May 2019 – Stock Market Research, Option Picks, Stock Picks,Financial News,Option Research

May 29, 2019

Cara Therapeutics shares jump on KALM-1 data

Cara Therapeutics announces topline data from KALM-1 Phase 3 trial

Cara reports positive top-line data from CR845, Stockwinners — Cara reports positive results from the KALM-1 pivotal Phase 3 trial of Korsuva Injection in hemodialysis patients , Stockwinners

Cara Therapeutics (CARA) announced topline data from the KALM-1 pivotal Phase 3 trial of Korsuva Injection in hemodialysis patients with moderate-to-severe chronic kidney disease-associated pruritus, or CKD-aP.

Chronic kidney disease-associated pruritus ( #CKD-aP ) is a distressing, often overlooked condition in patients with CKD and end-stage renal disease. It affects ~40% of patients with end-stage renal disease and has been associated with poor quality of life, poor sleep, depression, and mortality. Despite being an annoyance, CKD-associated pruritus (CKD-aP) can adversely affect the quality of life (QOL) and medical outcomes.

The proportion of patients on 0.5 mcg/kg of Korsuva Injection achieving a three-point or greater improvement from baseline in the weekly mean of the daily 24 hour Worst Itching Intensity Numeric Rating Scale, or WI-NRS, score at week 12 was 51% vs. 28% for patients on placebo.

The proportion of patients on 0.5 mcg/kg of Korsuva Injection achieving a four-point or greater improvement from baseline in the weekly mean of the daily 24 hour WI-NRS score at week 12 was 39% vs. 18% for patients on placebo.

Patients on #Korsuva Injection experienced a 43% improvement in the average total Skindex-10 score at week 12 vs. patients on placebo.

Patients on Korsuva Injection experienced a 35% improvement in the average total 5-D Itch score at week 12 vs. patients on placebo.

Korsuva was generally well-tolerated with a safety profile consistent with that seen in earlier Korsuva clinical trials.

Overall, the incidence of adverse events, or AEs, and serious AEs were similar across both Korsuva and placebo groups.

The most common treatment emergent AEs reported in greater than 5% of patients were diarrhea, dizziness, nasopharyngitis and vomiting.

CARA is up 12.5% to $20.21 per share.

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This article does not constitute investment advice. Each reader is encouraged to consult with his or her individual financial professional and any action a reader takes as a result of information presented here is his or her own responsibility.

May 27, 2019

Fiat Chrysler propose to merge with Renault

Fiat Chrysler proposes to 50/50 merger agreement with Renault

Fiat Chrysler Automobiles N.V. (FCAU) announced that it has delivered a non-binding letter to the board of Renault (RNLSY) proposing a combination of their respective businesses as a 50/50 merger.

The FCA proposal follows initial operational discussions between the two companies to identify products and geographies where they could collaborate.

*Fiat Chrysler propose to merge with Renault, Stockwinners*

Fiat said, “These discussions made clear that broader collaboration through a combination would substantially improve capital efficiency and the speed of product development. The case for combination is also strengthened by the need to take bold decisions to capture at scale the opportunities created by the transformation of the auto industry in areas like connectivity, electrification and autonomous driving…The combined business would sell approximately 8.7 million vehicles annually, would be a world leader in EV technologies, premium brands, SUVs, pickup trucks and light commercial vehicles and would have a broader and more balanced global presence than either company on a standalone basis.”

Under the terms of the proposal, shareholders in each company would receive an equivalent equity stake in the combined company.

The combination would be carried out as a merger transaction under a Dutch parent company.

The board of the combined entity would initially be composed of 11 members, with the majority being independent and with equal representation of four members each for both FCA and Groupe Renault, as well as one nominee from Nissan.

Further, there would be no carryover of existing double voting rights.

However, all shareholders would have the opportunity to earn loyalty voting rights from the completion of the transaction under a loyalty voting program.

The parent company would be listed on the Borsa Italiana, Euronext and the New York Stock Exchange. Before the transaction is closed, to mitigate the disparity in equity market values, Fiat said its shareholders would also receive a dividend of EUR $2.5B.

