We’ve heard some speculation this afternoon that Bausch and Lomb (BOL) may be the target of a take-over. We haven’t heard any names (though considering its size, it could be anyone) and have no idea if the rumors are true but they are up 9%. So maybe there’ll be a buy or maybe it’s just the weather (and the drinks). Anyone have any guesses?
rumors
Rumors that we’d seen an announcement today that the Jefferies Group would be acquired by Mass Mutual seem to have gone nowhere. The stock has been more or less flat all day, dipping slightly below where it closed. The chatter about the acquisition has ceased.
We’d say that this is a definite sign that nothing is happening, and that this was all just rumor. But we have a feeling that the reason we aren’t hearing from our Jefferies rumor-mongers is that they all sneaked out of work early to enjoy the first beautiful day in New York City in living memory.
There is no peace in the Valleywag after the site reported a rumor that Weblogs founder Jason Calacanis, now with Sequoia Capital, is trying to nab nappy headed hoedown patron Don Imus to start a web media network.
Calcanis’ reply:
100% false.
I’ve never listened to Imus, never spoken to Imus, and have no interest in being in business with the man.
Really dude… come on.
In other news, Dead Horse Media is in acquisition talks with IACI, Elizabeth Spiers writes Socialite Rank and Citi is buying Deutsche Bank.
Blog mogul wooing Don Imus? – [Valleywag]
The banking world is rife with takeover and acquisition talk Yesterday a new rumor added to the cacophony of chatter about JP Morgan Chase getting into the acquisition game , private equity eyeing financial services firms, and the ongoing bidding war for ABN Amro. The newest rumor is that the Jeffries Group may be acquired, possibly by MassMutual.
Reuter’s quotes an options guy on the rumors.
“There is a rumor that MassMutual will make a bid for Jefferies Group between now and Friday,” said William Lefkowitz, an options strategist at brokerage firm vFinance Investments in New York.
In recent months, the options market and rumor mill has been a surprisingly accurate predictor of buyouts. In fact, the accuracy of the options markets at predicting takeover announcements has prompted some to worry that insider-trading has become widespread. At the Dow Jones’ Wall Street Journal’s Deal Journal (which, we guess, might be called DJ WSJ WJ but we’ll stick with Deal Journal), the boys have begun to wonder if it might be smart to assume that all takeover rumors are true.
We spoke briefly to someone insider Jeffries who told us that the rumor was on everyone’s lips at the mid-sized bank.
“Everyone’s joking about how we might be working for an insurance company by the end of the week,” he told us.
Mass Mutual is shorthand for Massachusetts Mutual Life Insurance Company.
Jefferies shares, options up on takeover talk [Reuters]
The raciest rumor swirling around Wall Street today has a certain former big shot banker’s wife filing for divorce. The banker—who we’re not naming at this time because we haven’t been able to confirm the story—was allegedly let go from a top spot with his former employer after news of his close relationship with another well-known Wall Street personality made headlines.
Warning: we heard this story indirectly. From someone who said they heard it from someone who said it came from someone very close to the allegedly divorcing couple. So we’re not vouching for the story. Yet.
None of the parties rumored to be involved could be reached for comment. New York State automatically seals divorce filings so it is not possible to confirm the story through the courts.
It’s widely known that Jamie Dimon’s been jonesing for a big acquisition for some time and, according to our semi-credible sources’ quasi-credible sources, Bear Stearns might just be the fix. While there’s been some whispering on the Street that Dimon could be eyeing Washington Mutual Inc., we’re told that Bear’s issued a firm-wide hiring freeze as a result of Dimon’s imminent shopping spree and Bear’s overtures. Know something we don’t? You can find us in our usual haunts. On a related note, Carney and I watched Heathers three times this weekend. (His idea).
Viacom executives are in London negotiating the purchase of LastFM, the London based “online social music network” (read: internet radio station), according to a music business source familiar with the negotiations. The purchase price is said to be $450 million dollars.
Viacom has been reportedly looking to expand its online presence. Reports have claimed that Viacom executives were disappointed that they did not pickup YouTube. LastFM recently signed a deal with Warner Music Group giving the internet radio station the rights to play WMG’s entire music catalog. Shortly before YouTube signed its deal to be acquired by Google, the video sharing network signed several rights deals with video content owners. There has been some speculation that LastFM’s recent dealmaking might have cleared the way for an acquisition by a larger media or internet company.
Neither Viacom nor LastFM returned calls this morning seeking comment on the rumor.
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NH BLG_DEALBREAKER <GO>
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