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Thursday, December 12, 2013

TAKEOVERCHATTER-Companies, investors eye amicable divorce in share buybacks, (NYSE: GGP), (NASDAQ: TTWO)

As a growing number of activist investors scour corporate America for their next campaigns, some are parting ways with their old targets and topping up their war chests with handsome payouts.This year, six well-known U.S. companies, including Take-Two Interactive Software Inc, Yahoo Inc and General Growth Properties Inc, agreed to purchase back shares held by activist investors who push for change at corporations they believe to be subpar. That is up from only one such deal in 2012, according to data by FactSet Research.The increase comes as activist campaigns become a regular feature in the U.S. corporate scene. Even before activists arrive at their doorsteps, more companies are ramping up share repurchases to use record cash on their balance sheets and appease investors clamoring for returns.Among the most prominent of the exits, billionaire Carl Icahn last month said he would sell his shares in Take-Two back to the videogame maker for more than $200 million, compelling the resignation of three directors he had been allowed to appoint.

General Growth Properties, Inc. is a real estate investment trust (REIT). Shares of GGP fell by 0.73% or $-0.15/share to $20.46. In the past year, the shares have traded as low as $18.63 and as high as $23.33. On average, 6111100 shares of GGP exchange hands on a given day and today's volume is recorded at 3855081.

Take-Two Interactive Software, Inc. is a developer, publisher and marketer of interactive entertainment for consumers worldwide. Shares of TTWO fell by 0.85% or $-0.14/share to $16.35. In the past year, the shares have traded as low as $10.61 and as high as $19.25. On average, 3280930 shares of TTWO exchange hands on a given day and today's volume is recorded at 1176371.



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