In addition, prior to closing, there would be a distribution of Comau’s shares to Fiat’s shareholders or an incremental EUR $250M dividend if the Comau spin-off does not occur.

The combination is expected to deliver in excess of EUR $5B of annual run rate synergies, incremental to existing Alliance synergies.

Renault’s Response

Renault announced that its board met today to examine the proposal received from Fiat Chrysler Automobiles (FCAU) regarding a potential 50/50 merger between Renault S.A. and Fiat.

Renault said, “After careful review of the terms of FCA’s friendly proposal, the Board of Directors decided to study with interest the opportunity of such a business combination, comforting Groupe Renault’s manufacturing footprint and creating additional value for the Alliance.

A further communication will be issued in due course to inform the market of the results of these discussions, in accordance with applicable laws and regulations.”

FCAU closed at $12.85. RNLSY closed at $11.18.

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May 24, 2019

Rig Counts Declined Last Week!

Baker Hughes reports U.S. rig count down 4 to 983 rigs

The international offshore rig count for April 2018 was 194. Stockwinners — Rig Counts Declined in the U.S. and Canada, Stockwinners

Baker Hughes (BHGE) reports that the U.S. rig count is down 4 rigs from last week to 983, with oil rigs down 5 to 797, gas rigs up 1 to 186, and miscellaneous rigs unchanged at 0.

The U.S. Rig Count is down 76 rigs from last year’s count of 1,059, with oil rigs down 62, gas rigs down 12, and miscellaneous rigs down 2.

The U.S. Offshore Rig Count is unchanged at 22 and up 3 rigs year-over-year.

The Canada Rig Count is up 15 rigs from last week to 78, with oil rigs up 16 to 38 and gas rigs down 1 to 40.

The Canada Rig Count is down 3 rigs from last year’s count of 81, with oil rigs up 3 and gas rigs down 6.

The Baker Hughes rig count is an important business barometer for the oil drilling industry. When drilling rigs are active they consume products and services produced by the oil service industry. The active rig count acts as a leading indicator of demand for oil products.

Crude oil is up 40 cents to $58.30 per barrel. Brent crude is up 57 cents to $68.33 per barrel.

Note that crude oil is rebounding from its 100-day moving average. The Commodity topped around $66 per barrel in the Spring.

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May 22, 2019

International Speedway sold for $2 billion

NASCAR to acquire International Speedway for $45.00 per share

International Speedway (ISCA) has entered into an agreement and plan of merger with NASCAR pursuant to which NASCAR will acquire ISC.

The transaction is valued at approximately $2B. The consideration to be paid to ISC’s shareholders will be $45.00 in cash for each share of ISC Class A common stock and ISC Class B common stock.

The merger agreement was unanimously recommended and approved by a special committee comprised solely of independent directors of the board of ISC and was unanimously approved by the full board.

*NASCAR to acquire International Speedway for $2B, Stockwinners*

In addition, the participating shareholders have signed a letter agreement to cause their respective shares of ISC Class A common stock and ISC Class B common stock to be transferred to NASCAR prior to the effective time of the merger.

Under the terms of the merger agreement, ISC shareholders will be entitled to receive $45.00 in cash, without interest, for each share of ISC Class A common stock and ISC Class B common stock held immediately prior to the effective time of the merger.

The transaction, which is expected to close in calendar year 2019, is conditioned on the approval of a majority of the aggregate voting power represented by the shares of ISC Class A common stock and ISC Class B common stock not owned by the controlling shareholders of ISC, voting together as a single class.

The transaction is also conditioned on other customary closing conditions.

In connection with the transaction negotiations, counsel for the plaintiff in The Firemen’s Retirement System of St. Louis v. James C. France, the previously-disclosed class action lawsuit on behalf of ISC shareholders challenging the transaction, met with representatives of the special committee and has determined to not challenge the fairness of the transaction price.

