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Newspaper wrap-up 4-9-07: Kroger in play?

Posted Apr 9th 2007 9:20AM by Eric Buscemi (RSS feed)
Filed under: Newspapers, Magazines, Kroger Co (KR), Goldman Sachs Group (GS), Dow Chemical (DOW), Barclays plc ADS (BCS)

MAJOR PAPERS:

On Friday, the Wall Street Journal reported that a number of firms have been eyeing Kroger Co (NYSE: KR) on the expectation that the company will soon begin exploring a leveraged buyout with the help of investment bank Goldman Sachs Group Inc (NYSE: GS).

OTHER PAPERS:

The New York Post reported that Warner Music Group Corp (NYSE: WMG) may look to merge with EMI Group plc ADR (OTC: EMIPY) by appealing directly to the music labels shareholders.
According to the Sunday Express, Dow Chemical Company (NYSE: DOW) is set to receive a bid of $52-$58 per share, valuing the company at $50B, from a consortium of Middle Eastern investors and American buyout firms.
The U.K. Telegraph reported that the Royal Bank of Scotland is preparing to delay any rival offer for ABN Amro Holdings (NYSE: ABN) until after Barclays plc ADS (NYSE: BCS) reveals its bid for the company.
From BusinessWeek's "Inside Wall Street" section:

Oppenheimer oil guru Fadel Gheit says rumors have resurfaced that Exxon Mobil Corporation (NYSE: XOM) may go after oil and gas company Devon Energy Corporation (NYSE: DVN).
Napco Security Systems Inc (NASDAQ: NSSC) is hoping GatewayX, a new product introduced in January, will spark a rebound.
Seed and crop-protection company Syngenta AG ADS (NYSE: SYT) looks to have upside ahead, due to brisk demand for corn to make ethanol is boosting farmers' need for Syngenta's products to fight field pests.

Newspaper wrap-up 3-16-07: Imperial Tobacco bids for Altadis

Posted Mar 16th 2007 9:34AM by Eric Buscemi (RSS feed)
Filed under: Wal-Mart (WMT), General Motors (GM), Newmont Mining (NEM), Dow Chemical (DOW)

MAJOR PAPERS:

General Motors Corporation (NYSE: GM) is reportedly attempting to tighten its financial reporting procedures, the Wall Street Journal (subscription required) reported. The auto maker is under investigation by the SEC and a federal grand jury for its accounting of transactions as far back as 2000.
The Financial Times (subscription required) reported that Dow Chemical Company (NYSE: DOW) is in talks with India's Reliance Industries for a joint venture that would enable Dow to reduce its exposure to commodity products and gain access to cheaper raw materials. Indian newspapers report that a deal could lead to a full takeover by Reliance.

OTHER PAPERS:

According to the Korea Economic Daily, citing an unnamed Posco ADS (NYSE: PKX) executive, a senior Arcelor Mittal Steel Company (NYSE: MT) executive expressed interest in Posco's merger plans. Posco denied the report, saying "There was no discussion on issues related to M&A when the Mittal executive met Posco CEO last month," according to the Economic Times.
The Independent reported that Imperial Tobacco Group plc (NYSE: ITY) has made a GBP7.6B bid for the Franco-Spanish tobacco company Altadis. The private equity firm Kohlberg Kravis Roberts is also reported to have interest in acquiring Altadis. An Imperial-Altadis merger could derail a hostile bid by Kohlberg Kravis Roberts.
BusinessWeek's "Inside Wall Street" section mentioned Newmont Mining Corp (NYSE: NEM), CB Richard Ellis Group Inc (NYSE: CBG) and Superior Energy Services Inc (NYSE: SPN) positively.

Which gold producer will shine brightest? Newmont Mining "is the one," says Vincent Carrino, Chief of Brookhaven Capital Management, which has loaded up on its stock.
Douglas Roberts at Channel Capital Research Institute doesn't see the Fed cutting rates soon, and hence he likes CB Richard Ellis Group.
Superior Energy Services aims to be everything to oil-and-gas explorers in the Gulf of Mexico, and in most cases it is. "Superior can't keep up with the tremendous demand for its repair and recovery services, which will provide strong growth through the end of the decade," says Martin Sass, CEO of MDSass, which owns a 1.2% stake.

