JAKKS Pacific, Walt Disney, Apple, Google and Fiserv highlighted in Zacks Analyst Blog

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Jan 17, 2013, 09:30 ET

CHICAGO, Jan. 17, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- Zacks.com announces the list of stocks featured in the Analyst Blog. Every day the Zacks Equity Research analysts discuss the latest news and events impacting stocks and the financial markets. Stocks recently featured in the blog include JAKKS Pacific Inc. (JAKK), Walt Disney Co., (DIS), Apple Inc. (AAPL), Google Inc. (GOOG) and Fiserv (FISV).

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Here are highlights from Thursday's Analyst Blog:

JAKKS Brings Interactive Disney Toys

JAKKS Pacific Inc. (JAKK) is on the verge of introducing an innovative DreamPlay series of toys under the Disney brand. In this regard, JAKKS Pacific and NantWorks LLC's joint venture, DreamPlay Toys LLC has entered into an agreement with The Walt Disney Co. (DIS). The agreement is subject to certain terms and conditions.

DreamPlay's products will be based on NantWorks' advanced iD image recognition technology. The user will be able to link his Disney toys with various animated video contents and virtual games through smartphones or tablets.

Consumers can access these new gaming products through an application, which will be available for download on both Apple Inc.'s (AAPL) iOS and Google Inc. (GOOG)-developed Android devices. These DreamPlay products are expected to be available in the U.S. from fall 2013. The products are likely to debut globally in 2014.

According to the partnership, JAKKS will allow Disney to deploy its DreamPlay techniques. In addition, Disney will also have the access to the company's various toy-related consumer products.

As per JAKKS Pacific, this collaboration will introduce a new era to the gaming arena through integrating physical toys with the digital world.

Based in Malibu, California, JAKKS Pacific is a multi-brand company that has been designing and marketing a broad range of toys and consumer products since 1995. It has emerged not only as one of the top five U.S. players in toys and leisure products, but also as a more diversified consumer products company.

We currently have a long-term Neutral recommendation for the stock. JAKKS Pacific currently retains a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold).

Fiserv Buys Open Solutions

Financial services technology solutions provider Fiserv Inc. (FISV) recently announced that it has acquired Connecticut-based Open Solutions Inc for approximately $850.0 million. Fiserv paid $55.0 million toward equity, assumed debt of $960.0 million and received a tax benefit of $165.0 million.

According to Fiserv, the valuation consideration is less than five times its earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization (EBITDA) that includes run-rate synergies and present value of tax assets. Revenue and EBITDA run rate of Open Solutions at the time of the acquisition was approximately $320.0 million and $100.0 million, respectively.

Open Solutions Inc is a leading technology provider to banks, thrifts and credit unions with a strong clientele of 3,300, which includes more than 800 account processing clients. Its flagship product DNA is a real-time core banking platform. Open Solutions offers DNACreator, a tool that banks and credit unions use to create their own apps for the DNA platform.

Open Solutions' DNAppstore stores apps developed by using DNACreator. The company also offers other key solutions that include CUnify and TotalPlus account processing platforms. Open Solutions Weiland Account Analysis technology is used for commercial account analysis. The company also offers consultancy services through Raddon Financial Group.

The acquisition is expected to expand Fiserv's financial services product portfolio and customer base going forward. Most of the Open Solutions contracts are long term in nature, which is significant, as it will add a recurring revenue source to Fiserv's top-line, going forward.

Fiserv expects to earn revenue synergies of at least $75.0 million and cost synergies of $50.0 million over the next several years. The acquisition is expected to be significantly accretive to earnings per share (EPS) going forward.

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