from The Pennsylvania State University.

Perrigo to Acquire OTC Brands from GlaxoSmithKline Consumer Healthcare

June 8, 2015 by Sabin Piso

Perrigo has announced that it agrees to acquire a portfolio of popular over-the-counter (“OTC”) brands from GlaxoSmithKline Consumer Healthcare. The transaction is in line with GSK’s commitments to the European Commission as well as from other regulators to divest these businesses for the creation of a consumer health joint venture between GSK and Novartis International AG (“Novartis”). According to the transaction, Perrigo will acquire the following assets; this is an all-cash transaction and the purchase price remains to be undisclosed till this day.

NiQuitin, GSK’s nicotine replacement therapy (“NRT”) business in the European Economic Area (“EEA”) and Brazil is a part of this transaction as well as Novartis’s legacy Australian NRT business, including the Nicotinell brand. Perrigo is also acquiring several assorted OTC brands such as Coldrex, a cold and flu treatment brand known across the EEA, and Panodil a pain relief medication, Nezeril a medication for nasal decongestion and Nasin which is also a nasal decongestant in Sweden. Finally, Perrigo has also acquired Novartis’s legacy cold sore management products which are primarily marketed in the EEA under the brands Vectavir, Pencivir, Fenivir, Fenlips and Vectatone.

Joseph C. Papa, Perrigo Chairman, President and CEO, commented on the transaction with GlaxoSmithKline, “This acquisition demonstrates Perrigo’s ability to execute on our ‘Base Plus Plus Plus’ strategy, in which we make selective, accretive transactions to expand our durable base business. We are building on the global platform we established with the Omega Pharma acquisition to capture an even greater share of the $30 billion European OTC market opportunity with several well-established, complementary brands that bolster our OTC product portfolio. We are committed to making investments in these brands to grow their market positions in key geographies, by following Omega Pharma’s proven approach to brand building.

“Perrigo is uniquely positioned to maximize the potential of these brands by leveraging Omega Pharma’s leading European commercial infrastructure, pan-European distribution network, strong brand-building capabilities, and exceptional management team. This announcement comes on the heels of our recent acquisition of European OTC dermatological product, Vitasil, which recently closed. With our global platform in place and our robust balance sheet, we are ideally positioned to execute immediately accretive deals, such as this one, that will have a multiplier effect on our growth.”

The acquisition is expected to be immediately accretive to Perrigo’s calendar 2015 adjusted earnings per share, excluding estimated intangible amortization and transaction-related costs. The Boards of Directors of Perrigo and GSK has unanimously approved the transaction and is expected to close in the third quarter of 2015, pending approval by the European Commission, the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission, and Brazil’s Council for Economic Defense, as well as the satisfaction of customary closing conditions.

About Perrigo

Perrigo Company plc is an Irish international manufacturer of private label OTC medications. The company’s shares are traded on the NYSE and the Tel Aviv Stock Exchange. As a result of the merger with Agis Industries the company is a constituent of the TA – 25 Index. Perrigo is the only non-Israeli company on the TA-25.

Perrigo Company plc, through its wholly owned subsidiaries, manufactures and sells consumer healthcare products, generic prescription drugs, active pharmaceutical ingredients and consumer products primarily in the United States, Australia, Israel, India, Mexico and in European countries. Perrigo stock market evolution: http://finance.yahoo.com/q?s=PRGO

About Joseph C. Papa

Joseph C. Papa is the President, Chief Executive Officer and Chairman of Perrigo Company plc. He joined the Company in October 2006 as President and Chief Executive Officer. Additionally, Mr. Papa has held management positions at DuPont Pharmaceuticals, Pharmacia Corporation, G.D. Searle & Company and Novartis AG. Mr. Papa is a director of Smith & Nephew, a developer of advanced orthopedic medical devices

About GlaxoSmithKline

GlaxoSmithKline plc (GSK) is a British multinational pharmaceutical company with headquarters in Brentford, London. GSK is the world’s sixth-largest pharmaceutical company in 2014, after its competitors Pfizer, Novartis, Sanofi, Hoffmann – La Roche and Merck. It was established in 2000 by a merger of Glaxo Wellcome (formed from Glaxo’s 1995 acquisition of Burroughs Wellcome) and SmithKline Beecham (from the 1989 merger of Beecham Group and SmithKline Beckman Corporation.

GSK has a variety of products for major disease areas such as asthma, cancer, infections, mental health, diabetes and digestive conditions. Its drugs and vaccines earned billions of pounds in 2013; its top-selling products that year were Advair, Avodart, Flovent, Augmentin, Lovaza and Lamictal. GSK has applied for regulatory approval in 2014 for the first ever malaria vaccine called RTS,S, which will be available for five percent above cost. GSK’s consumer healthcare products, which earned £5.2 billion in 2013, include brands such as Sensodyne and Aquafresh toothpaste, the malted-milk drink Horlicks, Abreva a medication for cold sores, Breathe Right nasal strips, Nicoderm for cigarette cessation and Nicorete, also nicotine replacements, and Night Nurse, a cold remedy. GlaxoSmithKline stock market evolution: http://quotes.wsj.com/GSK .

GameStop Acquires Geeknet, Inc. for Approximately $140 Million

June 7, 2015 by Sabin Piso

GameStop and Geeknet, Inc., the parent company of ThinkGeek and ThinkGeek Solutions, has announced that both companies have entered into a definitive agreement. This agreement specifies that GameStop will acquire all of the outstanding shares of Geeknet’s common stock for $20.00 per share in cash. This deal has been approved by the board of directors of both companies and will be completed through a tender offer. GameStop’s acquisition of Geeknet has a total equity value of approximately $140 million. This includes $37 million of cash and cash equivalents as of March 31, 2015.

Paul Raines, chief executive officer of GameStop, stated, “This acquisition creates value to all stakeholders involved. The addition of Geeknet is an important expansion of our global multichannel platform and we are excited to leverage their product development expertise to broaden our product offering in the fast-growing collectibles category and deepen relationships with our existing customer base.”

Kathryn McCarthy, chief executive officer of Geeknet, mentioned in a statement: “Our Board and management team believe this transaction is in the best interest of Geeknet and its stockholders.” She added “As a part of GameStop’s family of brands, Geeknet will be well-positioned to achieve our goals of increasing our brand awareness and expanding our product offerings.”

The transaction will extend the product offering of GameStop and this move is expected to add an immediate incremental $100+ million in annual net sales. Geeknet will benefit from the transaction through the following points. This transaction will expand GameStop’s diversified revenue stream by adding ThinkGeek, the No. 1 brand in the fast growing collectibles category. This acquisition is expected to increase operating earnings, and has a targeted IRR that exceeds 20%. Online, pickup-at-store, web-in-store and standalone retail will become a strong part of GameStop. Geeknet’s proprietary product innovation capabilities and established portfolio of premier along with their hard-to-secure licenses will greatly help GameStop become a leader in the industry and furthermore, the transaction will improve the engagement with GameStop’s core customers, in particular the 40 million global PowerUp Rewards members.

According to the terms of the definitive agreement, GameStop will commence a tender offer for all outstanding common shares of Geeknet, at $20.00 per share in cash. The tender offer is conditioned on Geeknet’s stockholders tendering at least a majority of Geeknet’s outstanding shares in the tender offer, clearance under the Hart-Scott-Rodino Antitrust Improvements Act and other customary closing conditions. The acquisition is expected to close by the end of GameStop’s second quarter 2015. Geeknet stockholders who represent approximately 21% of outstanding shares have all committed to engage in the tender offer.

About GameStop Corporation

GameStop Corporation is an American video game, consumer electronics, and wireless services retailer company. GameStop has headquarters in Grapevine, Texas and operates 6,457 retail stores throughout the United States, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, and Europe. Its retail stores primarily operate under the GameStop, EB Games, and Micromania brands. It also owns Kongregate, a site for browser-based video games; and Game Informer, a video game magazine. GameStop stock market evolution: http://www.marketwatch.com/investing/stock/gme

About J. Paul Raines

Mr. J. Paul Raines has been the Chief Executive Officer of GameStop Corp. and GameStop, Inc., since June 2010. Mr. Raines has more than 22 years of senior level experience in corporate management. He has a wealth of retail operations expertise and has an impressive track-record with executing strategies to support the customer experience and drive positive results. He serves as Director of The Home Depot Foundation., The Latin American Association (LAA) of Atlanta, and the Hispanic Association of Corporate Responsibility (HACR) Alumni. Mr. Raines earned his Bachelor of Science in industrial engineering from the Georgia Institute of Technology in 1985.

About Geeknet

Geeknet, Inc. is headquartered in Fairfax County, Virginia and is the owner of the online retailer ThinkGeek, Formerly known as VA Research, VA Linux Systems, VA Software, and SourceForge, Inc., it was founded in 1993. Geeknet, Inc. stock market evolution: http://finance.yahoo.com/q?s=GKNT

About Kathryn K. McCarthy

Kathryn McCarthy is the President, Chief Executive Officer, and Chairman of the Board of Directors of Geeknet, Inc. She has served as part of the Board of Directors and as Chief Executive Officer and President since March 2013, and Chairman of the Board since July 2013. During her tenure at the Company, she has led efforts to increase brand awareness, expand GeekLabs exclusive product offerings, improve the site experience and upgrade technology, and expand to new channels, including wholesale and the ThinkGeek Solutions acquisition. Among other qualifications, Ms. McCarthy brings to the Board of Directors her financial and managerial experience as well as an in-depth knowledge of the Company’s business and operations.

British American Tobacco Plc Acquires TDR from Adris Grupa for €550 Million

June 5, 2015 by Sabin Piso

British American Tobacco PLC has announced that it has agreed to purchase TDR d.o.o. and other tobacco and retail assets from Adris Grupa d.d. for €550 million. TDR is one of the most popular independent cigarette manufacturers in Central Europe. The company has a leading position in Croatia and in Bosnia and Serbia. This amazing lead will provide BAT the opportunity to develop its business in the region. TDR is a cigarette manufacturer headquartered in Central Europe with great market in Croatia, Bosnia and Serbia. BAT expects the transaction to provide the opportunity to significantly grow its business in the region.

With the combination of BAT and TDR, British American Tobacco plc expects to benefit from the great benefits. The company is sure to benefit from TDR’s highly skilled people, a well-established brand, improved regional leaf processing capabilities, an equipped high quality local factory and print facility and of course a great advantage over all other competitors because of a strong relationship with distributors and retailers.

