Author Archives: Inelegant Investor
Citrix Systems(CTXS) is finally letting go of GetGo. The company first announced plans for the spinoff of its GetGo division in November 2015. Last July, an agreement was reached with LogMeIn(LOGM) to merge with GetGo immediately post spin off in a Reverse Morris Trust transaction. Citrix announced that shareholders of record on January 20 will receive approximately .1718… Read More »
What is a Reverse Morris Trust? You may have heard the terms Reverse Morris Trust or Morris Trust used in regards to a spinoff transaction. These terms describe two related types of transactions in which a company is able to sell assets without triggering a tax liability for either the company or shareholders. Naturally, this can be quite… Read More »
As we near the end of the month, the completion of three spinoff transactions will be driving changes in various S&P Indexes. Citrix Systems(CTXS) will be spinning off its GetGo division which will then merge with LogMeIn(LOGM) in a reverse Morris Trust transaction. After the transaction is completed on January 31st, Citrix will remain in the S&P 500.… Read More »
Burdened by debt since its private equity buyout a decade ago, Avaya has filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy. The telecommunications software and hardware company posted a loss of $750 million for its most recent fiscal year. It is burdened by $6.3 billion in debt and $400 million in annual interest expense. “Avaya’s current capital structure is over 10… Read More »
In late 2015, Sergio Marchionne led the successful IPO and spinoff of Fiat Chrysler’s(FCAU) Ferrari(RACE) division. Now various speculations suggest that he may spin off Maserati, Jeep, or the Parts division. Marchionne, who is set to retire in 2019, has tried to lure a buyer, publicly courting General Motors(GM), even, but has not found a partner. Alternatively, some believe… Read More »
Biogen(BIIB) enters the final days before its spinoff of Bioverativ(BIVV), its global hemophilia business, as the new company begins when issued trading under the ticker BIVV. After the close of business on February 1, Biogen shareholders as of January 17 will receive one share of Bioverativ for every two shares they own. The distribution is expected to be… Read More »
Are you a business journalist on deadline with no idea what to write about? An editor with some space to fill? There are some stories that will work every time. How about this? Propose a spinoff that will never happen, like Amazon(AMZN) spinning off its web services business. Then, tell us why it won’t happen. Now, punch out,… Read More »
Nearly three years after its April 2014 spinoff from Sears Holdings(SHLD), Lands’ End(LE) is fairing only marginally better than its former parent, which is teetering on the edge of bankruptcy. Lands End, which just after its spinoff had a market capitalization of $900 million, is worth just $485 million today. The company has nearly $500 million in long… Read More »
A decade after a divorce, a couple strongly considers getting back together, only to call it off. The plot of It’s Complicated? No, the latest in the saga of Viacom(VIA) and CBS(CBS). At the very end of 2005, Viacom and CBS split into two independent companies. Late this summer, as Shari Redstone cemented her control over her father… Read More »
To everything there is a season, and the season for magazines has passed and will not return. In the summer of 2014, Time Warner(TWX) spun off Time, Inc.(TIME), its magazine publishing division. Joe Ripp, the CEO who presided over the spinoff, valiantly tried to cut costs and move to digital, but his efforts fell short. This summer, he… Read More »
Overseas Shipholding Group(OSG) is in the process of spinning off its International Flag business, International Seaways. On November 30, OSG shareholders will receive 0.3333 shares of International Seaways common stock for each share of OSG held on November 18. In addition, holders of OSG warrants will receive approximately .06332 shares per warrant held. International Seaways, which is already trading… Read More »
On November 1, Alcoa(AA) completed its spinoff from the former Alcoa, now named Arconic(ARNC). The new Alcoa is “is a globally cost-competitive industry leader in bauxite, alumina and aluminum products, positioned to succeed throughout the market cycle.” “We are launching Alcoa Corporation as a world leader in the aluminum industry with distinct competitive advantages across the value chain,”… Read More »
Just months after being spun off from Baxter International(BAX), Baxalta found itself the target of an intense pursuit by Shire Pharmaceuticals(SHPG). Baxalta resisted, but, ultimately agreed to a deal which closed earlier this year. Barron’s sees good things ahead for the combined company. In an article this weekend, the venerable publication points out that merely by achieving a… Read More »
There was much investor chatter last month that Gilead Sciences(GILD) could unlock value by splitting its Hepatitis C business from its HIV business. RBC Capital advanced the case in a note RBC Capital suggested the drugmaker would be better off cutting its businesses right down the middle, saying that shares could jump by as much as 40% if… Read More »
AbbVie(ABBV) surged out of the gate following its January 2013 spinoff from Abbott Laboratories(ABT). By December 2014, the stock price had doubled. Since then, however, the stock languished, continuing to trade below its December 2014 highs. Despite efforts to diversify, Humira, which is now off patent, accounts for 60% of revenue. Barron’s reports that Raymond James now thinks… Read More »