mergers acquisitions and takeovers

• Obituaries

Robert D.H. Harvey

Robert D.H. Harvey, a career Baltimore banker who rose from bank runner to leading the effort that resulted in the founding of the old Maryland National Bank and later served as chairman and CEO of Maryland National Corp., died.

By Frederick N. Rasmussen

May 19, 2015

• Maryland

Merger of BGE parent company and Pepco approved

Maryland's regulatory body approved on Friday, in a three-to-two vote, a $6.9 billion merger between Baltimore Gas and Electric parent Exelon Corp. and Pepco Holdings.

• Opinion

Reject the Exelon-Pepco merger

If ever there was a deal that deserved to be rejected, surely it's the proposed merger between Exelon and Pepco. The merger would benefit shareholders at the expense of Maryland ratepayers, and it would inhibit the growth of clean, reliable, and affordable electricity. Exelon has failed to garner any state government support and they have attracted a growing coalition of local opposition.

• Opinion

Criticism of Pepco merger with Exelon unfounded

A Pepco Holdings merger with Exelon is a good deal and is in the best interest of residents of the state of Maryland. It has the potential to make Maryland a national leader in the development of microgrids, energy efficiency, distributed energy — including renewables — and other technology that will be the backbone of the grid of the future and a strong incentive for businesses to locate here.

• Mergers

Omega completes acquisition of Aviv

A Hunt Valley real estate firm focused on skilled nursing facilities said Wednesday it had closed on its acquisition of a smaller Chicago company in a deal that expands its holdings to more than 900 properties in 41 states.

By Natalie Sherman

Apr 2, 2015

• Trials and Arbitration

Maryland joins federal opposition to Sysco merger

Maryland is joining with nine other states, the District of Columbia and the Federal Trade Commission in opposing a merger of the country's two largest food distribution companies on grounds that the union would create a near monopoly in this region and potentially raise prices for consumers.

By Arthur Hirsch

Mar 23, 2015

• Opinion

Can the Exelon-Pepco merger be in the public interest?

Attorney General Frosh raises important questions about whether the combined company would wield too much influence over regional energy policy.

• Mergers

McCormick acquires N.J.-based broth maker for $63 million

McCormick & Co. Inc. said it has acquired Brand Aromatics, a privately held New Jersey-based maker of marinades and broths, for about $63 million in cash.

By Lorraine Mirabella

Mar 9, 2015

• Mergers

Baltimore digital marketing company acquires Silicon Valley agency

R2integrated, a Baltimore-based digital marketer, has acquired the largest marketing services agency in Silicon Valley, California as part of the CEO's aspiration to establish his company as a national name in a growing industry.

By Arthur Hirsch

Mar 6, 2015

• Business

Citigroup to sell OneMain Financial to Springleaf Holdings

Personal finance company Springleaf Holdings is buying Citigroup's OneMain Financial for $4.25 billion.

• Baltimore County

Talk of closing volunteer stations a concern in Lansdowne

A study commissioned by the Baltimore County Volunteer Firemen's Association recommending the merger of the Lansdowne and English Consul volunteer fire departments and the closure of the Violetville Volunteer Fire Department has caused concern for some in those communities.

• Mergers

McCormick to buy Italian spice-maker for $97 million

McCormick & Co. Inc. is expanding in Europe with the acquisition of top Italian spice maker Drogheria & Alimentari for $97 million, the Sparks-based company said Friday.

By Lorraine Mirabella

Feb 20, 2015

• Business

Settlement reached in Exelon-Pepco merger in Delaware

Exelon Corp. said Friday it reached a settlement with advocacy groups and other parties in its proposed Pepco Holdings, Inc. merger case before Delaware regulators, overcoming a key hurdle.

By Carrie Wells

Feb 13, 2015

• Under Armour

Lawmakers tour Under Armour's Locust Point headquarters

The lawmakers who visited Under Armour's global headquarters in Locust Point Monday saw employees lifting weights in a two-level gym and chatting over lunch in the Humble and Hungry Café.

By Lorraine Mirabella

Feb 9, 2015

• Mergers

Exelon must show regulators that Pepco merger is a good deal

Opponents and supporters of a proposed utility merger involving Baltimore Gas and Electric parent Exelon Corp. began a calculated dance before Maryland regulators this week, with some hoping to sink the deal and others hoping to sweeten it.

By Carrie Wells

Feb 3, 2015

• Mergers

Howard Bancorp's 2014 earnings rise five-fold after acquisition of failed bank

The parent company of Ellicott City-based Howard Bank reported strong growth and a more than five-fold increase in its earnings in 2014, driven largely by its acquisition of a failed Rising Sun bank.