According to the transaction BAT has committed to keeping TDR’s manufacturing facility in Kanfanar, Croatia. This huge facility will remain operational for at least five years following completion of the acquisition.

Chief Executive Nicandro Durante of British American Tobacco commented: “This is an exciting acquisition for BAT, which will provide immediate scale in three core markets of Croatia, Bosnia and Serbia and establishes a sustainable platform to grow our business in Central Europe”.

The proposed acquisition is subject to a number of anti-trust approvals and Adris shareholder consent. The transaction is expected to complete in October 2015. In London, British American Tobacco shares were trading at 3,646.50 pence, up 1.14 percent.

About British American Tobacco PLC

British American Tobacco plc (BAT) is a British multinational tobacco company that has headquarters in London, United Kingdom. At present, it is one of the world’s largest tobacco companies. BAT has a leading position in the tobacco industry in over 50 countries. It has operations in around 180 countries. You may recognize BAT products with its four largest-selling brands. These are Dunhill, Lucky Strike, Kent and Pall Mall. Other cigarette brands that are also made by BAT are Kool, Benson & Hedges and Rothmans.

British American Tobacco has a primary listing on the London Stock Exchange and is a constituent of the FTSE 100 Index. As at 6 July 2012 it had a market capitalisation of £65.6 billion. It is the sixth-largest of any company listed on the London Stock Exchange. It has a secondary listing on the Johannesburg Stock Exchange.

The British American Tobacco company was formed in 1902, when the United Kingdom’s Imperial Tobacco Company and the American Tobacco Company of the United States agreed to form a joint venture forming the British-American Tobacco Company Ltd. The parent companies agreed not to trade in each other’s domestic territory and to assign trademarks, export businesses and overseas subsidiaries to the joint venture. The formed company had its first chairman by the name of James Buchanan Duke. The British American Tobacco business began business in various diverse countries such as Canada, China, Germany, South Africa, New Zealand and Australia. Back then, it did not made business in the United Kingdom or in the United States.

British American Tobacco stock market evolution: http://www.google.com/finance?cid=3098087

About Nicandro Durante

Nicandro Durante is the Chief Executive of British American Tobacco PLC. He originally joined the Board of British American Tobacco as Chief Operating Officer in January 2008 after almost two years as Regional Director for Africa & Middle East. Nicandro was appointed Chief Executive Designate in September 2010.

Nicandro has a Brazilian / Italian ancestry. He holds degrees in finance, economics and business administration. He joined British American Tobacco’s Brazilian subsidiary Souza Cruz in 1981. This was after three years working in finance in two Brazilian companies where he built a successful finance career. In 1997 Nicandro was appointed Finance Director in Hong Kong before returning to Brazil in 2000 as Finance Director for Souza Cruz. In April 2002 he was appointed President of Souza Cruz. Nicandro was appointed as a Non-Executive Director of Reckitt Benckiser Group plc in December 2013.

About Adris Grupa

Adris Grupa is the largest tobacco company in Croatia and one of the largest in the Balkans. It is made up of two business units: Tobacco and Tourism. The Tobacco unit companies involves: TDR d.o.o, Istragrafika d.d, Hrvatski duhani d.d. The company markets cigarettes under the brand names of Ronhill, Walter Wolf, York and MC. The Tourism unit companies involves: Maistra d.d. The company is headquartered in the city of Rovinj, it was founded in 2003, and its stock is listed at the Zagreb Stock Exchange. Adris Grupa stock market evolution: http://www.zse.hr/default.aspx?id=17560&dionica=ADRS-R-A

Equinix Will Acquire TelecityGroup for $3.6 Billion

June 4, 2015 by Sabin Piso

Equinix has agreed to acquire TelecityGroup. This is a deal worth $3.6 billion. The transaction for the deal was submitted yesterday and the following are the items included in the deal:

The transaction has a value of approximately 1,145.0 pence per TelecityGroup Share and a value of approximately £2,351.9 million for TelecityGroup’s entire issued and to be issued share capital according to the volume-weighted average share price of $267.74 per Equinix Share for the 5 day period to 28 May 2015.This is being the last Business Day before the date of this Announcement as well as the exchange rate on 28 May 2015 of 1.5283.

And according to the value of approximately 1,145.0 pence per TelecityGroup Share, the terms of the acquisition represent a premium of about 34.9 per cent. This is from the Closing Price of 848.5 pence per TelecityGroup Share on 10 February 2015 and this being the last Business Day before TelecityGroup announced its merger with Interxion.

Along with the terms of the deal, a premium of approximately 56.5 per cent to the volume-weighted average share price of 731.8 pence per TelecityGroup Share. This is for the 12-month period to 10 February 2015. This again being the last Business Day before TelecityGroup announced its proposed deal with Interxion and a premium of about 27.3 per cent to the Closing Price of 899.5 pence per TelecityGroup Share on 6 May 2015. This date being the last Business Day before TelecityGroup announced that the company is interested in creating a deal with Equinix.

The current value of the transaction according to Equinix’s Closing Price of $269.19 on 28 May 2015, being the last Business Day before the merger was announced, and an exchange rate on 28 May 2015 of 1.5283 is 1,148.5 pence per TelecityGroup Share.

After the completion of the Transaction, TelecityGroup Shareholders will now own approximately 10.1 per cent. John Hughes, Executive Chairman of the Board of TelecityGroup, will become a part of the Board of Equinix. TelecityGroup directors, which were advised by Goldman Sachs International and Oakley Capital Limited on the terms of the Transaction, consider the terms fair and reasonable. The directors of TelecityGroup unanimously recommend that TelecityGroup Shareholders vote according to the Scheme at the Court Meeting and the resolutions of the Transaction at the TelecityGroup General Meeting.

TelecityGroup directors have irrevocably undertaken their own beneficial holdings of 128,318 TelecityGroup Shares in aggregate which is approximately 0.0632 per cent of TelecityGroup’s issued share capital on 28 May 2015 which is the last Business Day before this Announcement.

Regarding the outcome of the transaction, the Board of Equinix believes that this will deliver incredible value for the shareholders of both TelecityGroup and Equinix. The Board of Equinix also believes that the premium offered, which includes a significant cash component and the opportunity for TelecityGroup Shareholders to be able to join in combined value creation through the transaction’s equity component is a huge opportunity for TelecityGroup Shareholders.

On the other hand, the Board of Equinix believes that acquisition will pave the way for improved network and cloud density so that the combined company will be able to better serve its customers. The combined company will create a stronger platform to attract more customers and pursue the huge opportunity in the industry. Equinix also expects that the deal will enable reaccelerated deployment of cloud service provider nodes and to further improve the services of Equinix’s cloud ecosystem strategy. More information about the acquisition will be announced on a later date.

About Equinix

Equinix, Inc. is an American public corporation that offers carrier-neutral data centers and internet exchanges. The company provides network-neutral data centers (IBX or “International Business Exchange”) as well as interconnection services. Some of the most popular services that the company offers are collocation, traffic exchange and outsourced IT infrastructure solutions which are important to enterprises, content companies, systems integrators and over 1,000+ network service providers worldwide.

Equinix data centers is the source of more than 500 cloud service providers and this helps make the Equinix Cloud Exchange come to life. This is a service through proprietary software that amazingly helps users to connect to simultaneously connect to multiple clouds. Equinix stock market evolution http://www.marketwatch.com/investing/stock/eqix.

About Telecity Group

Telecity Group plc was formerly known as TelecityRedbus and before that Telecity. This company is a European carrier-neutral datacentre and colocation centre provider. Telecity focuses on the design, build and management of highly connected, resilient and secure environments where customers can house their telecoms, internet and IT infrastructure. Telecity is listed on the London Stock Exchange and is a part of the FTSE 250, FTSE techMARK 100 and FTSE4Good indices. Telecity Group stock market evolution: http://www.bloomberg.com/quote/TCY:LN .

Royal Dutch Shell Will Purchase Rival BG Group for 47 Billion Pounds

May 4, 2015 by Sabin Piso

Royal Dutch Shell said that it will buy smaller rival BG Group for 47 billion pounds ($70 billion). Experts believe that this is “the first major energy industry merger in more than a decade.” Shell is also closing in on market leader U.S. Exxon Mobil following a drop in oil prices.

According to sources, the transaction will include the following information: Shell will pay BG cash and shares that value each BG share at 1,350 pence. This transaction has a value of around 52 percent to the 90-day trading average for BG. These values set the bar high should there be any form of counterbid by any oil company such as Exxon. The American multinational oil and gas company from Irving, Texas said it would also use the downturn in oil prices to expand.

The purchase improves Shell assets in Brazil, East Africa, Australia, Kazakhstan and Egypt. Shell will inherit BG’s projects in liquefied natural gas (LNG). Currently, the demand for other sources of energy has been sought as consumers turn away from coal which is considered the top polluting fuels. Shell will also acquire BG’s capacity in LNG logistics which includes infrastructures such as terminals, pipelines, specialized tankers, rigs, super coolers, regasification facilities and storage facilities.

Ben van Beurden, CEO of Shell, commented about the transaction of the decade: “Bold, strategic moves shape our industry. BG and Shell are a great fit. This transaction fits with our strategy and our read on the industry landscape around us. Over time, the combination will enhance our free cash flow potential, and our capacity to undertake share buybacks, where I expect to see a substantial increase in pace.”

Helge Lund, CEO of BG, provides his comments about the purchase: “The offer from Shell delivers attractive returns to shareholders and has strong strategic logic. BG’s deep water positions and strengths in exploration, liquefaction and LNG shipping and marketing will combine well with Shell’s scale, development expertise and financial strength. The consolidated business will be strongly placed to develop the growth projects in BG’s portfolio. The transaction will take time to complete, during which my team and I will remain committed to BG and our shareholders, and to safely delivering our 2015 business plan.”

About Shell

Royal Dutch Shell plc commonly known as Shell is an Anglo–Dutch multinational oil and gas company which has headquarters in the Netherlands and incorporated in the United Kingdom. The company was from the merger of Royal Dutch Petroleum and UK-based Shell Transport & Trading. It is the fourth largest company in the world, in terms of revenue in 2014 and one of the six oil and gas top players. Shell is also listed as one of the world’s most valuable companies.

