(Maxim) Achillion Pharma is also an acquisition candidate in the HCV space

Achillion Pharma is also an acquisition candidate in the HCV space - Maxim 

Maxim Group believes Merck (MRK) is interested in the company's nucleotide programs as well as their NS5A inhibitor. They believe that ACHN is also an acquisition candidate in the HCV space with viable NS5A, Protease Inhibitors and Nucleosides in development. As they trade today, they see Achillion as a compelling valuation.

>>> Boston Fed President Eric Rosengren full speech follow up

{http://www.bostonfed.org/news/speeches/rosengren/2014/060914/index.htm}

Boston Fed President Eric Rosengren full speech follow up (not a voting FOMC member, typically dovish)
Mr. Rosengren made the following comments:
"I personally do not expect that it will be appropriate to raise short-term rates until the U.S. economy is within one year of both achieving full employment and returning to within a narrow band around 2 percent inflation."
Rosengren offered a few potential exit-strategy options, including the possibility of a gradual and transparent reduction in the Fed's balance sheet, when that becomes appropriate. One possibility would be reinvesting "all but a percentage of securities on the balance sheet as they reach maturity," and gradually increasing that percentage.
Turning to raising rates, when appropriate, one tool would be raising the rate of interest that the Federal Reserve pays on excess reserves. Or, the Federal Reserve could engage in overnight reverse repurchase agreements

(BN) Iliad’s Bid for Bouygues Telecom Said to Stumble Over Price Gap

Iliad’s Bid for Bouygues Telecom Said to Stumble Over Price Gap
2014-06-09 16:26:22.96 GMT


By Matthew Campbell and Marie Mawad
     June 9 (Bloomberg) -- A bid by Iliad SA for Bouygues
Telecom has stumbled over a 3 billion-euro ($4 billion) price
gap as French mobile operators seek to merge in one of Europe’s
most competitive markets, people familiar with the matter said.
     Iliad, owner of the Free brand, in recent weeks made an
informal offer valued at between 4 billion euros and 5 billion
euros, the people said, asking not to be identified discussing a
private matter. Bouygues Telecom’s owner, Bouygues SA, is
seeking about 7 billion euros to 8 billion euros for the mobile
operator, France’s third-largest cellular carrier, they said.
Discussions are currently at a standstill, the people said.
     Europe’s telecommunication operators are trying to combine
as costs rise for high-speed fourth-generation networks and the
pace of smartphone adoption slows. In Germany, a proposed merger
between Telefonica SA and Royal KPN NV’s local units is awaiting
approval by antitrust regulators, a deal that would make it the
first large European market to shrink to three full-service
mobile operators.
     A representative for Iliad declined to comment. A spokesman
for Bouygues declined to comment on an Iliad offer, saying only
that all options are on the table and the company favors a
standalone strategy for its mobile unit.
     Bouygues, a family-controlled construction conglomerate,
has said it is in early-stage discussions about a deal with
Orange SA, the largest French phone company and former state
monopoly. That combination could lead to significant antitrust
challenges, since Orange is by far the market leader in French
mobile.

For Related News and Information:
Top Stories:TOP<GO>

--With assistance from Francois de Beaupuy and Helene Fouquet in
Paris. 

To contact the reporters on this story:
Matthew Campbell in London at +44-20-3525-8684 or
mcampbell39@bloomberg.net;
Marie Mawad in Paris at +33-1-5530-6290 or
mmawad1@bloomberg.net
To contact the editors responsible for this story:
Aaron Kirchfeld at +44-20-3525-8830 or
akirchfeld@bloomberg.net;
Kenneth Wong at +49-30-70010-6215 or
kwong11@bloomberg.net
Mark Beech

(BFW) *ILIAD SAID TO HAVE OFFERED ABOUT EU4 BLN TO EU5 BLN FOR UNIT

BFW 06/09 16:25 *BOUYGUES SAID TO SEEK EU7 BLN TO EU8 BLN FOR BOUYGUES TELECOM
BFW 06/09 16:24 *ILIAD’S BID FOR BOUYGUES TELECOM SAID TO STUMBLE OVER PRICE GAP
 BN 06/09 16:23 *BOUYGUES-ILIAD TALKS SAID TO BE AT STANDSTILL
 BN 06/09 16:23 *BOUYGUES SAID TO SEEK EU7 BLN TO EU8 BLN FOR BOUYGUES TELECOM
 BN 06/09 16:22 *ILIAD SAID TO HAVE OFFERED ABOUT EU4 BLN TO EU5 BLN FOR UNIT
 BN 06/09 16:22 *ILIAD’S BID FOR BOUYGUES TELECOM SAID TO STUMBLE OVER PRICE GAP
*ILIAD SAID TO HAVE OFFERED ABOUT EU4 BLN TO EU5 BLN FOR UNIT
2014-06-09 16:25:04.138 GMT

--JIM SILVER

-0- Jun/09/2014 16:25 GMT

(MKM) Family Dollar: Another activist joins the fray, significantly ups pressure

Family Dollar: Another activist joins the fray, significantly ups pressure on board, mgmt

MKM (following Icahn's disclosure of a 9.4% stake), thinks a sale of Family Dollar will figure prominently in the discussions. They also think Icahn could push for a merger of Family Dollar with DG. While they've long felt such a combination was unlikely, the stores are similar in size and mix and share the same customer demographic While they are not changing our Neutral rating, which is based on our cautious fundamental view, they expect the stock to trade well above our $58 fair value estimate as investors speculate about a possible sale or merger. They continue to like DG and DLTR