In today’s Bulldog wrapup of technology and life science news:

  • The FTC approves the Novartis-GSK cancer drug deal
  • Apple plans new data centers in Europe
  • Argos is buying its new headquarters
  • Dish founder back as CEO
  • CommScope reports a profit

The details:

  • FTC OK’s GSK-Novartis Deal

The Federal Trade Commission has approved the GSK-Novartis deal involving the sale of GSK’s oncology portfolio.

However, there is a condition, notes Reuters. 

Reported Reuters: “To win approval for the $16 billion deal, Novartis agreed to divest assets related to its BRAF and MEK inhibitor drugs, now in development to fight melanoma and other cancers, the agency said.”

Read the Reuters report at: http://www.reuters.com/article/2015/02/23/us-gsk-novartis-oncology-idUSKBN0LR1JT20150223

  • Apple Plans Data Hubs in Northern Europe 

Apple is investing 1.7 billion euros ($1.92 billion) in high-tech datacenters in Denmark and Ireland that will be powered by renewable energy, in its largest such project in Europe to date, the company said Monday.

The hubs, to begin operations in 2017, will power data for Apple Inc.’s online services, including iTunes Store, App Store, iMessage, Maps and Siri voice services.

Apple said it has increased operations in Europe, spending more than 7.8 billion euros on European companies and suppliers last year and supporting some 670,000 jobs in the region. Its own employees grew by 2,000 and number 18,300 people in 19 European countries.

The technology giant joins Microsoft, Google and Facebook in building data centers innorthern Europe, where the colder climate helps save on equipment cooling costs.

Apple CEO Tim Cook described the centers as “some of our most advanced green building designs yet.” They will use renewable energy, including wind power.

In Ireland, Apple will recover land previously used for growing and harvesting non-native trees and restore native trees to a local forest, providing an outdoor education site for local schools and a walking trail.

The Danish center will be located next to one of the country’s largest electrical substations, designed to capture excess heat from equipment in the data hub and conduct it into the district heating system to warm homes in the area.

The data centers will be based in central Denmark’s Jutland and Athenry, County Galway, in Ireland.

  • Argos Therapeutics Decides to Buy HQ

Durham-based Argos Therapeutics has decided to buy its new headquarters rather than lease it.

In an SEC filing, Argos reported:

“On February 16, 2015, Argos Therapeutics, Inc. (the “Company” or “we” or “us”), entered into a Purchase and Sale Agreement (the “Purchase Agreement”) with TKC LXXII, LLC, a North Carolina limited liability company (“TKC”) which represented the Company’s exercise of its purchase option under the Lease Agreement, dated August 18, 2014, between the Company and TKC (the “Lease Agreement”) for the Company’s new Durham headquarters. The purchase price to be paid by the Company is $7,620,660 plus the amount of any additional costs incurred by TKC as a result of changes requested by the Company and the amount of any improvement allowances advanced to the Company by TKC prior to the closing.

“The transactions contemplated by the Purchase Agreement are expected to close in the second half of 2015. Upon the closing, the Lease Agreement will terminate”

  • Ergen Takes CEO Job Back at Dish 

Dish Network co-founder and Chairman Charles Ergen is returning to the helm of the satellite TV provider as the company faces declining subscribers and a changing pay-TV industry.

CEO Joseph Clayton, 64, said Monday he will retire March 31. He had been CEO since June 2011 and also holds the president title.

Ergen co-founded Dish Network in 1980 and has held executive positions including president and CEO during his tenure.

Satellite provider Dish is facing a changing pay-TV landscape as more viewers stream services like Netflix and Hulu and cable channels like HBO begin to offer standalone streaming services for its own programming.

In an attempt to stay ahead of streaming-service competition, this month Dishintroduced $20-a-month online television service Sling TV, which lets users stream channels online without satellite service from Dish or any other subscription.

On Monday, the company said its new subscriber activations edged down 2 percent to 2.6 million from nearly 2.7 million a year ago. Dish lost about 79,000 net pay-TV subscribers during the year and had about 14 million pay-TV subscribers at the end of 2014.

  • CommScope Financials Improve

Hickory-based CommScope (Nasdaq: COMM) reported a big improvement in its quarterly financial report on Friday although sales declined to $828 million from $847 million a year earlier. CommScope reported net revenue of $48 million on 25 cents per share vs. a $9 million, or 5 cents a share, loss a year earlier.

​by nearly all financial and operational measures,” said Chief Executive Officer Eddie Edwards. “We’re proud of our team’s accomplishments in 2014, in which we delivered 10 percent sales growth, generated record gross and operating margins and increased adjusted earnings per share by 39 percent. Our track record and the numerous strategic initiatives underway give us confidence that CommScope remains well-positioned for sustainable growth and success over the long-term.”