# Monday, July 16, 2007
Ford Motors Company (NYSE:F) announced today that it is willing to consider offers for its Volvo car unit as it looks to raise more cash to fund its restructuring. The news comes shortly after the automaker completed the sale of its other luxury international brands that included Aston Martin, Jaguar and Land Rover. Shareholders are hoping that this additional cash will be enough to fund the automakers broad restructuring efforts aimed at returning it to profitability.

Management is banking on the proceeds from these sales to fund a broad restructuring effort aimed at reversing a $12 billion annual loss in 2006 by revitalizing its North American operations. The automaker already received a $26 billion financing package in 2006 which brought its total available liquidity up to $46 billion; however, many analysts have suggested that the company may need more to complete its restructuring efforts - hence the sale of its luxury brands.

Notably, the Volvo unit was pledged as part of the $26 billion financing package, so any offer would have to come at a substantial premium in order to justify surrendering such a large portion of its line of credit. This, however, did not stop the company from selling its previous luxury brands - so anything is a possibility.

In the end, Ford still faces many obstacles before it will be able to return to profitability. Clearly, any premium prices paid for its brands will help fund its restructuring and offers a great opportunity to consolidate its offerings. Combined, these factors make Ford a stock worth watching!

Related Companies
General Motors Corporation (GM)
Dollar Thrifty Automotive Group (DTG)

Monday, July 16, 2007 7:23:27 PM UTC  #     |  Trackback
Target Corporation (NYSE:TGT) appears to be a big hit with Bill Ackman after his Pershing Square Capital Management disclosed a 9.6 percent stake in the company, confirming rumors that surfaced late last week. Investors are hoping that the famed activist investor can help unlock value in the retail giant that has been experiencing a lower valuation than many feel deserved the company.

Bill Ackman noted in his filing with the SEC that he believes the leading domestic retailer has significant growth opportunities and strong operational management but remains significantly undervalued. While not going into any specific details, he noted that his fund intends to hold discussions with management aimed at correcting this undervaluation. Interestingly, he also noted that he would donate a third of his net aftertax profits from his Target investment to his charitable foundation - a bit of Karma for the activist!

So, what is Ackman planning for the company? Well, many analysts are speculating that the activist investor will try and push the company to sell its lucrative credit card portfolio, which has around $6.5 billion in receivables. While the company wasn't interested in selling the division earlier, many are speculating that it may be open to a sale once the credit cycle has peaked. Any move to sell this division would, however, provide a windfall of cash for shareholders that could be distributed through a special dividend or massive share buyback program.

In the end, the rumors that Ackman built up a stake in the retailer are true but we still have no idea what his plans are for the company. We just know that he believes the company's shares are undervalued and he intends to take some actions to unlock that value. This makes TGT a stock worth watching!

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Wal-Mart Stores (WMT)
Costco Inc. (COST)
Sears Holding Corp. (SHLD)

Monday, July 16, 2007 4:29:16 PM UTC  #     |  Trackback
Pomeroy IT Solutions (NDAQ:PMRY) is quickly turning into an interesting restructuring play for opportunistic investors. The national IT solutions provider has faced several issues over the last few years stemming from poor governance practices by key executives and management personnel. Many investors are hoping that several recent changes to the company's governance will help unlock value for shareholders and jump the company's share price.

Flagg Street Capital, who owns approximately 9.8 percent of the company's outstanding shares, took notice of these inefficiencies and has been pressuring the company towards several governance reforms. The activist hedge fund believes that such reforms could help the company increase its focus and cut down on its expenses. Earlier this year, Flagg Street Capital announced a proxy contest aimed at installing its own nominees to the company's board and enforcing change.

This move quickly caught the Pomeroy's attention. Earlier this month, the company fired its President and CEO Stephen Pomeroy after an independent committee found that certain, non-illegal conduct and actions were adversely affecting shareholder value. Even better, the company agreed on July 12th to give two Flagg Street Capital representatives seats on the company's board of directors. Combined, these events are great news for shareholders as they could lead to a much more efficient company. This makes PMRY a stock to watch!

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En Pointe Technologies (ENPT)
Bell Industries (BI)
Tech Data Corporation (TECD)
Monday, July 16, 2007 3:52:35 PM UTC  #     |  Trackback