The largest shareholder of Shell is Capital Research Global Investors as of January 2013 with 9.85%; BlackRock is the second largest with 6.89%. In the 2013 Fortune Global 500 list of the world’s largest companies, Shell is found at the top of the list. Royal Dutch Shell revenue was equal to 84% of the Netherlands’ $555.8 billion GDP. Royal Dutch Shell stock market evolution: http://www.marketwatch.com/investing/stock/rds.a

About Ben van Beurden

Ben van Beurden is the CEO of Royal Dutch Shell plc. He joined Shell in 1983, after earning a degree in Chemical Engineering from the Delft University of Technology in the Netherlands.

About BG Group

BG Group plc is a British multinational oil and gas company with headquarters in Reading, United Kingdom. BG has operations located in 25 countries across Africa, Asia, Australasia, Europe, North America and South America. This massive oil company is able to produce around 680,000 barrels of oil equivalent per day. BG is the leader in Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) business and it is the top supplier of LNG to the United States. As at 31 December 2009 the company has proven commercial reserves of 2.6 billion barrels (410,000,000 m³) of oil equivalent. BG Group is listed on the London Stock Exchange and under the FTSE 100 Index. It had a market capitalisation of £44.9 billion since July 2014 and is the seventh-largest company listed on the London Stock Exchange. BG stock market evolution: http://www.bloomberg.com/quote/bg/:ln

About Helge Lund

Helge Lund is a Norwegian businessman who is the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of BG Group. He was also the former CEO of Statoil and Aker Kværner. Lund graduated in business management at the Norwegian School of Economics in Bergen. He also has a Master of Business Administration (MBA) from the INSEAD business school in France.

Bollore Raises Its Stake in Vivendi 12.01 Percent – Now Has 162 Million Shares Worth More Than 3 Million Euros

May 3, 2015 by Sabin Piso

Vincent Bollore is chairman and top shareholder at French media company Vivendi. Bollore is currently facing pressure from P. Schoenfeld Asset Management (PSAM) to increase payouts to shareholders and clarify its strategy. Bollore mentioned in a statement that it had bought 24.6 million additional shares at 23.08 euros each, for a total amount of 568 million euros ($614 million). The billionaire businessman now holds 162 million shares worth 3.8 billion euros. Bollore only had control of 10.2 percent of Vivendi.

Vincent Bolloré increased his stake in Vivendi SA for the third time in a month as a result of a pressure with its shareholder P. Schoenfeld Asset Management LP. This is a result of Vivendibeing under scrutiny from PSAM, a U.S. hedge fund that wants the company to use funds from recent asset sales for increasing shareholder returns. PSAM is trying to get support from other shareholders for two resolutions it has proposed for Vivendi’s general meeting held later this month. The resolutions mentioned that Vivendi needs to pay shareholders a total of €9 billion.

On the other hand, Vivendi has been fighting back. Vivendi argues that the hedge fund, which owns 0.8% in Vivendi, wants to dismantle the company and is using shareholders not to vote for the resolutions.Vivendi has dramatically reduced its business over the years leaving investors wondering what its new chairman plans to do to develop Vivendi. Mr. Bolloré has said little about his plans and this sparked increased criticism from investors. Mr. Bollorétook over the chairmanship of Vivendi last June and is the largest individual shareholder. He has more than doubled his holding in Vivendi over the past month. It is expected that the chairman is getting ready for an intense general meeting in Paris on April 17.

Mr. Bolloré made it clear that he doesn’t intend to take over Vivendi within the coming six months; this was said in a filing with France’s stock market regulator AMF. The increase in shares is a sign that Bollore is confident in Vivendi’s capacity to become the best in Europe. On the other hand, he did not exclude proposing more members to Vivendi’s board.

Mr. Bolloré will be prompted to reply to Peter M. Schoenfeld, at the general meeting. PSAM has long criticized Vivendi for not providing enough information on its investment strategies and said its chairman is benefiting from undervalued stock prices to improve its holding. The fund has also argued that Vivendi may be able to increase its share price by selling parts or all of Universal Music Group. The PSAM also denied Vivendi’s claims that it was seeking to dismantle the company.

Vivendi has gained backing from its employees in fighting PSAM after warning that the fund could damage Vivendi with its plans to ruin the group.

“We are confident that our group can become an international player in media and content generating strong job creation through a long-term strategy,” noted Paulo Cardoso, who represents Vivendi employees on the supervisory board, in a letter this week. “It is our duty to reject your proposal which is essentially nothing more than a holdup.”

Mr. Schoenfeld on Thursday mentioned that it was rather too early to find out how much backing from shareholders he would get. “Let’s say we’re optimistic,” Mr. Schoenfeld said. “We don’t understand why our initiative is stirring such a controversy. What we are proposing to Vivendi is a win-win deal.”

About Bollore

Bolloré is a French investment and industrial holding group with headquarters in Puteaux, located on the western outskirts of Paris, France. The company employs 28,000 people around the world.The company is led by Vincent Bolloré. The company is listed on the Euronext exchange in Paris; the Bolloré family retains majority control of the company through a complex and indirect holding structure. Bollore stock market evolution: http://www.bloomberg.com/quote/BOL:FP

About Vincent Bollore

Vincent Bolloré is a French industrialist, corporate raider and businessman. He serves as the Chairman and CEO of the investment group Bolloré.

About Vivendi

Vivendi SA is a French multinational mass media company with headquarters in Paris, France. The company is involved in music, television and film. Vivendi stock market evolution: http://www.bloomberg.com/quote/VIV:FP

About Paulo Cardoso

Mr. Paulo Cardoso is a representative of Vivendi SA employees. He is a trained accountant; he joined La Compagnie Générale des Eaux in 1997 as administrative manager at the Communications Department.In 2002, he integrated the Treasury Department where he is responsible for the Cash Management of Canal+ Group and of the Group’s systems networks.

P. Schoenfeld Asset Management LP

PSAM is a global alternative asset manager focused on event driven investment opportunities. PSAM was founded by Peter M. Schoenfeld andhas been providing services as an investment adviser since 1997. PSAM is registered as an investment adviser with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission.P. Schoenfeld Asset Management LLP is authorized and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority.

Yoox Group to Merge with Rival Net – a – Porter to Create Ultimate Online Luxury Fashion Retailer

April 30, 2015 by Sabin Piso

The Yoox Group said on Tuesday that it agreed to merge with its luxury e-commerce rival company Net-a-Porter in an all-share deal. This would create an online luxury fashion retailer with a combined to post revenue of 1.3 billion euros, or about $1.4 billion. The new company would be called Yoox Net-a-Porter Group.

“This is a game-changing merger between two pioneering companies that have already radically transformed the marketplace since 2000 and will now shift the industry paradigm once again,” Federico Marchetti, the founder and chief executive of Yoox, said in a news release. “Together, we plan to expand on our many combined successes and industry breadth to strengthen partnerships with the world’s leading luxury brands and harness a significant untapped growth potential.”

Net-a-Porter’s website sells clothing, jewelry, shoes and accessories from top designers and labels which includes Alexander McQueen, Dolce & Gabbana and Valentino. It also publishes Porter magazine that allows readers to buy featured items. On the other hand Yoox sells off-season luxury goods in its online store and from thecorner.com.

In an interview by telephone from Milan, Mr. Marchetti said that he admired Net-a-Porter’s editorial skills. These would improve Yoox’s business building and operating websites for luxury brands. Yoox already powers sites for more than 30 brands, including Armani, Zegna, Lanvin and Valentino, and has a joint venture with Kering for many of its luxury brands including Bottega Veneta, YSL and Alexander McQueen. Mr. Marchetti would serve as the chief executive of the combined company, and Natalie Massenet, the founder of Net-a-Porter, would be its executive chairwoman.

“Today, we open the doors to the world’s biggest luxury fashion store,” Ms. Massenet said. “It is a store that never closes, a store without geographical borders, a store that connects with, inspires, serves and offers millions of style-conscious global consumers’ access to the finest designer labels in fashion.”

According to the deal, Richemont would receive 50 percent of the combined company’s shares and hold 25 percent of its voting rights. Richmond would also be limited to two of the company’s 12 independent directors. To remember, Richemont acquired a majority interest in Net-a-Porter in 2010 in a deal that improved the company’s value at 350 million pounds, or about $519 million. Analysts said the merger will call for further consolidation in the luxury retail sector.

The transaction is subject to regulatory and shareholder approval and is set to close in September. Yoox would still be listed in Milan and based in Italy. If the transaction is completed, the combined company will raise up to €200 million in capital to fund future growth opportunities.

About Yoox

YOOX Group S.p.A is an Italian internet mail order retailer of men’s and women’s multibrand clothing and accessories. Founded by Federico Marchetti, a former investment banker, in Zola Predosa, Yoox Group has become an e-commerce company that serves more than 100 countries worldwide. Yoox stock market evolution: http://www.reuters.com/finance/stocks/overview?symbol=YOOX.MI

About Federico Marchetti

Federico Marchetti is the founder and CEO of YOOX Group. After finishing an MBA at Columbia and a brief career in finance and consulting, he developed Internet retailing company Yoox in 2000 in Zola Predosa. Marchetti took YOOX Group public in 2009 on the Borsa Italiana (Milan Stock Exchange). It was the first European tech company to do so since the economic downturn of that period. YOOX Group opened its first offices in China in 2010 in the city of Shanghai. In 2011, Marchetti was given an award for Innovation and Internet by the Italy-based Chi è Chi (Who’s Who) organization. On January 25, 2012, Marchetti and YOOX Group were awarded the Comitato Leonardo’s Premio Leonardo award for innovation by Giorgio Napolitano, President of Italy.

About Net –a – Porter

Net-a-Porter is a high-fashion retailer that online designed in the style of a magazine. It was launched in London in June, 2000 by Natalie Massenet. It now operates globally with multiple fashion retailing sites and some 2,600 employees. It is part of the Swiss holding company Richemont. The website has 2.5 million unique visits in Internet traffic to their website every month.

About Natalie Massenet

Natalie Massenet MBE is a fashion entrepreneur, former journalist and founder of fashion portal Net-a-Porter. Since 2013, she has been chairman of the British Fashion Council. Credited by many as changing the way designer fashion is retailed, she has been described as: “fashion’s favorite self-made success story” by The Observer. Massenet received an MBE for services to the fashion industry in 2009. In 2013, Massenet was made a Woman of the Year by US Glamour magazine. In 2014, she was named as one of the 100 most influential people by Time.

