Merger Arbitrage Mondays – November 20, 2017

  • November 20, 2017

Merger activity increased last week with four new deals announced and nine pending deals closing. You can find all the active deals listed below in our Merger Arbitrage Tool (MAT) that automatically updates itself during market hours.

There were five new deals announced in the Deals in the Works section.

Deal Statistics:

Total Number of Deals Closed in 2017200
Total Number of Deals Not Completed in 201711
Total Number of Pending Deals
Cash Deals35
Stock Deals21
Stock & Cash Deals7
Special Conditions9
Total Number of Pending Deals72
Total Deal Size$949.59 billion

New Deals:

  1. The acquisition of Bonanza Creek Energy (BCEI) by SandRidge Energy (SD) for $746 million in a cash plus stock deal. Under the terms of the agreement, Bonanza Creek shareholders will receive $36.00 per share under the terms of the agreement, comprised of $19.20 per share in cash and $16.80 per share in common shares of SandRidge stock, subject to the collar mechanism.The stock portion will be subject to a collar based on the volume weighted average price of SandRidge common shares over the 20 business days ending on the third business day prior to the closing. If the Average Parent Stock Price is greater than or equal to $17.50 but less than or equal to $21.38, Bonanza Creek shareholders will receive a number of SandRidge shares between 0.7858 and 0.9600 equal to $16.80 in value per Bonanza Creek share. Bonanza Creek shareholders will receive 0.9600 SandRidge common shares if the Average Parent Stock Price is below $17.50 and 0.7858 SandRidge common shares if the Average Parent Stock Price is above $21.38. We have entered this deal as a “Special Conditions” deal in the MAT.
  2. The acquisition of Almost Family (AFAM) by LHC Group (LHCG) for $1.06 billion in an all stock deal. Under terms of the transaction, Almost Family shareholders will receive 0.9150 shares of LHC Group for each existing Almost Family share.
  3. The acquisition of Atlantic Coast Financial Corporation (ACFC) by Ameris Bancorp (ABCB) for $145 million in a cash plus stock deal. Under the terms of the definitive merger agreement, each share of Atlantic Coast common stock will be converted into the right to receive 0.17 shares of Ameris common stock and $1.39 in cash.
  4. The acquisition of JA Solar Holdings (JASO) by JASO Holdings Limited, JASO Parent Limited and JASO Acquisition Limited  in a going private transaction. Under the terms of the agreement, each ordinary share of the Company issued and outstanding immediately prior to the Effective Time will be cancelled and cease to exist in exchange for the right to receive $1.51 in cash without interest, and each American depositary share of the Company, representing 5 Shares, will be cancelled in exchange for the right to receive $7.55 in cash without interest.

Deal Updates:

  1. On November 9, 2017, NewStar Financial (NEWS) provided an update regarding the recent developments that could potentially affect the Contingent Value Rights that its shareholders are expected to receive based on the merger agreement with First Eagle Investment Management. The Tax Cuts and Jobs Act released by the House Ways and Means Committee, if enacted in its current form, would eliminate the ability to carryback net operating losses, arising in tax years beginning after 2017, subject to limited exceptions not relevant to the contingent value rights. As a result, if the Tax Bill were enacted as is and the transactions contemplated by the asset purchase agreement were to close in 2018, NewStar would not be able to carryback the losses generated in connection with the closing of the asset sale, and as such, holders of the contingent value rights would not be entitled to any payments thereunder.
  2. On November 13, 2017, TerraForm Global (GLBL) announced that its stockholders approved the Agreement and Plan of Merger with Orion US Holding, an affiliate of Brookfield Asset Management.
  3. November 15, 2017: In connection with the previously announced proposed acquisition and subsequent split-off of General Communication (GNCMA) by Liberty Interactive Corporation (LVNTA) on November 7, 2017, the Regulatory Commission of Alaska  approved the applications for acquisition of a controlling interest in certain RCA certificates of public convenience and necessity, and on November 8, 2017, the Federal Communications Commission approved the applications for transfer of control and/or assignment of certain FCC licenses and authorizations. The proposed transactions are expected to close in the first quarter of 2018.
  4. On November 16, 2017, Alamos Gold (AGI) and Richmont Mines (RIC) announced that shareholders of both companies have overwhelmingly voted in favour of the plan of arrangement at their respective special meetings of shareholders. The Transaction is expected to close on November 23, 2017, subject to applicable regulatory approvals and the satisfaction of other customary conditions.
  5. On November 16, 2017, South State Corporation (SSB) announced today that it has received all necessary regulatory and shareholder approvals for its merger with Park Sterling Corporation (PSTB). The merger is scheduled to close on or around November 30, 2017.
  6. November 16, 2017, According to Reuters, the U.S. Justice Department has approached 18 state attorneys general to try to win their support for an antitrust lawsuit to block AT&T Inc’s (T) $85.4 billion deal to buy  Time (TWX).
  7. On November 17, 2017, Qualcomm Incorporated (QCOM) announced that Qualcomm River Holdings has extended the offering period of its previously announced cash tender offer to purchase all of the outstanding common shares of NXP Semiconductors N.V. (NXPI). The tender offer is now scheduled to expire on December 15, 2017, unless extended or earlier terminated.
  8. November 18, 2017: According to Reuters, Qualcomm (QCOMis set to win “imminent” Japanese antitrust clearance for its $38-billion bid for NXP Semiconductors (NXPI) and gain Europe’s approval by the end of the year with slight tweaks to its concessions.

