Merger Arbitrage Mondays – April 04, 2011

Merger activity increased last week with six new deals announced and four deals closing.

I received an email over the weekend from someone who was new to the Merger Arbitrage strategy and wanted to learn more about it. I pointed him to my article on the Pfizer – Wyeth deal, which provides an introduction to the strategy for the uninitiated. I would also recommend reading the article John Paulson On The “Risk” In Risk Arbitrage by the folks at market folly.

Deal Statistics:

Total Number of Deals Closed in 2011 43
Total Number of Deals Not Completed in 2011 1
Total Number of Pending Deals
Cash Deals 46
Stock Deals 21
Stock & Cash Deals 13
Special Conditions 1
Total Number of Pending Deals 81

New Deals:

  1. The acquisition of Verigy (VRGY) by Advantest (ATE) for $1.1 billion or $15.00 per share in cash. Verigy announced the Advantest offer in December but the deal was finalized last week.
  2. The acquisition of Rural/Metro Corporation (RURL) by Warburg Pincus for $17.25 per share in cash. I had traded Rural a couple of times over the last year based on insider purchases by the CEO as you can see here.
  3. The acquisition of GSI Commerce (GSIC) by eBay Inc. (EBAY) for $2.4 billion or $29.25 per share in cash
  4. The acquisition of Spectrum control (SPEC) by API Technologies for $270 million or $20.00 per share in cash
  5. The acquisition of Technology Research (TRCI) by Coleman Cable (CCIX) for $51.5 million or $7.20 per share in cash
  6. The acquisition of GS Financial Corp (GSLA) by Home Bancorp (HBCP) for $26.2 million or $21.00 per share in cash


Deal Updates:

  1. Mentor Graphics (MENT) board rejects Icahn's bid, says strategic plan is better for shareholders.
  2. On April 3, 2011 RAE Systems announced a revised higher offer of $1.88 per share by Vector Capital, a 7.4% increase from the previous offer of $1.75 per share. The revised offer was precipitated as a result of a competing offer of $1.90 per share by Battery Ventures, which was not determined to be a “superior offer”  by the board.
  3. The Nasdaq (NDAQ) and ICE have made a joint offer for NYSE Euronext (NYX) that was worth $43 as of Friday's close. Since NYX has not officially called off its merger with Deutsche Börse, the table below has not been updated to reflect the Nasdaq offer.


Closed Deals:

  1. The acquisition of Rome Bancorp (ROME) by Berkshire Hills Corporation (BHLB) on April 01, 2011
  2. The acquisition of Mercer Insurance Group (MIGP) by United Fire & Casualty Company on March 28, 2011
  3. The acquisition of Herley Industries (HRLY) by Kratos Defense & Security Solutions (KTOS) on March 31, 2011
  4. The acquisition of Qwest (Q) by CenturyLink (CTL) on April 1, 2011.


Top 10 Deals with largest spreads:

Symbol Announced
Date
Acquiring

Company

Closing

Price

Last
Price
Closing
Date
Profit Annu.
Profit
TAM 01/19/2011 LAN Airlines S.A. (LFL) $23.61 $20.29 12/31/2011

16.35%

22.02%
TLCR 06/07/2010 Grifols (GRF.MC) $30.52 $26.94 06/30/2011 13.27% 55.69%
CASB 03/04/2011 Opus Bank (N/A) $0.45 $0.42 06/30/2011

7.14%

29.97%
DNBK 01/20/2011 People's United Financial Inc. (PBCT) $23.00 $21.49 06/30/2011 7.03% 29.48%
RAE 01/18/2011 Vector Capital (N/A) $1.88 $1.76 06/30/2011 6.82% 28.61%
TGE 03/21/2011 Dawson Geophysical Company (DWSN) $8.41 $7.87 08/15/2011 6.80% 18.67%
VRGY 03/28/2011 Advantest (ATE) $15.00 $14.08 12/31/2069 6.53% 0.11%
SHMR 10/15/2010 Essilor (N/A) $14.50 $13.71 06/30/2011 5.76% 24.17%
HYC 11/17/2010 Verifone Systems (PAY) $12.55 $11.97 09/30/2011 4.82% 9.82%
AAI 09/27/2010 Southwest Airlines (LUV) $7.75 $7.46 06/30/2011

3.89%

16.31%

List of all pending deals:

  Symbol Announced
Date
Acquiring
Company
Deal
Type
Closing
Value
Closing
Price
Last
Price
Volume Closing

Date

Profit Annu.
Profit
+ TAM 01/19/2011 LAN Airlines S.A. (LFL) All Stock N/A $23.61 $20.29 490,133 12/31/2011 16.35% 22.02%
+ TLCR 06/07/2010 Grifols (GRF.MC) Cash Plus Stock $3.4 billion $30.52 $26.94 571,882 06/30/2011