ARRIS Group Will Acquire Pace Plc for Stocks and $2.1 Billion in Cash

April 29, 2015 by Sabin Piso

ARRIS Group and Pace plc announced an agreement regarding ARRIS acquisition of Pace for aggregate stock and cash consideration of US$2.1 billion (£1.4 billion). The transaction is expected to be accretive to ARRIS Non-GAAP earnings per share in the first 12 months following the acquisition.

The transaction will result in the formation of New ARRIS; the company will be incorporate in the U.K., while its headquarters and their operations will be based in the USA. New ARRIS is expected to be listed on the NASDAQ stock exchange under the ticker ARRS. And regarding the new connection each current share of ARRIS will be exchanged for one share in New ARRIS.

ARRIS has secured a fully committed facility from Bank of America Merrill Lynch to meet the funding requirements.

The proposed transaction has been approved by the respective Boards of Directors of ARRIS and Pace and is expected to close in late 2015 after the satisfaction of customary closing conditions, including ARRIS and Pace shareholder approval and regulatory approvals.

ARRIS Chairman and CEO, Bob Stanzione will be New ARRIS Chairman and CEO and the then-current ARRIS Board of Directors will serve as the New ARRIS Board of Directors.

“This transaction is another example of ARRIS’s ongoing strategy of investing in the right opportunities to position our company for growth. Adding Pace’s talent, products and diverse customer base will provide ARRIS with a large scale entry into the satellite segment broaden our portfolio and expand our global presence. We expect this merger will enable ARRIS to increase its speed of innovation. We believe this is a tremendous opportunity for ARRIS and our customers, employees, shareholders and partners around the world as we collaborate to invent the future,” mentioned Bob Stanzione. “We look forward to working with the talented and accomplished team at Pace.”

“Pace plc is a great company with a strong track record of pioneering innovation and excellent customer service. Through a combination of organic development and acquisitions, Pace has grown to be a leading technology solutions provider to the PayTV and Broadband industries serving cable, satellite and telco customers across the globe. Over the last three years, Mike Pulli and the wider Pace team have successfully executed against our strategic plan to develop Pace into a more distinctive, profitable and cash generative company, creating significant value for shareholders.

“The Pace Directors believe that ARRIS’s offer recognises this value and also gives our shareholders the opportunity to share in the future success of the combined group. While we believe that Pace is strongly positioned to continue to execute its strategy in the medium and long term, we believe that the combination of the complementary ARRIS and Pace businesses will create a platform for future growth above and beyond our standalone potential. We believe this is a great fit for both companies, our employees, customers and trading partners,” said Allan Leighton, Chairman of Pace.

About Arris Group, Inc.

ARRIS Group, Inc. is a global communications technology company, which engages in the designing, engineering, and supplying of broadband network services for residential and business subscribers. Its products expand and help grow network capacity with access and outside plant construction equipment that reliably deliver voice, video and data services and assure optimal service delivery for end customers. The company operates its business through two segments: Network & Cloud and Customer Premises Equipment. ARRIS Group was founded in 2001 and is headquartered in Suwanee, GA. ARRIS stock market evolution http://www.marketwatch.com/investing/stock/arrs

About Robert J. Stanzione
Robert J. (Bob) Stanzione is Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of ARRIS, a global communications technology leader that provides broadband local access networks with innovative next generation high-speed data and telephony systems for the delivery of voice, video and data to the home and business. Bob holds a Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering from Clemson University, a Master’s degree in Industrial Engineering from North Carolina State University and has completed executive development programs at the University of Richmond, Babson College and the International Institute for Management Development in Switzerland.

About Pace

Pace plc develops set-top boxes (STBs), advanced residential gateways, software and services for the pay-TV and broadband services industry. Pace’s customers include cable, telco, satellite and IPTV operators. The company is listed on the London Stock Exchange and is a constituent of the FTSE 250 Index.

On 22 April 2015, Pace agreed to be acquired by Arris Group of the United States, in a stock and cash deal that valued the company at £1.4Bn. The resultant combined group will be head quartered in the United Kingdom, but operationally managed from the United States. Pace stock market evolution http://www.marketwatch.com/investing/stock/pic?countrycode=uk

About Allan Leighton

Allan Leighton is an English businessman, former CEO of Asda and former non-executive chairman of the Royal Mail. He is currently the CEO of the Danish jewelry company Pandora. Leighton was appointed Chairman of Yorkshire-based broadcast and broadband technology company Pace plc on 21 June 2011.

Associated Estates Realty Corporation Merges with Brookfield Asset Management

April 28, 2015 by Sabin Piso

Associated Estates Realty Corporation has announced that its Board of Directors has unanimously approved a definitive merger wherein a real estate fund managed by Brookfield Asset Management will acquire all outstanding shares of common stock of Associated Estates for $28.75 per share in cash. This merger transaction is valued at approximately $2.5 billion which includes the assumption of debt.

Brookfield is a global brand that focuses on asset management with more than $200 billion in assets under management. The company has more than a 100-year history of owning and operating assets. Brookfield also focuses on property, renewable energy, infrastructure and private equity.

Brookfield Property Group, which is the largest investment platform, is made of sector-specific portfolios in the multifamily, office, retail, industrial, and hotel sectors.

Jeffrey I. Friedman, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, mentioned in an interview “In December 2014, we announced that our Board was undertaking a thorough business review with the assistance of our financial advisor. After analyzing the Company’s strategy, assets and other opportunities, including running a process involving a number of qualified potential buyers, the Board unanimously determined that this transaction is the best course of action to maximize shareholder value. We are pleased that Brookfield recognizes the value inherent in our income producing properties, development projects and the platform we have built. We are also excited that this transaction will deliver compelling, immediate and certain value to all Associated Estates shareholders.”

Associated Estates’ headquarters will still be in Richmond Heights, Ohio. Approvals and Anticipated Closing Completion of the transaction is contingent upon customary closing conditions. The Company will meet to seek the approval of Associated Estates shareholders, and the annual meeting previously scheduled for May 22, 2015 has been postponed indefinitely. The transaction is not contingent on receipt of financing by Brookfield.

Closing is expected to occur in the second half of 2015. First Quarter 2015 Financial Results and Dividend Associated Estates will release financial results for its first quarter 2015 on Friday, May 1, 2015. In light of today’s announcement, the Company will not hold a conference call to discuss its first quarter financial results. The Company intends to pay the previously announced common stock dividend of $0.21 per share on May 1, 2015 to shareholders of record as of April 15, 2015. It does not expect to pay additional dividends prior to the closing of the merger.

About Associated Estates Realty Corporation

Associated Estates is a real estate investment trust and a member of the S&P 600, Russell 2000, and MSCI US REIT Indices. It is headquartered in Richmond Heights, Ohio. Associated Estates’ portfolio consists of 56 apartment communities containing 15,004 units located in 10 states, which include two committed acquisitions with 681 units that are being managed during lease-up and five apartment communities with 1,446 units in various stages of active development. Associated Estates Realty Corporation stock market evolution http://www.marketwatch.com/investing/stock/aec

About Jeffrey I. Friedman

Mr. Jeffrey I. Friedman is Chairman, President & Chief Executive Officer at Associated Estates Realty Corp., a Member at National Association of Real Estate Investment Trusts, Inc., a Member at World Presidents’ Organization, a Member at The Urban Land Institute, a Member at National Multifamily Housing Council, and a Member at Chief Executives Organization. He is on the Board of Directors at Greater Cleveland Sports Commission and Cleveland Clinic. Mr. Friedman was employed as President & Chief Executive Officer by Associated Estates Corp. He received his undergraduate degree from The Ohio State University.

About Brookfield Asset Management

Brookfield Asset Management, Inc. is a Canadian asset management company that manages a global portfolio of total assets under management of $181 billion, invested on behalf of clients. The company is concentrated in property, renewable power, infrastructure and private equity. Brookfield was founded in 1899. It was a company that concentrated as a builder and operator of electricity and transport infrastructure in Brazil. This was evident in the company’s earlier name of “Brascan” meaning “Brasil” + “Canada”). The company provided electricity and tram services in São Paulo and Rio de Janeiro. The company’s major public subsidiaries include Brookfield Renewable Energy Partners, Brookfield Property Partners, Brookfield Canada Office Properties, Brookfield Incorporações, Brookfield Office Properties, Brookfield Residential Properties Inc., Brookfield Infrastructure Partners, and Brookfield Real Estate Services. Brookfield Asset Management, Inc. stock market evolution http://www.marketwatch.com/investing/stock/bam

Standard Chartered PLC No Deal to Sell Huge Stake in Bank Permata Tbk

April 27, 2015 by Sabin Piso

Standard Chartered PLC has no intention to sell its 45 percent stake in Indonesia’s Bank Permata Tbk, This was revealed by Standard Chartered on Tuesday.

Standard Chartered shut its global equities business to interested bidders in January and experts that understand the lender think that this action could be a prelude to selling off stakes in a number of Asian banks to boost capital.

Lim Cheng Teck, CEO for ASEAN at Standard Chartered, told Reuters on the sidelines of the World Economic Forum in Jakarta. “We do not have the intention of disposal (of the stake) at this stage.”

According to Thomson Reuters data, Standard Chartered and Indonesian conglomerate PT Astra International Tbk owned 45 percent each in Bank Permata as of December 2014. The two companies purchased these stakes in 2004 and 2006 with an overall value of $548 million. At current market prices, a 45 percent stake in Bank Permata would be valued at around $660 million (443.76 million pounds).

The Indonesian bank is expected to post an overall loan growth of 10 percent this year which is considered lower than 11-12 percent in 2014 because of the slowing economy. This data was provided by the Indonesian lender’s president director, Roy Arfandy in an interview.

On the other hand, Indonesian President Joko Widodo has mentioned that infrastructure development for his administration was a priority rather than taking on the big state-owned banks. Permata would rather provide support for the industries”, Arfandy said. “We can provide working capital for the contractors,” he added. “Our risk appetite is five-seven years, definitely we cannot go for the 10-year projects.”

Permata is also set to provide financial help to small and medium businesses, as well as improving its Islamic banking segment. One such project is to attract the funds of Muslims who make their religious pilgrimage.

