u.k. times posts
FeedPosted May 21st 2007 9:20AM by Eric Buscemi (RSS feed)
Filed under: Newspapers, Magazines, Internet, Google (GOOG), Microsoft (MSFT), Yahoo! (YHOO), Teva Pharm Indus ADR (TEVA), salesforce.com inc (CRM),
.gif)
MAJOR PAPERS:
OTHER PAPERS:
- The U.K. Times reported that Warner Music Group Corporation (NYSE: WMG) is expected to offer EMI Group (OTC: EMIPY) a "£100 million sweetener" to try and keep the company from accepting an offer from private equity.
- According to The Observer, Royal Bank of Scotland (OTC: RBSPY), along with its partners Fortis and Banco Santander Central Hispano (NYSE: STD), hope to "table" a £47 billion offer for ABN Amro Holdings (NYSE: ABN) this week.
- The Observer reported that a private equity consortium is considering a $15 billion offer for Virgin Media Inc (NASDAQ: VMED).
- Cadbury Schweppes ADS (NYSE: CSG) is planning to return £5 billion to shareholders through a special dividend or share buyback, according to The Observer.
- The Sunday Telegraph reported that UBS AG (NYSE: UBS) will offer to buy out the pension schemes of some of the leading FTSE100 companies next week.
- Yahoo! Inc (NASDAQ: YHOO) may be looking to acquire British social networking site Bebo, the Sunday Telegraph reported.
- The Bollywood film producer, Eros International, is expected to announce a partnership with Google Inc's (NASDAQ: GOOG) YouTube, the Sunday Telegraph reported.
- Teva Pharmaceutical Industries Limited's (NASDAQ: TEVA) Copaxone will face generic competition for the first time, but will not see an impact immediately, Ha'aretz reported.
WEBSITES:
- The Orange County Register blog looked at a transcript from IndyMac Bancorp Inc's (NYSE: IMB) first quarter conference call, where the CEO Michael Perry said: "When you see that delinquency number in the press of 13% subprime delinquencies, it's hugely understated. It is absolutely hugely understated. And the prime delinquencies are overstated. The subprime delinquencies are more like 18, 20, 22% delinquencies and that's where I think you're going to see the problems."
Posted Apr 4th 2007 9:20AM by Eric Buscemi (RSS feed)
Filed under: Newspapers, Magazines, Best Buy (BBY), Boeing Co (BA), , Hershey Co (HSY),
.gif)
MAJOR PAPERS:
OTHER PAPERS:
- According to the U.K. Times, citing research by Prudential Equity Group and AXA Framlington, AstraZeneca (NYSE: AZN) could lose 38% of its revenue because key drug patents, including Arimi-dex, Seroquel and Symbicort, will expire in the next five years.
- Investor's Business Daily's "The New America" column mentioned Israeli defense firm Elbit Systems Ltd. (NASDAQ: ESLT) positively. Elbit is a small, flexible company that works with industry giants such as the Boeing Co. (NYSE: BA).
Posted Apr 2nd 2007 9:40AM by Eric Buscemi (RSS feed)
Filed under: Newspapers, Magazines, Internet, Microsoft (MSFT), Apple Inc (AAPL), Novell Inc (NOVL),
MAJOR PAPERS:
- The Wall Street Journal reported that New Century Financial Corporation (OTC: NEWC) is expected to announce as soon as today that it is filing for bankruptcy projection.
- The Wall Street Journal reported that EMI Group plc (OTC: EMIPY) will hold a special media event on Monday with Apple Inc's (NASDAQ: AAPL) CEO Steve Jobs as its special guest, fueling speculation that EMI will sell music without anti-piracy software.
- The Financial Times reported that the U.S. and South Korea said they had agreed on the terms of a landmark free trade deal which will boost trade by as much as $20B a year.
- The Financial Times reported that French stock market regulators are looking into unusual share price movements in France Telecom ADS (NYSE: FTE) and a few other CAC40 stocks, as there is concern that unknown forces could be profiting from false rumors and speculation in the stocks.
OTHER PAPERS:
- The U.K. Times has learned that GlaxoSmithKline plc ADR (NYSE: GSK) is in talks with the World Health Organization, or WHO, over a proposal for a subsidized mass avian flu vaccine for developing countries.
