Cablevision (NYSE: CVC) is considering buying Long Island newspaper Newsday. Jared Kushner, a rich young publisher who owns the small weekly The New York Observer may also be involved. As far any anyone knows, the Observer has never made any money.
According to Reuters, the bid would be above the $580 million already offered by New York Daily News owner Mort Zuckerman and Rupert Murdoch's News Corp (NYSE: NWS), which owns the New York Post.
Cablevision's board has already hurt its shareholders. The company's controlling shareholders, the Dolans, made a cash offer of $36.26 for the company in mid-2007. That was just before cable companies began to report weaker earnings due to increasing competition from phone operators like Verizon (NYSE:VZ). CVC now sells for $23,
There are no savings for Cablevision if it buys a newspaper. If it makes an offer in partnership with the Observer, the NY-based paper is so tiny that any cost cutting would be meaningless.
The reasons behind the Post and Daily News offers have some sense to them. By combining with another large daily paper which has overlapping geographic distribution, the chances of taking out tens of millions of dollars in costs per annum are excellent.
Putting a cable company with a daily newspaper does not make Cablevision shareholders a dime. With the newspaper industry faltering, it may actually cost them a great deal of money.
Merck & Co (NYSE: MRK) announced this morning that it has agreed to pay $4.85B to settle a majority of the 27,000 claims related to Vioxx, its painkiller drug, reported the Wall Street Journal (subscription required).
In a tough sales environment, Chrysler will next month offer a new series of incentives and rebates, reported the Wall Street Journal. The campaign could put pressure on General Motors (NYSE: GM) and Ford Motor Company (NYSE: F) to follow suit.
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The Detroit Free Press reported that Ford CEO Alan Mulally said that the company would lay off more workers. "We will continue to reduce our employment consistent with our restructuring," Mulally said during the company's Q3 conference call yesterday.
New Blockbuster (NYSE: BBI) CEO Jim Keyes is aiming to transition the company to a retail store from a rental service, reported the New York Post
The New York Sun reported that the default rate among condominium owners in some of New York City's wealthiest areas is rising by as much as 25% this year, according to lawyers for condominium boards.
Reacting to $90-plus a barrel oil prices, airlines, many of whom are beginning to see profits again, are passing along increases to passengers. Led by AMR Corporation's (NYSE: AMR) American Airlines, the largest carrier, increases per ticket are being increased about $20, according to the Wall Street Journal (subscription required).
The UAW may not face stiff opposition among its rank and file member for a new four year labor contact with Ford Motor Company (NYSE: F), as local leaders in Detroit approved a tentative four year deal, reported the Wall Street Journal.
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The New York Post reported that two fired Dow Chemical Company (NYSE: DOW) executives shopped the company to investors, according to industry consultants' affidavits filed by the company to support its claims that the execs breached their corporate duties.
The Telegraph reported that CIBC World Markets' financial services analyst Meredith Whitney has called for Chuck Prince's successors to break up Citigroup (NYSE: C).
Several private equity firms are competing to buy the 32% stake in Sony Corporation's (NYSE: SNE) Sony Entertainment Television currently held by Indian investors, reported the Economic Times.
The office of the Massachusetts secretary of state is investigating whether Bear Stearns (NYSE: BSC) improperly traded mortgage-backed securities for its own account with two hedge funds that failed this past summer, without notifying in advance the funds independent directors, reported the Wall Street Journal.
The Schork Report's Stephen Schork sees an oil correction coming and predicted oil in the $65-$68 range, according to the Wall Street Journal's "Heard on the Street" column.
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Insurer Aetna (NYSE: AET) has instituted a tighter reimbursement policy for Amgen's (NASDAQ: AMGN) anemia drugs, creating a setback for Amgen, reported the Los Angeles Times.
A consortium led by Icelandic investor Baugur is interested in making an offer for Saks (NYSE: SKS), reported the New York Post, but Saks will not consider a sale until the credit market improves.
According to the Wall Street Journal's "Heard on the Street" column, Progressive Corporation (NYSE: PGR) is struggling due to competitors' pricing, safer cars, and a struggling economy, to name a few factors.
The Financial Times reported that General Electric Company (NYSE: GE) will decide whether to sell its 80% stake in NBC Universal after the Beijing Olympics in August 2008, according to sources.
Tenaris (NYSE: TS), the maker of steel pipes for oil and gas exploration, has ruled out any possible sale of itself to ArcelorMittal (NYSE: MT) , the world's biggest steel producer, reported the Financial Times.
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The New York Post reported that UBS AG (NYSE: UBS) has fired David Martin, its head of interest-rate trading, and James Stehli, the head of its collateralized debt obligation unit, due to the fallout from the mortgage meltdown.
