UPDATE: KeyBanc Capital Markets Downgrades Teavana Holdings to Hold Following Deal

KeyBanc Capital Markets reduced its rating on Teavana Holdings (NYSE: TEA) from Buy to Hold and suspended its previous $24 price target following the company's acquisition from Starbucks (NASDAQ: SBUX).

KeyBanc Capital Markets said, "The proposed $15.50/share (53% premium vs. the closing price on November 13, 2012) acquisition of Teavana Holdings, Inc. (TEA-NYSE) by Starbucks Corp. (SBUX-NASDAQ) validates our thesis that the Company had attractive unit economics, a leading position in secularly attractive tea space, and a unique store environment. We downgrade Teavana to HOLD, accordingly. The purchase price represents an approximate 19.9x P/E on our 2013 EPS estimate compared to 20.8x P/E for the active and healthy lifestyle peer group. CEO Andrew Mack had approximately 56% ownership. This, coupled with the ownership of Apax Partners (about 16%), makes closure of the transaction a virtual certainty."

Teavana Holdings closed at $15.45 on Wednesday.

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