Cisco drags Acacia toward court to keep stalled $2.6bn acquisition on track

Optical networking biz Acacia Communications announced today it has pulled out of a $2.6bn merger agreement with Cisco. Cisco, meanwhile, isn't letting go, and said it will sue to prevent Acacia from walking away from the deal. Both companies appear to be at loggerheads over the matter, judging by their public statements. “ …

[Anonymous Coward]

Stop trying to force it.

You're acting like Trump not getting his way. "Wahhh! You don't want to be my friend anymore! I'll FORCE you to be my friend!" Except it doesn't work that way. The one throwing the temper tantrum comes out looking like a whiney little fuck that needs a smack upside the head. Shut up, stop forcing it, and go find someone else to go acquire. You want to buy them, you have no right to buy them, and they don't have to agree to sell to you. You trying to force them to sell themselves to you just paints you as a whiney, snot nosed spoiled brat that needs a spanking.

Don't be a Trump, stop being a chump.

[Anonymous Coward]

Re: Stop trying to force it.

""Wahhh! You don't want to be my friend anymore! I'll FORCE you to be my friend!" Except it doesn't work that way."

Hmmm - childish insults, believing the legal arrangements can be walked away from and little in the way of facts, believing that a rant makes up a meaningful addition to the conversation? I see the resemblence to Trumps statements.

If the merger had clear terms for Acacia to walk away they wouldn't have needed the lawsuit - on Cisco's side, its buying more time. Given that the initial guidance was for the deal (announced in July 2019) was to close in H2 2020 and everything that has happened over the intervening time, my guess is that Acacia think they can get more money if they can get this deal to restart (based on share price over the last 2 years).

Maybe the expectation is that Biden will quash the trade restrictions with China leading to a significant increase in Acacia's valuation.

[Jon 37]

Re: Stop trying to force it.

Actually they *did* have the right to buy them, Acacia voluntarily signed a contract giving Cisco that right, subject to certain conditions.

The question is whether the list of conditions was met to close the deal.

It sounds like Cisco got an *informal* approval from the Chinese regulator, 1 day before the deadline, but Acacia didn't get *formal* approval from the regulator before the deadline. And the deal was contingent on approval from the Chinese regulator. So Cisco and Acacia disagree on whether that condition was met or not.

[sanmigueelbeer]

The deal is back on

Cisco and Acacia Communications Announce Amended Merger Agreement

Under the terms of the amended agreement, Cisco would acquire Acacia for $115 per share in cash, or for approximately $4.5 billion on a fully diluted basis