Crane Co. (CR) to Acquire Merrimac Industries

Crane Co. (NYSE: CR), a diversified manufacturer of highly engineered industrial products, and Merrimac Industries, Inc. (AMEX: MRM), a leader in the design and manufacture of RF Microwave components, assemblies and micro-multifunction modules (MMFM®), announced that they have signed a definitive agreement for the acquisition of Merrimac by Crane.

Crane will pay $16.00 cash per share of common stock of Merrimac and associated common stock purchase rights. Under the terms of the agreement, Crane will commence a tender offer to acquire all of the outstanding shares of common stock of Merrimac, and this transaction, which is subject to the satisfaction of customary conditions, is expected to close in the first quarter of 2010. This transaction is valued at approximately $52 million and represents a 40% premium to Merrimac shareholders based on the closing value of its common stock on December 22, 2009 and a premium of 70% based on Merrimac’s most recent 20-day average closing price.