Energizer Holdings, Walgreen, Wal-Mart Stores, UBS AG and Pfizer

CHICAGO--([ BUSINESS WIRE ])--Zacks.com Analyst Blog features: Energizer Holdings Inc. (NYSE: [ ENR ]), Walgreen Co. (NYSE: [ WAG ]), Wal-Mart Stores Inc. (NYSE: [ WMT ]), UBS AG (NYSE: [ UBS ]) and Pfizer Inc. (NYSE: [ PFE ]).

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Here are highlights from Wednesdaya�s Analyst Blog:

Energizera�s Hostile Bid

According to a Bloomberg report, Energizer Holdings Inc. (NYSE: [ ENR ]), a leading manufacturer and marketer of batteries, lighting and personal care products, plans to acquire American Safety Razor Co. for $301 million in cash in a competitive bidding process.

Based in New Jersey, privately held American Safety Razor Co., a primary competitor of Energizer, had gone bankrupt and filed for Chapter 11 (bankruptcy) in July as a result of increased competition in its shaving products category.

American Safety Razor sells shaving razors to drug stores such as Walgreen Co. (NYSE: [ WAG ]) under the store's own brand. The company was hard hit by the loss of an important customer Wal-Mart Stores Inc. (NYSE: [ WMT ]) in 2009. The company pointed out that under its current restructuring efforts, it has accepted to sell its assets to its first-lien lenders, led by UBS AG (NYSE: [ UBS ]), for an undisclosed amount to call off the $244 million debt owned by the company.

Energizera�s offer price was made during a testimony in the U.S. Bankruptcy Court in Wilmington, Delaware . Energizer will be present at the court hearing but management remained unavailable for any immediate comment.

American Safety Razor pointed out that Energizer had breached its previously signed non-disclosure agreement between the two parties. According to American Safety, Energizera�s bid was too low and the acquisition could attract antitrust issues. American Safety is seeking permission by the court to reject Energizera�s bid in favor of a lower, debt- for-equity offer from lenders, as per the Bloomberg report.

Acquisitions are an integral part of Energizera�s growth strategy. Energizer Holdings has generated top-line growth through strategic expansions (organic growth in the razor blade and battery businesses and a number of acquisitions in personal care).

We remain upbeat about Energizera�s personal care division, which grew entirely from acquisitions. The March 2003 acquisition of Schick-Wilkinson Sword (SWS) business from Pfizer Inc. (NYSE: [ PFE ]), the second largest global manufacturer of wet shave products for men and women, was a major growth driver for the company. The acquisition helped the company increase wet shave sales to $1.12 billion in 2009 from just $625 million in 2002, a CAGR of 8.7%.

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Energizer Holdings, Walgreen, Wal-Mart Stores, UBS AG and Pfizer