13.27%

55.69%
+ CASB 03/04/2011 Opus Bank (N/A) All Cash N/A $0.45 $0.42 13,100 06/30/2011 7.14% 29.97%
+ DNBK 01/20/2011 People's United Financial Inc. (PBCT) All Cash $493 million $23.00 $21.49 19,828 06/30/2011 7.03% 29.48%
+ RAE 01/18/2011 Vector Capital (N/A) All Cash N/A $1.88 $1.76 N/A 06/30/2011 6.82% 28.61%
+ TGE 03/21/2011 Dawson Geophysical Company (DWSN) All Stock $157 million $8.41 $7.87 202,425 08/15/2011 6.80% 18.67%
+ VRGY 03/28/2011 Advantest (ATE) All Cash $1.1 billion $15.00 $14.08 824,066 12/31/2069 6.53% 0.11%
+ SHMR 10/15/2010 Essilor (N/A) All Cash $130 million $14.50 $13.71 6,024 06/30/2011 5.76% 24.17%
+ HYC 11/17/2010 Verifone Systems (PAY) All Stock $485 million $12.55 $11.97 969,002 09/30/2011 4.82% 9.82%
+ AAI 09/27/2010 Southwest Airlines (LUV) Cash Plus Stock $1.4 billion $7.75 $7.46 2,890,901 06/30/2011 3.89% 16.31%
+ SVLF 02/03/2011 Cerberus Capital Management (N/A) All Cash $94 million $2.50 $2.41 90,000 04/15/2011 3.73% 123.92%
+ MEE 01/29/2011 Alpha Natural Resources, Inc. (ANR) Cash Plus Stock $8.5 billion $71.77 $69.26 1,693,923 06/30/2011

3.62%

15.18%
+ NGAS 12/27/2010 Magnum Hunter Resources Corp. (MHR) All Stock $98 million $0.72 $0.70 859,532 06/30/2011 3.45% 14.49%
+ LEGC 12/21/2010 Berkshire Hills Bancorp (BHLB) Cash Plus Stock $108 million $13.43 $13.02 78,368 06/30/2011 3.18% 13.34%
+ PGN 01/10/2011 Duke Energy Corporation (DUK) All Stock $13.7 billion $48.12 $46.73 3,278,198 12/31/2011 2.98% 4.01%
+ GSLA 03/30/2011 Home Bancorp (HBCP) All Cash $26.2 million $21.00 $20.43 54,790 09/30/2011 2.79% 5.69%
+ CLFC 12/09/2010 Nara Bancorp Inc. (NARA) All Stock $285.7 million $7.64 $7.44 99,067 09/30/2011 2.74% 5.59%
+ NOVL 11/21/2010 Attachment Corporation (N/A) All Cash $2.2 billion $6.10 $5.97 2,065,422 04/30/2011 2.18% 30.57%
+ PNNW 11/12/2010 City of Nashua (N/A) All Cash $138 million $29.00 $28.40 1,200 09/30/2011 2.11% 4.31%
+ MI 12/17/2010 BMO Financial Group (BMO) All Stock $4.1 billion $8.30 $8.14 3,145,073 07/31/2011 1.95% 6.03%
+ GAS 12/07/2010 AGL Resources Inc. (AGL) Cash Plus Stock $2.4 billion $54.84 $53.80 206,312 09/30/2011 1.93% 3.93%
+ ID 09/20/2010 Safran (N/A) All Cash $1.1 billion $12.00 $11.78 1,498,607 05/15/2011 1.87% 16.63%
+ CRXL 10/06/2010 Johnson & Johnson (JNJ) All Cash $2.41 billion $35.22 $34.60 N/A 04/12/2011

1.78%

81.33%
+ HUGH 02/14/2011 EchoStar Corp (SATS) All Cash $2 billion $60.70 $59.65 61,726 12/31/2011 1.76% 2.37%
+ SPEC 03/28/2011 API Technologies (N/A) All Cash $270 million $20.00 $19.68 196,630 08/15/2011 1.63% 4.46%
+ ACL 12/15/2010 Novartis (NVS) All Cash $12.9 billion $168.00 $165.46 1,385,461 06/30/2011 1.54% 6.44%
+ ASGR 03/03/2011 Valit�s Health Services, Inc. (N/A) All Cash $250 million $26.00 $25.63 149,648 06/30/2011 1.44% 6.06%
+ DEP 02/23/2011 Enterprise Products Partners (EPD) All Stock N/A $41.23 $40.65 42,416 12/31/2069

