Mitel rises on failed deal

Article Excerpt

MITEL NETWORKS $9.03 (Toronto symbol MNW; TSINetwork Rating: Extra Risk) (613- 592-2122; www.mitel.ca; Shares outstanding: 121.3 million; Market cap: $1.1 billion; No dividends paid) makes technology that integrates landlines and mobile phones. The company also offers call-centre and videoconferencing products. Mitel’s shares are up almost 16% since it announced that it will no longer buy Polycom (symbol PLCM on Nasdaq)—another industry company. Activist investor Elliott Management has held stakes in the two firms since 2015: 6.6% of Polycom and 9.6% of Mitel. It pushed the two to merge. In June, Mitel offered $1.76 billion U.S. for Polycom, which agreed to the deal. However, Polycom has now accepted a $2.0 billion offer from private equity firm Siris Capital. Mitel declined to raise its bid, and Polycom must pay it a $60 million termination fee. To put that in perspective, Mitel earned $7.3 million in the 2016 first quarter. The acquisition was a good fit for Mitel, but purchases that large add…