Gilead Sciences (Nasdaq: GILD) has agreed to acquire drugmaker Pharmasset (Nasdaq: VRUS) for $137 per share in cash (89% premium to Friday’s closing price). The total deal is valued at around $11 billion. www.pharmasset.com
Alleghany Corp. (NYSE: Y) has agreed to acquire Transatlantic Holdings (NYSE: TRH) for around $3.4 billion, or $59.79 per share.
Vallares, an investment vehicle formed by ex-BP chief executive Tony Hayward and financier Nathaniel Rothschild, has completed its $2 billion acquisition of Genel Energy, a Turkish oil company focused on assets in Kurdistan.
Archer Capital and Ironbridge have agreed to sell Australian drug company iNova Pharmaceuticals to Canada’s Valeant Pharmaceuticals International Inc. (NYSE: VRX) for A$625 million. www.inovapharma.com
eBay has agreed to acquire New York-based online recommendation engine Hunch for around $80 million, as first reported by Michael Arrington. Hunch had raised nearly $20 million in VC funding from General Catalyst Partners, Bessemer Venture Partners, SV Angel and Khosla Ventures. www.hunch.com
Pearson PLC (NYSE: PSO) has agreed to acquire Global Education and Technology Group, a Chinese company that preps students for English language tests. The deal is valued at $155 million in cash. Selling shareholders include SAIF Partners. www.pearson.com
