Among the companies with shares expected to actively trade in
Tuesday's session are Acadia Pharmaceuticals Inc. (ACAD), ConAgra
Foods Inc. (CAG) and Neptune Technologies & Bioressources Inc.
(NEPT).
Acadia said its experimental antipsychotic drug showed
significant improvement in patients with Parkinson's disease
psychosis in a late-stage trial. Patients receiving the drug,
pimavanserin, had symptoms like hallucinations and delusions of
jealousy reduced by more than a third, compared to a reduction of
18.5% in patients receiving a placebo. Shares nearly tripled to
$6.89 premarket from its Monday close of $2.30.
ConAgra has agreed to buy private-label producer Ralcorp
Holdings Inc. (RAH) in a deal that will create one of the largest
foodmakers in North America, valuing Ralcorp at about $4.95
billion. ConAgra will pay shareholders $90 a share in cash. Ralcorp
shares jumped 26% to $88.78 premarket, while ConAgra shares rose
3.9% to $29.40.
Neptune Technologies shares plunged 29% to $2.35 after trading
resumed premarket following an extended halt after an explosion and
fire at its Sherbroooke, Quebec plant on Nov. 8. The nutritional
supplement maker said as it resumes operations, it will temporarily
lay off over 70 workers while senior management and employees will
take salary cuts of at least 20%.
Corning Inc. (GLW) raised its fourth-quarter sales outlook for
its specialty materials business amid stronger-than-anticipated
demand for glass used in flat-panel televisions and special glass
used in mobile devices. Shares rose 6.8% to $12.12 premarket.
Thor Industries Inc.'s (THO) fiscal first-quarter profit rose
39% as the company reported a double-digit sales gain in its
recreational vehicle business. However, shares fell 8.3% to $40
premarket as earnings missed analysts' expectations.
China Ceramics Co. Ltd. (CCCL), a Chinese manufacturer of
ceramic tiles, said it has entered into a strategic contract with
China State Decoration Group Co. Ltd., a wholly-owned subsidiary of
the largest real estate construction contractor in China, China
State Construction Engineering Corp. China Ceramics shares rose 18%
to $2.65 premarket.
Clean Diesel Technologies Inc. (CDTI) said it received
verification from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency for its
Purifilter EGR emission reduction system. Shares rose 16% to $2.50
premarket.
Standard & Poor's said it will add discount chain Dollar
General Corp. (DG) to its S&P 500 index, replacing Cooper
Industries PLC (CBE), after Eaton Corp. (ETN) completes its
acquisition of the electrical products maker. Dollar General shares
were up 3% to $50.80 premarket.
Full Circle Capital Corp. (FULL) has launched an offering of
1.35 million shares. The loan financing provider recently had
around 6.2 million shares outstanding. Shares fell 4.3% to $7.77 in
premarket trading.
Generac Holdings Inc. (GNRC) said its biggest shareholder and
members of the company's board and senior management have withdrawn
plans for a secondary offering of shares due to market conditions.
The generator manufacturer's shares jumped 6.1% to $33.96
premarket.
Las Vegas Sands Corp.'s (LVS) board has approved a special
dividend of $2.75 a share, as the casino operator looks to boost
shareholder returns. Shares climbed 4.4% to $45.95 premarket.
Watchlist:
Children's Place Retail Stores Inc. (PLCE) said Chief Financial
Officer Steven Baginski is leaving after less than a year in the
post to pursue other interests and will be succeeded by retail
veteran Michael Scarpa next month.
Clean Harbors Inc. (CLH) said it is offering 6 million shares,
intending to use the proceeds to help finance a planned
acquisition. The company had around 53.4 million shares outstanding
as of Sept. 30. The provider of environmental, energy and
industrial services also said Monday that it plans to offer $550
million in senior notes due 2021.
Dillard's Inc. (DDS) said it will pay a one-time dividend of $5,
as the department store operator became the latest in a string of
companies to boost shareholder returns before year's end.
Equity Residential (EQR) and AvalonBay Communities Inc. (AVB)
are acquiring Archstone Enterprise LP, a portfolio of apartment
properties, from Lehman Brothers Holdings Inc. for a total of
around $6.5 billion in cash and stock. Equity Residential plans to
issue 34.5 million shares to help fund the deal, while AvalonBay
said it plans to offer 14.5 million shares.
Merit Medical Systems Inc. (MMSI) agreed to acquire Thomas
Medical Products Inc., which is part of General Electric Co.'s (GE)
health-care business, for roughly $167 million.
Nexstar Broadcasting Group Inc. (NXST) said stockholders
affiliated with ABRY Partners LLC intend to offer 8 million shares.
The media company won't receive any proceeds from the sale. ABRY
Partners recently owned around 57% of the company's roughly 29
million shares outstanding as of Oct. 31.
Shanda Games Ltd.'s (GAME) fiscal second-quarter profit fell 26%
as the Chinese game developer introduced updates with free content,
and its revenue fell.
Write to Anna Prior at anna.prior@dowjones.com
Subscribe to WSJ: http://online.wsj.com?mod=djnwires