BP PLC (NYSE: BP) CEO Tony Hayward will today unveil plans to reduce bureaucracy and duplication of management at the oil giant, reported the Telegraph.
Barron's Online's "Inside Scoop" column reported that from Sept. 19-21, former Wal-Mart Stores Inc (NYSE: WMT) CEO David Glass grossed more than $13.3M by selling 300K Wal-Mart shares on the open market, according to SEC.
The UAW walked out on General Motors Corporation (NYSE: GM) yesterday because negotiations stalled when the United Auto Workers said they should get some sort of job guarantees from GM, reported the Wall Street Journal.
The Financial Times reported that BP's (NYSE: BP) Q3 revenue will be "dreadful" and the company will undergo a far-reaching shakeup, BP CEO Tony Hayward has reportedly told his staff.
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Having completed a deal with aQuantive for $6B, Microsoft Corporation (NASDAQ: MSFT) wants to make one more deal this year. The question the New York Post asks is, will it be with Facebook or Yahoo Inc (NASDAQ: YHOO)?
The Economic Times reported that Reliance Retail is in talks with the Gap Inc (NYSE: GPS) for a franchisee arrangement for Reliance Retail's apparel business.
Barron's Online's "Inside Scoop" column reported that director James Burke purchased $1.1M worth of AnnTaylor Stores Corporation (NYSE: ANN) stock on Friday, marking the first open-market purchase by an AnnTaylor insider in at least five years, according to InsiderScore.com.
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According to the U.K. Times, British bank Barclays (NYSE: BCS) has invested $1.5B in Golden Key, a fund that has gotten into trouble as a result of the global liquidity squeeze.
Aluminum company Alcan Inc (NYSE: AL) is reportedly in talks to sell its packaging unit to India's Essel Group, reported the Economic Times.
Music publishers have intensified their efforts to shut down popular Web sites that publish song lyrics without permission, reported the New York Post. The publishers are also demanding that Google Inc (NASDAQ: GOOG) and Yahoo! (NASDAQ: YHOO) remove all references to the offending sites from their search engines.
Barron's Online's (subscription required) "Weekday Trader Extra" reported that Wall Street is eyeing the negotiations of the First Data Corp (NYSE: FDC) buyout, as there has been talk that Kravis Roberts might be willing to make some concessions to a bank group arranging financing for the purchase.
The Wall Street Journal (subscription required) reported that General Motors Corp (NYSE: GM) has sent the UAW two proposals as their negotiations are nearing the deadline.
With near record high oil prices, there are signs that OPEC may increase crude output 2%, or 500,000 barrels a day, as a gesture to comfort oil markets, according to the Wall Street Journal.
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The Associated Press reported that EPR, a leftist guerrilla group, said they caused a number of explosions yesterday aimed at about six Mexican oil and gas pipelines, resulting in millions of dollars in lost production and unsettling financial markets.
Sir Martin Sorrell believes that WPP Group (NASDAQ: WPPGY), the company he has built and is currently the CEO of, is likely to appoint his successor from within the company, reported the Telegraph.
Barron's Online's (subscription required) "Weekday Trader" called Nucor Corporation (NYSE: NUE), a low-cost steel producer with a 4.7% dividend, a stock worthy of consideration.
The Financial Times (subscription required) reported that Renaissance Technologies and DE Shaw, two of the biggest quantitative hedge fund managers, are raising money, despite concerns over the poor performance of many computer-driven funds last month.
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According to the New York Times, Ventana Medical Systems Inc (NASDAQ: VMSI), which makes cancer diagnostic equipment, is expected to announce today that it will acquire Spring Bioscience for $28.9M in cash.
The New York Post reported that General Electric Company (NYSE: GE) CEO Jeffrey Immelt is planning on bringing Beth Comstock back as GE's chief marketing officer, according to sources close to Immelt.
The Wall Street Journal's "Ahead of the Tape" focused on the upcoming earnings report from American International Group Inc (NYSE: AIG) after the close today, as a fresh barometer to gauge the subprime market -- AIG has exposure as a lender, insurer, and investor.
With uncertainty in the debt markets, Virgin Media Inc's (NASDAQ: VMED) plans to sell itself were put off until conditions improve, reported the Wall Street Journal.
The Financial Times reported that Oleg Deripaska, the owner of Russia's biggest aluminum maker, has acquired a stake in General Motors Corporation (NYSE: GM) of just under 5%, say two people with direct knowledge of the matter.
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The Chinese government, which holds $1.33 trillion in foreign reserves, has made economic threats against the U.S., saying it may liquidate its holdings in U.S. Treasury bonds if the U.S. imposes trade sanctions to force a yuan revaluation, reported the Telegraph.
