Merger Arbitrage Mondays – Dime Community Bancshares and Bridge Bancorp Combine in Merger of Equals

Merger activity remained steady last week with one new deal announced, six deals closing and one deal called off.

The month of June ended with six active deals being completed and another deal terminated, resulting in a total of five deals terminated in a single month. June was also the most active month with respect to new deals announced in the second quarter of 2020, with six new deals announced and ten new potential deals announced.

The month of July began with the announcement of an all stock merger agreement between Dime Community Bancshares (DCOM) and Bridge Bancorp (BDGE), which will result in Dime shareholders owning approximately 52% and Bridge shareholders will own approximately 48% of the combined company.

There was one potential deal announced last week.  The special committees of Liberty Broadband Corporation (LBRDA) and GCI Liberty (GLIBA) reached a preliminary understanding regarding a possible exchange ratio for a potential business combination transaction between Liberty Broadband and GCI Liberty, in which Liberty Broadband would acquire all of the outstanding shares of GCI Liberty in a stock-for-stock merger.

You can find all the active deals listed below in our Merger Arbitrage Tool (MAT) that automatically updates itself during market hours.

There was one new deal announced in the Deals in the Works section last week.

Weekly Spread Changes:

The table below shows weekly spread changes between June 26, 2020, and July 3, 2020.

Deal Statistics:

New Deals:

1. The merger of Dime Community Bancshares (DCOM) and Bridge Bancorp (BDGE) for $489 million in an all stock deal. Under the terms of the merger agreement, Dime will merge with and into Bridge, with Bridge as the surviving corporation, and Dime Community Bank will merge with and into BNB Bank, with BNB Bank as the surviving institution. Following the closing of the transaction, Dime shareholders will receive 0.6480 shares of Bridge common stock for each share of Dime common stock they own.

Deal Updates:

1. On June 26, 2020, the stockholders of Leisure Acquisition (LACQ) approved an amendment to the Company’s investment management trust agreement by and between the Company and the Continental Stock Transfer & Trust Company, to extend the date on which to commence liquidating the trust account established in connection with the Company’s initial public offering in the event the Company has not consummated a business combination from June 30, 2020 to December 1, 2020. On June 29, 2020, the Company entered into the IMTA Amendment.
2. On June 29, 2020, QIAGEN (QGEN) announced that its shareholders approved all agenda items related to the proposed voluntary public takeover offer for the acquisition of all ordinary shares in QIAGEN by Thermo Fisher Scientific (TMO).
3. On June 30, 2020, Genworth Financial (GNW) announced that it is moving forward with plans to address its near-term liabilities and financial obligations, and maximize shareholder value while China Oceanwide Holdings Group finalizes its funding plan for the acquisition of Genworth. Genworth and Oceanwide also announced that they have agreed to a 15th waiver and agreement of each party’s right to terminate the previously announced merger agreement. The 15th waiver extends the previous deadline of June 30, 2020 to no later than September 30, 2020.
4. On July 1, 2020, Kearny Financial (KRNY) and MSB Financial (MSBF) announced that they expect that their proposed merger transaction will be completed after the market closes on July 10, 2020.
5. July 2, 2020: According to Reuters, EU regulators are checking whether Google’s (GOOG) purchase of Fitbit (FIT) might allow it to drive rival makers of wearable devices, app developers and other online service providers out of the market, and boost its dominance in online advertising and search.

Closed Deals:

1. The acquisition of Adesto Technologies Corporation (IOTS) by Dialog Semiconductor (DLGNF) on June 29, 2020. It took 130 days for this deal to be completed.
2. The acquisition of Tech Data Corporation (TECD) by Apollo Global Management (APO) on June 30, 2020. It took 230 days for this deal to be completed.
3. The acquisition of Alio Gold (ALO) by Argonaut Gold (ARNGF) on July 1, 2020. It took 93 days for this deal to be completed.
4. The acquisition of Mobile Mini (MINI) by WillScot Corporation (WSC) on July 1, 2020. It took 121 days for this deal to be completed.
5. The acquisition of Portola Pharmaceuticals (PTLA) by Alexion Pharmaceuticals (ALXN) on July 2, 2020. It took 58 days for this deal to be completed.
6. The acquisition of IBERIABANK Corporation (IBKC) by First Horizon National Corporation (FHN) on July 2, 2020. It took 241 days for this deal to be completed.

Deals Terminated:

1. On June 29, 2020, Synacor (SYNC) and Qumu Corporation (QUMU) announced that the companies have mutually agreed to terminate their proposed all-stock merger agreement.

Top 10 deals with largest spreads:

List of all pending deals:

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

Disclaimer: 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.

Connect with me on LinkedIn: http://www.linkedin.com/in/asifsuria or follow me on Twitter@asifsuria