1.44%

0.02%
+ OXPS 03/21/2011 Charles Schwab Corp. (SCHW) All Stock $1 billion $18.88 $18.62 1,318,679 09/30/2011 1.40% 2.85%
+ VCGH 11/10/2010 Company's chairman of the Board, CEO, President and COO (N/A) All Cash $37 million $2.25 $2.22 1,300 04/30/2011 1.35% 18.97%
+ LAB 02/17/2011 Cowen Group (COWN) All Stock $192.8 million $4.02 $3.97 245,372 07/31/2011 1.31% 4.05%
+ RURL 03/28/2011 Warburg Pincus (N/A) All Cash N/A $17.25 $17.05 844,899 06/30/2011 1.17% 4.92%
+ TOMO 03/07/2011 Accuray (ARAY) Cash Plus Stock $277 million $4.65 $4.60 767,800 07/31/2011 1.12% 3.45%
+ SBIB 01/18/2011 Comerica Incorporated (CMA) All Stock $1.027 billion $8.74 $8.65 816,055 06/30/2011

1.03%

4.30%
+ TRCI 03/28/2011 Coleman Cable (CCIX) All Cash $51.5 million $7.20 $7.13 35,359 05/31/2011 0.98% 6.29%
+ RHB 02/08/2011 Kindred Healthcare (KND) Cash Plus Stock $877 million $37.40 $37.04 128,379 06/30/2011 0.98% 4.11%
+ AHII 03/14/2011 Lextron (N/A) All Cash $251 million $4.25 $4.21 559,336 06/30/2011 0.95% 3.99%
+ LZ 03/14/2011 Berkshire Hathaway (N/A) All Cash $9.7 billion $135.00 $133.80 2,009,400 09/30/2011 0.90% 1.83%
+ TCM 11/01/2010 Hanmax Investment Limited (N/A) All Cash N/A $4.50 $4.4601 18,510 04/30/2011 0.89% 12.56%
+ NAL 08/19/2010 First Niagara Financial Group (FNFG) Cash Plus Stock $1.5 billion $15.22 $15.09 1,573,408 05/15/2011

0.89%

7.91%
+ PPD 01/31/2011 MidOcean Partners (N/A) All Cash $650 million $66.50 $65.93 29,229 07/31/2011 0.86% 2.67%
+ CNXT 02/23/2011 Golden Gate Capital (N/A) All Cash N/A $2.40 $2.38 315,977 06/30/2011 0.84% 3.53%
+ ABBC 01/26/2011 Susquehanna Bancshares, Inc. (SUSQ) All Stock $273 million $12.42 $12.32 74,958 09/30/2011 0.82% 1.67%
+ RVI 02/08/2011 DSW Inc (DSW) All Stock N/A $18.04 $17.90 323,340 06/30/2011 0.78% 3.27%
+ ANSW 02/03/2011 AFCV Holdings LLC (N/A) All Cash $127 million $10.50 $10.42 40,664 06/30/2011 0.77% 3.22%
+ CPD 02/22/2011 Sun Pharmaceutical Industries ltd (N/A) All Cash N/A $5.25 $5.21 20,384 12/31/2011 0.77% 1.03%
+ WTNY 12/22/2010 Hancock Holding Company (HBHC) All Stock $1.5 billion $14.06 $13.96 485,802 06/30/2011