About Standard Chartered PLC

Standard Chartered PLC is a British company that provides banking and financial services with headquarters in London. It has a network of more than 1,700 branches and outlets across more than 70 countries and employs more than 87,000 people. Despite its UK base, Standard Chartered does not conduct retail banking in the UK, and around 90% of its profits come from Asia, Africa and the Middle East. Standard Chartered has a primary listing on the London Stock Exchange and is a constituent of the FTSE 100 Index. It is the 13th-largest of any company with a primary listing on the London Stock Exchange. Its largest shareholder is the Government of Singapore-owned Temasek Holdings. The name Standard Chartered comes from the names of the two banks from which it was formed by merger in 1969: The Chartered Bank of India, Australia and China, and Standard Bank of British South Africa Standard Chartered stock market evolution: http://www.marketwatch.com/investing/stock/stan

About Lim Cheng Teek

Lim Cheng Teck is Standard Chartered Bank’s Chief Executive Officer, ASEAN with effect from 1 May 2014. Prior to his current appointment, he was the Chief Executive Officer and Executive Vice Chairman of Standard Chartered Bank (China) Limited from 2009 to April 2014, Chief Executive Officer of Standard Chartered Bank, Singapore from 2006 to 2009 and Chairman of Standard Chartered (Mauritius) Limited from 2008 to April 2010. He has been appointed as the Chairman and Director of Standard Chartered (Thai) Public Co. Ltd since April 2014. Mr. Lim has an MBA from Brunel University, United Kingdom and a Bachelor of Arts degree from the National University of Singapore.

About Permata Bank

PermataBank (or Bank Permata) is the tenth biggest bank in Indonesia at 2010. PT Bank Permata Based on the letter of Deputy Governor of Bank Indonesia in October 18, 2002, Bank Indonesia approved the change of Bank Bali’s name from PT Bank Bali Tbk (Bank Bali) to PT Bank Permata Tbk (Bank Permata). Permata Bank stock market evolution: http://www.marketwatch.com/investing/stock/bnli

About Roy Arman Arfandy

Mr. Roy Arman Arfandy serves as President Director of PT Bank Permata Tbk since November 27, 2014. He served as Wholesale Banking Director, Head of Client Relationship from July 28, 2010 until November 27, 2014. He holds Bachelor of Engineering from Universitas Hasanuddin in 1991. He has banking experience in Indonesia, including with PT Bank Danamon Indonesia (1991-1994), PT Bank BDNI (1994-1998), PT Bank Dai-Ichi Kangyo Indonesia (1998-2001), PT Bank Mizuho Indonesia (2001-2003) and PT Bank DBS Indonesia (2003-2007). He joined Permata Bank in 2007 serving in various posts, including Head of Credit Services, Segment Head, Commodity & Local Corporate, and Head of Client Relationships.

Coca- Cola Co. Will Purchase China Culiangwang Beverages Holdings Ltd. For $400.5 Million

April 24, 2015 by Sabin Piso

Coca-Cola Co. announced that it is ready to buy China Culiangwang Beverages Holdings Ltd, a Chinese drinks business. This is Coca-Cola’s first attempt to purchase a Chinese company after it was rejected Beijing of its bid for a company that was making juices and nectars six years ago.

Coca-Cola is buying China Culiangwang Beverages Holdings Ltd. for an enterprise value of $400.5 million. The Chinese drinks firm revealed this information in a filing to the Hong Kong stock exchange Friday. China Culiangwang drinks operation makes “multigrain beverages” with unique flavors such as red bean, walnut and oats. Coke management is unavailable for comment regarding the acquisition.

To recall, Coke had been steadily acquiring juice, water, and other noncarbonated drinks around the world to improve its portfolio. However, its intention of becoming the biggest beverage manufacturer in China through a $2.4 billion bid for China Huiyuan Juice Group Ltd in 2009 was turned down by China’s Ministry of Commerce on antitrust grounds. This deal would have been deemed as the largest takeover by a foreign company of a Chinese food or beverage maker.

But Coca- Cola is not yet completely out of the woods yet, the China Culiangwang’s multigrain drinks transaction is also subject to the approval by the Ministry of Commerce. The popular Chinese healthy beverage company said it expects to book a gain of 1.12 billion yuan ($181 million) from the disposal and will utilize this to repay the outstanding bonds and other debt.

China Culiangwang’s multigrain beverages are very popular in the country. Branded as health drinks, these have a huge market in China. China Culiangwang mentioned in a report that its multigrain beverage business’s unaudited net profit on a pro forma basis was 193 million yuan last year and this was 17% higher from 164.9 million yuan in 2013. China Culiangwang also manufactures snacks, biscuits and cereals.

Coca- Cola’s acquisition of the grain-drinks maker is when the beverage company is coping with slow sales in China. Coke has posted a 55% reduction in its fourth-quarter profit amid weak sales in markets including China, Europe and Mexico in February. The company also mentioned that its fourth-quarter volumes also diminished at 1% in Europe and in Mexico These regions consumes more Coke products per capita than any other country. An increase in volume was seen in Asia; however there were declines of 1% in Japan and 3% in China. The Atlanta beverage company was not available for immediate comment regarding the matter.

About Coca-Cola

The Coca-Cola Company or Coke is from Atlanta, Georgia. It produces Coca- Cola or Coke which is a carbonated soft drink sold in stores, restaurants, and vending machines all over the world as a patent medicine when it was invented in the late 19th century by John Pemberton, It was purchased by businessman Asa Griggs Candler, whose marketing strategies helped Coke dominate the world soft-drink market throughout the 20th century.

The Coca – Cola Company manufactures concentrate, which is then sold to licensed Coca-Cola bottlers world. The bottlers have territorially exclusive contracts with the company and these companies produce finished product in cans and bottles from the concentrate in combination with filtered water and sweeteners. The bottlers will be able to sell The Coca-Cola Company also sells concentrate for soda fountains to major restaurants and food service distributors.

The Coca-Cola Company has introduced other cola drinks under the Coke brand name. The most common is Diet Coke, with others including Caffeine-Free Coca-Cola, Diet Coke Caffeine-Free, Coca-Cola Cherry, Coca-Cola Zero and Coca-Cola Vanilla. There are also flavors that are available during versions with lemon, lime, or coffee. It was estimated that in 2013, Coke products is available in over 200 countries worldwide, with consumers drinking billions of Coca- Cola products every day. According to Interbrand’s best global brand study of 2011, Coca-Cola was the world’s most valuable brand. Coca-Cola stock market evolution: http://www.marketwatch.com/investing/stock/ko

About China Culiangwang Beverages Holdings Limited

China Culiangwang Beverages Holdings Limited, formerly China Green (Holdings) Limited, is an investment holding company. The Company is focused on growing, processing and sale of agricultural products, consumer food and beverage products. China Culiangwang has three divisions: fresh produce and processed products segment, which grows and processes and sells agricultural products; branded beverage products segment, which manufactures and sells branded beverage products, and branded food products and others segment, which processes and sells branded food products. The Company’s subsidiaries include China Green (Jiangxi) Food Science Technique Limited, China Green (Fujian) Food Import & Export Co. Limited, China Green Resources (Xiamen) Sales Company Limited, China Green Harvest (Xiamen) Frozen Food Company Limited, Zhonglu (Fujian) Food Industry Limited and Zhonglu (Fujian) Agriculture Comprehensive Development Company Limited, among others. China Culiangwang Beverages Holdings Limited stock market evolution: http://www.marketwatch.com/investing/stock/0904

Groupon Sells Stake in TMON for $360 Million to KKR and Anchor Equity Partners

April 23, 2015 by Sabin Piso

Groupon has agreed to sell a controlling 46 percent fully diluted stake in Ticket Monster (TMON). TMON is Groupon’s South Korean e- commerce site. The Groupon shares are worth $360 million and were sold to a partnership between KKR and Anchor Equity Partners with offices in Hong Kong.

The investments valued the Korean e – commerce site at $782 million on a fully diluted basis, assuming a full vesting of management’s 13 percent stake. At closing, Groupon will retain a fully diluted 41 percent stake in TMON. Groupon’s gain on the sale is expected to be between $195 million and $205 million which are values on a pre-tax basis and will be recorded at the close of the transaction. According to the transaction, Groupon will receive $285 million in cash; the remaining amount will be paid to TMON. Groupon acquired TMON in January 2014 for $260 million.

Eric Lefkofsky, Groupon CEO said in an interview about the sale “As the Korean market developed, it became obvious that TMON would benefit from additional resources and local expertise in its drive to be the leading social commerce company in Korea,” he added “We looked forward to watching TMON’s success as a continued large shareholder in the company.”

The TMON sale is expected to close in the second quarter of 2015, subject to regulatory and customary closing conditions. On the other hand, Groupon intends to use the proceeds from the sale for general corporate purposes and share repurchases. Groupon will report results for its 2015 first quarter on May 5, 2015.

Further information about the transaction will be reported on the coming weeks as well as included in Groupon’s report for its first quarter performance in May.

About Groupon

Groupon is a deal-of-the-day website that provides information on discounted gift certificates that are honored locally. Groupon was launched in November 2008, and the first market for Groupon was Chicago, then Boston, New York City, and Toronto. By October 2010 Groupon served more than 150 markets in North America and 100 markets in Europe, Asia, and South America, and had 35 million registered users. The idea for Groupon was created by now-ousted CEO Andrew Mason. The idea subsequently gained the attention of his former employer, Eric Lefkofsky, who provided $1 million in “seed money.” Groupon stock market evolution. http://www.marketwatch.com/investing/stock/grpn

About Eric Lefkofsky

Eric Paul Lefkofsky is a U.S.-born entrepreneur. He is co-founder and CEO of Groupon, co-founder of Lightbank founder & director of InnerWorkings Inc., Echo Global Logistics, Inc., Mediaocean. In March 2011, Eric was named one of the new millionaires in 201 by Forbes.

About TMON

Ticket Monster (티켓몬스터) is a Korean e-commerce platform that provides customers with a wide range of daily deals. It caters to the needs of over five million people and employs about 850 workers all over the world. Ticket Monster offers deals on a wide range of products and services, such as food and beverage, clothing, accessories, cosmetics, personal care, consumer electronics, home appliances, kitchenware, sporting goods, and travel and tour offers. Ticket Monster was founded in February 2010. On January 2, 2014, it was acquired by Groupon, a global leader in local commerce. – See more at: https://www.crunchbase.com/organization/ticket-monster-korea#sthash.tYWgvMnm.dpuf

About KKR

KKR & Co. L.P. (formerly known as Kohlberg Kravis Roberts & Co.) is an American multinational private equity firm, specializing in leveraged buyouts, headquartered in New York. The firm sponsors and manages private equity investment funds. Since its inception, the firm has completed over $400 billion of private equity transactions and was a pioneer in the leveraged buyout industry. The firm was founded in 1976 by Jerome Kohlberg, Jr., and cousins Henry Kravis and George R. Roberts, all of whom had previously worked together at Bear Stearns, where they completed some of the earliest leveraged buyout transactions. Since its founding, KKR is headquartered in New York City with 13 additional offices in the United States, Europe and Asia. In October 2009, KKR listed shares in the company, through KKR & Co. an affiliate that holds 30% of the firm’s ownership equity, with the remainder held by the firm’s partners. In March 2010, KKR filed to list its shares on the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE), with trading commencing four months later, on July 15, 2010. KKR stock market evolution: http://www.marketwatch.com/investing/stock/kkr

About Anchor Equity Partners

Anchor Equity Partners is a private equity firm specializing in middle market and consolidation investments. It targets investing in growing opportunities in Korea. Anchor Equity Partners was founded in August 2012 and is based in Seoul, South Korea.

