Thursday newspaper share tips: 888 Holdings, Steinhoff, Poundland

888 Holdings is a classic case of 'prey turned predator', The Times´s Tempus said.

Owning its own technology - unlike most of its would be suitors - had allowed the company to maintain a steady rate of organic growth over the past five years - and turn the tables on its rivals.

Sales jumped 19% to reach $262m at the half-year stage and by 22% at constant currencies, which marked a slight acceleration on the 20% clip seen over the first three months of the year.

So while 888 was recently spurned at the altar by William Hill, just last year it was the latter which had tabled a bid for it.

Little surprise then that 888 still believes there is a sound industrial logic to a hypothetical combination involving the two of them, which also explains why it hasn´t yet closed the door to possible tie-ups, according to Tempus.

"Buy. M&A opportunity and organic growth make telling combination," Tempus said.

Steinhoff´s recent grab for assets outside of South Africa have made investors worry the firm is simply trying to find avenues to diversify away from that country in a reckless fashion, the Financial Times´s Lex column said.

Lex said those concerns may be overstated; nonetheless, those shareholders with a longer investment horizon might be wise to remember that simplicity has its virtues.

So while its targets: Darty, Home Retail, Poundland or Mattress Firm might be undervalued and the firm´s financing costs are low, Steinhoff is not a private equity fund.

Indeed, few retailers have been a success in every market they have entered, Lex mused.

"Investors may yet clamour for a smaller and simpler Steinhoff", Lex concluded.