"TAP não sobrevive se se mantiver pública", garante Pinto Luz

[Ulisses Pereira]

"Maybe H-P Knows What It's Doing"

By Jim Cramer
RealMoney Columnist
4/29/2010 9:27 AM EDT

"Do we suddenly not trust Hewlett-Packard (HPQ - commentary - Trade Now)? Do we suddenly think that Hewlett-Packard has lost its mind, spending a billion dollars on a failed phone?

Or is this not a brilliant acquisition, in that it does something that I think H-P will be reluctant to talk about -- cutting its costs of its tablet and its notebooks by paying less to Microsoft (MSFT - commentary - Trade Now) per operating system?

Nobody disputes that Palm (PALM - commentary - Trade Now) has a unique and good operating system. It was a "could have been something" smartphone if it had enough apps.

I think H-P must realize that it can get a superior operating system for a one-time hit that frees it from Microsoft's operating system, one that may not be as good as Palm's, with more hope for apps like Apple (AAPL - commentary - Trade Now) has for the iPad.

That's what this deal is about.

Everything else is just dross.

Random musings: Be sure to check out the pieces on HPQ/PALM we had on the site yesterday evening by Dan Fitzpatrick and Sham Gad. Good stuff.

At the time of publication, Cramer was long Apple. "

(in www.realmoney.com)

[atomez]

A aquisição foi barata -- cerca de um ano de vendas actuais da Palm -- e é possível que os accionistas tentem sacar mais algum da HP, mas na situação em que a Palm está e não havendo outros interessados na compra não devem conseguir mais nada.

Já há empresas de advogados a investigar o caso:

Finkelstein Thompson LLP Announces Investigation of Palm, Inc.

WASHINGTON--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Finkelstein Thompson LLP is investigating potential claims on behalf of shareholders of Palm, Inc. (“Palm” or the “Company”) (Nasdaq: PALM) arising from the Company's announcement of its intent to be acquired by Hewlett-Packard Company (“HP”). Under the terms of the agreement, Palm shareholders will receive $5.70 in cash for each share of Palm common stock owned, valuing the total transaction at approximately $1.2 billion.

The investigation is focused on the potential unfairness of the consideration to Palm’s shareholders and the process by which Palm’s Board of Directors considered and approved the transaction. In particular, Palm was trading at $17.46 as recently as September 2009, and at least one analyst has set a target price for the stock at $14.00 per share.

If you are interested in discussing your rights as a Palm shareholder, or have information relating to this investigation, please contact Finkelstein Thompson's Washington, DC offices at (877) 337-1050 or by email at contact@finkelsteinthompson.com.

Finkelstein Thompson LLP has spent over three decades delivering outstanding representation to institutional and individual clients in financial litigation, and has been appointed as lead or co-lead counsel in dozens of shareholder class actions. Indeed, the firm has served in leadership roles in cases that have recovered over $1 billion for investors and consumers.

To learn more about Finkelstein Thompson LLP, please visit our web site at www.finkelsteinthompson.com. Attorney advertising. Prior results do not guarantee similar outcomes.

[Ruivão]

Boa noite AC,

Palm shares /quotes/comstock/15*!palm/quotes/nls/palm (PALM 5.86, +1.23, +26.57%) shares jumped 27% to $5.88 after resuming trade after a brief halt. H-P said it will pay $5.70 in cash for each common share of the struggling handset maker, putting the value of the deal at $1.2 billion.

O que poderemos esperar neste cenário? O valor das acções poderá ir muito acima dos 5,70usd ou nem por isso? Eu estou na acção a 5,54... (fiquei com elas depois da valente queda...) e portanto gostava de ter uma opinião se as devo vender logo ao inicio da sessão (mantendo-se este pré)ou esperar um pouco...

Obrigado, Abraço.

[AC Investor Blog]

SAN FRANCISCO (Reuters) - Hewlett-Packard Co (NYSE:HPQ - News) said it has struck a $1.2 billion deal for Palm Inc (NasdaqGS:PALM - News), offering a 23 percent premium to expand into the smartphone market.

The news comes after much speculation on Wall Street about who would buy Palm, which once dominated the market but which has been overshadowed by Apple Inc's (NasdaqGS:AAPL - News) iPhone, Research in Motion's (Toronto:RIM.TO - News) BlackBerry and phones that use Google Inc's (NasdaqGS:GOOG - News) Android software.

In a sign of Palm's struggles, the company on Wednesday slashed expectations for the current quarter, saying slow sales of its products have resulted in low order volumes from phone carriers.

"If you saw the guidance Palm just put out, it was clear they had to sell," said Phil Cusick, analyst at Macquarie Research. "Given how quickly Palm's business was falling off and how fast their cash was going out the door, they're lucky to get what they got.

