Pioneer Natural announced that it has entered into a definitive purchase agreement to acquire the leasehold interests and related assets of DoublePoint Energy in a transaction valued at approximately $6.4B as of April 1, comprised of approximately 27.2M shares of Pioneer common stock, $1B of cash and the assumption of approximately $0.9B of debt and liabilities. Pioneer expects the transaction to be accretive on financial metrics including cash flow and free cash flow per share, earnings per share and corporate returns during 2021 and beyond. The accretive nature of this transaction to free cash flow leads to an increase in the expected per share variable dividend beginning in 2022 and beyond. The acquisition is expected to result in annual cost savings of approximately $175M through operational efficiencies and reductions in general and administrative and interest expenses. The expected present value of these cost savings totals approximately $1B over a 10-year period. Pioneer will issue approximately 27.2M shares of common stock in the transaction with an additional $1B of cash. After closing, existing Pioneer shareholders will own approximately 89% of the combined company and existing DoublePoint owners will own approximately 11% of the combined company. Pioneer plans to finance the cash portion of the purchase price through a combination of cash on-hand and existing borrowing capacity under its revolving credit facility. The transaction has been unanimously approved Pioneer's board of directors and is expected to close in Q2, subject to customary closing conditions and regulatory approvals. The transaction is structured as the acquisition by a Pioneer subsidiary of 100% of the limited liability company interests of DoublePoint's wholly owned subsidiary, Double Eagle III Midco 1.

Quidel announced that it has received an Emergency Use Authorization, or EUA, from the FDA, allowing the company to market its Sofia SARS Antigen FIA for the qualitative detection of the nucleocapsid protein antigen from SARS-CoV-2 from anterior nares swab specimens directly from individuals who are either suspected of COVID-19 by their healthcare provider within the first five days of the onset of symptoms, or are individuals without symptoms or other epidemiological reasons to suspect COVID-19 tested twice over two days with at least 24 hours between tests. Testing is limited to laboratories certified under the Clinical Laboratory Improvement Amendments of 1988, 42 U.S.C. Section263a, that meet the requirements to perform moderate, high or waived complexity tests. This test is authorized for use at the point of care.

Quidel announced that after several months supporting the Padres front office's efforts to reopen safely, Quidel has been chosen as "Official Diagnostics Partner" of the San Diego Padres Major League Baseball, or MLB, franchise. The company will be providing Sofia 2 instruments and Sofia SARS Antigen tests for use by the Padres medical staff for the front office team, event staff and Petco Park partners including Aramark, DNC, Elite and others.

Urban Renaissance Group, or URG, and KKR announced the acquisition of the 300 Pine St building in downtown Seattle. Located on a full city block between 3rd Ave and 4th Ave, the 770,000 square feet, eight-story mixed-use building will feature 85,000 square feet renovated ground-floor retail designed to accommodate retail stores, along with a new 4th Avenue entrance to access the 682,000 square feet of commercial office space currently fully-leased to a single tenant.

In an interview on CNBC's Mad Money, Sanjay Mehrotra said multiple end markets are driving strong growth in demand. He noted that the company is well diversified and considers it a competitive advantage. When asked about the company's possible acquisition of Kioxia, he said, "We don't respond to industry rumors." Mehrotra said Micron has a solid plan in NAND and is executing well on DRAM. Micron is "well-poised to drive stellar results over next few quarters," he added. "We are a growth story."

Talend and Thoma Bravo announced the expiration of the waiting period under the Hart-Scott-Rodino Antitrust Improvements Act of 1976 for Thoma Bravo's tender offer for Talend. Talend and Thoma Bravo have entered into a memorandum of understanding pursuant to which Thoma Bravo intends to commence a tender offer to aquire all of the outstanding ordinary shares and ADSs of Talend for $66.00 in cash per ordinary share and ADS. The expiration of the HSR waiting period satisfies one of the conditions to the tender offer, which has not yet commenced. The tender offer is currently expected to close in Q3.

American Equity has named Phyllis Zanghi Executive Vice President and Chief Legal Officer. In her new role, Zanghi will oversee all activities for the legal, compliance, regulatory matters, government relations and corporate secretary functions of the company, as well as provide strategic counsel to the CEO, senior management team and board of directors. Zanghi has served as the General Counsel - U.S. Life Companies, a position she has held since October 2020. Previously, Ms. Zanghi worked for Charlotte-based Brighthouse Financial as senior vice president, associate general counsel and head of tax.

Beneficial owner of Curo Group Chadwick Faulkner disclosed the sale of 13,981 shares of company stock at $15.01 per share between March 30 and March 31 for a total transaction amount of $209,841.

Chembio Diagnostics announced the commercial launch of an FDA Emergency Use Authorization-approved, in-licensed rapid point-of-care COVID-19/Flu A&B test, for use in decentralized and traditional testing settings. Product inventory is on-hand and immediately available for shipment to customers across the U.S. The rapid immunoassay test is approved for use in laboratories with a CLIA waiver license, produces results in 15 minutes and requires no instrumentation. The test simultaneously differentiates SARS-CoV-2 antigens and influenza Type A and Type B infections from a single swab.

Everspin Technologies announced that Daniel Berenbaum has notified the company of his decision to resign as CFO to pursue another opportunity overseas. Berenbaum's last day with the company is expected to be on April 16. In connection with Berenbaum's resignation, the company has appointed Aparna Oka to serve as the company's principal financial officer and principal accounting officer on an interim basis, effective April 16, while the company conducts a search for its next CFO. Oka currently serves as corporate controller of Everspin.

Energy Transfer and Centurion Pipeline will post a joint tariff for crude oil transportation service from ET's terminals in Platteville, Colorado and Cushing, Oklahoma to ET's Nederland, Texas terminal. The joint tariff service utilizes existing ET and Centurion pipeline assets that will be linked together via new connections in Oklahoma. The joint tariff service is expected to commence service by June 1. The joint tariff service may also be expanded to include an origin point of Guernsey, Wyoming.