Newspaper wrap-up 3-2-07: Warren Buffett seeking successor

Posted Mar 2nd 2007 9:00AM by Eric Buscemi (RSS feed)
Filed under: Newspapers, Magazines, Internet, Berkshire Hathaway (BRK.A)

MAJOR PAPERS:

The Financial Times reported that Warren Buffett has criticized hedge funds, calling their fee arrangements "grotesque."
In other news relating to Warren Buffett, the New York Times wrote that Buffett said in his annual Berkshire Hathaway (NYSE: BRK.A) shareholder letter that he is looking for a candidate to become chief investment officer when he steps down.

OTHER PAPERS:

BusinessWeek's "Inside Wall Street" section focused on Tyco International Ltd (NYSE: TYC), Altair Nanotechnologies Inc (NASDAQ: ALTI) and Supergen Inc (NASDAQ: SUPG).

About Tyco, the column said the planned de-conglomeration of the company has not produced a lot of excitement, but some pros are buying shares, as they believe Tyco splitting in three will cause a jump in the stock.
About Altair, the column said Alcoa (AA) and Eli Lilly (LLY) have taken an interest in Altair's rapid-charge, high-power NanoSafe battery packs, which could mean a rise in 2007 orders creating a profit for the company.
About Supergen, the column said that biotech's like Supergen are gaining traction, noting that Supergen inked a pact with Johnson & Johnson (JNJ) to market its Food & Drug Administration-approved drug Dacogen.

Investor's Business Daily's "New America" column focused on Hurco Companies Inc (NASDAQ: HURC), a machine tool maker that has ad success by downsizing in the U.S. and shifting production to Taiwan.

Newspaper wrap-up 2-23-07: Apple at CeBIT?

Posted Feb 23rd 2007 9:45AM by Eric Buscemi (RSS feed)
Filed under: Newspapers, Magazines, Internet, Microsoft (MSFT), Apple Inc (AAPL), India, McDonald's (MCD), Alcatel-LucentADS (ALU)

MAJOR PAPERS:

The Wall Street Journal (subscription required) reported that Microsoft Corp (NASDAQ: MSFT) has been ordered to pay $1.52B to Alcatel-Lucent (NYSE: ALU) for infringing patents on a fundamental technology for digital music.
According to the Wall Street Journal's "Heard on the Street" column, shares of India's two largest private sector banking companies, Icici Bank Ltd. (NYSE: IBN) and HDFC Bank (NYSE: HDB), have tripled over the past three years. However, some investors are getting cautious on the stocks as India's central bank has taken tougher steps to rein in lending growth and stanch inflation.
Barron's Online's (subscription required) "Weekday Trader" suggested investing in companies with modest dividend yields, but a strong cash position and business model, such as outsourcing player Paychex, Inc. (NASDAQ: PAYX), fast-food giant McDonald's Corp. (NYSE: MCD) and insurer Prudential Financial, Inc. (NYSE: PRU).

OTHER PAPERS:

According to German website Heise Online, Apple Inc (NASDAQ: AAPL) will exhibit at CeBIT, the European version of the CES expo, from March 15 through the 21. Apple will be exhibiting the iPhone, said the site. However, according to German website Computerwoche, Apple has denied that it is participating in CeBIT. (Both links in German)
Business Week's "Inside Wall Street" column mentioned UnitedHealth (NYSE: UNH), Epix (NASDAQ: EPIX) and LJ International (NASDAQ: JADE) positively.

Warren Buffet has stirred up interest in UnitedHealth by reportedly buying one million shares in the company.
Small biotech Epix, which recently signed a deal with GlaxoSmithKline (NYSE: GSK), could double within a year, believe some experts.
LJ International, which has already risen from slightly over $4 to over $11 since December, may still have room to rise, according to Albert Lee of Maxim Group, who has a $12 price target on the stock.

Investor's Business Daily's "New America" column highlighted Spartan Stores (NASDAQ: SPTN), the 10th largest grocery distributor in the U.S., which has seen earnings growth in double and triple digits for nine of the past ten quarters.