FeedPosted Apr 5th 2011 9:00AM by Connie Madon (RSS feed)
Filed under: Deals, Competitive Strategy, Texas Instruments (TXN), Technology

In a move to bolster market share, Texas Instruments (
TXN) is purchasing National Semiconductor (
NSM) for $7.4 billion, according to the
Associated Press.
Texas Instruments is a market leader in digital signal processors (DSP)s. DSPs are found in wireless phones, DVD players, automotive systems and computer modems. They also make logic chips, microprocessors, microcontrollers, display components and calculators.
National Semiconductor offers a variety of integrated circuits (IC)s, especially analog and mixed signal chips. The analog chips transform physical information -- light, sound, pressure and radio waves into data that a computer can use. National's chips are in a host of wireless communications, networking, medical, solar, automotive and industrial applications.
Continue reading Texas Instruments Acquires National Semiconductor
Posted Apr 4th 2011 2:20PM by Connie Madon (RSS feed)
Filed under: Deals, Marketing and Advertising

The players in Facebook are elusive. Since it is a private company, it is not required to disclose its partners. Once and a while we learn about an individual or company that has a piece of the company.
Not only is it difficult to find out who owns a stake in Facebook, it is equally difficult to ascertain the value of the company. The numbers keep going up and up. For example, Microsoft (
MSFT) invested $240 million when the company was valued at $15 billion.
Interpublic
(INPGP), the advertising conglomerate, bought 1/2% of Facebook for $5 million, in 2006. As the value of the company went up, so did Interpublic's investment. When the Facebook investment appreciated, Interpublic was forced to disclose the information to the SEC, as reported in the
Financial Times.
Continue reading Interpublic Discloses Its Stake in Facebook
Posted Mar 24th 2011 9:10AM by Trefis (RSS feed)
Filed under: Deals, Bank of America (BAC), Charles Schwab Corp (SCHW), Options, E*TRADE (ETFC)
Charles Schwab (SCHW) has announced its decision to acquire optionsXpress (OXPS) in a friendly all-stock deal. This deal will help Schwab compete with other firms like E-Trade (ETFC), Ameritrade (AMTD), and Bank of America (BAC), which all have large online brokerage services and are vying to provide investors with the best tools and services.
The deal, which is expected to close by the third quarter of 2011, will cost Schwab $1 billion, and the company will issue 60 million new shares to swap each outstanding share of optionsXpress with 1.02 of its own shares. Our $19.74 price estimate for Charles Schwab is at a premium of almost 12% to its current market value.
Continue reading Chuck Adds optionsXpress to Schwab's Portfolio
Posted Mar 22nd 2011 1:30PM by Tom Taulli (RSS feed)
Filed under: Deals, Technology
Founded in 1999, Shutterfly (SFLY) is a dot-com survivor. In fact, the value of this photo site is now about $1.2 billion.
So why not pull off a big deal? Well, this week, Shutterfly agreed to pay $333 million for Tiny Prints. The transaction is a blend of stock and cash.
Founded in 2004, Tiny Prints operates two main websites: Tiny Prints and Wedding Paper Divas. They essentially provide personalized stationary, photo books and invitations. Moreover, the company has been effective in integrating with Facebook.
Continue reading Shutterfly's $333 Million Deal for Tiny Prints
Posted Mar 22nd 2011 11:30AM by Connie Madon (RSS feed)
Filed under: Deals, Industry, India, China, Anadarko Petroleum (APC), Oil
An invasion of U.S. oil fields by Asian buyers is happening. Recently, companies from Korea, China and India have bought land in the oil-rich states of Texas, Colorado and Wyoming, according to Reuters.
In one of the biggest land deals, Korea National Oil (KNOC) bought one-third of Anadarko Petroleum's (APC) land holdings in South Texas for $1.55 billion. The purchase of 80,000 acres is located in the Eagle Ford Shale section, which is believed to have rich deposits of oil, natural gas and liquids, according to Reuters. KNOC also will receive 16,000 acres in the Pearsall Shale in South Texas.
Continue reading Korea, China and India Invade U.S. Oil Fields
Posted Mar 21st 2011 4:40PM by Tom Taulli (RSS feed)
Filed under: Deals
While he could have retired many years ago, Berkshire Hathaway's (BRK.B) Warren Buffett continues to act like he's in his prime. Hey, perhaps at 80 years old, he is in his prime.
This week, Buffett is visiting South Korea. Of course, he likes the growth prospects of the country and has the cash to pull off some deals there.
Interestingly enough, Buffett was planning on visiting Japan but he had to cancel the trip. Yet he did mention that the country is a great place to invest.
Continue reading Buffett Goes M&A Crazy
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