Dividend.com: Ikon Wooed by Ricoh

Ikon Office Solutions Gets Takeover Offer from Ricoh

Ikon Office Solutions(IKN) is the object of copier giant Ricoh's eye. Ricoh Co. announced it will be paying $17.25 cash for each Ikon share, a premium of 11% to Tuesday's close of $15.56.

This acquisition continues a trend we have been seeing, in which office equipment makers have been acquiring distributors to strengthen their sales channels and product offerings. Ikon has 400 sales and services mainly in Europe and the U.S. Ricoh had recently acquired the European operations of copier service and supply company Danka Business Systems.

This is a solid offer in place, but we have added the shares of Ikon Office Solutions to our recommended list, as the possibility of another bidder jumping into the fray is a possibility. The company has a dividend yield of 1.03%, based on Tuesday's closing stock price of $15.56.

Ikon Office Solutions is a recommended dividend stock, holding a Dividend.com Rating of 3.5 out of 5 stars.

Talbots Reports Progress in Cutting Expenses

Talbots(TLB) is starting to achieve the cost-cutting results that the company has been seeking.

The company said it reduced total company inventory by 22% by the end of the second quarter, as well as closed 30 stores covering its children's and men's lines. There will another 35 stores closed by mid-September.

Same-store sales dropped 12%, with an 11.7% decline for Talbots' brand stores and a 13.2% drop for the company's J. Jill division.

Talbots has been a volatile name of late. The company does have a 5.2% dividend yield, based on Tuesday's closing stock price of $10. We think the turnaround story here has potential and will be putting the stock on our upgrade watch list. In the meantime, we will monitor the stock's progress.

Talbots isn't a recommended dividend stock at this time, holding a Dividend.com rating of 3.4 out of 5 stars.