Akzo Nobel Rejects $22 B PPG Offer, Signet to Rev Up Digital Operations

Mukesh Buch
09 Mar, 2017
New York City

Actua net swung to profit on the sale of GovDelivery and lifted fiscal outlook. American Airlines said total revenue passenger miles in February fell 3.3%. Cantel Medical net and revenues soared on strong order and backlog. Akzo Nobel rejected $22.1 billion PPG offer. Signet net jumped.

[R]2:10 PM New York – Actua net swung to profit on the sale of GovDelivery and lifted fiscal outlook. American Airlines said total revenue passenger miles in February fell 3.3%. Cantel Medical net and revenues soared on strong order and backlog. Akzo Nobel rejected $22.1 billion PPG offer. Signet net jumped.[/R]

Tollbooth Index edged up 0.18 to 11,590.14.

Earnings Review

Actua Corporation ((ACTA)) jumped 3.3% or 45 cents to $14.10 after the multi-vertical cloud technology provider said revenues in the fourth-quarter ending in December soared 14.9% from a year ago to $29.3 million.

Net in the quarter swung to profit $107.2 million or $2.94 per diluted share from a loss of $52.2 million or $1.40 per share in the same quarter last year.

Actua said during the quarter results were positively impacted by the gain associated with the GovDelivery sale of approx $124 million.

The cloud technology provider forecasted fiscal 2017 revenues between $125 million and $130 million, representing growth of 14% to 19% from 2016 and diluted loss per share in the range of 10 cents to 15 cents.

American Airlines Group Inc ((AAL)) slipped 1.2% or 53 cents to $44.36 after the passengers and cargo services provider said total revenue passenger miles in February dropped 3.3% to 15.2 billion and total capacity available seat miles slumped 3.7% to 19.6 billion.

Total load factor in the month increased 0.3 percentage points to 77.3% from 77% in a year ago month.

The airline services provider lowered total revenue per available seat mile forecast in the first-quarter to 1.5% to 3.5% from previous guidance of 2.5% to 4.5%.

Cantel Medical Corp ((CMD)) declined 4% or $3.39 to $80.85 after the healthcare products provider reported revenues in the second-quarter ending in January jumped 16.8% from a year ago to $184.8 million.

Net income in the quarter soared 17.5% to $18.1 million or 43 cents per diluted share from $15.4 million or 37 cents per share in the same quarter last year.

Cantel Medical said orders in the quarter remained strong and backlog reached at record levels for the third consecutive quarter.

Ferrellgas Partners, L.P ((FGP)) plunged 6.5% or 39 cents to $5.56 after the propane gas retailer stated revenues in the second-quarter ending in January declined 10.1% from a year ago to $579.3 million.

Net income in the quarter tumbled 33.3% to $38.1 million or 39 cents per diluted share from $57.1 million or 58 cents per share in the same quarter last year.

Myers Industries, Inc ((MYE)) gained 1.5% or 20 cents to $13.55 after the plastic and metal packaging maker said net sales in the fourth-quarter ending in December slumped 6.6% from a year ago to $130.1 million.

Net in the quarter swung to a loss of $1.5 million or 5 cents per diluted share from profit of $0.8 million or 3 cents per share in the same quarter last year.

PPG Industries, Inc ((PPG)) dropped 4.9% or $5.32 to $101.51 after the coatings and painting products maker said it is in talk with the Netherland-based rival Akzo Nobel NV for about $22.1 billion or €20.9 billion in cash and stock.

Under the terms, PPG offered €54 in cash and 0.3 PPG shares for each Akzo share that corresponding the value of €83 per share.

However, today the Dutch rival had rejected the “unsolicited” takeover offer, saying the bid ""undervalues"" the company.

Signet Jewelers Ltd ((SIG)) soared 6.4% or $4.11 to $68.51 after the Bermuda-based jewelry and watches maker said net sales in the fourth-quarter ending on January 28 dropped 5.1% from a year ago to $2.3 billion.

Same store sales in the quarter declined 4.5%.

Net income in the quarter jumped 5.8% to $287.8 million or $3.92 per diluted share from $271.9 million or $3.42 per share in the same quarter last year.

Signet said it plans to close 165 to 170 underperforming stores in the current fiscal year and will invest in digital platforms after sales decline in the quarter.

""We are adapting to a challenging retail environment and weak mall traffic,” and are now focused on ""a significant increase in resources directed to our digital ecosystem,"" chief executive officer Mark Light said.

Staples, Inc ((SPLS)) plummeted 4.2% or 38 cents to $8.58 after the specialty retailer reported net sales in the fourth-quarter ending on January 28 dropped 3% from a year ago to $4.6 billion.

Comparable store sales in the quarter fell 1%.

Net in the quarter swung to a loss of $952 million or $1.46 per diluted share from profit of $86 million or 13 cents per share in the same quarter last year.