Boston, MA 06/30/2014 (wallstreetpr) – Manitowoc Company, Inc. (NYSE:MTW), which manufactures foodservice equipment and cranes, came into the limelight after its activist investor, Relational Investors LLC, zeroed in to offshoot the foodservice business. Relational Investors LLC is also looking forward towards expansion of profit margin of the company, as per the latest reports of Bloomberg.
The 13D Filing of Relational Investors LLC
The 13D Filing of Relational Investors LLC was acknowledged by the Manitowoc Company, which also stated that the stake of activist investor was increased to 8.5% of company’s total common stock. The Chairman and CEO of Manitowoc Company, Inc. (NYSE:MTW), Glen E. Tellock, in a statement on June 27, 2014 said that this was the strategic goal of the management to enhance the value of shareholder. Tellock added that the company will look into the matter raised by Relational Investors and will consider as well as review the suggestions.
Background
In February 2013, the Relational Investors LLC had disclosed about the small stake in the company and reports also indicate towards a communication that took place between the two in January 2014. Relational Investors LLC was co-founded by David Batchelder and Ralph Whitworth.
The Proposed Plan for Manitowoc
Relational Investors proposed a plan for Manitowoc Company, Inc. (NYSE:MTW) to offshoot the foodservice equipment business. The activist investor proposed that the company create two separate entities, one of which should deal with the industrial business and other one should be involved in foodservice equipment.
The Financial Report card of Manitowoc
The revenues of Manitowoc Company, Inc. (NYSE:MTW) increased over 3.4% in 2014 in contrast with the $4.05 billion in the previous financial year. The gross margin of the company expanded 1.1% points on the year-over-year to 25.2% in FY 2013. The adjusted earnings of the company increased 85.9% year-over-year and reached $1.45 per share in the previous fiscal. As far as the revenues are concerned, from the foodservice equipment business, it increased to $1.54 billion in previous fiscal on the 3.7% year-over-year basis.
