Mergers & Acquisitions

To reinforce its leadership in nutrition, Nestle agrees to acquire Gerber, the iconic U.S. baby food brand, from Novartis for $5.5 billion.

Whirlpool Corporation plans to bring Maytag brand appliances back to all U.S. Best Buy stores and online at www.bestbuy.com in May 2007.

On Monday, April 2, 2007, Kraft Foods Inc. Chairman and CEO Irene Rosenfeld joined 11 Kraft employees from around the world to ring The Opening Bell at the New York Stock Exchange, marking the company's first day of trading as a fully independent company.

According to the Associated Press, Techtronic Industries Co. Ltd. (TTI) will close Hoover's main campus in North Canton, Ohio, and some manufacturing operations of the vacuum-cleaner business by fall, resulting in 750 job cuts.

Workbrain Corporation reaches a definitive agreement with Infor Global Solutions European Finance, S.A.R.L. (Infor) under which Infor will acquire all of Workbrain's outstanding common shares at a price of $12.50 per share in cash pursuant to a statutory plan of arrangement.

VF Corporation completes the sale of its global intimate apparel business to Fruit of the Loom Inc., a subsidiary of Berkshire Hathaway Inc. Proceeds of the sale will consist of the previously disclosed $350 million purchase price, plus adjustment for working capital changes.

Reebok International Ltd. files a lawsuit against Nike Inc. in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Texas, claiming Nike infringed on a patent arising from Reebok's collapsible shoe technology.

Led by CIO Doreen Wright, it empowers Campbell Soup company's transformation