Notable Mergers and Acquisitions of the Day 02/03: HDIX, MCHP/SSTI, A Feb 3, 2010 10:54AM

Home Diagnostics, Inc. (NASDAQ: HDIX) signed a definitive merger agreement with Nipro Corporation under which Nipro will acquire the company for $11.50 per share in cash, or approximately $215 million. The offer price represents an approximately 90% premium to the closing price of Home Diagnostics’ common stock on February 2, 2010.

The transaction has been approved by Nipro and the board of directors of Home Diagnostics.

The parties expect the tender offer to commence on or about February 10, 2010. The tender offer will remain open for 20 business days from commencement, subject to extension under certain circumstances as required by applicable law and the terms of the merger agreement. Subject to the satisfaction of the conditions to the tender offer, the offer is expected to be consummated prior to the end of the first quarter of 2010.

Linden Acquires Hycor Bio from Agilent Tech. (A) Feb 3, 2010 08:49AM

Linden LLC, a Chicago-based healthcare private equity firm, today announced it has acquired Hycor Biomedical Inc. from Agilent Technologies (NYSE: A). Hycor develops, manufactures and markets in vitro diagnostic products for the global allergy, autoimmune and urinalysis markets. Agilent acquired Hycor through its acquisition of Stratagene in 2007. The terms of the agreement were not disclosed.


Linden Acquires Hycor Biomedical Business from Agilent Technologies Feb 3, 2010 08:00AM

CHICAGO & SANTA CLARA, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Linden LLC, a Chicago-based healthcare private equity firm, today announced it has acquired Hycor Biomedical Inc. from Agilent Technologies (NYSE: A). Hycor develops, manufactures and markets in vitro diagnostic products for the global allergy, autoimmune and urinalysis markets. Agilent acquired Hycor through its acquisition of Stratagene in 2007. The terms of the agreement were not disclosed. Founded in 1981 and based in Garden Grove, Calif., Hycor is a global manufacturer and marketer of in vitro diagnostics products. A series of acquisitions since its founding have expanded the ...


Notable Analyst Rating Changes 10/01: AA, CHU, BIG, BHI, OMX, FRPT Upgraded; SKS, RVSN, KBH, NVDA, PMCS, A Downgraded Oct 1, 2009 11:14AM

UPGRADES:
Detusche Bank upgrades Alcoa (NYSE: AA) from Hold to Buy. Click here for the full report.

Credit Suisse upgrades China Unicom (NYSE: CHU) to Outperform.

JP Morgan upgrades Big Lots (NYSE: BIG) from Neutral to Overweight. Price target $30.

Sanford Bernstein raised its investment rating on Baker Hughes (NYSE: BHI) from Market Perform to Outperform.

FTN Capital ...


Thomas Weisel Downgrades Agilent Technologies (A) to Marketweight Oct 1, 2009 09:25AM

Thomas Weisel downgrades Agilent Technologies (NYSE: A) from Overweight to Marketweight ...




Oct 1, 2009 08:29AM Thomas Weisel Downgrades Agilent Technologies (A) to Marketweight