Wednesday, December 05, 2007
United Rentals Inc. (NYSE:URI) shareholders may be in for a ride after SuttonBrook Capital Management disclosed a 5.83 percent stake in the company and announced that they may hold discussions with management, other shareholders or possible acquirers regarding a potential sale of the company. Many shareholders are still looking for an exit after the company's failed merger attempt with RAM Holdings (NDAQ:RAMR).

RAM Holdings and RAM Acquisition, subsidiaries of private equity giant Cerberus Capital Management, backed out of their planned $4 billion acquisition of United Rentals in November. United Rentals subsequently filed a lawsuit to force Cerberus to follow through with the buyout, since the firm gave no justifiable cause for terminating the deal. Cerberus contends, however, that they are only required to pay the $100 million breakup fee without reason.

SuttonBrook announced today that it would be in talks with interested parties regarding a possible merger, reorganization or liquidation of the company, sale of assets, material changes to the company's business structure, or changes in the board of directors, among other considerations. Many shareholders are hoping that other interested parties would be willing to make a bid or the company at or above the price that Cerberus was prepared to pay.

In the end, it is uncertain as to whether or not anything will become of this, but there are certainly many wildcards in play. Combined, these factors make URI a stock that is definitely worth watching over the next few months!

Related Companies
Aaron Rents, Inc. (RNT)
Rent-A-Center Inc. (RCII)
H&E Equipment Services, Inc. (HEES)
12/5/2007 2:56:35 PM UTC  #    Comments [0]  |  Trackback