Mergers & Acquisitions

Cutter & Buck Inc., a designer and marketer of upscale golf and sportswear in the United States, signs a definitive agreement to be acquired by New Wave Group AB, a leader in the design and marketing of consumer products for the corporate promotional and consumer retail markets in Europe.

Vision Chain Inc. announces Uli Werner, former SAP executive, as the newest member on its Advisory Board.

French retailer Pinault-Printemps-Redoute (PPR) made a $7.07 billion (5.3 billion euro) bid to add German sportswear company Puma to its line-up of Gucci and Yves Saint Laurent iconic fashion brands.

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.