Shares of Palm, which is 30 percent owned by private equity firm Elevation Partners, jumped 28 percent to $5.92, above HP's offer in a sign that some investors could be betting on a higher bid.

Under the deal approved by the two companies' boards of directors, HP will pay $5.70 cash per share of Palm, a 23 percent premium to its closing price on Wednesday of $4.63.

Some investment banking sources had thought that Lenovo (HKSE:0992.HK - News) was the leading candidate to buy Palm after the U.S. company was rebuffed by other potential Asian buyers including HTC Corp (Taiwan:2498.TW - News) and Huawei (HWT.UL).

Palm now expects fiscal fourth quarter revenue in the range of $90 million to $100 million, compared with its mid-March forecast that revenue would be less than $150 million. It estimated it would end its fiscal fourth quarter with a cash balance of between $350 million and $400 million.

HP already has a smartphone, the iPaq, which runs on Microsoft's (NasdaqGS:MSFT - News) Windows mobile platform. But the device has gained little traction in a smartphone market crowded with competitors.

Lawrence Harris, analyst at C.L. King associates, said it would have been risky for HP to ignore the rapidly growing smartphone market.

"I would say HP looked around and said, we need to be in this space. Google is here, Apple is here. And there aren't many stand-alone smartphone companies," Harris said. "They would be one of the few companies that I think could successfully turn Palm around."

Palm's current chairman and CEO, Jon Rubinstein, is expected to remain with the company, HP said in a statement, adding that it expects the acquisition to close during its third fiscal quarter ending July 31.

Shares of HP fell to $52.35 in extended trading from their New York Stock Exchange close of $52.28.

[AC Investor Blog]

YESSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS !!

HP compra a PALM, este pessoal tá todo a dormir !!!

[vaskovic]

"so" vai a subir 19%, mas no inicio da sessao ainda deu oportunidade a quem quisesse entrar, aproveitar a subida. O gap-up ate foi bem modesto, para o balanco que apanhou a seguir

[AC Investor Blog]

Eu hoje não queria estar na pele dos curtos que têm PALM...


April 12 (Reuters) - Smartphone maker Palm Inc (PALM.O) is looking to sell itself and is seeking bids for the company as early as this week, Bloomberg said, citing three people familiar with the situation.

Palm, which makes the Pre and Pixi phones and develops WebOS phone software, is working with Goldman Sachs Group Inc (GS.N) and Qatalyst Partners to find a buyer, the agency said. Palm's shares jumped on Friday, capping a volatile week in which the smartphone maker's stock seesawed on takeover rumors and options market chatter. [ID:nN09112835]

On Friday, Taiwan's Economic Daily News said that HTC Corp (2498.TW), the world's No. 5 smartphone maker has, "opened discussions about an intent to acquire" Palm.

Palm could not be immediately reached for comment by Reuters outside regular U.S. business hours. (Reporting by Sakthi Prasad in Bangalore; Editing by Lincoln Feast)

http://www.reuters.com/article/idCNSGE6 ... 412?rpc=44

[Batmax]

Pelos vistos são outra vez uns chineses como na Qimonda

[AC Investor Blog]

Agora o fumo é mais branco do que á uns meses atrás e um disparo na cotação como aconteceu na mesma altura pode acontecer, já que os sinais são claros e evidentes que algo está para surgir. Agora é a HTC interessada na companhia, que detem muitas patentes.

Nas últimas 3 sessões a PALM transacionou mais de 100% do total das acções que estão cá fora no mercado, visto esse valor rondar os 167,593,192.

O ultimo relatório dá conta que o Short interest recuou 10%.....

Fica aqui a última noticia do interesse da HTC...


"【Economic Daily ╱'s Ya-Lan Chen / Taipei】 2010.04.09 06:26 am

Market rumors, HTC CEO Peter Chou may be too high-level surface with the Palm, Palm intends to get its patent acquisition, counterbalance Apple's infringement complaint.
(Department of newspaper databases)
North America Troop Palm intends to sell smart phones, the market yesterday (8) day came, HTC and Palm have been launched on the talks, the expression of M & A will. If successfully bought Palm, HTC will have its own operating system and applications store, patent advantage in the global smart phone is expected to surpass the United States Motorola, a third, while the three brands into the global goal.

In this regard, HTC, said yesterday that the company has never not comment on any market rumors. According to foreign reports, in the wake of China's Lenovo Group (Lenovo), etc. After the takeover rumors, Palm CEO Rubinstein (Jon Rubinstein) refused to comment, but said: "If there is a reasonable acquisition proposal, the Board will consider."

