Elliott Associates said that it is prepared to acquire Packeteer for $5.50 a share in cash -- more than 40% above the company's recent share price. Elliott said that its offer is "compelling" and provides shareholders "immediate, quantifiable value," which it doesn't believe Packeteer could achieve in today's challenging economic environment. Packeteer makes wide-area application delivery systems for wireless-computer networks. Elliott holds 3,559,117 shares (9.8% of the total outstanding).

Barington Cos. Equity Partners and Clinton Multistrategy Master Fund sent a letter to Dillard's, requesting a listing of the retailer's stockholders, plus some related corporate records. In the letter, the Barington group indicated that it might solicit proxies to elect directors at the next annual meeting. The group currently owns about 3.7 million shares (5.2%).

Investor Strongbow Capital wants Duckwall-ALCO to change leadership, and criticized the Midwest retailer's 2008 earnings estimate. Strongbow said that Duckwall's 2008 earnings guidance shows "that the company's operating performance is deteriorating at an alarming rate." Strongbow suggested that its managing director, Raymond A.D. French, be put on Duckwall's board. Strongbow currently holds 543,517 shares (14.3%).

A group including Berggruen Holdings North America and Resurgence Health Group said that it wants SunLink to "promptly respond" to its offer to acquire the company for $7.50 a share in cash. The group said that it has repeatedly asked the company to meet with it to discuss the offer, while the company wants the group to sign standstill and confidentiality agreements. The investor group said that it won't sign a standstill agreement, and is willing to execute the confidentiality pact only for nonpublic information. The Berggruen group holds 704,139 shares (9.4%).

Money-manager Steven Cohen trimmed his position to 2.24 million shares (6%), from the 3.07 million (8.3%) he had reported owning in January.

Investor J. Carlo Cannell sent a letter to Synplicity requesting that the company hire an investment banker to solicit its sale. Cannell currently owns 1,700,967 shares (6.4%).

Hedge-fund Harbinger Capital Partners Master Fund I entered into a confidentiality and standstill agreement with Spectrum Brands to obtain confidential information so that it can evaluate a possible acquisition of certain assets of the company. Harbinger initially reported its investment in Spectrum in December 2006 as a passive 13G investor. It changed its status to activist by filing a Schedule 13D on March 3. Harbinger and its affiliates hold 5.2 million shares (9.8%).

Luther King Capital Management raised its holdings to 934,000 shares (9.9%), by buying 133,200 from Jan. 18 to March 3 at prices ranging from $9.09 to $10.37 apiece.