In Brief: Finova May Gain $90M on Web Stock Sale

Finova Group Inc. could post a gain of $90 million or more in the next month on its investment in WebMD Inc., an Internet site for doctors, supporters of the stock say.

A January merger with Sirrom Capital Corp. brought Finova 575,000 warrants in WebMD, which were valued at $5.575 million.

In May, Healtheon Corp. of Santa Clara said it would buy each WebMB share for 1.815 shares of Heatheon.

Finova's position in WebMB stock translates into just over one million shares of Healtheon stock-or about $90 million, at Tuesday's closing price. The Healtheon acquisition is expected to close within a month.

"While the street may not give Finova a lot of credit for the WebMD gain, the profits will strengthen its balance sheet and more than fully recapture all of the goodwill created in the Sirrom transaction," said E. Reilly Tierney of Fox-Pitt, Kelton.

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