B Riley & Co Analyst Scott Tilghman: 'Combination Of Office Depot, Staples In Some Form Or Fashion Has Been Speculated About For Years'

Speaking to Benzinga, B Riley & Co Analyst Scott Tilghman said that a merger of Office Depot Inc ODP and Staples, Inc. SPLS has been “in some form or fashion” speculated about for a number of years.

“The first step in that process was really, in many ways, instigated by Starboard as an investor in Office Depot with the OfficeMax merger being announced in February of 2013 and closing, following regulatory approval, in November of 2013,” he said.