U.S. Movers: Alexza, Duke Energy, Expedia, Herbalife, Disney

Mukesh Buch
24 Dec, 2012
New York City

Expedia agreed to acquire 62% equity in Germany based Trivago. Smith & Nephew agreed to buy Healthpoint Biotherapeutics for $782 million in cash. Disney acquired Lucasfilm valued $4.06 billion in cash and stock.

[R]10:30 AM New York – Expedia agreed to acquire 62% equity in Germany based Trivago. Smith & Nephew agreed to buy Healthpoint Biotherapeutics for $782 million in cash. Disney acquired Lucasfilm valued $4.06 billion in cash and stock.[/R]

Alexza Pharmaceuticals, Inc. ((ALXA)) plummeted 11.4% or 66 cents to $5.12 after the biotechnology food and drug administration approved Adasuve for the acute treatment of agitation associated with schizophrenia or bipolar disorder in adults.

Expedia, Inc. ((EXPE)) gained 9 cents to $59.66 after the online travel agency agreed to acquire 61.6% equity position in Trivago, a leading metasearch company based Dusseldorf, Germany for €477 million or $632 million in cash and €43 million in common stock.

The deal is anticipated to close during the first half of 2013.

General Electric Company ((GE)) fell 1 cent to $20.87 after the diversified technology agreed to purchase Italy based manufacturer of aviation components maker Avio S.p.A., for $4.3 billion.

Smith & Nephew plc, the UK based medical equipments maker completed acquisition of Healthpoint Biotherapeutics for $782 million in cash.

Smith & Nephew operates in 90 countries and annual sales in 2011 were nearly $4.3 billion.

Herbalife Ltd. ((HLF)) slumped 1.5% or 46 cents to $26.81 after the nutrition company scheduled an analyst day on January 7 in response to negative comments from hedge fund manager William Ackman.

The Walt Disney Company ((DIS)) added 5 cents to $50.04 after the entertainment company completed its acquisition of Lucasfilm Ltd. LLC. Disney issued 37.1 million shares with payment of $2.21 billion in cash.

The total transaction valued $4.06 billion based on Friday''s closing price of Disney at $50 per share.

VimpelCom Ltd., increased 2.5% or 26 cents to $10.45 after the Netherlands based communication service provider received notice of preferred share conversion from Altimo Cooperatief U.A.

Altimo intends to convert 128,532,000 convertible preferred shares into common shares of the company.

The conversion date notified April 16, 2013 and premium paid upon conversion of $10.835. The company will receive nearly $1.4 billion for the conversion.