Zillow to buy Trulia; Dollar Tree to acquire Family Dollar; Hospira reportedly in talks to buy Danone unit
The week begins with lots of M&A news.
Real estate website Zillow (Z) will purchase Trulia (TRLA). The companies announced this morning that Zillow will buy Trulia in a $3.5 billion stock deal that is expected to close next year. Zillow reportedly first approached Trulia about a takeover six weeks ago. The companies expect $100 million in cost savings by 2016. The combined brands will remain in tact.
Discount retailer Dollar Tree (DLTR) is buying rival Family Dollar (FDO) in a cash and stock deal valued at about $8.5 billion. The combined company will have over 13,000 stores and more than $18 billion in sales. Activist investor Carl Icahn, who has a more than 9% stake in Family Dollar, has been pressuring the company to put itself up for sale.
The Financial Times reported that U.S.-based Hospira (HSP) is in talks to buy a unit of French dairy producer Danone. The cash-and-stock deal could be worth nearly $5 billion. Danone, which also makes Activia yogurt and Evian water, is looking to sell its medical-nutrition unit. Other companies, including Nestle, have discussed buying the unit. The possible deal is seen as a tax inversion move for Hospira because it would allow the company to move its tax base to Europe.
