Merge, AMICAS Deal Set to Move Forward

(Reuters) - Service Corp International agreed to buy Stewart Enterprises Inc. for $1.13 billion, merging the two largest U.S. funeral home operators as the industry gears up to offer more services to aging baby boomers.

Zacks.com submits: Abbott (ABT) continues to be in an acquisition mode, recently announcing its intention to acquire Facet Biotech Corporation (FACT) for $27 per share. The total purchase price is approximately $722 million, including Facet’s projected cash and marketable securities of approximately $272 million.

Dell has officially announced that it's going private after weeks of reports and negotiations. The final price is $13.65 a share. The deal is valued at $24.4 billion. Company founder Michael Dell is taking the company private in partnership with private equity firm Silver Lake.

By Peter Geschek: Stock dividend Gilead Sciences (GILD) pays no cash dividend and has no intention doing so in the near future.But in January 2013 it will pay a stock dividend.The Board of Directors has approved a two-for-one stock split of the company's outstanding common stock to be effected through a stock dividend.

Zacks.com submits: ABB Ltd. (ABB) and Baldor Electric Company (BEZ) have entered into an agreement, according to which ABB will acquire Baldor for $4.2 billion. This will be an all-cash transaction and includes net debt of $1.1 billion.

(Reuters) - Amicas Inc , a provider of healthcare IT services, said it agreed to be bought by an affiliate of private firm Thoma Bravo LLC for $217 million in an all-cash deal.

ByPropThink:Merge Healthcare (MRGE) took a major hit earlier this year when the company announced changes to its business model. In particular, the company moved to offer subscription-based pricing for its healthcare IT software solutions, rather than booking the majority of its revenue in larger blocks as up-front licensing fees.

Zacks.com submits: Best Buy Company Inc. (BBY) , the leading specialty retailer of consumer electronic products, recently boosted its quarterly dividend by 7.1%. The board has approved an increase in annual dividend to 60 cents (or 15 cents quarterly) from 56 cents a share (or 14 cents quarterly).