Billionaire Dan Loeb Adds Facebook, Monsanto to Third Point’s Portfolio in Q2

#4. Sherwin-Williams Co (NYSE:SHW)

– Shares Owned by Third Point LLC (as of June 30): 700,000
– Value of Third Point LLC’s Holding (as of June 30): $205.57 Million

The New York-based asset manager also added a 700,000-share position in Sherwin-Williams Co (NYSE:SHW) to its pool of holdings during the three months that ended June 30, which was valued at $205.57 million. The position made up around 2.0% of the firm’s overall portfolio. In March, the Cleveland-based paint and coatings manufacturer inked an agreement to purchase fellow paint maker Valspar Corp (NYSE:VAL) for $113 per share in cash, with the overall purchase price reaching about $9.3 billion. Although the two companies anticipate antitrust regulators to approve the merger without requiring the sale of any businesses or require minimal divestitures, the purchase price could fall to a much lower figure of $105 per share should regulators force the two companies to divest assets representing more than $650 million in annual net sales. The multi-billion-dollar merger will yield $280 million annual cost synergies within two years, with the long-term cost synergy target being $320 million. The shares of Sherwin-Williams are 14% in the green year-to-date. Marshall Wace LLP, founded by Paul Marshall and Ian Wace, reported ownership of 534,523 shares of Sherwin-Williams Co (NYSE:SHW) through the latest round of 13Fs.

#3. Monsanto Company (NYSE:MON)

– Shares Owned by Third Point LLC (as of June 30): 2.00 Million
– Value of Third Point LLC’s Holding (as of June 30): $206.82 Million

The multi-billion-dollar asset manager run by Dan Loeb snatched up a 2.00 million-share stake in Monsanto Company (NYSE:MON) during the April-to-June period, worth $206.82 million on June 30. German chemical company Beyer AG could be considering making a higher offer for the U.S. provider of agricultural products for farmers, after Monsanto has rejected several offers already. In July, the U.S. seed company turned down a sweetened $125-per-share offer, saying it was “financially inadequate.” Bayer also offered a $1.5 billion reverse break-up fee. Fresh media reports say Bayer AG signed confidentiality agreements to conduct due diligence on the maker of Roundup weed killer and other farm products, a process that could last several weeks. A possible combination between the two companies would create the largest producer of seeds and pesticides in the world. Monsanto shares have gained 6% since the start of the year. Jim Simons’ Renaissance Technologies LLC has 526,600 shares of Monsanto Company (NYSE:MON) in its portfolio as of June 30.