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May 21, 2019

Circor receives $1.7B takeover offer

Crane proposes to acquire Circor for $45.00 per share in cash

Crane proposes to acquire Circor for $45.00 per share in cash, Stockwinners

Crane Co. (CR) announced that it has submitted a proposal to the Board of Directors of CIRCOR International (CIR) to acquire CIRCOR for $45 per share in cash.

CIRCOR International, Inc. designs, manufactures, and markets engineered products and sub-systems worldwide. It operates through three segments: Energy, Aerospace and Defense, and Industrial.

The proposal represents a 47% premium over yesterday’s closing price and a 37% and 51% premium over a three- and six-month volume weighted average share price, respectively.

This reflects an enterprise value of approximately $1.7B at a multiple of approximately 13.5x the last 12-month adjusted EBITDA. Crane Co. proposed the all-cash transaction to CIRCOR’s President and CEO Scott Buckhout on April 30, the terms of which were confirmed by a letter to the CIRCOR Board of Directors.

On May 13, the CIRCOR Board summarily rejected Crane Co.’s proposal with no offer of discussions or due diligence.

“While we had hoped to complete a transaction privately, the Board’s rejection of our proposal without comment or discussion led to our decision to make our proposal known to CIRCOR shareholders so they can express their views directly to the CIRCOR Board,” said Max Mitchell, Crane Co. President and CEO.

“Our proposal provides CIRCOR shareholders with attractive value and certainty compared to the continued uncertainty surrounding CIRCOR’s plans to improve operating performance.

Based on CIRCOR’s history of underperformance and inability to meet its own financial targets, we believe CIRCOR’s standalone plan is unlikely to generate value comparable to what we are proposing.”

Mitchell continued, “We believe that this business, which has great brands and products, has been meaningfully undermanaged for years.

This has resulted in a persistent decline in CIRCOR’s share price, making it the worst performer of the peers in the S&P Midcap Capital Goods Index since the end of 2013.

Based upon the strength of our disciplined operating approach, Crane Co. is well positioned to integrate CIRCOR’s businesses into our focused portfolio, realize operational synergies, and deliver long-term value to Crane shareholders.

Combining CIRCOR’s Fluid Handling, Aerospace and Defense assets with Crane’s portfolio of leading brands would create a stronger competitor with additional scale and growth potential.”

CIR +13.49 to $44.15.

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May 17, 2019

HP Enterprise to acquire Cray for $35 per share

HP Enterprise to acquire Cray in deal valued at $1.3B

HP Enterprise to buy Cray Research, Stockwinners

Hewlett Packard Enterprise (HPE) and Cray (CRAY) announced that the companies have entered into a definitive agreement under which HPE will acquire Cray for $35.00 per share in cash, in a transaction valued at approximately $1.3B, net of cash.

Cray Inc. designs, develops, manufactures, markets, and services computing products for high-performance computing, data analytics, and AI markets. It operates through Supercomputing, Storage and Data Management, Maintenance and Support, and Engineering Services and Other segments.

Cray sold to HPE for $1.3 billion, Stockwinners

“Bringing together HPE and Cray enables an enhanced financial profile for the combined company that includes several revenue growth opportunities and cost synergies.

The companies expect the combination to drive significant revenue growth opportunities by:

Capitalizing on the growing HPC segment of the market and Exascale opportunities; Enhancing HPE’s customer base with a complementary footprint in federal business and academia and the company’s ability to accelerate commercial supercomputing adoption; Introducing new offerings in AI / ML and HPC-as-a-service with HPE GreenLake; We also expect to deliver significant cost synergies through efficiencies and by leveraging proprietary Cray technology, like the Slingshot interconnect, to lower costs and improve product performance.”

As a result of the enhanced financial profiles of the combined companies, the deal is expected to be accretive to HPE non-GAAP operating profit and earnings in the first full year following the close.

As part of the transaction, HPE expects to incur one-time integration costs that will be absorbed within HPE’s FY20 free cash flow outlook of $1.9B-$2.1B that remains unchanged.

The transaction is expected to close by the first quarter of HPE’s fiscal year 2020, subject to regulatory approvals and other customary closing conditions.