0.73%

3.05%
+ NOVA 01/21/2011 Surgery Partners (N/A) All Cash $214 million $13.25 $13.16 26,490 06/30/2011 0.68% 2.87%
+ PDE 02/07/2011 Ensco plc (ESV) Cash Plus Stock $7.31 billion $43.70 $43.41 1,969,939 06/30/2011 0.68% 2.84%
+ ATHR 01/05/2011 QUALCOMM Incorporated (QCOM) All Cash $3.1 billion $45.00 $44.71 491,025 06/30/2011 0.65% 2.72%
+ BUCY 11/15/2010 Caterpillar Inc (CAT) All Cash $8.6 billion $92.00 $91.43 1,026,867 06/30/2011 0.62% 2.62%
+ EMS 02/14/2011 Clayton, Dubilier & Rice (N/A) All Cash $3 billion $64.00 $63.63 211,614 06/30/2011 0.58% 2.44%
+ BEC 02/07/2011 Danaher (DHR) All Cash $6.8 billion $83.50 $83.07 276,048 06/30/2011 0.52% 2.17%
+ ACV 09/27/2010 Unilever PLC (N/A) All Cash $3.7 billion $37.50 $37.34 643,337 06/27/2011 0.43% 1.86%
+ NHP 02/28/2011 Ventas Inc. (VTR) All Stock $7.4 billion $42.57 $42.39 744,568 09/30/2011 0.43% 0.87%
+ WL 11/01/2010 M & T Bank Corporation (MTB) All Stock $351 million $4.61 $4.59 392,404 06/30/2011 0.38% 1.60%
+ PLD 01/31/2011 AMB Property Corporation (AMB) All Stock N/A $16.09 $16.03 4,516,815 06/30/2011 0.36% 1.52%
+ DNEX 12/13/2010 Thermo Fisher Scientific Inc. (TMO) All Cash $2.1 billion $118.50 $118.10 67,800 04/30/2011 0.34% 4.75%
+ LDSH 11/17/2010 Allegheny Technologies (ATI) Cash Plus Stock $778 million $54.67 $54.50 61,203 05/15/2011 0.31% 2.79%
+ SSCC 01/23/2011 Rock-Tenn Co. (RKT) Cash Plus Stock $3.5 billion $38.85 $38.76 1,610,206 06/30/2011 0.24% 1.01%
+ GIW 10/25/2010 Community Bank System (CBU) All Cash $101.8 million $9.50 $9.4801 9,698 04/08/2011 0.21% 19.15%
+ TLGD 02/22/2011 Golden Gate Capital (N/A) All Cash $137 million $10.10 $10.08 32,558 06/30/2011 0.20% 0.83%
+ LZR 02/07/2011 Universal Hospital Services (N/A) All Cash $70 million $8.46 $8.45 9,083 04/30/2011 0.12% 1.66%
+ TMRK 01/27/2011 Verizon Communications Inc. (VZ) All Cash $1.4 billion $19.00 $18.99 603,356 06/30/2011 0.05% 0.22%
+ GTEC 03/03/2011 affiliate of Ares Management LLC (N/A) All Cash $315 million $24.25 $24.24 25,695 06/30/2011 0.04% 0.17%
+ XETA 02/09/2011 PAETEC Holding Corp (PAET) All Cash $61 million $5.50 $5.50 66,297 04/30/2011 0.00% 0.00%
+ GSIC 03/28/2011 eBay Inc. (EBAY) All Cash $2.4 billion $29.25 $29.34 2,292,812 09/30/2011 -0.31% -0.63%
+ FTO 02/22/2011 Holly Corporation (HOC) All Stock $3 billion $29.64 $29.81 2,125,735 09/30/2011 -0.57% -1.16%
+ RCRC 03/10/2011 TOMY Company Ltd (N/A) All Cash $640 million $27.90 $28.09 560,650 06/30/2011 -0.68% -2.84%
+ DSCM 03/24/2011 Walgreen (WAG) All Cash $409 million $3.80 $3.84 804,470 06/30/2011 -1.04% -4.37%
+ CLDA 02/22/2011 Forest Laboratories Inc. (FRX) All Cash $1.2 billion $30.00 $30.33 1,300,736 06/30/2011 -1.09% -4.56%
+ CPEX 01/04/2011 FCB I Holdings Inc. (N/A) All Cash N/A $27.25 $27.69 3,855 04/30/2011 -1.59% -22.31%
+ CRA 03/18/2011 Quest Diagnostics Incorporated (DGX) All Cash $344 million $8.00 $8.18 761,119 04/30/2011 -2.20% -30.89%
+ NST 10/18/2010 Northeast Utilities (NU) All Stock $4.17 billion $45.76 $46.84 293,663 09/30/2011 -2.30% -4.69%
+ GENZ 02/16/2011 Sanofi-Aventis (SNY) All Cash $20.1 billion $74.00 $76.01 50,871,952 06/15/2011 -2.64% -13.41%
+ CGC 10/01/2010 Gammon Gold (GRS) Cash Plus Stock $288 million $6.05 $6.31 2,196,764 04/15/2011 -4.10% -136.15%
+ DTG 04/26/2010 Avis (CAR) Cash Plus Stock $1.56 billion $57.53 $66.76 499,783 03/31/2011

-13.83%

1261.84%
+ KSP 03/13/2011 Kirby Corporation (KEX) Special Conditions $335.3 million $4.08 $8.16 150,155 09/30/2011 -50.06% -102.08%
+ NYX 02/15/2011 Deutsche Boerse (N/A) All Stock N/A $13.93 $39.60 N/A 12/31/2011 -64.83% -87.32%
+ UAM 12/31/2010 CVS Caremark Corporation (CVS) All Cash $1.25 billion N/A $23.09 393,708 06/30/2011

N/A

N/A
+ ZRAN 02/21/2011 CSR PLC (N/A) All Stock $679 million N/A $10.13 371,230 06/30/2011 N/A N/A
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