Masayoshi Son’s Softbank (SFTBY) is shaking up its organizational structure, creating two separate, but still wholly owned, internal companies. One business will house its domestic (Japanese) businesses such as mobile and its stake in Yahoo Japan, while the other unit will contain its overseas investments. The overseas bucket will include Softbank’s investments in budding technology companies, such as… Read More »
Yesterday, Greatbatch(GB) completed its previously announced spinoff of Nuvectra(NVTR), as expected. “Today’s successful spin-off of Nuvectra marks another point in our strategy to design, develop and manufacture discrete technologies and complete active implantable medical device systems in partnership with customers,” said Greatbatch President and CEO, Thomas J. Hook. “Nuvectra is a valuable partner and customer utilizing an extensive… Read More »
Sadly, not every announced spinoff actually ends up executed. For example, earlier this week we highlighted Fidelity National Venture’s (FNFV) postponement of its restaurant group spinoff while it exercises patience and awaits better ‘market conditions’. Another recently scrapped spinoff was Federal-Mogul Holding’s (FDML) planned separation of its Motorparts business from its Powertrain unit. The decision shouldn’t have come… Read More »
After successfully spinning off J. Alexanders (JAX) late last year, Fidelity National Ventures (FNFV) was set to spin off the rest of its restaurant assets under the holding company American Blue Ribbon Holding. Then plans changed. The headline was that the spin was delayed due to ‘market conditions’, a catchall phrase that is especially useful during market volatility, but… Read More »
A quick update now that the transaction is official. The Manitowoc Company (MTW) completed the tax-free spinoff of Manitowoc Foodservice (MFS) on Friday, with shareholders receiving one share of MFS for every share of MTW owned. Expectations were for the legacy crane business, which kept the company name, to languish amidst a severe downcycle and for the foodservice… Read More »
Greatbatch(GB) shareholders should be prepared for their portfolios to look a bit different this year. Later this year, the medical device manufacturer will be changing its name to Integer Holdings Corporation. First, the company will spin off QiG Group, which will be renamed Nuvectra. On March 14, shareholders as of March 7 will receive one Nuvectra share for… Read More »
Under pressure, once again, from Starboard following the abandonment of its plan to spin off its huge stake in Alibaba(BABA), Yahoo(YHOO) has formed an independent committee of its Board Of Directors to explore strategic alternatives. The Board has formed a Strategic Review Committee of independent directors to lead this effort, with the assistance and support of management. The… Read More »
Farewell Foodservice! Manitowoc’s (MTW) board of directors formally approved the spinoff of Manitowoc Foodservice, its foodservice equipment segment, last week. The new company will trade on the NYSE under the ticker ‘MFS’ and on March 4th, shareholders will receive one share of MFS for every MTW share owned. A ‘When-Issued’ market is expected to begin on or around February… Read More »
Grab a tissue and say farewell to the Tyco (TYC) name. The former high flying conglomerate has a complicated history full of acquisitions (lots of those), strategy shifts, scandal ($6,000 shower curtains!) and of course, a lot of spinoffs. Current DuPont (DD) CEO Ed Breen smashed the company apart not once, but twice, creating three entities in both… Read More »
Tribune Publishing (TPUB), a 2014 spinoff from Tribune Media, received a large cash infusion of over $44m from Chicago entrepreneur Michael Ferro last week week in exchange for 5.2m shares. Mr. Ferro will become TPUB’s largest shareholder with ~16.6% of the shares and will join the company’s Board of Directors, replacing Eddy Hartenstein as Executive Chairman. Interestingly, Mr. Ferro… Read More »
With a diverse business portfolio and some enterprising competitors, GlaxoSmithKline (GSK) has been the subject of spinoff rumors for years. So far, the company has opted to not pursue any divestitures of that nature and that will remain the case for some time if CEO Andrew Witty has his way. Well…at least regarding the consumer unit. While discussing the… Read More »
Wall Street loves spinoffs, but these transactions are hardly simple affairs to execute. There is a reason most of them take more than 9 months to consummate. After pushing off the expected completion date of Ingevity’s spinoff again, it seems WestRock (WRK) is learning that fact the hard way. The specialty chemical spinoff is now expected to be… Read More »
Yahoo (YHOO) had a tough year in 2015. The core business continued declining, key employees fled and its plans to deliver shareholder value by spinning off its Alibaba (BABA) stake into a standalone company was effectively derailed by the IRS. Unfortunately for the company and its beleaguered CEO Marissa Meyer, the start of 2016 isn’t looking much better… Read More »
A few links to help get through this hump day: ValueWalk links to a frank interview with JANA Partners co-founder Gary Claar, who now heads up his own shop Claar Advisors. Within, Mr. Claar discusses some of the investments he was involved with at JANA, including McGraw-Hill as well as some of his new fund’s ideas. Additionally, he… Read More »
Hertz (HTZ) first announced the idea of spinning off its rental equipment business back in March of 2014 after facing severe activist pressure. The plan was to have the equipment company pay a big dividend which would fund a large buyback at the parent. A few months later, the company even managed to settle its fight with Carl… Read More »