Benzinga's Weekend M&A Chatter

The following are the M&A deals, rumors and chatter circulating on Wall Street for Friday August 1 through Sunday August 3, 2014:

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Scientific Games Corporation

and Bally Technologies

announced Friday, that the companies have agreed that Scientific Games will acquire all of the outstanding Bally common stock for $83.30 in cash per share, for an aggregate transaction value is approximately $5.1 billion, including the refinancing of approximately $1.8 billion of existing Bally net debt. The deal is expected to be completed in early 2015. Scientific Games Corporation closed Friday at $8.78, a gain of almost 3%, while Bally Technologies rose 29%, to close at $77.70.

:

Shares of Range Resources

spiked higher early Friday, on unconfirmed takeover chatter of a potential bid from Exxon Mobil

of Up to $110 per share. Range Resources has been the subject of frequent takeover chatter in the past. Spokespersons for the two companies were unavailable for comment. Range Resources closed closed Friday at $75.30, a loss of $0.29.

:

Evercore

announced Sunday, that it has entered into an agreement to acquire the operating businesses of equity research, sales and agency trading businesses ISI International Strategy & Investment. Evercore also will acquire the approximately 40% interest in its Institutional Equities business, not currently owned by the company. Evercore will issue up to around 8 million share equivalents in the two transactions, with almost 70% of the share equivalent consideration dependent on the financial performance of the combined business over the five years following closing. The transactions are expected to close in Q4 of 2014, subject to receiving required regulatory approvals. Evercore closed closed Friday at $50.13, a loss of 8%.