It is understood that HTC has started assessment of work, from the legal, financial, brand marketing and research and development at all levels to assess the feasibility of the acquisition strategy for Palm. HTC CEO Peter Chou travel abroad frequently over the past three weeks, has been described as "only five days a month in Taiwan", the rest are flying everywhere. Reportedly, Chou may CTIA communication development in the United States during the high-level meeting with the Palm.

Palm announced in the last 18 quarterly, the stock price way down and below 4 U.S. dollars, but on the 7th by market rumors after rumors that Lenovo intends to mergers and acquisitions to drive stock prices soared 20%, or 76 cents, to close at 4.62 U.S. dollars, the company increased to market value 779 million U.S. dollars (about 24.6 billion NT).

Palm inception in 1992, in the computer industry is considered personal handheld devices (PDA) of the most innovative companies, has accumulated more than 1,650 items related to patents, but with access to smart phone era, Palm Despite the web OS operating system and Palm Pre smart phone, but were praised, operating continuously into the red.

As the performance continued weak sales, low cash flow, had to borrow money at one time came to produce popular Palm Pre promising mobile phone market, analysts have in the past has named Nokia, Microsoft, Dell and Motorola, is a potential buyer, has the transfer out may be the Lenovo Group, as Lenovo CEO Yang recently said the company consider more acquisitions to build mobile network business.

Legal assessment, Palm now worth only 779 million U.S. dollars, less than one-tenth of the market value of HTC, HTC to the end of the account on the cash of approximately 67.1 billion yuan (20 billion U.S. dollars), with strength in order to acquire all shares in cash, however, Palm is still considered a loss, the cumulative loss over the last three quarters of 108 million to swap merger will save the follow-up operation than a silver bullet.

Legal persons that, Palm's mobile phone manufacturing orders outsourced to Taiwan, Foxconn, Compal and Inventec Appliances, etc., whether Palm will be sold to whom, is bound to bring new changes in the supply chain in Taiwan. HTC broken up in 7 points after the 400 yuan yesterday, fell back to close at 390.5 yuan, Compal has gained a row to close 37.05 yuan."

[atomez]

Como o pessoal gosta é de bonecos, aqui vai.

A PALM é uma empresa com muitos anos que inventou o 1º PDA com sucesso no mercado. Evoluiu depois para os smartphones e tem uma boa base instalada com clientes bastante fieis, mas de há 2 anos para cá deixou-se atrasar e começou a perder mercado para o Blackberry (RIMM) e iPhone (AAPL).

Pelo andar da carruagem parecia que a Palm estava no final do ano passado a caminho de se tornar uma penny stock e, eventualmente, desaparecer.

No início deste ano deu-se uma recuperação notável, como se pode ver por aquele grande up gap com um volume enorme -- 100% em 2 dias! Isso correspondeu ao investimento de $325 milhões por parte da Elevation Partners, conhecida por um dos partners ser o Bono dos U2.

Nessa altura também anunciaram um novo sistema operativo para smartphone chamado WebOS que será lançado lá para o meio do ano e gerou grande interesse porque poderá ser um sério concorrente do iPhone.

Neste mês teve uma subida espectacular (em face do que se passa no resto do mercado) chegando a atingir os 50% em 2 semanas. O que mais chama a atenção é que sobe mesmo em dias de queda dos mercados (como hoje).

Isso parece dever-se a rumores de que será alvo de uma OPA, o que faz todo o sentido pois está com um market cap baixo, tem uma nova tecnologia que interessa a outros que querem entrar na área dos smartphones e têm cash disponível e a base instalada de clientes não é desprezível.

Se quebrar a zona dos $9 então é totalmente claro que algo está para se passar.

[atomez]

E continua a subir, contra a tendência do mercado...

Stockpickr:Palm (PALM): Rumors flying around of a possible Dell (DELL) joint venture or even merger have propelled shares of Palm substantially higher. Any update regarding its new touch screen phone could send its shares past $10.

[atomez]

A PALM tem estado a subir apesar de ontem ter apresentado resultados ainda mais negativos que o esperado pelos analistas.

Correm rumores que estará para ser alvo um take over por parte da Motorola, Nokia ou outros.

Não quero ser acusado de andar a espalhar boatos, mas isto é credível e como se sabe "comprar no rumor ..."

Fortune:

RBC Capital's Mike Abramsky upgraded Palm's stock on Friday to "outperform" from "sector perform," and raised his target price to $12 from $5. "Rather than a one product Hail Mary, we see webOS as a platform, spawning a family of devices addressing a broader market opportunity," he wrote in a client note.

Abramsky also raised the specter of Palm being an acquisition target by the likes of Research in Motion, Microsoft, Dell, Hewlett-Packard and others with a takeout price of $15 to $16 per share. Analysts from Piper Jaffrey and Deutsche Securities have also upgraded Palm shares to a "buy" in recent weeks.