MARKET CURRENTS
real-time news and commentary for investors
MARKET CURRENTS
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Today - Friday, May 24, 2013
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3:16 PM There's no bounce today for Facebook (FB -3.5%) whose slide today takes the stock to a new YTD low. The only news of note is Google's (GOOG) rumored entry into the Waze bidding amid reports Waze isn't interested in Facebook's desire to have part of the team move to Silicon Valley. Adding Waze would make Google Maps an even more robust product while keeping Facebook off of its territory. 3 Comments
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2:34 PM Cooper Companies (COO +2.1%) moves up in the slipstream created from reports that its rival Bausch & Lomb is near a deal to be acquired by Valeant (VRX) for $9 billion. Comment!
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1:50 PM More on Bausch & Lomb/ Valeant (VRX +12.8%): Warburg Pincus may agree to terms with VRX as early as next week, but sources tell WSJ the deal could still fall apart. If the deal fails to come to fruition, Warburg may opt for an IPO of Bausch & Lomb instead, something the private-equity firm has mulled since early this year. Comment!
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12:21 PM Valeant (VRX +12.3%) is nearing a deal to acquire Bausch & Lomb for ~$9B, WSJ says. Comment!
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10:15 AM Campbell's Soup (CPB -0.8%) trades lower after announcing it will acquire Plum Organics, a maker of organic foods for kids, for an undisclosed amount. CPB is apparently looking to cash in on a growing market for premium and organic baby food and says that with the addition, the company's "portfolio of kids-focused soups, beverages and snacks will have annual sales of more than $1B." Plum is the No. 4 baby food brand in the country, with $93M in gross sales during 2012. (PR) Comment!
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8:21 AM Speculation over Google (GOOG) making a bid for Waze doesn't ring true to TechCrunch with its sources indicating no plans of a Google acquisition of the sat-nav smartphone app are in the works. If anything, TechCrunch ponders if Waze investors aren't trying to leverage more out of talks with Facebook. Comment!
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7:11 AM Remember M&T Bank's (MTB) proposed purchase of Hudson City Bancorp (HCBK)? Regulators have put the merger on ice and it's sending a chill through the executive suites of other regional banks (KRE) who were considering doing deals, but now figure it's not worth the regulatory scrutiny. In the past, conditions such as we're in - slow economy, weak loan growth - have prompted waves of bank mergers (it's happening in community banks). "I am not buying another bank for as long as I can see," sees one unnamed top executive. Comment!
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5:08 AM KKR (KKR) and Carlyle Group (CG) are among several investment funds that are reportedly expected to bid for shares in Panasonic's (PCRFY.OB) healthcare business, for which the Japanese conglomerate hopes to raise up to $1B. Toshiba is among the strategic investors that could make an offer. The deadline for first-round bids is Monday. Comment!
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Thursday, May 23, 2013
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10:28 PM DISH moves closer to getting financing for its $25.5B bid for Sprint (S), receiving signed commitment letters from 5 banks for $9B, reports the WSJ. Dish hasn't yet paid commitment fees as Charlie Ergen is waiting for Sprint's board to declare Dish's offer potentially superior to SoftBank's (SFTBF.PK) $20.1B bid. Earlier, Dish responded to SoftBank's touting of the benefits of it gaining control of Sprint. 4 Comments
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7:14 PM Tempur-Pedic International (TPX) says shareholders have approved the company's name change to Tempur Sealy International, at the company's annual meetingheld yesterday. The new name recognizes the combination of Tempur-Pedic and Sealy. The shares will continue to trade on the NYSE under the symbol "TPX." Comment!
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7:05 PM WhiteWave (WWAV) announces the completion of its spinoff from Dean Foods (DF). In addition, its board has authorized a $150M share repurchase program. The primary purpose of the program will be to offset dilution from WhiteWave’s equity compensation plans, but the company reserves the option to make discretionary, opportunistic purchases as well. WWAV +0.7%, DF +0.3% AH. Comment!
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3:49 PM Getting the go-ahead from the CA Public Utilities Commission, Sprint (S) and SoftBank (SFTBF.PK) announce they've received all necessary state regulatory approvals for their transaction (Softbank's purchase of a majority stake in Sprint). Next up is the FCC and a government panel which reviews foreign investments. DISH has yet to win these state approvals, maybe giving an edge to SoftBank which can promise a speedier and more certain closing. 1 Comment
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1:48 PM BioTime (BTX -0.2%) says its shareholders have overwhelmingly approved the planned acquisition of stem cell-related assets from Geron (GERN). The green light was given at a special meeting of shareholders, with at least 32.5M votes coming in favor from the 34.5M shares represented and voted. Comment!
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1:25 PM Elan's (ELN +3%) board has rejected the sweetened takeover bid from Royalty Pharma, saying it "continues to grossly undervalue" the company, with board chairman Robert Ingram adding that it's "no more than an opportunistic attempt to acquire our company at a substantial discount at our shareholders' expense." It urges shareholders to reject the offer, noting also that it's reducing the acceptance threshold to 50% plus one share from 90%. 1 Comment
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8:45 AM More on Rue21 (RUE): An initial 40-day "go-shop" period process will start today during which the retailer can try to reel in another bid. A low termination fee of ~$10M makes this a feasible option. If Apax Partners lands Rue21 it will have its work cut out for it after the company reported a tough comparable store sales decline of 4.6% for Q1. (PR) Comment!
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Wednesday, May 22, 2013
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7:13 PM Lender Processing Services (LPS) is the subject of acquisition talks with Fidelity National (FNF) and buyout shop Thomas H. Lee, with a price tag of about $2.9B, the WSJ reports. Fidelity National was LPS' parent until a 2008 spinoff; a deal would not only bring the service provider back into FNF's umbrella, but mark the latest of many deals Fidelity's made with Thomas H. Lee. The deal values LPS at about $33/share; it closed Wednesday at $29.11. 3 Comments
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2:19 PM SolarWinds' (SWI -13.9%) is downgraded to Sector Perform at Pacific Crest after yesterday's $120M purchase of N-able Technologies. "The customer base, integration of the acquisition and deal size is incongruous with prior acquisitions," the firm writes, adding SWI is spending half of its cash on an "incremental opportunity that pales in comparison to its existing" market. Comment!
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