Both stand against takeover attempts

Article Excerpt

Activist investors look for companies with under-appreciated assets that they feel would benefit from better management teams. That includes Macy’s, which is now the target of a takeover offer, and Parkland, which could attract a bid. However, both could drop suddenly if they successfully fend off any takeover attempts. MACY’S INC. $21 is a hold. The retailer (New York symbol M, Consumer sector; Shares outstanding: 274.1 million; Market cap: $5.8 billion; Dividend yield: 3.3%; Takeover Target Rating: Medium; www.macys.com) operates 514 department stores under the Macy’s and Bloomingdale’s banners. It also has 159 Bluemercury specialty stores and sells goods online. Investment firms Arkhouse Management and Brigade Capital Management have offered to buy the Macy’s shares they don’t already own for $24 each. That’s up 14.3% from their earlier bid of $21. Macy’s has yet to respond to the higher offer. However, it plans to increase shareholder value with a new restructuring plan that includes closing 150 of its under-performing Macy’s stores. It expects severance and other payments…