By Carrie Wells

Jan 21, 2015

• Maryland

Year in Review: Uncertainty remains in wake of Men's Wearhouse acquisition of Hampstead's Jos. A. Bank

• Laurel Leader

Printing company makes 'Ironmark' in county

Ironmark is a printing company that designs and creates a variety of publications, images, signage and digital products, like websites, for its clients. The company was created in 2011 by the merger of Frank Gumpert Printing and Corporate Printing Solutions, which were previously based in Annapolis and Hunt Valley, respectively. After the merger, the new company, temporarily dubbed CPS Gumpert, looked to consolidate its operation, eventually finding a home in Howard County.

• Opinion

Exelon has been a good partner [Letter]

Energy company has been responsible citizen and merger with Pepco Holdings should be good for Maryland

• Mergers

Class action lawsuit accuses Millennial Media of misleading investors

A class action lawsuit filed Tuesday accuses Millennial Media executives of hiding information that reflected poorly on the company, and, once released publicly, sent the company's stock price tumbling.

• Mergers

Coalition calls for rejection of Exelon-Pepco merger

A 20-group coalition on Thursday called on state regulators to reject a proposed merger between Chicago energy giant Exelon Corp. and Pepco Holdings Inc., citing the company's track record on the environment and fears the deal would give it too much power in the state.

• Mergers

Ironmark to move Annapolis, Hunt Valley operations to Howard County

Ironmark, a printing and image consultant company that was formed through the 2011 merger of Frank Gumpert Printing and Corporate Printing Solutions, announced Monday it will consolidate its Annapolis and Hunt Valley operations into a new headquarters in Howard County.

• Mergers

Hunt Valley engineering firm merges with Arizona company

Maryland-based EMG merged this month with an Arizona firm, a move that adds project management services to the Hunt Valley engineering, environmental and capital planning company's capabilities.

• Newspapers

Tribune completes spinoff of newspapers including The Baltimore Sun

Tribune is just the latest multimedia news company to split up its broadcasting and publishing assets, joining Rupert Murdoch's News Corp. and E.W. Scripps, which completed such a spinoff just last week. Such separation is gaining momentum as traditional media seek to adapt to the fast-evolving digital landscape.

• Companies and Corporations

Dollar Tree/Family Dollar merger could create Wal-Mart rival but hurt consumers

An $8.5 billion merger of dollar stores to create North America's biggest discount chain could mean stiff competition for mass discounters such as Wal-Mart Stores Inc. but less choice and higher prices for shoppers.

• Opinion

Cable merger is bigger than cable [Commentary]

The proposed deal between Comcast and Time Warner could keep the companies from going the way of Blockbuster.

• Business

Jos. A. Bank posts quarterly loss related to merger with Men's Wearhouse

Jos. A. Bank Clothiers Inc., likely a few weeks away from finalizing a $1.8 billion deal to be acquired by Men's Wearhouse, posted a $37.1 million first quarter loss stemming from merger-related expenses.

• Business

Maryland, Del. governors concerned about Pfizer's proposed takeover of AstraZeneca

Gov. Martin O'Malley and Delaware's governor sent a joint letter to Pfizer Thursday expressing concerns about its plans to acquire pharmaceutical firm AstraZeneca, which employs thousands in both states.

• Newspapers

Baltimore Sun Media Group buys The Capital in Annapolis and the Carroll County Times

The Baltimore Sun Media Group announced today that it purchased The Capital in Annapolis, the Carroll County Times and the Maryland publications and websites affiliated with those news organizations from Landmark Media Enterprises.

• Newspapers

Sun company buys Annapolis Capital, Carroll County Times

The Baltimore Sun Media Group announced Thursday it purchased The Capital in Annapolis, the Carroll County Times and other area publications and websites, a move that expands its journalistic footprint in Maryland.

• Business

BGE parent company to acquire D.C.-based Pepco

Baltimore Gas and Electric Co.'s parent said Wednesday that it has struck a $6.9 billion deal to acquire Pepco Holdings Inc., 17 years after BGE walked away from a protracted effort to buy its southern neighbor.

• Science

PSA announces $3 million merger with Armada Employer Services

Hunt Valley-based PSA Insurance & Financial Services announced Wednesday a $3 million merger with Armada Employer Services, a retail employee benefit consulting and human resources firm.