Summit Materials to Acquire Lafarge North America’s 1.2 Million Short Ton Capacity Davenport Cement Plants and More

April 22, 2015 by Sabin Piso

Summit Materials announced signed a definitive agreement with Lafarge North America (“Lafarge NA”) to acquire Lafarge NA’s 1.2 million short ton (1.1 million metric ton) capacity Davenport, IA cement plant and seven cement distribution terminals (“Davenport Assets”) for $450 million. The transaction is subject to certain post-closing adjustmentsSummit’s Bettendorf, Iowa cement distribution terminal. The transaction is expected to close in July 2015, after final regulatory approval and the closing of the Lafarge-Holcim global merger.

The Davenport Assets will be combined with Summit’s Continental Cement Company business based in Chesterfield, MO. The businesses will have 2.45 million short tons of cement capacity which are from two plants in Hannibal, MO and Davenport, and eight cement distribution terminals along the Mississippi River from Minneapolis, MN to New Orleans, LA.

Summit CEO, Tom Hill, commented, “The Davenport Assets are an excellent fit with our materials-based growth strategy and a continuation of Summit’s proven track record of value-added acquisitions. The combination of the Davenport Assets and Continental Cement creates a strategically compelling and complementary multi-plant cement business in very attractive markets along the Mississippi. We are looking forward to welcoming the Davenport plant and terminal employees to Summit, and to servicing new and existing customers with high quality product from our expanded cement operations.”

Furthermore, the transaction stated that the purchase price of $450 million is expected to be funded by Summit Materials with a combination of debt and equity.

Summit hosted a conference call at 11:00 am eastern time (9:00 am mountain time) on April 17, 2015 to further discuss the contents of the transaction.

About Summit Materials

Summit Materials was created to acquire and improve heavy-side building materials companies in various construction industries such as aggregates, ready-mix concrete, cement, asphalt paving and so on. Summit Materials partner with established local businesses and is committed to creating value, provide access to growth capital, implement best practices, and provide a safe place to work while striving to exceed the company’s environmental and social responsibilities. Summit Materials stock market evolution: http://www.marketwatch.com/investing/stock/sum

About Tom Hill

Tom Hill is the Chief Executive Officer and founder of Summit Materials. Tom was Chief Executive Officer of Oldcastle from 2006 to 2008. Oldcastle was one of the world’s leading building materials companies based in Dublin, Ireland. Tom served on the CRH Board of Directors from 2002 to 2008. Tom also held a variety of leadership roles in the transportation industry with the most prominent one as Chairman of the American Road and Transportation Builders Association from 2002 to 2004. He helped develop legislative proposals to address the transportation infrastructure and testified before the US Congress on the need for increased Federal investment in transportation infrastructure. Tom received his MBA from Trinity College in Dublin, Ireland in 1980. He received a Bachelor of Arts in Economics and History from Duke University in 1978.

About Lafarge

Lafarge is a French industrial company that produces three major products: cement, construction aggregates, and concrete. It is a world leader in building materials. The group conducts its operations through more than 1,000 subsidiaries, out of which 82% are consolidated. To improve its gypsum assets and the fundamental changes to its management structure, the group has fully refocused on its core businesses of cement, aggregates and concrete. This change will accelerate growth and innovation of the company. Lafarge has an organizational structure according to its three divisions along with decentralized local operations and strong corporate expert departments, which are involved in strategic decisions. Lafarge has 155 cement plants in 56 countries. When it comes to aggragates and concrete there are 141 production sites and sales offices in 37 countries. Lafarge has headquarters in Paris, France.

On April 7, 2014, Lafarge and Holcim partnered into what was called a “merger of equals”.The merger was all about Lafarge stock being converted into Holcim stock on a 1:1 basis. Former Holcim shareholders would own 53% of LafargeHolcim. The new company would be based in Switzerland and have a manufacturing capacity of 427 million tons a year would vastly exceed the 227 million ton capacity. Anhui Conch is the current industry leader in that category. Lafarge Chief Executive Officer Bruno Lafont and Holcim’s Chairman Wolfgang Reitzle will be co-Chairmen of the new Group. Executives from both companies said the deal would save the new company 1.4 billion euros annually and create “the most advanced group in the building materials industry.” Lafarge stock market evolution: http://www.marketwatch.com/investing/stock/laf

About Continental Cement Company

Continental Cement Company is a privately held, American-owned cement manufacturer. It has a single manufacturing facility located south of Hannibal, MO along with additional distribution facilities in St. Louis, MO and Bettendorf, IA. Continental Cement Company headquarters are in Chesterfield, MO.

58.com Acquires a Strategic Part of Ganji.com Improving Delivery of Services to Local Customers

April 21, 2015 by Sabin Piso

58.com has announced that it has purchased a huge stake in Falcon View Technology Limited or “Ganji.” This is the holding company of the PRC entities known also as Ganji.com, a major online local services marketplace platform in China.

According to the definitive agreement with shareholders of Ganji (“the 58.com-Ganji Strategic Transaction”), and according to the intended long-term, strategic combination transaction, 58.com has agreed to purchase approximately 43.2% fully diluted equity stake in Ganji. This is a transaction that is a combination of share consideration and cash, along with more or less 34 million newly issued ordinary shares of the Company (one American Depositary Share, or “ADS”, represents two class A ordinary shares) and US$412.2 million in cash.

583com and Ganji will continue to operate their respective brands, websites and teams, which will improve business synergies from this new strategic relationship. The two successful companies will capitalize on opportunities which will help them further expand their businesses.

Ganji.com started in 2005 in Beijing, China and has become one of country’s leading online local services marketplaces. Hundreds of millions of users come to Ganji.com every month to access a wide range of location-based services that are offered by millions of active merchants specifically in areas such as jobs, housing, local services information and in purchasing second hand items. The 58.com-Ganji Strategic Transaction is expected to close within a few days, subject to customary closing conditions.

Mr. Michael Jinbo Yao, Chairman and CEO of 58.com, commented on the transaction, “We are pleased to make this large-scale strategic investment in Ganji.com to jointly realize major cost, revenue, and strategic business synergies. This transaction is part of our larger plan to execute our vision of integrating our respective businesses and creating a larger and more effective local services internet platform to help consumers around China find the services that they need in their local area. Ganji.com has done a tremendous job building a talented team, and we look forward to working more closely with them as we continue to expand in this growing and underserved market.”

Mr. Mark Haoyong Yang, Chairman and CEO of Ganji.com, added, “After extensive discussions, we are pleased to reach this strategic agreement with 58.com. Both Ganji and 58.com are leading players in the online classified market and have developed unique capabilities in O2O. Personally and on behalf of Ganji, I look forward to taking advantage of the great chemistry between Ganji and 58.com, and leveraging our respective resources and advantages. We have seen and continue to see the mobile internet enabling a transformative opportunity in the classified industry and across O2O categories. Ganji has been built on the DNA of mobile connectivity. Together with 58.com, we will continue to build a leading platform offering our customers the best experience and localized service.”

About 58.com

58.com operates the largest online marketplace serving local merchants and consumers in China, The Company’s online marketplace enables local merchants and consumers to connect, share information and conduct business. With a large and growing user base, merchant network and massive database of local information, 58.com has created a powerful network effect that enables it to maintain its leadership position.58.com’s online marketplace contains a vast amount of credible and up-to-date local information in approximately 380 cities, across diverse content categories, including housing, jobs, used goods, autos, pets, tickets, yellow pages and other local services. The Company conducts automatic and manual screening using proprietary technology and processes to ensure the relevance and accuracy of information provided on the online marketplace. The Company’s broad, in-depth and high quality local information, combined with easy-to-use website and mobile applications, has made it a trusted marketplace for consumers. 58.com stock market evolution: http://www.marketwatch.com/investing/stock/wuba

About Yao Jinbo

Yao Jinbo (Michael) graduated from university in 2000. He founded EachNic.com. which later became the biggest domain trading website in China. EachNic.com was sold to NET.CN for several hundred thousand RMB. Yao was later appointed as the vice-president of marketing in NET.CN. He has won several awards: The Annual Internet Innovative and Influential Figure Award in 2009, Annual Internet Influential Figure of the New Forces Award in 2012 and the Annual Internet Innovation Leadership Award also in 2012.

About Ganji.com

Ganji is China’s leading online and mobile classified ads provider, focusing on local and business service ads. Top Ganji categories include house rental information, second goods and vehicles, job opportunities, event tickets and pet selling, training, social events and data, restaurants, etc.

About Haoyong Yang

Haoyong Yang is the founder and CEO of Ganji.com. He worked in Silicon Valley for various technology companies such as Juniper Networks and was also the co-founder of Triomphe Networks. Yang is the President and Chairman of Google China joint venture. He graduated from Yale University with a Master Degree in Computer Science and University of Science and Technology with a Master’s Degree in Engineering.

Nokia and Alcatel – Lucent Will Merge to Create Industry Leader in Next Gen Tech

April 20, 2015 by Sabin Piso

A memorandum of agreement between Nokia and Alcatel-Lucent has been created. Witnesses of the merger said that the transaction mentioned that Nokia will make an offer for all of the equity securities of Alcatel-Lucent. This is through a public exchange offer to be made in France and in the United States. This is on the basis of 0.55 of a new Nokia share for every Alcatel-Lucent share.

The transaction further states that: all-share transaction values Alcatel-Lucent at EUR 15.6 billion on a fully diluted basis, corresponding to a fully diluted premium of 34% (equivalent to EUR 4.48 per share), and a premium to shareholders of 28% (equivalent to EUR 4.27 per share), on the unaffected weighted average share price of Alcatel-Lucent from the past three months. This transaction is from Nokia closing share price of EUR 7.77 on April 13, 2015.