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May 16, 2019

Incyte to present at ASCO meeting in Chicago

Incyte announces abstracts featuring genomic profiling data for ASCO

Incyte to present at upcoming ASCO meeting in Chicago, Stockwinners

Incyte Corp. (INCY) announces that multiple abstracts highlighting data from its oncology portfolio will be presented at the upcoming 2019 American Society of Clinical Oncology Annual Meeting, to be held from May 31-June 4, in Chicago, Illinois; and the 24th Congress of the European Hematology Association, to be held June 13-16, in Amsterdam, the Netherlands.

Abstracts accepted for presentation at ASCO feature genomic profiling data from Incyte’s ongoing Phase 2 FIGHT-202 trial evaluating its selective fibroblast growth factor receptor inhibitor, pemigatinib, in patients with cholangiocarcinoma, as well as efficacy and safety data from the Novartis-sponsored GEOMETRY mono-1 trial of capmatinib, the investigational selective MET inhibitor licensed to Novartis (NVS) by Incyte.

Additionally, data to be presented at EHA will showcase the continued study of Incyte’s JAK1/JAK2 inhibitor, #ruxolitinib, in myeloproliferative neoplasms.

“Our presence at ASCO and EHA illustrates Incyte’s ongoing commitment to discovering and developing therapeutic options that address significant unmet medical needs for patients,” said Steven Stein, M.D., Chief Medical Officer, Incyte.

ASCO’s annual meeting is May 31-June 4 in Chicago, Stockwinners

“We are pleased to highlight new data on two investigational medicines – pemigatinib and capmatinib – that were discovered by Incyte scientists and for which we anticipate applications for initial U.S. regulatory approvals later this year, as well as data that furthers our understanding of the treatment of MPNs.”

Incyte Corporation focuses on the discovery, development, and commercialization of various therapeutics in the United States. The company offers JAKAFI, a drug for the treatment of myelofibrosis and polycythemia vera cancers; and Iclusig, a kinase inhibitor to treat chronic myeloid leukemia and philadelphia-chromosome positive acute lymphoblastic leukemia.

Its clinical stage products include ruxolitinib, a drug in Phase III clinical trial for steroid-refractory acute graft-versus-host-diseases (GVHD); and Phase II trial for the treatment of essential thrombocythemia and refractory myelofibrosis.

In addition, the company engages in the development of itacitinib, which is in Phase III clinical trial to treat naïve acute and chronic GVHD, as well as Phase I/II clinical trial in combination with osimertinib for non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC); and pemigatinib that is in Phase II clinical trial for treating bladder cancer, cholangiocarcinoma, and 8p11 myeloproliferative syndrome, as well as a pivotal program for solid tumors with driver activations of FGF/FGFR.

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May 15, 2019

Artesyn Embedded Power sold for $400M

Advanced Energy to acquire Artesyn Embedded Power for $400M

Advanced Energy buys Artesyn Embedded for $400M, Stockwinners

Advanced Energy (AEIS) announced that it has entered into a definitive agreement to acquire the Embedded Power business of Artesyn Embedded Technologies from Platinum Equity.

The total consideration for this transaction will be approximately $400M.

Strategic benefits of the deal include:

“Creates a premier global power conversion company with enabling critical power technologies and over $1.3B in annual revenue, based on 2018 combined historical results.

Strong strategic fit with complementary technologies, product portfolios and core competencies in highly engineered, application-specific power solutions for key OEMs in demanding applications.

Accelerates earnings growth with over $20M of expected annualized synergies, driving projected earnings accretion of over 80c per share in 18-24 months and targeting to reach long-term accretion of over $1.50 per share, on a non-GAAP basis.

Creates significant financial value with a purchase price of approximately 5x synergy-adjusted EBITDA, with a path to future margin expansion, additional cost savings and de-levering to create long-term shareholder value.”

Under the terms of the Share Purchase Agreement, based on a total base purchase price of $400M, Advanced Energy will pay approximately $364M in cash and assume approximately $36M of liabilities for Artesyn EP, subject to final adjustments to the valuation of such liabilities and adjustments to reflect working capital as of the closing.

