Tag Archives: Viacom

Spinoff Odds & Ends: A Look At Shareholder Activism And Media Spin-offs(BIVV CSX TIME PSO TWX)

It’s hump day. Here are some links to help you get through it: Marketfolly published some notes on a panel titled ‘The Future of Shareholder Activism’ at the Reuters Live Newsmaker Event. The panel featured some currently ‘active’ managers including ValueAct’s Jeffrey Ubben, Mantle Ridge’s Paul Hilal, Blackrock’s Zach Oleksiuk and Cadwalader’s Richard Brand (lawyer). Mr. Ubben has been… Read More »

Gabelli Keeps Picking Spinoffs At Barron’s Roundtable(GBL AC HRI HTZ BATRK VIAB CBS LBTYK)

Every year Barron’s gathers a group of asset management luminaries for a roundtable discussion. The group collectively manages many many billions of dollars and includes people like Jeffrey Gundlach, Mario Gabelli and Meryl Witmer. While the discourse includes a bit about the overall macro environment, the focus is mainly on each individual’s top investments for the coming year.… Read More »

CBS Radio To Merge With Entercom(ETM) In Reverse Morris Trust Transaction

Last March, we reported that CBS(CBS) was considering ‘strategic options’ for its radio business.  After it was unable to find a buyer, the company moved forward with plans for an IPO and spinoff of CBS Radio. Today, the company again announced a change of plans. Instead of an IPO, the company will be spun off and immediately merge… Read More »

Redstones Decide CBS And Viacom Should Remain Divorced After All

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 »

Mario Gabelli Loves Spinoffs, Picks Several For 2013 Barron’s Roundtable

Twice a year, Barron’s gathers some of the top minds in the industry for a roundtable discussion on the worldwide investment environment and economic outlook. This year’s panel included the same regulars as usual, financial titans all,  PIMCO’s Bill Gross, uber-bull Abby Joseph Cohen, GAMCO Investor’s (GBL) Mario Gabelli and Felix Zulauf. In addition to pontificating on the… Read More »

Liberty Media Takes The Money And Runs, Starz Left Holding The Bag

Friday, after the market closed, Liberty Media Corporation(LMCAD,LMCBD,LMCAV,LMCBV,LMCA,LMCB) announced that it had completed its spinoff from Starz(STRZA, STRZB), formerly the Liberty Media Corporation. For a cogent explanation of the alphabet soup, see our article from last week. As part of the transaction, Starz drew down its credit line and distributed $1.8 billion in cash to Liberty Prior to… Read More »