Mergers & Acquisitions | featured news

The deal could still collapse, people briefed on the talks said, but if it goes through it would be valued at nearly $5 billion.

Beijing's rejection of the soft drink deal is a sign of rising nationalism.

After several days of behind-the-scenes negotiating, Cisco (NSDQ: CSCO) said it will acquire Pure Digital Technologies and its easy-to-use Flip Video camera for $590 million in stock. The deal also calls for Jonathan Kaplan, chairman and CEO of Pure Digital, to become general manager of Cisco's consumer business group.

The merger, if completed, would mark a big consolidation step in the market for server computers used in corporate data centers, one that could prompt an antitrust challenge.

Deal talks between Genentech and Roche hit a snag over dueling interpretations of arcane SEC rules, but the problem is unlikely to derail the transaction, according to people familiar with the matter.

Dow Chemical and Rohm & Haas have reached a tentative deal to complete their disputed $15 billion merger, according to people briefed on the situation.

Drugmakers Merck & Co. and Schering-Plough Corp. are planning to merge under the name Merck in a stock-and-cash deal worth about $41.1 billion.

Swiss drug company Roche Holding increased its offer to acquire the rest of Genentech to $93 a share from $86.50.

Pfizer also said it would cut more than 8000 jobs to cut costs in anticipation of cholesterol drug Lipitor losing patent protection in 2011.

The struggling American auto maker Chrysler, owned by the private equity firm Cerberus Capital Management, signed an agreement with Fiat on Tuesday that would give the Italian car maker a 35% stake in the company.