These leaders just announced spinoffs

Article Excerpt

GENUINE PARTS CO. $92 (New York symbol GPC; Manufacturing & Industry sector; Shares outstanding: 146.7 million; Market cap: $13.5 billion; Dividend yield: 3.1%; Takeover Target Rating: Medium; www.genpt.com) sells replacement auto parts through 1,100 outlets under the NAPA banner. In addition, the company’s distribution business serves 4,900 independent stores in North America, Australia and New Zealand. Genuine also distributes industrial parts, office products and electrical equipment. The company will now spin off its S.P. Richards unit. As a separate company, it will then merge with Essendant Inc. (Nasdaq symbol ESND). The combined firm should have annual sales of $7.3 billion and be a leading distributor of janitorial and office products, and furniture. Genuine shareholders will hold 51% of the combined company, with Essendant investors owning the remaining 49%. Investors are only liable for capital gains taxes when they sell their new shares. Genuine expects to complete the transaction by the end of 2018. At that point, the new firm will pay it $347 million. By…