WEBSITES:
Posted Mar 28th 2007 9:19AM by Eric Buscemi (RSS feed)
Filed under: Newspapers, Magazines, Internet, Microsoft (MSFT), Yahoo! (YHOO), Hershey Co (HSY), BP p.l.c. ADS (BP)
.gif)
MAJOR PAPERS:
- Online ad firm DoubleClick is exploring a sale, and is in talks with Microsoft Corporation (NASDAQ: MSFT), among others, reported the Wall Street Journal (subscription required).
- The Financial Times (subscription required) reported that BP plc ADS's (NYSE: BP) Russia venture, TNK-BP, abandoned its bid for a stake in Rosneft less than ten minutes into bidding, leaving Rosneft able to buy its own shares back at a 10% discount.
- According to the Financial Times, Tyco International Ltd (NYSE: TYC) bondholders are worried the company may try to avoid paying them in full when the company completes its break-up later in the year.
- The Financial Times reported that Cadbury Schweppes ADS (NYSE: CSG) CEO Todd Stitzer said a merger with Hershey (HSY) would make "commercial, strategic and financial sense" for Cadbury, which is preparing to split into two divisions.
OTHER PAPERS:
WEBSITES:
Posted Mar 27th 2007 9:50AM by Eric Buscemi (RSS feed)
Filed under: Newspapers, Magazines, Internet, Microsoft (MSFT), Wal-Mart (WMT), Daimler (DAI), General Motors (GM), China, Bristol-Myers Squibb (BMY), BP p.l.c. ADS (BP), AMR Corp (AMR)
MAJOR PAPERS:
- The Financial Times (subscription required) reported that a confidential report on the Texas City refinery explosion found that John Manzoni, BP plc ADS's (NYSE: BP) CEO of refining, should have inspected the facility much deeper after "warning signals" from previous accidents.
- The Financial Times also reported that both retailers and consumer goods manufacturers in developed countries are shifting their logistics operations, including sorting and labeling, to China.
OTHER PAPERS:
- The U.K .Times has learned that a boardroom split has emerged between Jean-Francois Dehecq, the chairman of Sanofi-Aventis ADS (NYSE: SNY), and Gerard Le Fur, the CEO of Sanofi, over whether to acquire Bristol-Myers Squib Company (NYSE: BMY) for $54 billion.
- According to the Independent, Wal-Mart Stores Inc (NYSE: WMT) is asking regulators whether it could make a bid to acquire J. Sainsbury (JSAIY), Britain's third largest supermarket.
- The New York Times reported that stock bonuses paid to executives like CEO Gerard J. Arpey (his bonus includes shared valued yesterday at around $7.5M) have reportedly angered the Allied Pilots Association, the union representing AMR Corporation's (NYSE: AMR) American Airlines' pilots.
- According to the Detroit Free Press, citing people familiar with the talks, General Motors (GM) is not actively pursuing a purchase of DaimlerChrysler AG's (NYSE: DCX) Chrysler Group after talking in January about a potential transaction.
WEBSITES:
- GamesIndustry.biz reported that 20 million copies of Microsoft Corporation's (NASDAQ: MSFT) Windows Vista were sold in the month after the new operating system, or OS, was released worldwide on January 30, Microsoft reported. Vista is selling at more than twice the rate of Windows XP, Microsoft's previous OS.
Posted Mar 22nd 2007 9:20AM by Eric Buscemi (RSS feed)
Filed under: Newspapers, Magazines, Internet, Kohl's Corp (KSS)
MAJOR PAPERS:
- The Wall Street Journal (subscription required) reported that Kraft Foods Inc (NYSE: KFT), looking to make foreign acquisitions, is giving its international managers more power to engineer deals. Kraft is most interested in acquisitions in Russia, Ukraine, Brazil and Mexico, according to a person familiar with the matter.
- According to Barron's Online's (subscription required) "Weekday Trader" column, Corn Products International Inc's (NYSE: CPO) recent 17% drop could be a buying opportunity.
- According to the Financial Times (subscription required), Bertelsmann has joined forces with private equity partners to consider a bid for textbook publisher Thomson Corporation (NYSE: TOC). The asking price is about $5B.
OTHER PAPERS:
- Several private equity firms, including Kohlberg Kravis Roberts, Bain Capital and Texas Pacific Group, have shown a strong interest in acquiring the beverage arm of Cadbury Schweppes ADS (NYSE: CSG) reported the U.K. Times.
- The New York Post reported that WPP Group plc ADS (NASDAQ: WPPGY) has Hollywood ambitions, taking a 6.8% stake in Media Rights Capital, partly owned by talent agency Endeavor.
