M&A and IPO News from AIRS 7/28/08

[David Sandusky]

Monday, July 28, 2008 M&A & IPO News from AIRS


IPO - Semiconductor Equipment & Materials

GT Solar International, Inc.

GT Solar, a leader in photovoltaic manufacturing, makes equipment used in the production of silicon wafers, solar cells, and other products used in solar power generation systems. GT Solar conducts most of its business in Asia.
Location: Merrimack, NH
Empoyees: 305
Date: 7/21/2008
NASDAQ: SOLR






M&A - Biopharmaceuticals & Biotherapeutics

Buyer: ViroPharma Incorporated, Exton, PA

Target: Lev Pharmaceuticals, Inc., New York, NY



Biopharmaceutical company ViroPharma will acquired Lev Pharmaceuticals, a company developing treatments for inflammatory diseases. The deal, which allows ViroPharma to expand its market, calls for $443 million upfront, but could be worth up to $617.5 million if sales milestones are met.
Philadelphia Business Journal, July 19, 2008






M&A - Brewers

Buyer: InBev NV, Leuven, Belgium

Target: Anheuser-Busch Companies, Inc., St. Louis, MO



Belgian brewer InBev has agreed to buy Anheuser-Busch, maker of Budweiser beer, for $52 billion. The acquisition gives InBev access to the U.S. market, while making it the world's leading seller of alcoholic beverages.
Bloomberg, July 14, 2008






M&A - Computer Networking Equipment

Buyer: Brocade Communications Systems, Inc., San Jose, CA

Target: Foundry Networks, Inc., Santa Clara, CA



Brocade, a leading provider of data center networking solutions, will buy Foundry Networks, a leading provider of switching, routing, security, and Web traffic management solutions, in a deal valued at about $3 billion. The acquisition will bring together two companies with complementary technology.
Silicon Valley/San Jose Business Journal, July 21, 2008






M&A - Generic Drugs

Buyer: Teva Pharmaceuticals Industries Limited, Petah Tikva, Israel

Target: Barr Pharmaceuticals, Inc., Montvale, NJ



Teva Pharmaceuticals, an Israeli maker of generic drugs, will buy U.S. rival Barr Pharmaceuticals to expand its business. The deal is valued at approximately $7.46 billion.
The Wall Street Journal, July 19, 2008






M&A - Insurance

Buyer: Tokio Marine Holdings, Inc., Tokyo, Japan

Target: Philadelphia Consolidated Holding Corp., Bala Cynwyd, PA



Japan's largest property and casualty insurer, Tokio Marine, will acquire Philadelphia Consolidated Holding, a U.S. provider of property and casualty insurance, for about $4.7 billion. The deal, which gives Tokio Marine access to the world's largest casualty insurance market, is the largest acquisition by a Japanese financial firm in the United States.
Reuters, July 21, 2008






M&A - Media

Buyer: Google Inc., Mountain View, CA

Target: ZAO Begun, Moscow, Russia



Internet giant Google will purchase ZAO Begun, an online advertising company, from Russian firm Rambler Media for $140 million. ZAO Begun has more than 40,000 advertisers and a partner network that includes more than 143,000 Russian-language websites.
The Wall Street Journal, July 21, 2008






M&A - Medical Devices

Buyer: General Electric Company, Fairfield, CT

Target: Vital Signs, Inc., Totowa, NJ



GE will acquire Vital Signs, a maker of high-tech medical equipment, for $860 million. The move will allow GE to further expand its health care operation.
Reuters, July 24, 2008