Coverage of Exel Started
Lehman Brothers initiated coverage of British logistics group Exel Plc with a "market perform" recommendation and a target price of 1,090 pence. "While Exel remains one of our preferred stocks in the sector, our sum-of-the-parts analysis highlights only eight percent upside from current levels," Lehman said in a research note. – (Reuters)
HSBC Recommends Exel
HSBC upgraded its recommendation on British logistics group Exel Plc to "add" from "hold" with a target price of 1,028 pence. "With uncertainty over the global GDP growth outlook, our add recommendation comes with a cautious view that sentiment in the stock is expected to remain weak," HSBC said in a research note.
Excel Upgraded
Dresdner Kleinwort Wasserstein said on Tuesday it had upgraded its recommendation for British distribution and logistics firm Exel Plc to "buy" from "add", noting a global economic slowdown would accelerate outsourcing. A Dresdner note said despite the slowdown in the world economy its forecasts showed double digit earnings growth and rising cash generation over the next three years. - (Reuters)
Ocean, NFC Merge
Ocean Group Plc has agreed to merge with rival NFC Plc to form a $4.4 billion logistics group with the world's second highest revenues. To be known as Exel Plc, it will have pro forma revenues of more than $5.6 billion. It will also have the scale and global reach to harness runaway growth in freight handling driven by e-commerce. Ocean will offer .28 new shares for each NFC share and "new Exel" - NFC is changing its name to Exel this month - will be around 50 percent-owned by each company's shareholders. The merger pairs Ocean's leading position in air freight forwarding through MSAS Global Logistics with NFC's strength in supply chain services.
