merger agreement

Sen. Al Franken has written the Federal Communications Commission and the Department of Justice to express his concern over Comcast's reading of the neighborhooding condition in its NBCU merger agreement and urged the agency to keep close watch on all the conditions agreed upon by the companies in securing their merger.

Catalyst Pharma (Nasdaq: CPRX) 82.5% HIGHER; traders are focusing on reports that the National Institute on Drug Abuse will design and implement preclinical/clinical studies related to the efficacy and safety of vigabatrin in cocaine and methamphetamine abusers.

The stock gapped above the $1 level this morning. Javelin Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (Amex: JAV) 61.2% HIGHER; announced today that it had received a binding offer from Hospira, Inc.

• Microchip Technology Incorporated (NASDAQ: MCHP) today announced that it entered into an amendment to its February 2, 2010 definitive agreement to acquire Silicon Storage Technology, Inc.
  
  (NASDAQ: SSTI). Under the revised terms, SST shareholders would be entitled to receive $3.00 per share in cash compared to $2.85 per share prior to the amendment.
  
  This amendment was in response to an offer made by another party to SST’s Strategic Committee on February 19, 2010.

ICO, Inc. (NASDAQ: ICOC) 45.6% HIGHER; today announced the execution of a merger agreement with A. Schulman, Inc.

(NASDAQ: SHLM). Terms of the deal are $3.67 in cash and $3.12 in A. Schulman (0.184 shares valued at the closing price on December 2, 2009).

Also reported Q4 EPS of $0.06, even with the analyst estimate of $0.06. Revenue for the quarter was $ million, which compares to the estimate of $76.78 million.

Key Tronic Corp. (NASDAQ: KTCC) 29.4% HIGHER; updates guidance.

ICO, Inc. (NASDAQ: ICOC) 46.2% HIGHER; today announced the execution of a merger agreement with A. Schulman, Inc.

(NASDAQ: SHLM). Terms of the deal are $3.67 in cash and $3.12 in A. Schulman (0.184 shares valued at the closing price on December 2, 2009).

Also reported Q4 EPS of $0.06, even with the analyst estimate of $0.06. Revenue for the quarter was $ million, which compares to the estimate of $76.78 million.

Key Tronic Corp. (NASDAQ: KTCC) 29.7% HIGHER; updates guidance.

Shares of Volkswagen and Porsche fell Monday amid speculation that a merger agreement between the two automakers could be delayed or possibly derailed.

• Philip Morris International Inc. (NYSE: PM) announced today that it has entered into an agreement to purchase 100% of the shares of privately owned Colombian cigarette manufacturer, Productora Tabacalera de Colombia, Protabaco Ltda.
  
  (Protabaco), for $452 million. Protabaco is the second largest tobacco company in Colombia, with an estimated 2008 volume of 6.1 billion cigarettes and an approximate market share of 31.8%.
  
  The Company reported net revenues of approximately $107.6 million in 2008. Its leading brands include Mustang, Premier and President.

• Symphony Technology Group and Elliott Management Corp. announced that affiliates of STG have entered into a definitive agreement with MSC.Software Corporation (Nasdaq: MSCS) to acquire all of MSC's outstanding shares in a one-step all-cash merger transaction valued at approximately $360 million.
  
  Under the terms of the agreement, MSC's stockholders will receive $7.63 in cash for each share of MSC common stock, representing approximately a 13% premium to the closing price per share of MSC's stock prior to this announcement.

• On June 30, 2009, Borland Software Corporation (Nasdaq: BORL) entered into a Second Amendment to Agreement and Plan of Merger by and among Bentley Merger Sub, Inc., Micro Focus International plc, Micro Focus, Inc. and the Company, dated May 5, 2009, as amended on June 17, 2009.
  
  The Second Amendment provides that (i) the merger consideration under the merger agreement increased from $1.15 to $1.50 per share in cash and (ii) the termination fee payable in certain circumstances increased from $4 million to $5.2 million.
  
  The Merger Agreement otherwise remains in full force and effect.

CNB Financial Corp. of Worcester has signed a $25 million merger agreement with United Financial Bancorp of West Springfield.