| Tech Stock News and Analysis |
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| Monday, July 03, 2006 |
Shares of Millicom International Cellular (MICC) were among technology's losers Monday, plunging 27% after the telecom company said it ended all discussions to be acquired.
In January, shares soared after the company said that it was conducting a strategic review after it had received a "high number" of unsolicited approaches. In March, Millicom said it had received several nonbinding acquisition offers. "Since May 2006, the company has been in prolonged discussions and due diligence with one potential purchaser but has now concluded that this purchaser will not be in a position within an acceptable timeframe to make a binding offer that is suitably attractive, given the current strong performance of the business, or sufficiently certain of closing," Millicom said Monday morning. According to the Wall Street Journal, China Mobile (CHL) was set to announce a $5.3 billion acquisition of Millicom. Millicom said it "remains confident" in its future as an independent company. Shares were trading down $12.28 to $33.15.
Merge Technologies (MRGE) plummeted 40% after the company said it would restate its financial reports for 2002 through 2005 after an investigation turned up improper accounting. The company also announced the resignations of its chief executive, chief financial officer, and its senior vice president of strategic business development. "As previously reported, since January 10, 2006, the company has received a number of anonymous letters primarily alleging improprieties relating to the company's financial reporting, fulfillment of customer contracts and disclosure practices," Merge said in a press release. "More specifically, the letters contained allegations of improper revenue recognition practices."
As for the management changes, CEO William Mortimore will be replaced by Brian Pedlar and Robert White, both of whom will serve as co-presidents and co-CEOs on an interim basis. Steve Oreskovich, meanwhile, will serve as interim principal financial officer, replacing CFO Scott Veech. Michael Dunham, chairman, will now serve as Merge's principal executive officer on an interim basis. Shares were down $4.91 to $7.40.
Shares of Qiao Xing Universal Telephone (XING) vaulted 16% after the telecom-products company laid out financial guidance for the rest of 2006. The company sees 2006 sales of $463 million, representing annual growth of 30%. For 2006 to 2010, the company said that it expects income growth will rise by an average yearly rate of 35%. On Friday, shares tumbled after the company posted lower first-quarter earnings, as results were weighed down by options costs. Shares were recently up $1.58 to $11.33.
Redback Networks (RBAK) slid 4% after the networking-equipment maker said it received a subpoena from the U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of California requesting documents related to the company's stock option practices. Redback also said it received an informal request from the Securities and Exchange Commission related to the options issue. In response, the company said it has launched its own review into its historical option grant practices. Shares were trading down 82 cents to $17.52.
Other technology movers included Lucent Technologies (LU) , up 2 cents to $2.44; Intel (INTC) , up 29 cents to $19.29; Microsoft (MSFT) , up 30 cents to $23.60; Cisco Systems (CSCO) , up 54 cents to $20.07; Sirius Satellite Radio (SIRI) , down 15 cents to $4.60; Oracle (ORCL) , up 21 cents to $14.70; JDSU (JDSU) , down 4 cents to $2.49; Level 3 Communications (LVLT) , down 18 cents to $4.26; Ciena (CIEN) , down 22 cents to $4.59; and Sun Microsystems (SUNW) , unchanged at $4.15. |
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