After Hours

16:44 PVH sees Q4 $0.51-0.53 vs $0.55 First Call consensus; sees revs ~$600 mln vs $594.31 mln First Call consensus
16:43 RICK Rick’s Cabaret to focus acquisition efforts on east coast – WSJ (18.60 +0.96) -Update-

WSJ reports the co intends to focus most of its acquisition activity on large, East Coast clubs after purchasing the massive Tootsies Cabaret in Miami Gardens, Fla., for $25 mln. “We’re cherry-picking right now,” Rick’s president and CEO, Eric Langan, told WSJ. “We’re not going to go out and buy just anything and everything that’s for sale. There’s a lot of stuff out there for sale right now, but we want to buy the best. This is a step in that direction.” Langan didn’t rule out purchases in markets such as Las Vegas or California, but he described them as less likely.
16:43 PVH prelim $1.05 vs $1.03 First Call consensus; revs $696.4 mln vs $703.84 mln First Call consensus
16:42 PVH board approves $200 mln share repurchase
16:41 PH Parker-Hannifin acquires Texas Thermowell Business of Bravura (78.78 -0.65)

The co announces that it has acquired the Texas Thermowell Industries business of Bravura, a leader in temperature sensing protection equipment. Parker purchased the Texas Thermowell business for an undisclosed amount. The anticipated annual revenue of the business for the fiscal year ending December 31, 2007 will be approximately $5 mln. The acquisition is expected to be accretive in its first full year of integration within Parker’s Instrumentation Group and will be reported in Parker’s Industrial North America Segment.
16:40 PH Parker Hannifin Acquires Texas Thermowell Business of Bravura, Ltd Broadening Range of Instrumentation Growth Opportunities

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16:40 NOA North American Energy Partners appoints a Chief Financial Officer and a Vice President of Finance (12.88 -0.02)

Co announced the appointments of Peter Dodd as Chief Financial Officer and David Blackley as Vice President, Finance, reporting to Peter. Peter and David will join NAEP’s senior executive team and will add to the Co’s capabilities in the areas of finance, accounting and internal controls. Dodd has over 25 years experience in strategic business planning, corporate finance and investment banking and in addition to the VP Finance, the Treasury, Investor Relations, Internal Audit and Co Secretarial/Legal functions will report to him.
16:39 AAPL Apple: China Mobile’s negotiations end over iPhone, according to rumor – ChinaTechNews.com (178.86 -3.36) -Update-

ChinaTechNews.com reports Southern Daily has cited an unnamed source who says that China Mobile’s (CHL) negotiation with Apple on introducing iPhone to China has failed.
16:38 LOV Spark Networks: Moab Capital discloses 5% stake in SC 13D; recommends initiatives (4.10 -0.04)

In filing the firm notes they “have purchased the Shares in open market transactions because in their opinion, the Shares are significantly undervalued as of November 29, 2007 based on the strong franchise and operating metrics of the Issuer’s key asset JDATE.com and the free cash flow per Share that the Issuer generates as a consolidated entity and the potential upside to the free cash flow per Share if the Issuer were to pursue any or all of the three following recommended initiatives. 1. Expense reductions, 2. Continued share repurchases and 3. Potential for an Advertising revenue stream.”
16:37 SMTC Semtech announces completion of accelerated stock buyback and resumption of existing stock repurchase program (15.13 -0.13)

The co announces that it completed on December 3, 2007 an accelerated stock repurchase program previously announced on May 30, 2007. The repurchase was funded with the co’s existing cash, and the co intends to hold the repurchased shares as treasury stock. With the completion of the accelerated stock repurchase program, the co also announced today that it intends to resume purchasing shares of its common stock under its existing stock repurchase program, under which approximately $50.3 mln of remaining authority exists.
16:34 BRC Brady announces departure of CFO David Mathieson (38.43 -1.60)

Brady President and CEO Frank Jaehnert will assume the additional duties of CFO until a successor is named.
16:32 RRR RSC Holdings appoints David Mathieson as the new CFO and Senior Vice President (12.20 -0.08)
16:31 TRMP Trump Entertainment discloses resignation of CFO (4.92 -0.25)

In an 8-K, the co announces that Dale Black, Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of the co had resigned from his position with the co to accept a similar position with another gaming and entertainment co. Mr. Black’s resignation will become effective on or about December 14, 2007. The co will identify potential succession candidates for the position of Chief Financial Officer.
16:31 RCII Rent-A-Center announces store consolidation plan; cash outlay to be approx $26-$30.5 mln (14.08 -0.08)

