Here’s our Pick of the Month

Article Excerpt

MITEL NETWORKS $10.50 (Toronto symbol MNW; TSINetwork Rating: Extra Risk) (613-592-2122; www.mitel.ca; Shares outstanding: 121.6 million; Market cap: $1.3 billion; No dividends paid) makes technology that integrates landlines and mobile phones. The company also offers callcentre and videoconferencing products. In the quarter ended June 30, 2017, Mitel’s sales fell 8.3%, to $238.6 million from $260.3 million a year earlier (all figures except share price and market cap in U.S. dollars). Earnings per share fell 27.8%, to $0.13 from $0.18. However, the declines were due to the timing of new contracts. Mitel jumped in late July 2017 after ShoreTel Inc. (symbol SHOR on Nasdaq) accepted the company’s purchase offer of $530 million U.S., or $7.50 a share, in cash. Back in 2014, Mitel bid $540 million U.S. in cash, or $8.10 a share, for ShoreTel. However, the firm rejected that offer, and Mitel refused to raise it. The two operations complement each other: Ottawa-based Mitel provides business phone systems and communications-focused software, while ShoreTel,…