Benzinga's M&A Chatter for Wednesday December 5, 2012

The following are the M&A deals, rumors and chatter circulating on Wall Street for Wednesday December 5, 2012:

:

Freeport-McMoRan Copper & Gold

, Plains Exploration & Production Company

and McMoRan Exploration

announced today that they have signed definitive merger agreements under which FCX will acquire PXP for approximately $6.9 billion in cash and stock and FCX will acquire MMR for approximately $3.4 billion in cash, or $2.1 billion net of 36 percent of the MMR interests currently owned by FCX and PXP. Upon closing, MMR shareholders will also receive a distribution of units in a royalty trust which will hold a 5 percent overriding royalty interest on future production in MMR's existing shallow water ultra-deep properties. FCX has agreed to acquire MMR for per-share consideration consisting of $14.75 in cash and 1.15 units of a royalty trust, which will hold a 5 percent overriding royalty interest in future production from MMR's existing ultra-deep exploration properties. FCX has agreed to acquire PXP for per-share consideration consisting of 0.6531 shares of FCX common stock and $25.00 in cash, equivalent to total consideration of $50.00 per PXP share, based on the closing price of FCX stock on December 4, 2012. McMoRan Exploration closed at $15.67 Wednesday, a gain of 85% on 28 times average volume. Plains Exploration closed at $44.50 Wednesday, a gain of 23% on 18 times average volume.

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Tata may raise its offer to acquire the remainder of Orient-Express Hotels

by 10% to 15%, according to

. That could bring Tata's offer over $14 per share. Tata's Indian Hotels offered $12.63 per share on November 18, to acquire the remainder of the OEH shares it did not already own. That offer was rejected by the Orient-Express Board on November 8. Orient-Express Hotels closed at $11.97 Wednesday, a loss of 2% on twice average volume.

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Supervalu

is considering selling chains Albertsons and Save-A-Lot to Cerberus Capital Management, according to

. A Supervalu spokesperson reiterated the company's strategic review process was ongoing and there was active dialogue with several potential buyers. Those buyers are believed to include Cerberus and KKR

. The company announced the strategic review on July 12, 2012. Supervalu closed at $2.90 Wednesday, a gain of almost 14% on 3 times average volume.

:

Shares of Liberty Media

surged higher Wednesday on a report from

that the company's Starz movie network might attract potential buyers following a spinoff next month. The news followed a selloff of Liberty Media shares Tuesday on news the company would not extend its deal with Disney

and would lose the rights to Netflix

. A spokesperson for Liberty Media was not available for comment, Liberty Media closed off the highs at $106.40 on Wednesday, a gain of $0.84 on almost 5 times average volume.

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Starbucks

confirmed it plans to go ahead with its acquisition of Teavana

in spite of a negative report on November 20 from short-seller

. The report said there was pesticide in the company's teas. Teavana denied the charges in the report. Starbucks agreed to buy Teavana for $15.50 per share in cash. Teavana Holdings closed at $15.41 Wednesday, a gain of 7% on 4.5 times average volume.

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A group led by former KIT Digital Chairman and CEO Kaleil Isaza Tuzman lowered the acquisition offer for his former company in a letter to the Kit Digital Board of Directors on Wednesday, to a range of $1.35 to $1.70 per share. The offer is based on the current price of KITD stock, compounded by the Company's strategic drift and worsening liquidity and capital structure issues. Tuzman's group had offered $3.75 per share for KIT Digital on November 23. In the absence of a response to the offer by 5 PM ET on Wednesday, December 12, 2012, that generates demonstrable progress towards a transaction, the group will evaluate other options available. Kit Digital closed at $0.74 Wednesday, a gain of 3% on 4.5 times average volume.