• Business

Jos. Bank chairman to get up to $5.8 million payout in sale to Men's Wearhouse

The chairman of Jos. A. Bank Clothiers Inc. will get a golden parachute payout of up to $5.8 million as part of the chain's acquisition by The Men's Wearhouse in a $1.8 billion deal.

• Business

Jos. Bank to be acquired by Men's Wearhouse for $1.8 billion

Hampstead-based Jos. A. Bank Clothiers will be acquired by rival Men's Wearhouse for $65 a share in cash, a $1.8 billion deal that ends a months-long hostile takeover fight.

• Business

KPMG buys Baltimore software company Cynergy Systems

Tax giant KPMG LLP has acquired Cynergy Systems Inc., a Baltimore-based company that builds and designs software and mobile applications, for an undisclosed sum.

• Mergers

BGE's new CEO settles in after a demanding few years

Calvin G. Butler Jr. came to Baltimore nearly three years ago with one foot here and the other in Chicago, flying west on weekends to his wife and two teenagers.

• Shareholders

Jos. A. Bank rejects latest Men's Wearhouse bid

On Thursday, Jos. A. Bank rejected Men's Wearhouse's latest bid, a $63.50-per-share offer to buy the Hampstead-based clothier, but in the first sign of thawing, its board has agreed to meet with Wearhouse to discuss a possible acquisition.

• Business

Men's Wearhouse ups bid for Jos. A. Bank by 10 percent

Men's Wearhouse sweetened its hostile bid for Hampstead-based Jos. A. Bank Clothiers Inc. Monday, raising its price more than 10 percent in a deal that hinges on the smaller men's apparel chain dropping its plans to buy Eddie Bauer.

• Media Industry

Baltimore Sun Media Group to buy City Paper

The Baltimore Sun Media Group said today it is buying the alternative weekly City Paper for an undisclosed price.

• Business

Jos. A. Bank starts buyback of up to $300 million shares at $65 each

Jos. A. Bank Clothiers Inc. said Wednesday it has started buying back up to $300 million worth of its shares at $65 each, a step toward its planned acquisition of retail chain Eddie Bauer.

• Maryland

Jos. A. Bank announces buyback offer of $300M in stock at $65 per share

• Business

Jos. A. Bank to acquire Eddie Bauer in deal worth $825 million

Hampstead-based suit seller Jos. A. Bank Friday acquired casual clothing chain Eddie Bauer for about $825 million in cash and stock.

• Television Industry

Sinclair earnings drop as broadcaster pays off debt

Sinclair Broadcast Group Inc. capped a year of strong broadcast revenue growth and station acquisitions with a 33 percent jump in fourth quarter sales but a drop in profit as the Hunt Valley company paid off debt.

• Business

Shareholder moves to force Jos. A. Bank to negotiate with Men's Wearhouse

A large shareholder of Jos. A. Bank Clothiers Inc. went to court Monday to force the Hampstead-based men's retailer to negotiate with rival Men's Wearhouse and stop Bank from acquiring another retailer to "sabotage" the Houston-chain's $1.61 billion hostile takeover attempt of Bank

• Business

Jos. Bank headquarters town hopes for best in takeover battle

Jos. A. Bank Clothiers Inc. is known for buy-one-get-two men's suit deals at stores around the U.S. and more recently for a heated, ongoing takeover battle with rival Men's Wearhouse.

• Business

Jos. Bank rejects Men's Wearhouse bid

Just as its offer was rejected, Jos A. Bank Clothiers Inc. rejected the $1.2 billion turn-table acquisition bid by The Men's Wearhouse Inc. on Monday, but most observers still believe a merger is inevitable.

• Harford

Saks distribution in Aberdeen's future in limbo with new owner, layoffs

Plans to lay off 191 employees from the Saks Incorporated Distribution Facility in Aberdeen, announced earlier this month, will end up affecting about 70 percent of the facility's workforce and are raising questions among workers if the facility is heading for a full shutdown.

• Business

Sysco to buy US Foods, former Columbia-based company, for $3.5 billion

Sysco Corp will buy US Foods Inc., a former Columbia-based company, for about $3.5 billion from its private equity owners in a deal that will combine the top two U.S. food distributors and create a company commanding at least a quarter of the $235 billion North American market.

• Business

Jos. A. Bank Clothiers continues to review Men's Wearhouse offer

It could be a while before Jos. A. Bank Clothiers formally responds to the takeover offer from its rival Men's Wearhouse as executives focus on the key holiday retail selling season and other potential acquisitions.

• Business

5 Questions for Matt Goddard, CEO of R2integrated

Interview with CEO Matt Goddard of R2integrated