Actelion Surges on J&J Takeover Talks, UDG Healthcare Net Soars

Sarla Buch
25 Nov, 2016
New York City

Actelion surged on the report of a takeover talks with Johnson & Johnson. Davide Campari-Milano agreed to sell its wine units to Terra Moretti. Pennon Group pre-tax profit surged 20%. UDG Healthcare net vaulted more than three-fold.

[R]4:00 PM Frankfurt – Actelion surged on the report of a takeover talks with Johnson & Johnson. Davide Campari-Milano agreed to sell its wine units to Terra Moretti. Pennon Group pre-tax profit surged 20%. UDG Healthcare net vaulted more than three-fold.[/R]

In London trading, FTSE 100 index rose 9.37 to 6,838.55 and in Frankfurt the DAX index edged down 0.77 to 10,688.41.

In Paris, CAC 40 index rose 7.43 to 4,549.99.

For the week, FTSE 100 index gained 0.9%, the DAX index edged up 0.1% and the CAC 40 index increased 1%.

Actelion Ltd surged 11.4% to 176 Swiss francs after Bloomberg reported that the U.S.-based healthcare products maker Johnson & Johnson is in preliminary acquisition talk with Switzerland-based biopharmaceutical group.

Davide Campari-Milano SpA increased 1.7% to €9.09 after Italy-based alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages maker agreed to sell its wines business of Azienda Vinicola Tenute Sella & Mosca S.p.A and Teruzzi & Puthod S.r.l. for €62 million to Terra Moretti Distribuzione S.r.l. on cash and debt free basis.

The transaction is expected to close before the end of this year.

Pennon Group Plc gained 1.3% to 820.50 pence after the U.K.-based water and waste water services provider said revenues in the first-half ending in September fell 0.5% from a year ago to £685.5 million.

Net income in the year jumped 6.1% from a year ago to £72.9 million compared to the £68.7 million and diluted earnings per share increased to 17.6 pence from 16.7 pence.

Pennon Group said pre-tax profit in the period surged 19.9% to £128.1 million from the same period a year ago.

UDG Healthcare Plc jumped 3.9% to 638.50 pence after the Ireland-based healthcare services provider said revenues in the year ending in September advanced 3% from a year ago to €943.1 million.

Net profit in the quarter soared 252% from a year ago to €193.3 million compared to the €54.9 million and diluted earnings per share jumped to €0.78 from €0.22.

UDG said operating profit in the year soared 8% to €104.2 million while operating margin increased by 0.6 percentage point to 11.1% from a year ago period.