Activist wants a different spinoff

Article Excerpt

Diversified manufacturer Honeywell recently announced that it will spin off its Advanced Materials business as a separate firm. That unit make a variety of products, ranging from body armour and pharmaceutical packaging to air-conditioning refrigerants and packaging films. Activist investor Elliott Investment Management, which owns $5 billion of Honeywell’s shares, instead wants the company to split another way, with one of the new businesses focused on automation, energy and sustainability solutions; the other would be focused on aerospace. The activist believes separation along these lines would produce share-price gains of 51% to 75% over the next two years. Honeywell has not yet responded to Elliott’s demand. Regardless of which path the company chooses, the likelihood of more spinoffs should help unlock its hidden value and so benefit investors. HONEYWELL INTERNATIONAL INC. $227 is a buy. The company (Nasdaq symbol HON; Manufacturing & Industry sector; Shares outstanding: 650.2 million; Market cap: $147.6 billion; Dividend yield: 2.0%; Takeover Target Rating: Medium; www.honeywell.com) is a diversified technology firm operating in…