Archive for May, 2011

Eastman Kodak (EK) surges after bigwigs boost share holdings

Wednesday, May 18th, 2011

Eastman Kodak Co. (NYSE: EK) shares rose 17% to $3.65 after a regulatory filings available late Tuesday showed the photography icon’s CEO and chief financial officer purchased 36,532 shares on May 13.

Kodak’s Chief Executive Officer Antonio Perez told employees that recent Kodak stock purchases reflect management’s faith in the photography pioneer’s future.

Some analysts suspect, however, that the stock price surge reflects Kodak’s recent preliminary triumphs over smartphone giant Apple Inc. (Nasdaq: AAPL) in their patent-litigation battle before the U.S. International Trade Commission, a federal agency that oversees trade disputes.

Regulatory filings late Tuesday revealed that Perez and Richard Braddock, the presiding director of Kodak’s board, each purchased shares valued at around $200,000. Chief Financial Officer Antoinette McCorvey bought shares worth about $36,000.

Perez told employees on an internal website that the purchases “reflect our confidence in the company’s future and our belief in the potential of the Kodak transformation” into a digital photography and printing powerhouse.

Silver Bull Resources Inc. (SVBL) leaps on outside investment

Wednesday, May 18th, 2011

Silver Bull Resources Inc. (Amex: SVBL) shares rocketed higher 10.3% to 75 cents after announcing that Coeur d’Alene Mines Corporation (NYSE: CDE) has executed a term sheet to make a $5-million U.S. investment in Silver Bull. Volume for Silver Bull was 172,100 shares, compared to an all-day average 675,232.

Coeur d’Alene intends to purchase 7,352,941 shares of Silver Bull common stock at $0.68 per share in a private placement transaction. Closing of the transaction is subject to the execution of a definitive agreement, and approval of the NYSE Amex Stock Exchange and the Toronto Stock Exchange.

Silver Bull Tim Barry said, “We are extremely pleased to have a company with the reputation and stature of Coeur d’Alene invest in Silver Bull and this financing will allow us to complete our planned 2011 exploration program at Sierra Mojada.

“We feel this investment is a solid endorsement of the work we have completed to date, and of the potential at the Sierra Mojada project.”

Based in Vancouver, British Columbia, Silver Bull is focused on the acquisition, exploration and potential development of mineral properties. Silver Bull currently owns mineral concessions in the municipality of Sierra Mojada, Coahuila, Mexico and holds exploration licenses in Gabon, Africa.

Orthovita Inc. (VITA) takes flight on sale to Stryker Corp. (SYK)

Monday, May 16th, 2011

Orthovita Inc. (Nasdaq: VITA) shares rose 40.1% to $3.83 after Stryker Corp. (Nasdaq: SYK) said it would acquire the rival surgical-products maker for $316 million, or $3.85 a share. Volume for Orthovita topped 36.6 million shares, towering over an all-day average of just under 400,000.

In July 2007, Essex Woodlands Health Ventures Fund VII, LP,managed a multi-faceted deal, which was spearheaded by Partner Scott Barry. Essex Woodlands proactively contacted the company about a transaction that would address a number of issues hindering the company’s growth and development. Essex Woodlands led an equity financing of $32.5 million to remove the company’s capital overhang and became the largest shareholder of the company at the time.

The purchase price for the Malvern, Pennsylvania-based Orthovita was $3.85/share in cash in a transaction that results in the largest single upfront payment for an orthobiologics company. The purchase price represents a 58% and 67% premium to the 30-day and 60-day volume weighted average prices, for a total value transaction value of approximately $318 million.

Orthovita CEO Antony Koblish commented, “With the innovative financing initiatives which assisted our restructuring and recapitalization efforts exhibited by Essex Woodlands in general… we aggressively and successfully pursued this transaction.”

The acquisition of Orthovita, Inc. marks the third announced exit for Essex Woodlands within the past 30 days.

Takeover target Primedia Inc. (PRM) climbs Monday

Monday, May 16th, 2011

Primedia Inc. (NYSE: PRM) shares surged 60.2% to $7.01, after the provider of rental and other consumer directories said it would be acquired for $7.10 a share, or about $525 million, by affiliates of TPG Capital. Volume for the stock Monday morning was 2.7 million shares, dwarfing an all-day average of just over 60,000.

Under the terms of the agreement, holders of the outstanding common shares of PRIMEDIA will receive $7.10 per share in cash, representing a transaction enterprise value of approximately $525 million. The agreement was unanimously approved by the Board of Directors of PRIMEDIA and the independent directors of the Board.

Primedia CEO Charles Stubbs, said, “I am pleased to announce this agreement as it delivers significant value to our shareholders. In addition, it is a clear endorsement of PRIMEDIA and of the hard work and commitment of each and every one of our employees.

“TPG is a premier private investment firm,” Stubbs added, “and has a strong understanding and appreciation for our marketplace, our business model, our business strategies and the potential opportunities that lie ahead. We are very excited about this transaction.”

Primedia helps millions of consumers nationwide find apartments, houses for rent or new homes for sale through its innovative Internet, mobile and print solutions.

Dynavox Inc. (DVOX) shares take flight on Q3 numbers

Thursday, May 12th, 2011

Dynavox Inc. (Nasdaq: DVOX) shares climbed 38% to $8.35 after the maker of education and communication products for those with learning disabilities reported late Wednesday third-quarter results that beat expectations. Volume for the stock was 1.1 million shares, towering over a daily average of less than 60,000.

For the third quarter ended April 1, 2011, net sales were $28.7 million, an increase of 1.0% compared to net sales of $28.4 million for the third quarter ended April 2, 2010. Sales of the Company’s speech generating devices increased 1.3% to $22.7 million, and sales of its special education software were flat at $6.0 million from the prior year.

Operating income was $3.8 million in the quarter, compared to operating income of $5.3 million in the same period a year ago. Operating income for the third quarter of fiscal year 2011 included a $1.0 million impairment loss related to intangible assets and fixed assets acquired as part of the Company’s product acquisition in July 2009.

Dynavox Chief Executive Officer Ed Donnelly commented, “In spite of the ongoing macroeconomic challenges, during the third quarter we saw some signs of improvements and our consolidated top line was roughly equal to the last year. Sales trends across both devices and software provide validation of our efforts to adapt to the environment as well as the fact that the demand for our products and services remains intact. We are encouraged by the steady sequential upside trend in our U.S. device business, which comprises almost three fourths of our total revenue.”

The Pittsburgh-based DynaVox Inc. completed an initial public offering (IPO) on April 27, 2010. As a result of the IPO and certain other recapitalization transactions, DynaVox Inc. became the sole managing member of and has a controlling interest in DynaVox Systems Holdings LLC and its subsidiaries.