AE expects to finance the transaction through a combination of existing cash and $350N of debt supported by commitments from its lenders. The transaction has been approved by the board of Advanced Energy.

The transaction, which is expected to close during the second half of 2019, is subject to the satisfaction of customary closing conditions, including receipt of international regulatory approvals and completion of certain carve out activities involving Artesyn’s Embedded Computing and Consumer Products businesses.

AEIS +$4.38 to $52.84.

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May 8, 2019

Zayo Group sold for $35 per share

Zayo Group to be acquired by Digital Colony, EQT in deal valued at $14.3B

Zayo Group Holdings (ZAYO) announced that it has signed a definitive merger agreement to be acquired by affiliates of Digital Colony Partners and the EQT Infrastructure IV fund.

Zayo sold for $14.3 billion, Stockwinners

The transaction would result in Zayo transitioning from a public company to a private company.

Zayo Group Holdings, Inc. provides bandwidth infrastructure solutions for the communications industry in the United States, Canada, and Europe.

Under the new ownership, the Zayo team would continue to execute the Company’s strategy and remain headquartered in Boulder, Colorado.

Under the terms of the agreement, which was unanimously approved by Zayo’s Board of Directors, shareholders will receive $35.00 in cash per share of Zayo’s common stock in a transaction valued at $14.3 billion, including the assumption of $5.9 billion of Zayo’s net debt obligations.

The offer price represents a 32% premium to the volume-weighted price average of the last six months of $26.44. Dan Caruso, Zayo’s Chairman and CEO, said, “Digital Colony and EQT share our vision that Zayo’s Fiber Fuels Global Innovation.

Both are experienced global investors in the communications infrastructure space, and they appreciate our extraordinary fiber infrastructure assets, our highly talented team and our strong customer base. I am confident this partnership with EQT and Digital Colony will empower Zayo to accelerate its growth and strengthen its industry leadership.”

“Following a comprehensive review of strategic alternatives, the Zayo Board of Directors concluded that the sale of Zayo to Digital Colony and EQT Infrastructure is in the best interest of Zayo and all its stakeholders,” said Yancey Spruill, Zayo’s Lead Independent Director. “

The transaction delivers immediate and substantial value to shareholders and will strengthen Zayo’s financial flexibility, enabling the company to increase investments and better position itself for long-term growth and profitability.”

The closing of the deal is subject to customary conditions, including regulatory clearance and Zayo shareholder approvals.

The transaction is expected to close in the first half of calendar 2020.

Goldman Sachs and J.P. Morgan are serving as financial advisors to Zayo Group in connection with the transaction and Skadden Arps is serving as legal counsel.

Morgan Stanley and Deutsche Bank are acting as financial advisors to Digital Colony and EQT Infrastructure, and Simpson Thacher is serving as legal advisor.

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May 6, 2019May 6, 2019

Chesapeake Lodging sold for $2.7 billion

Park Hotels & Resorts announces $2.7B acquisition of Chesapeake Lodging

Park Hotels buys Chesapeake Lodging, Stockwinners

Park Hotels & Resorts (PK) and Chesapeake Lodging Trust (CHSP) announced that they have entered into a definitive merger agreement under which Park will acquire all the outstanding shares of Chesapeake in a cash and stock transaction valued at approximately $2.7B.

Upon completion of the merger, the combined company will have an estimated enterprise value of $12B, firmly solidifying Park’s position as the second largest lodging REIT while also advancing the company’s strategic goals of portfolio enhancement and diversification.

The transaction has been approved by the board of directors and board of trustees of Park and Chesapeake, respectively.

Under the terms of the merger agreement, Chesapeake shareholders will receive $11.00 in cash and 0.628 of a share of Park common stock for each Chesapeake share.

The fixed exchange ratio represents an agreed upon price of $31.00 per share of Chesapeake shares of beneficial interest based on Park’s trailing 10-day volume weighted average price as of May 3.

Based on Park’s closing stock price on May 3, this represents $31.71 per share of aggregate value to Chesapeake shareholders and represents a premium of approximately 11% to Chesapeake’s trailing 10-day VWAP and approximately 8% to Chesapeake’s closing stock price on May 3.

