Among the companies with shares expected to actively trade in
Monday's session are Hasbro Inc. (HAS), Nu Skin Enterprises Inc.
(NUS) and Sarepta Therapeutics Inc. (SRPT).
Birch Communications Inc. agreed to buy Cbeyond Inc. (CBEY) for
about $323 million in cash. Shareholders in Cbeyond will receive
between $9.97 and $10 a share in cash. The deal comes after Cbeyond
-- a technology company serving small and midsize businesses --
completed a strategic review of its operations that it started in
November. Shares climbed 39% to $9.85 premarket.
Hasbro said it swung to a profit in the first quarter as costs
fell and sales in the girls' product category soared. Earnings
topped analysts' expectations, while revenue fell short. Shares
climbed 4.4% to $57 premarket.
Nu Skin said its Chinese business will immediately resume
corporate-hosted business meetings and will start accepting
applications for new sales people next month, following a review of
its sales and marketing practices. Shares rose 5.7% to $91.30
premarket.
Sarepta on Monday said it would submit a new drug application
for its experimental Duchenne muscular dystrophy treatment to the
U.S. Food and Drug Administration by the end of the year. Shares of
Sarepta shot up 55% to $37.75 premarket.
Watch List:
Chindex International Inc. (CHDX) has agreed to an increased
$461 million merger offer from a consortium led by private-equity
firm TPG Inc. and Shanghai Fosun Pharmaceutical Group Co. The deal
is now pegged at $24 a share, up from the previous agreed-upon
price of $19.50 a share.
Emergent Biosolutions Inc. (EBS) said the U.S. Food and Drug
Administration has granted orphan-drug status to its BioThrax
treatment for patients suspected or confirmed to have been exposed
to anthrax. BioThrax is the only FDA-licensed vaccine for the
prevention of anthrax disease.
Halliburton Co. (HAL) swung to a first-quarter profit from a
year-earlier period that was weighed down by a big charge related
to litigation stemming from the 2010 Deepwater Horizon disaster.
Revenue also improved, and results topped expectations.
Hillshire Brands Co. (HSH) agreed to acquire waffle and cereal
maker Van's Natural Foods from private-equity firm Catterton
Partners for about $165 million. The Wall Street Journal reported
last week that Van's was on the auction block and could fetch about
$160 million in a deal.
Kimberly-Clark Corp. (KMB) said its first-quarter earnings rose
1.3% as the consumer-products maker reported weaker-than-expected
sales but lower product costs.
Orthofix International N.V. (OFIX) said it named David E.
Ziegler as its interim chief financial officer, succeeding Emily
Buxton who voluntarily resigned from the medical-device company.
Mr. Ziegler has served as a full-time independent adviser to the
board's audit committee in connection with the independent review
of certain accounting matters.
Perfect World Co. (PWRD) agreed to join a group of potential
buyers for Shanda Games Ltd. (GAME) and will purchase about $100
million in shares of the Chinese online game developer's
parent.
SunTrust Banks Inc. (STI) said its first-quarter profit
increased 15% --beating market estimates -- as the regional bank
benefited from lower credit-loss provisions, offsetting a drop in
revenue.
TreeHouse Foods Inc. (THS) on Monday said it will buy
private-label food maker Protenergy Natural Foods for about $150
million from Whitecastle Investments Ltd. and other entities. The
acquisition of Protenergy, which makes private-label soups and
gravies, will give the company more research, development and
packaging capabilities, while broadening its product portfolio.
Write to Lauren Pollock at lauren.pollock@wsj.com
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