Closed Deals:

  1. The acquisition of Rice Energy (RICE) by EQT Corporation (EQT) on November 13, 2017. It took 147 days for this deal to be completed.
  2. The acquisition of CombiMatrix Corporation (CBMX) by Invitae Corporation (NVTA) on November 14, 2017. It took 106 days for this deal to be completed.
  3. The acquisition of Starwood Waypoint Homes (SFR) by Invitation Homes (INVH) on November 16, 2017. It took 98 days for this deal to be completed.
  4. The acquisition of Lumos Networks (LMOS) by EQT Infrastructure investment strategy on November 17, 2017. It took 270 days for this deal to be completed.
  5. The acquisition of Brocade Communications Systems (BRCD) by Broadcom Limited (AVGO) on November 17, 2017. It took 380 days for this deal to be completed.
  6. The acquisition of Exa Corporation (EXA) by Dassault Systèmes on November 17, 2017. It took 50 days for this deal to be completed.
  7. The acquisition of Onvia (ONVI) by Project Diamond Intermediate Holdings and Deltek on November 17, 2017. It took 43 days for this deal to be completed.
  8. The acquisition of State National Companies (SNC) by Markel Corporation (MKL) on November 17, 2017. It took 114 days for this deal to be completed.
  9. The acquisition of The Advisory Board Company (ABCO) by Optum and Vista Equity Partners on November 17, 2017. It took 80 days for this deal to be completed.

Top 10 deals with largest spreads:

SymbolAnnounced
Date
Acquiring
Company
Closing
Price
Last
Price
Closing
Date
ProfitAnnualized
Profit
GNW10/23/2016China Oceanwide Holdings Group Co., Ltd. (N/A)$5.43$3.3812/31/201760.65%539.94%
MGI01/26/2017Ant Financial Services Group (N/A)$18.00$14.5912/31/201723.37%208.07%
TWX10/22/2016AT&T, Inc. (T)$107.50$88.7212/31/201721.17%188.44%
NXTM08/07/2017Fresenius Medical Care (N/A)$30.00$25.9906/30/201815.43%25.37%
SNI07/31/2017Discovery Communications, Inc. (DISCK)$90.00$80.6203/31/201811.63%32.42%
SXE11/01/2017American Midstream Partners, LP (AMID)$2.04$1.8306/30/201811.48%18.87%
BCEI11/15/2017SandRidge Energy (SD)$36.00$32.8403/31/20189.62%26.81%
MON09/14/2016Bayer AG (BAYRY)$128.00$118.3301/31/20188.17%41.43%
YUME09/05/2017RhythmOne plc (RTHM.L)$3.97$3.7403/31/20186.28%17.50%
GLBL03/07/2017Brookfield Asset Management Inc. (BAM)$5.10$4.8012/31/20176.25%55.64%

List of all pending deals:

The list of all pending deals is only available to InsideArbitrage Premium and Plus members.

Disclaimer: I hold positions in Fortress Investment Group (FIG) and NewStar Financial (NEWS). Please do your own due diligence before buying or selling any securities mentioned in this article. We do not warrant the completeness or accuracy of the content or data provided in this article.

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