Nokia and Alcatel-Lucent Board of Directors have approved the terms of the proposed transaction. This transaction is expected to close in the first half of 2016. This transaction is for approval by Nokia’s shareholders, completion of relevant works council consultations, receipt of regulatory approvals and other customary conditions.

According to the merger, the combined company aims to create a foundation of seamless connectivity no matter where the user is located. This is important for changes that will happen in the future as well as the “Internet of Things” and the potential transition of data to cloud storage. Because of Alcatel – Lucent’s Bell Labs and Nokia’s FutureWorks and Nokia Technologies, will stay as separate entities which are known to foster changes in the future.

The two companies have decided that the combined company will be called Nokia Corporation, and will be headquartered in Finland and a strong presence in France. Risto Siilasmaa is planned to serve as Chairman, and Rajeev Suri as Chief Executive Officer. The combined company’s Board of Directors is planned to have nine or ten members, including three members from Alcatel-Lucent, one of whom would serve as Vice Chairman

Rajeev Suri, President and Chief Executive Officer of Nokia, said “Together, Alcatel-Lucent and Nokia intend to lead in next-generation network technology and services, with the scope to create seamless connectivity for people and things wherever they are. Our innovation capability will be extraordinary, bringing together the R&D engine of Nokia with that of Alcatel-Lucent and its iconic Bell Labs. We will continue to combine this strength with the highly efficient, lean operations needed to compete on a global scale. We have hugely complementary technologies and the comprehensive portfolio necessary to enable the internet of things and transition to the cloud. We will have a strong presence in every part of the world, including leading positions in the United States and China. Together, we expect to have the scale to lead in every area in which we choose to compete, drive profitable growth, meet the needs of global customers, develop new technologies, build on our successful intellectual property licensing, and create value for our shareholders. For all these reasons, I firmly believe that this is the right deal, with the right logic, at the right time.”

Michel Combes, Chief Executive Officer of Alcatel-Lucent, added: “A combination of Nokia and Alcatel-Lucent will offer a unique opportunity to create a European champion and global leader in ultra-broadband, IP networking and cloud applications. I am proud that the joined forces of Nokia and Alcatel-Lucent are ready to accelerate our strategic vision, giving us the financial strength and critical scale needed to achieve our transformation and invest in and develop the next generation of network technology. This transaction comes at the right time to strengthen the European technology industry. We believe our customers will benefit from our improved innovation capability and incomparable R&D engine under the Bell Labs brand. The global scale and footprint of the new company will reinforce its presence in the United States and China. The proposed transaction represents a compelling offer for our shareholders both in terms of upfront premium and long term value creation potential. Shareholders of Alcatel-Lucent now have the opportunity to participate in the future upside of the industrial project that they have supported during the last two years, through a stronger combined business with greater global scale and a better position for the longer term. The new company will also provide our employees exciting opportunities to be part of a global leader.”

About Nokia

Nokia Oyj is a Finnish multinational communications and information technology company. Nokia has headquarters in Espoo, Helsinki metropolitan area. In 2014, Nokia employed 61,656 people across 120 countries, conducts sales in more than 150 countries and reported annual revenues of around €12.73 billion. Nokia is a public limited-liability company listed on the Helsinki Stock Exchange and New York Stock Exchange It is the world’s 274th-largest company measured by 2013 revenues according to the Fortune Global 500. Nokia stock market evolution: http://www.marketwatch.com/investing/stock/nok

About Alcatel – Lucent

Alcatel-Lucent is a French global telecommunications equipment company, with headquarters in Boulogne-Billancourt, France. It major lie up focuses on fixed, mobile, and converged networking hardware, IP technologies, software, and services. Alcatel-Lucent has operations in more than 130 countries. Alcatel – Lucent stock market evolution: http://www.marketwatch.com/investing/stock/alu

CollabRx and Medytox Solutions, Inc., in a Definitive Merger Agreement Strengthens Health Care Delivery to Customers

April 19, 2015 by Sabin Piso

CollabRx and Medytox Solutions, Inc. announced today that they have decided to a definitive merger agreement. Closing of this agreement is subject to stockholder approvals from both companies, receipt of regulatory approvals and other customary closing conditions.

The terms of the agreement states that CollabRx equity holders will own a 10% stake in the combined company and Medytox equity holders will own 90% of the combined company, according to the number of equity securities outstanding immediately following the merger, and excluding convertible preferred shares and notes that have been issued by Medytox, as well as option grants that are expected to be made pertaining to the closing. The agreement has been unanimously approved and adopted by the Boards of Directors of both CollabRx and Medytox,

Medytox is one of the owners and operators of the largest healthcare companies. The health care giant has clinical testing laboratories, an electronic medical records provider, a laboratory information systems company and a medical billing company under its supervision and ownership. On the other hand, CollabRx is a leading informatics company that has complex molecular and genetic testing interpretation for cancer.

Seamus Lagan, CEO of Medytox Solutions, Inc. provided his comment regarding the merger: “We expect that this merger will dramatically speed up our growth,” He added “Furthermore, the addition of CollabRx adds great depth to our company and places Medytox among the most elite, most innovative healthcare enterprises operating in the industry today. Together, we will show the world how state-of-the-art technology and vertical integration can improve health outcomes, and return value to shareholders in the process.”

Thomas Mika, CEO of CollabRx, mentioned in a special interview regarding the merger “I cannot be more enthusiastic about this outcome for all CollabRx stakeholders, including our shareholders, customers, team members and advisors. CollabRx will continue its mission to better inform decision-making in cancer within a high-growth, profit-oriented company, while being able to support several exciting Medytox initiatives in precision medicine.”

Seamus Lagan will be CEO of the combined company. Thomas Mika and Dr. Paul Billings will be appointed to the combined company’s seven-member board, along with the five current directors of Medytox. Thomas R. Mika will serve as Executive Chairman and CEO of CollabRx, Inc. He will operate as a wholly-owned subsidiary of the combined companies.

About CollabRx

CollabRx, Inc. is a company that provides cloud-based systems in determining clinical treatments for molecular diseases such as cancer. It uses dynamically updated molecular disease models that form the basis of the expert systems. CollabRx is a Delaware corporation, formed with the formerly named Tegal Corporation, which acquired the privately held company, also known as CollabRx, on July 12, 2012. The company uses technology specially created for DNA testing laboratories, with goals of translating patient-specific genetic characterization to patient-specific clinical treatment advice for molecular diseases. CollabRx is partner to Life Technologies, OncoDNA and Sengenics. CollabRx sponsors the Lung Cancer Therapy Finder on Medpagetoday.com. CollabRx stock market evolution: http://www.marketwatch.com/investing/stock/clrx

About Thomas R. Mika

Thomas R. Mika, MBA is the President & CEO of CollabRx. He also holds the positions of Chairman, President and Acting Chief Financial Officer of CollabRx, Inc. Previously; Mika founded IMTEC, a boutique investment firm focused on health care, pharmaceuticals, media and information technology. Mika was a managing consultant with Cresap, McCormick & Paget and a policy analyst for the National Science Foundation, where he was a member of the initial three-person team that developed and published the landmark Science Indicators, the biennial report of the National Science Board to the President of the United States. Thomas R. Mika holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Microbiology from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign and a Master of Business Administration degree from the Harvard Graduate School of Business.

About Medytox Solutions, Inc.

Medytox Solutions, Inc. is a developer of technology and systems for medical testing thereby an affordable and superior service to medical providers. Medytox offers its clients a complete solution, with faster turnaround times and more reliable and accurate results, in a manner that is safe, secure and HIPAA-compliant. Medytox Solutions, Inc. stock market evolution: http://www.marketwatch.com/investing/stock/mmms

About Seamus Lagan

Seamus Lagan is the Chief Executive Officer of Medytox Solutions. His services are according to a consulting agreement with Alcimede LLC. Mr. Lagan was instrumental in forming the structure of and securing the funding for the Company to develop its current business plan. Mr. Lagan has been the CEO of the two main Subsidiaries of the Company: sales and marketing and the other that enters into agreement with or completes the acquisitions and development of Clinical Laboratories.

Nokia is in Merger Discussions with Alcatel – Lucent for a Future Tie – Up

April 18, 2015 by Sabin Piso

Finland’s Nokia revealed that it is in “advanced” merger discussions with Alcatel-Lucent, after the two companies have been rumored to be discussing a potential partnership. Nokia’s shares have fallen up to 6 percent after the news of the potential merger and on the other hand, Alcatel-Lucent stocks were up to 15 percent higher.

According to a reliable source, the potential merger would be in the form of a public exchange offer by Nokia for Alcatel – Lucent. The statement also included some words of caution: “There could be no certainty at this point that these discussions will result in any agreement or transaction.”

It is unclear at this point if Nokia would acquire all of Alcatel-Lucent’s assets, or it is only eyeing its wireless arm. Credit Suisse rated stock of both Nokia and Alcatel-Lucent on Monday, and mentioned that a fair value for the Alcatel – Lucent company’s wireless business would be 2-2.5 billion euros ($2.1-2.7 billion). Credit Suisse representative mentioned: “We believe that such a potential deal would allow Nokia to significantly improve its presence in the U.S. with AT&T and Verizon (where Ericsson and Alcatel-Lucent are key suppliers).”

Indeed, combining Nokia and Alcatel – Lucent would result in a major powerhouse in Europe and potentially a potential entry to US markets but could affect jobs. In response to this uncertainty, French Economy Minister Emmanuel Macron announced on Tuesday that if ever a deal with transpire between the two companies, there will be no job cuts in France. This announcement followed a meeting at the French Elysee between the chief executives of Nokia and Alcatel-Lucent and French President Francois Hollande.

“It’s a good move for Alcatel-Lucent because it is a move for the future, because we are building, with this tie-up, a new conquest for Alcatel-Lucent, which was a company in great difficulty two years ago,” Macron also commented.

About Nokia

Nokia Oyj is a Finnish multinational communications and information technology company. Nokia has headquarters in Espoo, Helsinki metropolitan area. In 2014, Nokia employed 61,656 people across 120 countries, conducts sales in more than 150 countries and reported annual revenues of around €12.73 billion. Nokia is a public limited-liability company listed on the Helsinki Stock Exchange and New York Stock Exchange It is the world’s 274th-largest company measured by 2013 revenues according to the Fortune Global 500.