Upon closing, Park stockholders and Chesapeake shareholders will own approximately 84% and 16% of the combined company, respectively.

The transaction is subject to customary closing conditions, including receipt of the approval of Chesapeake shareholders.

The companies currently expect the transaction to close in late third quarter or early fourth quarter.

Chesapeake Lodging Trust is a self-advised lodging real estate investment trust (REIT) focused on investments primarily in upper-upscale hotels in major business and convention markets and, on a selective basis, premium select-service hotels in urban settings or unique locations in the United States.

The Trust owns 20 hotels with an aggregate of 6,279 rooms in eight states and the District of Columbia.

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May 3, 2019May 3, 2019

Sinclair scores a homerun!

Sinclair Broadcast to acquire 21 Regional Sports Networks from Disney at valuation of $10.6B

Sinclair Broadcast buys Fox College Sports from Disney, Stockwinners

Sinclair Broadcast (SBGI) and The Walt Disney Company (DIS) announced that they have entered into a definitive agreement under which Sinclair will acquire the equity interests in 21 Regional Sports Networks and Fox College Sports, which were acquired by Disney in its acquisition of Twenty-First Century Fox.

Sinclair scores a home run by this purchase, Stockwinners

The transaction ascribes a total enterprise value to the RSNs equal to $10.6B, reflecting a purchase price of $9.6B, after adjusting for minority equity interests.

That’s far cheaper than the $15 billion to $25 billion range most analysts had predicted Disney could get.

Disney assets do not fetch the price that was expected for the assets, Stockwinners

Completion of the transaction is subject to customary closing conditions, including the approval of the U.S. Department of Justice.

The RSN portfolio, which excludes the YES Network, is the largest collection of RSNs in the marketplace today, with an extensive footprint that includes exclusive local rights to 42 professional teams consisting of 14 Major League Baseball teams, 16 National Basketball Association teams, and 12 National Hockey League teams.

In calendar year 2018, the RSN portfolio delivered a combined $3.8B in revenue across 74M subscribers.

The RSNs will be acquired via a newly formed indirect wholly-owned subsidiary of Sinclair, Diamond Sports Group.

Byron Allen has agreed to become an equity and content partner in a newly formed indirect wholly-owned subsidiary of Sinclair and an indirect parent of Diamond.

Allen, who bought The Weather Channel in 2018, is the Founder, Chairman, and CEO of Entertainment Studios, a global media, content and technology company.

Byron Allen who bought the Weather Channel in 2018 invests in the transaction, Stockwinners

Sinclair expects to capitalize Diamond with $1.4B in cash equity, comprised of a combination of approximately $0.7B of cash on hand and a contribution of $0.7B in the form of new fully committed debt at Sinclair Television Group.

In addition, the purchase price will be funded with $1B of fully committed privately-placed preferred equity of a newly-formed indirect wholly-owned subsidiary of Sinclair and direct parent of RSN Holding Company.

The remainder of the purchase price is being funded by $8.2B of fully committed secured and unsecured debt incurred by Diamond.

The transaction will be treated as an asset sale for tax purposes, with Sinclair receiving a full step-up in basis.

The transaction has been unanimously approved by the Board of Directors of both Sinclair and Disney.

In March, Sinclair, Blackstone and Amazon backed the New York Yankees’ $3 billion re-purchase of the 80% of YES Network the team had sold to Fox in 2014. YES Network was the 22nd channel in the former Fox portfolio, and was seen as the crown jewel.

And back in February, Sinclair partnered with the Chicago Cubs to create a new RSN in Chicago, to be called Marquee Sports Network, that will air all local Cubs games beginning in 2020.

Sinclair is the largest owner of local television stations (it owns 200) in the country. SBG also owns the Tennis Channel. (It is also a partner in the joint venture sports streaming platform Stadium.) By 2020, it will operate 22 regional sports networks, plus a minority ownership stake in YES.

SBGI closed at $44.95. DIS closed at $134.33.

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