- Investor's Business Daily's "New America" column mentioned shoe maker Sketchers USA Inc (NYSE: SKX) positively, noting that the company's presence has increased significantly in stores like Foot Locker Inc (NYSE: FL) and Finish Line Inc (NASDAQ: FINL).
Posted Mar 21st 2007 9:45AM by Eric Buscemi (RSS feed)
Filed under: Newspapers, Magazines, Internet, Blogs, Google (GOOG), Apple Inc (AAPL), Starbucks (SBUX), International Business Machines (IBM), Barclays plc ADS (BCS)
MAJOR PAPERS:
- The Wall Street Journal's "Heard on the Street" column focused on Starbucks Corporation (NASDAQ: SBUX), writing that some analysts see the stock rebounding since being beaten down after hitting a 52-week high in November.
- Also in the Wall Street Journal, "The Mossberg Solution" reviewed the Apple TV product from Apple Inc (NASDAQ: AAPL), concluding that it is "a very well-designed product that easily brings the computer and the TV together."
- The Financial Times reported that Mike Mayo, one of Wall Street's best known financial services analysts, is heading to Deutsche Bank AG (NYSE: DB) after leaving Prudential (NYSE: PRU).
OTHER PAPERS:
- According to the Economic Times, International Business Machines Corporation (NYSE: IBM) is close to signing a 10-year $700M outsourcing contract with Idea Cellular in India.
- The U.K. Times reported that prospective merger partners Barclays plc ADS (NYSE: BCS) and ABN Amro Holdings (NYSE: ABN) are considering using the proceeds from a possible sale of ABN Amro's LaSalle retail bank to generate a merger dividend for shareholders on both sides of the possible merger.
WEBSITES:
- Henry Blodget's Internet Outsider blog wrote that Google Inc (NASDAQ: GOOG) should buy Spot Runner, which reduces the cost and time necessary to plan and buy a TV advertising campaign.
Posted Mar 19th 2007 9:40AM by Eric Buscemi (RSS feed)
Filed under: Newspapers, Magazines, Internet, Blogs, Google (GOOG), Apple Inc (AAPL), Coca-Cola (KO), , Barclays plc ADS (BCS)
MAJOR PAPERS:
- According to the Wall Street Journal (subscription required), citing people familiar with the matter, Community Health Systems Inc (NYSE: CYH) is near a deal to purchase Triad Hospitals (NYSE: TRI), which would break up an existing $4.5B private-equity buyout plan.
- The Wall Street Journal's "Heard on the Street" column reported that rumors are swirling that Infineon Technologies ADS (NYSE: IFX) will be chosen to supply the main chip to drive the upcoming iPhone from Apple Inc (NASDAQ: AAPL).
OTHER PAPERS:
- The Business Standard reported that Reliance Industries is reportedly in advanced discussions with Nova Chemicals Corporation (NYSE: NCX), the plastics and petrochemicals firm, to form a joint venture.
- According to the U.K. Times, Barclays plc ADS (NYSE: BCS) will announce today its formal interest in buying Netherlands bank ABN Amro Holdings (NYSE: ABN) for a price of up to a little less than EUR60B, or EUR31.3 per share, according to reports.
- Dow Jones & Company (NYSE: DJ) is trying to buy the Financial News for GBP25M, the U.K. Times reported.
- The Sunday Telegraph reported that Coca-Cola Company (NYSE: KO) is planning a 'beauty tea' in conjunction with L'Oreal ADR (OTC: LRLCY), called Lumae.
- According to Google Inc's (NASDAQ: GOOG) official blog, it has acquired Adscape media. Terms were not disclosed.
Posted Mar 15th 2007 9:20AM by Eric Buscemi (RSS feed)
Filed under: Newspapers, Magazines, Internet, Time Warner (TWX), Wal-Mart (WMT), AT and T (T), Sprint Nextel Corp (S), Verizon Communications (VZ), Qwest Communications Intl (Q)
MAJOR PAPERS:
- The Wall Street Journal reported that Wal-Mart Stores Inc (NYSE: WMT) has renegotiated the terms of leases with a number of banks, giving the retailer the ability to offer mortgages, home-equity lines of credit and consumer loans.
- According to the Financial Times, Lehman Brothers Holdings Inc (NYSE: LEH) is attempting to reassure investors about its exposure to the upheaval in the subprime mortgage market, saying activity from the sector accounted for an average of less than 3% of revenues over the past six quarters.
