Filed under: Management, Investments

Facebook Inc. founder and CEO Mark Zuckerberg, last seen making googly eyes at Hong Kong Richie Rich Li Ka-shing, would be well-advised to deal with the public relations mess over the social networking firm’s proposed marketing program. So says Robert Scoble, who takes the Web 2.0 “It boy” to task today for dropping out of sight as critics continue to kvetch about Facebook’s plan to use the network to send information about what members are buying to their contacts on the site.

“This story is NOT going away,” Scoble writes. “Even if this particular story goes away, there’s a bad taste in our mouths because Facebook tried to do something that clearly wasn’t for the users.”

Where’s your $15 billion valuation now, Bill Gates? You’d think Microsoft Corp.’s recent $240 million investment in Facebook might entail the right for the software company supremo to teach young Zuckerberg a thing or two about crisis PR. After all, Gates certainly has taken his lumps in the press over the years, while today he’s an early candidate for secular sainthood, thanks largely to his commendable charitable works.

Continue reading at TechConfidential.com.

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Filed under: Management, The Blackstone Group, Rumors, Engagements

Alliance Data Systems (NYSE: ADS), a provider of loyalty and marketing solutions derived from transaction-rich data, announced on 5/17 it would be acquired for $81.75 in cash ($7.8 billion) by Blackstone Capital Partners (NYSE: BX). ADS is recently down $2.80 to $75.48. ADS December option implied volatility of 48 is above its 26-week average of 18 according to Track Data, suggesting larger risk.

Sprint Nextel (NYSE: S) is recently up .39 to $15.23. The Wall Street Journal reported S rejected a $5 billion investment offer from a group led by ex-Sprint Chairman Donahue according to sources. S option volume of 10,285 contracts compares to put volume of 3,125 contracts. S December option implied volatility of 37 is above its 34 according to Track Data, suggesting larger risk.

Daily M&A Update is provided by Stock Specialist Paul Foster of theflyonthewall.com

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Filed under: Management, Activist investing

With the challenges facing independent video game publishers, virtually each smallish company toiling in the sector these days is the subject of takeover speculation. Struggling Take-Two Interactive Software Inc. [TTWO] has been no exception, and talk that the maker of the popular and violent “Grand Theft Auto” series might be absorbed by a more massive company only got louder after a group of activist investors ousted its management in March.

Forget it, states new chairman Strauss Zelnick, according to Reuters. He argues that the company structure has slimmed significantly since he took over and that Take-Two is now in “growth mode.” He made similar comments right after shareholders approved the activist slate, so the news really isn’t news. But what else could he state?

Continue reading at Tech Confidential.com.

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Filed under: Management, Value and lack thereof

One of the top IPOs for 2007 is comScore (NASDAQ: SCOR), which is up more than 71%. The firm provides sophisticated measurement tools for on the internet advertising, and has clients like Verizon (NYSE: VZ), Google (NASDAQ: GOOG), Yahoo! (NASDAQ: YHOO), and Microsoft (NASDAQ: MSFT).

However, this day comScore announced that it is canceling its follow-on equity offering. Why? According to the company’s press release, there is “unwillingness of management and other selling shareholders to sell under current capital market conditions.”

Actually, we’re seeing other signs of weakness for equity offerings. For example, CreditCards.com and Paradigm (which is a software company) have withdrawn their IPOs.

Most likely, these companies will go to private investors for funding. In fact, this might be an opportunity for private equity firms looking for deals.

Also, keep in mind that the IPO market has only a few weeks left — because of the Christmas holiday. In other words, don’t expect much action until next year.

Tom Taulli is the author of various books, including The Complete M&A Handbook and The Edgar Online Guide to Decoding Financial Statements

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Filed under: Management, Activist investing

Robert Falcone, CEO of Nautilus (NASDAQ: NLS) has sent a letter to the company’s shareholders. He urges them to support the current management team, oppose Sherborne’s efforts to give the board of directors the boot, an also outlines some of the steps the company is taking to turn the company around.

Mr. Falcone owns 25,000 shares of the company — an astoundingly pathetic .08% stake. Sherborne owns about 25% of the company.

In his letter to shareholders, Mr. Falcone writes the following, in capitals:

“SHOULD ONE SHAREHOLDER’S NOMINEES CONTROL NAUTILUS?”

Perhaps not… But isn’t that at least better than having Nautilus controlled by people with no stake in the company?

Sherborne Investors should show up at the annual meeting an recite this speech from Gordon Gekko: Substitute Nautilus for Teldar Paper, and it’s the exact same situation,

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Filed under: Deals, Management, Rumors, Engagements, Investments

Tesoro(NASDAQ:TSO) share price down into Tracinda $64 cash tender expiring Dec. 6. TSO is recently down 82c to $55.03. Tracinda announced on October 26 the intention to make cash tender for up to 21,875,000 shares of TSO for $64 per share. TSO, an independent refiner and marketer of petroleum products, has a market cap of $7.6 billion. Crude oil futures are up 0.21% to $98.39 according to Bloomberg. TSO is expected to host an analyst meeting on December 5. TSO over all option implied volatility of 44 is near its 26-week average of according to Track Data, suggesting non-directional price fluctuations.

Royal Philips Holdings (NYSE:PHG) say’s it has concurred to pay $2.7 billion for Genlyte (NASDAQ:GLYT).

Daily M&A Update is provided by Stock Specialist Paul Foster of theflyonthewall.com

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