Co announces plans to close approx 280 stores across the U.S. The co expects to incur pre-tax restructuring charges related to the store consolidation plan and other restructuring items in the range of $36 mln to $43 mln, substantially all of which will be recorded in Q4 of their fiscal year ending Dec 31, 2007. The co expects the cash outlay associated with this restructuring will be in the range of $26 mln to $30.5 mln over the next 12 to 18 months. The 280 stores identified generated revenues of approx $140 mln year-to-date through Oct 31, 2007. These stores will transfer their customer rental purchase agreements to existing Rent-A-Center stores and the co expects to retain the majority of these rental purchase agreements. At the conclusion of the restructuring, the co expects a pre-tax monthly operating income benefit in the range of $2 mln to $2.5 mln.
16:30 ASI American Safety Insurance board of directors authorizes stock repurchase program of up to 5k shares (19.07 +0.69)
16:30 UTR Unitrin Director bought 20K shares at $46.07-46.14 on 11/30-12/03 (45.77 -.49)
16:29 AVA Avista will be reconfirming earnings guidance for 2007 and 2008 in analyst meeting tomorrow – in 8-k (21.45 +0.11)
16:23 TAM TAM and Lufthansa sign contract to begin shared flights between Brazil and Germany (28.12 -0.20)

The co announces — TAM and Lufthansa signed a contract on Saturday, December 1, to start an operational code-sharing agreement on national and international routes. TAM and Lufthansa’s flight partnership is expected to begin during the first half of 2008. Starting in February, clients of both companies will be able to accumulate and exchange points earned on TAM’s Programa Fidelidade loyalty program and miles with Lufthansa’s Miles & More program on flights operated by either co.
16:23 PVH Phillips-Van Heusen reports Q3 EPS of $1.05, revs of $696.4 mln – DJ (43.29 +0.87)

Consensus is for $1.03 & $703.84 mln.
16:18 MER Merrill Lynch names Nelson Chai as Chief Financial Officer (59.06 -0.88)

Co announces that Nelson Chai has been appointed executive vice president and chief financial officer of the company, effective December 10, 2007. Mr. Chai has been executive vice president and chief financial officer of NYSE Euronext (NYX) and its predecessor company NYSE Group, Inc., since January 2006 and was chief financial officer of Archipelago Holdings from 2000 to 2005.
16:17 COMV Comverge files S-1/A covering 4 mln share common stock offering (32.01 +0.53)

“We are selling 800,000 shares of our common stock and the selling stockholders named in this prospectus are selling 3,200,000 shares. We will not receive any proceeds from the sale of the shares by the selling stockholders. We and the selling stockholders have granted the underwriters an option to purchase up to 600,000 additional shares of common stock to cover over-allotments.”
16:16 KBR KBR Awarded Engineering contract by Petrobras America (39.67 -0.15) -Update-

Co announced that its wholly-owned subsidiary, Granherne, has been awarded a three-year engineering services contract by Petrobras America, a subsidiary of Petrobras (PBR/PBRA).
16:15 CNI Canadian Natl Rail announces plan to buy back, through private agreements, up to five mln common shares under current 33-mln share repurchase program (48.20 -0.84) -Update-

Co announced that it intends to purchase for cancellation up to five million of its common shares outstanding, or ~1% of its common share outstanding at Nov. 30, 2007, pursuant to private agreements between CNI and an arm’s-length third-party seller.
16:15 RUS Russ Berrie & Co names Bruce Crain Chief Executive Officer and President (15.93 -0.67)

Co announces the appointment of Bruce Crain as Chief Executive Officer, President and a member of the board of directors, effective today. Mr. Crain is replacing Andrew R. Gatto, who has retired. Mr. Gatto will remain as a consultant with Russ Berrie for a transition period.
16:12 IVZ InVesco announces co moves primary listing to NYSE from LSE (27.23 +0.98) -Update-
16:12 XJT ExpressJet: Corriente Advisors discloses 6.2% stake in SC 13G (2.53 +0.03)
16:11 MIND Mitcham Ind beats by $0.05; raises FY08 revs guidance in-line with consensus (19.78 +1.58)

Reports Q3 (Oct) earnings of $0.24 per share, $0.05 better than the First Call consensus of $0.19; revenues rose 35.4% year/year to $17.2 mln vs the $13.9 mln consensus. Co raises FY08 revs in-line with consensus; co raises revs to $65-70 mln vs $67.3 mln First Call estimate, up from $60-65 mln.
16:09 SD SandRidge Energy reports Q3 EPS of $0.11, revs of $153.6 mln (31.20 -0.55)

Reports Q3 (Sept) earnings of $0.11 per share a 137% increase YoY. Total revenue increased 71% to $153.6 mln for the three months ended September 30, 2007 from $89.7 mln in the same period in 2006. This increase was due to a $94.9 mln increase in natural gas and oil sales and was partially offset by lower revs in their drilling and oil field services, midstream gas services, and other segments.
16:06 CPWM Cost Plus beats by $0.14, beats on revs; guides Q4 EPS below consensus, revs below consensus (3.16 +0.01)