- Time Warner Inc's (NYSE: TWX) AOL internet division has withdrawn its $900M offer for Swedish internet advertising group TradeDoubler after a decision not to increase the value of the bid, the Financial Times reported.
OTHER PAPERS:
- The Associated Press reported that the U.S. government is expected to soon award its largest telecommunications contract ever to at least two bidders. The bidders, looking to be awarded the 10-year contract worth up to $48B, are Qwest Communications International Inc (NYSE: Q), Sprint Nextel Corporation (NYSE: S), AT&T Inc (NYSE: T) and Verizon Communications Inc (NYSE: VZ).
- The U.K. Times reported that private equity firms are eyeing Cadbury Schweppes ADS's (NYSE: CSG) Beverages business.
- Airline leasing company AerCap Holdings (NYSE: AER) was mentioned positively in Investor's Business Daily's "The New America" column. In 1990, 18% of commercial jets worldwide were leased. In 2005 that percent was 30, and it could reach 40% to 50%, says Wachovia analyst Gary Liebowitz.
Posted Mar 14th 2007 9:10AM by Eric Buscemi (RSS feed)
Filed under: Newspapers, Magazines, Internet, Daimler (DAI), Goldman Sachs Group (GS), KB HOME (KBH), Toll Brothers (TOL)
MAJOR PAPERS:
- The Wall Street Journal (subscription required) speculated that Carl Icahn's bid for WCI Communities Inc (NYSE: WCI) may be the start of home-builder buyouts. Other possible LBO targets, according to some Wall Street firms, include Toll Brothers Inc (NYSE: TOL), Ryland Group Inc (NYSE: RYL), Beazer Homes USA Inc (NYSE: BZH) and KB Home (NYSE: KBH).
- The Wall Street Journal also reported that Goldman Sachs Group Inc (NYSE: GS) is looking to push deeper into the subprime lending business at a time when the subprime mortgage market is suffering a "meltdown."
- The Financial Times (subscription required) reported that Cerberus Capital Management, one of the leaders in the bid to buy DaimlerChrysler AG's (NYSE: DCX) Chrysler unit, has signed Wolfgang Bernhard to an advisory contract. Bernhard helped restructure Chrysler five years ago.
OTHER PAPERS:
- The U.K. Times reported that a CVC-led private equity group is planning to bid above GBP9.5B for Sainsbury's plc ADR (OTC: JSAIY).
- The U.K. Times also reported that Cadbury Schweppes ADS (NYSE: CSG) is considering spinning off and selling its profitable drinks business, which includes Dr. Pepper and 7-Up, as a way to defend against a takeover bid for the entire group.
Posted Mar 13th 2007 9:42AM by Eric Buscemi (RSS feed)
Filed under: Newspapers, Magazines, Internet, Microsoft (MSFT), Intel (INTC), Diageo plc (DEO), Citigroup Inc. (C), JPMorgan Chase (JPM)
MAJOR PAPERS:
- According to the Wall Street Journal's (subscription required) "Heard on the Street" column, JP Morgan Chase and Company (NYSE: JPM) is working on its growth without acquisitions, by bulking up its Hollywood business and its pension-advisory business.
- The Wall Street Journal reported this morning that China's economic-planning agency said it would allow Intel Corp (NASDAQ: INTC) to build a chip plant in the northeastern city of Dalian.
- The Financial Times (subscription required) reported that Citigroup Inc (NYSE: C) has raised its bid for Nikko Cordial by 25.9% to around $13.4B.
OTHER PAPERS:
- CNet.com has learned that Microsoft Corporation (NASDAQ: MSFT) is close to acquiring privately held Tellme Networks, which a deal expected to be completed later this week.
- The U.K. Times reported that Warner Music Group Corp (NYSE: WMG) is struggling to justify raising its bid for rival EMI Group (OTC: EMIPY), because it does not believe it can risk an improved offer without having access to EMI's books.
- According to the Independent, Diageo plc ADS (NYSE: DEO) is expected to bid for Absolut vodka owners Vin & Sprit despite worries about competition.
Next Page >
.gif){kind=logo}
MAJOR PAPERS:
Ray of light: U.S. temp worker hiring increased by 34k in October
Closing Bell: Bulls gutting bears (ATVI, EWBC, GE, JASO, ENZN, MCD)
Goldman Sachs CEO Lloyd Blankfein pulls a Jeff Skilling in an interview
