Losing this discount benefits you

Article Excerpt

Spinoffs are often seen as an effective way for a holding company to eliminate its “holding company discount.” That discount is usually evident in the stock price of a company that holds a variety of assets, or that invests in a number of businesses. As well, investors tend to prefer so-called “pure play” companies—firms that focus on a single business area. So, if a holding company owns two or more distinct pure plays, it could see their combined value jump 15% to 35% if it were to separately list them. The holding company discount is a well-known phenomenon in finance. It represents a special kind of hidden asset and holds out the possibility of strong future gains for investors. investors. …