Reports Q3 (Oct) loss of $0.63 per share, $0.14 better than the First Call consensus of ($0.77); revenues rose 2.4% year/year to $220.6 mln vs the $216.8 mln consensus. Co issues downside guidance for Q4, sees EPS of $0.37-0.50 vs. $0.51 consensus; sees Q4 revs of $377-389 mln vs. $390.28 mln consensus.
16:06 HOLX The co announces public offering of $1.3 bln of convertible senior notes (64.80 -1.59)

The co announces its intention to offer to sell, subject to market and other conditions, $1.3 bln aggregate principal amount of convertible senior notes due 2037 pursuant to an effective shelf registration statement filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The Company expects to grant to the underwriters an option to purchase up to an additional $195 million aggregate principal amount of notes to cover overallotments.
16:05 CPWM sees Q4 $0.37-0.50 vs $0.51 First Call consensus; sees revs $377-389 mln vs $390.28 mln First Call consensus
16:05 CPWM prelim ($0.63) vs ($0.77) First Call consensus; revs $220.6 mln vs $216.82 mln First Call consensus
16:03 SFLY Shutterfly announces that CFO is retiring from the company (28.55 +0.06)

Co announces that its CFO, Stephen Recht is retiring from the co. Recht is succeeded by Mark Rubash, an ecommerce finance executive with experience with Internet industry leaders including eBay (EBAY) and Yahoo! (YHOO).
16:03 TMO Thermo Fisher selected by China Doping Control Center to supply testing instrumentation for the 2008 Olympic games in Beijing (57.30 -0.34)

Co announces that the China Doping Control Center has selected the co as one of its major suppliers of instrumentation and software for the testing of athletes at the 29th Olympic Games in Beijing.
16:02 VICR Vicor announces changes in its finance department; CFO to VP of Tresury Services (14.13 -0.31)

Co announced that Mark Glazer, Chief Financial Officer, Treasurer and Secretary has transitioned to the position of Vice President of Treasury Services. In his new role, Mr. Glazer will focus on the development of the co’s business units to facilitate achievement of the financial goals and objectives of each unit. The co will begin a search for a new Chief Financial Officer and structure its finance organization to best service the needs of each unit.
16:01 MBLX Metabolix announces national release of gift card by Target (20.71 -0.81)

Co announces that TGT has introduced in all 1,600 stores gift cards made using Mirel biobased plastic in time for the holiday shopping season.
16:01 MSTR MicroStrategy announces license replacement program for customers of Cognos and Business Objects (100.73 -0.12)

Co announces the availability of a license replacement program for customers and OEM partners of Cognos (COGN) and Business Objects (BOBJ). As a result of the recently announced acquisitions of COGN by IBM and BOBJ by SAP, customers of these two B.I. vendors may have concerns about ongoing product support, product direction, and migration efforts. The MicroStrategy License Replacement program enables customers of COGN and BOBJ to trade in their existing B.I. licenses for MSTR licenses at little or no replacement cost.
16:01 AAPL Apple close to movie distribution deal with Fox, according to report – AppleInsider (178.86 -3.36) -Update-

AppleInsider reports Pali Research analyst Richard Greenfield in a blog posting on Monday said the two cos are “actively negotiating” terms of the deal, which could be announced sometime in early 2008. Apple and Fox are reportedly prolonging the engagement as not to tamper with this year’s critical holiday DVD shopping season. The proposed deal, which would end a considerable standoff between Apple and nearly all Hollywood studios over the digital sale of movies, has reportedly been helped by the iTunes operator’s sudden willingness to increase the wholesale price of new flicks beyond $15.
16:01 BMRN Biomarin Pharm and IGAN Biosciences to collaborate on development of an enzyme therapy to Treat IgA Nephropathy (27.35 -0.15) -Update-

Co and IGAN Biosciences announce that they have initiated a program to develop an IgA protease for treating IgA nephropathy.
16:00 CYTK Cytokinetics announces an abstract summarizing interim clinical trial data evaluating SB-743921 is scheduled to be presented as a poster presentation to be held December 8-11, 2007 (5.17 +0.31) -Update-

Co announces that an abstract summarizing interim clinical trial data evaluating SB-743921 is scheduled to be presented as a poster presentation at the 2007 Annual Meeting of the American Society of Hematology to be held Dec 8-11, 2007 at the Georgia World Congress Center in Atlanta, Georgia… The following abstract is scheduled to be presented at ASH as follows: Abstract #2556: A Phase I-II Study to Determine the Safety, Pharmacokinetics and Potential Efficacy of the Kinesin Spindle Protein Inhibitor SB-743921 on Days 1 and 15 of a 28 Day Schedule in Patients with Non-Hodgkin’s or Hodgkin’s Lymphoma.