Nokia is also a significant contributor to the mobile telephony industry, having assisted in development of the GSM and LTE standards, and was, for a period, the largest vendor of mobile phones in the world. It is the biggest supplier of the smartphone industry through its Symbian platform, but it was soon overshadowed by the growing dominance of Apple’s iPhone line and Android devices. Nokia eventually entered into a pact with Microsoft in 2011 to exclusively use its Windows Phone platform on future smartphones. Nokia stock market evolution: http://www.marketwatch.com/investing/stock/nok

About Alcatel – Lucent

Alcatel-Lucent is a French global telecommunications equipment company, with headquarters in Boulogne-Billancourt, France. It major lie up focuses on fixed, mobile, and converged networking hardware, IP technologies, software, and services. Alcatel-Lucent has operations in more than 130 countries. Alcatel-Lucent has been named Industry Group Leader for Technology Hardware & Equipment sector in the 2014 Dow Jones Sustainability Indices review ^]and listed in the 2014 Thomson Reuters Top 100 Global Innovators for the 4th year in a row.

Alcatel-Lucent’s chief executive officer is Michel Combes and the non-executive chairman of the board is Philippe Camus. After seven consecutive years of negative cash flows, in October 2013 the company announced plans to slash 10,000 employees, or 14% of the total current 72,000 workforce, as a part of a €1 billion cost reduction effort.

In June 2013, Michel Combes has announced a new strategy calling it “The Shift Plan is a three-year plan including portfolio refocusing on IP networking, ultra-broadband access and cloud; 1 billion Euro in cost savings; selective asset sales intended to generate at least 1 billion Euro over the period of the plan and the restructuring of the Group’s debt. On October 1, 2014, Alcatel-Lucent has announced its take to improving employee training and this is through the Post & Telecommunication Economy Development Center.

Alcatel-Lucent is the o Bell Laboratories. Belli has the largest research and development facilities in the industry. Bell Labs has more than thousands of employees and has been awarded eight Nobel Prizes and the company holds over 29,000 patents. Alcatel – Lucent stock market evolution: http://www.marketwatch.com/investing/stock/alu

Jana Partners LLC Asks Qualcomm to Consider Spinning off Chip Unit from Its Licensing Arm to Improve Its Stock Market Price

April 17, 2015 by Sabin Piso

Activist investor Jana Partners LLC is asking Qualcomm to consider spinning off its chip unit from its patent-licensing business to save its dropping stock market price. This was a report from The Wall Street Journal from a quarterly letter which will be sent to Jana Partners investors.

Jana Partners LLC is one of Qualcomm’s largest shareholders. The activist investor is calling on the company to reduce costs and improve stock buybacks. Changes should also be done to its executive pay structure, financial reporting and board of directors according to the report.

Qualcomm mentioned last month that it would buy back more than $15 billion of shares and raise its quarterly dividend. Qualcomm also promised that it would continue to return at least 75 percent of its free cash flow to its shareholders year after year.

According to the letter, Jana Partners LLC mentioned that the buyback is a positive step however Qualcomm should gradually capitalize on its decisive position in the chip market. Jana Partners pointed out that Qualcomm’s chip business has no value at present at the company’s present market value. A huge portion of Qualcomm’s revenue is from selling so-called baseband chips which are essential for mobile phones to communicate with carrier networks. Most of its earnings mostly come from licensing patents for Qualcomm’s widespread CDMA cellphone technology. To remember that earlier this year, Samsung Electronics decided to use another mobile chip rather than Qualcomm’s Snapdragon. This was for its Galaxy S6 smartphone.

The executives of Jana Partners LLC and Qualcomm’s management have initiated private discussions since 2014. According to a person that is familiar with the conversations held by the two companies, the talks were very constructive. According to Reuters, Jana Partners LLC and Qualcomm were not available for comments regarding their deal outside regular U.S. business hours.

Since the beginning of the year, shares of Qualcomm, which has a market capitalization of $114.08 billion, have fallen about 7 percent.

Jana Partners LLC considers a breakup as well as other options to improve the giant chip maker’s stock price. The spin off from its patent-licensing business amounts to most of Qualcomm’s profits. Jana Partners has purchased a stake of more than $2 billion. This makes Jana Partners LLC the largest shareholder of Qualcomm.

About Jana Partners LLC

Jana Partners is a hedge fund created in 2001 by Co-Founders and Managing Directors Barry S. Rosenstein and Gary Claar. Before Jana was founded, founder Mr. Rosenstein was a Principal of Sagaponack Partners, which is a private equity fund. Jana has headquarters in New York City.

About Qualcomm Incorporated

Qualcomm Incorporated is a global semiconductor company that creates and markets wireless telecommunications products and services. The company has headquarters in San Diego, California, United States. It has 157 worldwide locations with the parent company Qualcomm Incorporated (Qualcomm), which includes the Qualcomm Technology Licensing Division (QTL). Qualcomm’s wholly owned subsidiary, Qualcomm Technologies, Inc. (QTI), operates substantially all of Qualcomm’s R&D activities, plus its product and services businesses, including its semiconductor business, Qualcomm CDMA Technologies. Qualcomm CEO Steve Mollenkopf announced at the company’s annual analyst day meeting in New York City that it is targeting the data center market with new server chips using ARM technology. These chips will soon be commercially available by the end of 2015. Qualcomm stock market evolution: http://www.marketwatch.com/investing/stock/qcom

About Samsung Electronics

Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd. is a South Korean multinational electronics company with headquarters in Suwon, South Korea. Samsung Electronics is the flagship subsidiary of the Samsung Group, with 70% of the group’s revenue in 2012. It is also the world’s largest information technology company by revenues since 2009. Samsung Electronics has manufacturing plants and sales networks in 80 countries with 370,000 employees. Kwon Oh-Hyun is the CEO of Samsung Electronics since 2012.

Samsung is a major manufacturer of electronic components such as lithium-ion batteries, semiconductors, chips, flash memory and hard drive devices for Apple, Sony, HTC and Nokia. Recently, Samsung Electronics has diversified into consumer electronics. At present, it is one of the largest manufacturers of mobile phones and smartphones. Samsung has been highly popularized by its Samsung Galaxy phones and line of devices. Samsung is also a manufacturer of tablet computers, especially its Android-powered Samsung Galaxy Tab collection. Samsung is also the world’s largest manufacturer of LCD panels, the world’s largest television manufacturer and world’s largest manufacturer of mobile phones. Samsung Electronics displaced Apple Inc. as the world’s largest technology company in 2011 and plays a huge role in the South Korean economy.

Ford Motor Company Plans to Partner with Sollers While Russian Auto Sales Are Down

April 15, 2015 by Sabin Piso

Ford Motor Co. said on a statement on Friday said it would take interest in a joint venture with Sollers OJSC. The American automaker mentioned that this move will provide additional funding to the venture and will also open doors for a better partnership. This plan was conceived at a time when auto sales in Russia are plummeting.

Looking back, Ford’s latest investment strategy contrasts the one made by General Motors Co. The company mentioned last month said it was closing its Russian plant and is holding most of its products in the market. This was GM’s strategy in meeting its European profit targets. Latest markets show that Russian car sales fell 43% last month. The numbers were the latest in repeated declines starting from early 2014. Russian car sales have collapsed despite larger problems in the economy and political turmoil in the country.

Ford did not make any comment on the matter yet and has not revealed the size of its planned investment. In 2011, it has acquired its joint-venture stake in Sollers for a hefty $364 million.

“We’ve made a bet on Russia,” Ford Chief Financial Officer Bob Shanks mentioned in a meeting with financial experts. “It’s being hurt right now for what’s going on in terms of oil prices, as well as the geopolitical issues. But we still have confidence that over time it could be an attractive market.”

The latest investment is a consolidated joint-venture intended for financial-reporting purposes. Ford will work with Sollers which is a company that has partnerships with foreign car companies. This will expand Ford’s business in Russia and expand into local parts manufacturing. However, the company has stated that all these changes will have no impact on its first-quarter results which will soon be available later in April.

“We welcome the intentions of Ford Motor Co. to provide the necessary financial support to the joint enterprise, which will create a platform for subsequent growth,” said Sollers Deputy Chief Executive Nikolai Sobolev in an exclusive statement about the potential merger.

About Ford

The Ford Motor Company is an American multinational automaker with headquarters in Dearborn, Michigan. It was founded by Henry Ford on June 16, 1903. The company manufactures and sells automobiles as well as commercial vehicles under the Ford brand while its luxury cars line under the Lincoln brand. The company also owns Brazilian SUV manufacturer Troller and Australian FPV. It is listed on the New York Stock Exchange and controlled by the Ford family. According to Forbes, Ford is “the most important industrial company in the history of the United States.” According to the latest market information, Ford is the second-largest U.S.-based automaker and the fifth-largest in the world according to 2010 vehicle sales. At the end of 2010 Ford is considered one of the largest auto company in Europe and is the eighth-ranked American-based company in the 2010 according to a Fortune 500 list, according to global revenues in 2009 of $118.3 billion. Ford produced 5.532 million automobiles in 2008 and employed about 213,000 employees. These numbers are according to Ford’s 90 plants and facilities all over the world. Ford stock market evolution: http://www.marketwatch.com/investing/stock/f

About Bob Shanks

Bob Shanks is Ford Motor’s executive vice president and chief financial officer in April 1, 2012. He has overall responsibility for Ford financial operations, including the controller’s office, treasury and investor relations. He has a bachelor’s degree in Foreign Service from Georgetown University in 1975 and a master’s in international management from the American Graduate School of International Management in 1976.

About Sollers

Sollers formerly known as OAO Severstal-Auto is a Russian company holding controlling blocks of shares of OAO Ulyanovsk Automobile Works (UAZ), Zavolzhye Motor Works (ZMZ) and OAO ZMA. The enterprises of Severstal-Auto are well-known automobile brands and occupy stable positions in their market segments. Sollers stock market evolution: http://www.reuters.com/finance/stocks/overview?symbol=SVAV.MM

About Nikolai Sobolev

Nikolay Sobolev is the member of Sollers board of directors. He is the first Deputy Director General and Chief Financial Officer of Sollers. He earned his degree from Lomonosov Moscow State University, Academy of National Economy under the Government of the Russian Federation, MBA Kingston (UK), Candidate of Economic Sciences. In 2000 he received his MBA from Business School of Kingston University (UK), 2002 he was a Candidate of Economic Sciences, Moscow State University. Since January 2005 he was a Financial Director of Sollers OJSC and since May 2009 he is the First Deputy General Director of Sollers OJSC.