Small
cap stocks making big moves on Monday, April 28, 2014 (as of 4 pm EST)
Susser Holdings Corp. (NYSE: SUSS)
shares shot up 36% to $77.72 on volume of more than 4.1 million shares Monday
after Energy Transfer Partners LP (NYSE: ETP) said it would buy
the operator of convenience stores that sell gas for a total consideration of
about $1.8 billion. Susser shareholders will receive either $80.25 in cash,
1.4506 Energy Transfer common units, or a combination of both for each share
held.
As well,
shares of Athersys, Inc. (NASDAQ: ATHX)
plunged 51% to $1.33 on more than 12.6 million shares traded as the clinical
stage biotechnology company reported that its experimental stem-cell
therapy for treating an inflammatory bowel disease failed to show any benefit
in patients in a mid-stage trial.
Furiex Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (NASDAQ: FURX),
meanwhile, announced that it has agreed to be acquired by Forest Laboratories, Inc. (NYSE: FRX)
for $95 per share, or approximately $1.1 billion in cash, and up to $30 per
share (approximately $360 million in aggregate) in a Contingent Value Right
(CVR) that may be payable based on the status of eluxadoline, Furiex’s lead
product, as a controlled drug following approval. Furiex stock moved up
29% to $103.05.
Finally,
Agenus Inc. (NASDAQ: AGEN)
shares jumped 20% to $3.06 after the immuno-oncology company said it has
entered into a collaboration and license agreement with Merck for the discovery
and development of therapeutic antibodies to immune checkpoints for the
treatment of cancer.