The New York Post has learned that Warner Music Group Corp (NYSE: WMG) may go private due to its plummeting stock price and negative investor sentiment towards the music industry in general.
With his company's stock near a 52-week low, Robert Willett, CEO of Best Buy Incorporated's (NYSE: BBY) international operations, bought nearly $500K in stock, reported Barron's Online's "Inside Scoop" section.
The Wall Street Journal reported that Sun Microsystems Inc (NASDAQ: SUNW) is today expected to introduce a new microprocessor called UltraSparc T2, will be able to process up to 64 threads at one time -- most chips can handle up to four threads at a time.
According to the Financial Times, citing a source familiar with his pay package, Robert Nardelli will college a salary of $1 a year in his new role as CEO of Chrysler, which is 20% owned by DaimlerChrysler (NYSE: DCX).
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The New York Mercantile Exchange (NYSE: NMX) is quietly selling its lower Manhattan headquarters, asking for between $600M and $700M, ahead of a deal to sell itself, reported the New York Post.
The Wall Street Journal reported that Kroger (NYSE: KR) announced last week that it would stop selling milk that carried synthetic hormones that are made by Monsanto Company (NYSE: MON), despite the FDA saying the hormones are safe.
A group of financial experts predicted that the U.S. will enter a recession soon, due to inflation, the economic prescriptions of a Democratic president, and the housing market meltdown, reported Barron's Magazine.
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According to insiders, Martha Stewart is not happy with Lampert's Kmart chain as she feels the company is not doing enough to sell her Martha Stewart products in its stores, which in turn is causing a "drag" on Martha Stewart Living Omnimedia Inc's (NYSE: MSO) earnings, reported the New York Post.
Qatari investment firm Delta Two may have to provide more than GBP1B in additional equity in order to win backing from J Sainsbury's (OTC: JSAIY) board for its offer for Sainsbury, reported the U.K. Times.
Paul Tudor Jones runs some of the best managed hedge funds anywhere, averaging over a 24% annual return over the last 20 years, but last month they reported heavy losses, according to the Wall Street Journal.
The Wall Street Journal reported that Google Inc (NASDAQ: GOOG) is speaking with wireless operators , such as T-Mobile USA and Verizon Wireless, as well as phone manufacturers about carrying their products.
The Financial Industry Regulatory Authority is expected to fine Morgan Stanley (NYSE: MS) a total of $6.1M for alleged overcharging of customers on bond sales totaling $59M, reported the Wall Street Journal.
Barron's "Inside Scoop" section reported that Andrew J. McKelvey, who stepped down as Monster Worldwide Inc's (NASDAQ: MNST) chairman and CEO last October, has sold 1.27M shares for $48.6M on the open market since Friday, according to SEC data.
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Martha Stewart Living Omnimedia (NYSE: MSO) is reportedly joining with private-equity partner GTCR Golder Rauner to buy food-crafting company Wilton Industries and paint-by-number specialist Dimension Holdings, reported the New York Post.
WEBSITES:
According to DigiTimes.com, Taiwan component suppliers for the iPhone have said they are not seeing any reduction in orders from Apple Inc (NASDAQ: AAPL).
The controlling shareholders of Dow Jones & Company Inc (NYSE: DJ) -- the Bancrofts -- are still debating whether or not to accept Rupert Murdoch's New Corporation's (NYSE: NWS) $5B offer to buy the company, and the debate is still too close to call, reported the Wall Street Journal.
Dutch bank ABN Amro Holdings NV's (NYSE: ABN) boards today refused to endorse either of two competing bids for the bank, effectively taking a neutral position on the issue, reported the Financial Times.
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Theme park operator Cedar Fair Entertainment (NYSE: FUN) has reportedly entered into quick- moving negotiations with investment firm Destiny Capital Solutions about a $4.1B takeover of the theme park operator, reported the New York Post.
The FDA said no to Pristiq, an experimental Wyeth (NYSE: WYE) drug to treat the symptoms of menopause, reported the Wall Street Journal.
The $3.1B sale of General Motors Corporation's (NYSE: GM) Allison Transmission to Carlyle Group and Onex has stalled in the debt financing market, thanks to difficulties raising debt from investors, reported the Wall Street Journal's "Heard on the Street" column.
Time Warner Inc's (NYSE: TWX) AOL is entering the behavioral-targeting ad market by purchasing Tacoda, which uses "behavioral targeting" techniques to track Web surfers' habits, reported the New York Post.
Cerberus Capital Management's acquisition of DaimlerChrysler AG's (NYSE: DCX) Chrysler unit could be completed on Monday or Tuesday of next week, reported the Detroit Free Press.
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