2006-10
19 15:38:51LIN TV sells Puerto Rico TV operations
PROVIDENCE, R.I. (AFX) - Television station operator LIN TV Corp. said Thursday it is selling its Puerto Rico television operations to New York-based private equity firm InterMedia Partners LP for $130 million in cash.
2006-10
19 15:28:23Russia's Vneshtorgbank paid 1 bln eur for 5 pct EADS stake
MOSCOW (AFX) - Russian state-owned bank Vneshtorgbank paid about 1 bln eur to acquire a 5 pct stake in EADS, a holding that was first disclosed in September, according to the bank's first half results published today.
2006-10
19 15:22:10Assurant closes PHCS sale to MultiPlan
NEW YORK (AFX) - Specialized insurance provider Assurant Inc. said Thursday it completed the $146 million sale of its stake in Private Healthcare Systems Inc. to MultiPlan Inc.
2006-10
19 15:02:17Hanesbrands to close Fla. center underwear and hosiery, said Thursday it will close a high-cost distribution center in Florida, affecting 79 jobs, and consolidate two other facilities in Winston-Salem, N.C., into a nearby third plant.
2006-10
19 14:50:58FTC extends review of Rite Aid deal
HARRISBURG, Pa. (AFX) - Rite Aid Corp., the nation's third-largest drugstore chain, said Thursday it has received a request for more information from federal regulators reviewing its $2.55 billion purchase of Eckerd and Brooks stores.
2006-10
19 14:43:29AmericanWest buying Far West
SPOKANE, Wash. (AFX) - Northwest regional bank AmericanWest Bancorp said Thursday it is buying Utah-based Far West Bancorp. for $150 million.
2006-10
19 14:27:49Suez Environnement chief wants business to remain part of merged Suez/GDF
PARIS (AFX) - Jean-Louis Chaussade, managing director of Suez SA's waste and water services division Suez Environnement, said the unit should remain within a merged Suez/Gaz de France in order to ensure future development.
2006-10
19 14:09:28Corus board recommends 5.1 bln stg offer for co from Tata Steel - report
AMSTERDAM (AFX) - Anglo-Dutch steelmaker Corus Group has recommended a 5.1 bln stg takeover for the company from Indias Tata Steel, according to a report.
2006-10
19 13:48:20Rite Aid says FTC wants more information
NEW YORK (AFX) - Drugstore chains Rite Aid Corp. and Jean Coutu Group said Thursday that U.S. antitrust regulators have requested more information from each side regarding Rite Aid's pending acquisition of Jean Coutu's Eckerd drugstores.
2006-10
19 13:31:33German industry favours private investors for possible EADS stake buy
BERLIN (AFX) - Germany's industrial sector would prefer private investors to take a stake in EADS rather than the German government, should DaimlerChrysler AG decide to reduce its stake in the European aerospace giant, industry association BDI said.
2006-10
19 12:51:01Metrovacesa denies any 'corporate moves' by company or board members
MADRID (AFX) - A Metrovacesa SA spokesman denied that there are any 'corporate moves' by either the company or board members behind the stock's current trading suspension.
2006-10
19 12:46:17Hershey buys Dagoba Organic Chocolate
HERSHEY, Pa. (AFX) - Candy maker Hershey Co. said Thursday it bought Dagoba Organic Chocolate LLC, an Ashland, Ore.-based maker of natural and organic chocolate.
2006-10
19 12:42:08HSW buys 30 pct stake in Senator from Deutsche Bank for undisclosed sum
FRANKFURT (AFX) - HSW GmbH, the largest stockholder in Senator Entertainment AG, said that it has reached an agreement with Deutsche Bank AG to buy a 30 pct stake in Senator for an undisclosed price.
2006-10
19 12:30:42EU merger reviews at a glance outlook
BRUSSELS (AFX) - The following mergers and joint venture agreements have been notified to the European Commission for regulatory clearance.
2006-10
19 12:20:12Diageo to conduct due diligence on New Zealand's Independent Liquor - sources
LONDON (AFX) - Diageo PLC is preparing to conduct due diligence on New Zealand-based ready to drink (RTD) spirits producer Independent Liquor, which is valued at up to 1.1 bln aud, AFX News has learnt.
2006-10
19 11:28:00Autostrade shareholder says Italian govt continues to block Abertis merger
MILAN (AFX) - Autostrade SpA's parent company Schemaventotto SpA said that the Italian government continues to block a 25 bln eur planned merger with the Spanish motorway company Abertis Infraestructuras SA.
2006-10
19 11:27:31United Technologies unit Hamilton Sundstrand to buy UK-based Page Group
WINDSOR LOCKS, Conn (AFX) - Hamilton Sundstrand, a unit of United Technologies Corp, said it agreed to buy privately held Page Group Ltd, a designer and manufacturer of aerospace lighting and cockpit controls, for an undisclosed sum.
2006-10
19 11:09:54EU inquiry deadline into OJSC Novolipetsk, Duferco steel venture Nov 21
BRUSSELS (AFX) - The European Commission said the deadline for its inquiry into the proposed joint venture between Russian producer OJSC Novolipetsk Steel and Duferco Participations Holding Ltd is Nov 21.
2006-10
19 11:09:25German Asklepios acquires 8.33 pct in Athens Medical Center
ATHENS (AFX) - German healthcare group Asklepios International GmbH yesterday acquired 8.33 pct of Athens Medical Center, equivalent to 7 mln shares, at 4 eur per share from the company's chairman and shareholder George Apostolopoulos.
2006-10
19 11:01:58EU inquiry deadline into AIG-led buy of London City Airport Nov 23
BRUSSELS (AFX) - The European Commission said the deadline for its inquiry into an AIG-led US consortium of investors' buy of London City Airport is set for November 23.
2006-10
19 10:59:21OMX CEO says own choice to refrain from industry merger talks
STOCKHOLM (AFX) - OMX AB's chief executive Magnus Boecker said it is his choice not to be in any industry consolidation or merger talks at present.
2006-10
19 10:55:38EU inquiry deadline into Thermo buy of FSI extended to Nov 9
BRUSSELS (AFX) - The European Commission said the deadline for its inquiry into Thermo Electron Corp's proposed 12.8 bln usd acquisition of Fisher Scientific International Corp is extended to November 9.
2006-10
19 10:48:10Tata to make formal Corus offer tomorrow; price may be raised - reports
LONDON (AFX) - Tata Steel Ltd is likely to make a formal takeover bid for Anglo-Dutch steelmaker Corus Group tomorrow at a higher price than previously offered, press reports said.
2006-10
19 10:46:22Spain's Astroc plans team up with Laras to bid for Sabadell's Landscape - report
MADRID (AFX) - Spanish realty small cap Astroc Mediterranea SA is in talks with the Lara family to make a joint bid for Banco Sabadell SA's Landscape Promocions Immobiliaries SLU property arm, Bolsacinco reported, citing sources close to the operation.
2006-10
19 10:44:57Germany's Tiefensee says EADS stake buy would be last resort
BERLIN (AFX) - German Transport Minister Wolfgang Tiefensee said any acquisition of a stake in plane maker EADS by the German government would only be a last resort.
2006-10
19 10:35:35EU inquiry deadline into UCB acquisition of Schwarz Pharma Nov 21
BRUSSELS (AFX) - The European Commission said the deadline for its inquiry into pharmaceutical group UCB SA's proposed 4.4 bln eur acquisition of German peer Schwarz Pharma AG is set for November 21.
2006-10
19 10:33:52Russia's Deripaska wants to up GM holding to 10 pct after buying stake - report
FRANKFURT (AFX) - Russian billionaire and investor Oleg Deripaska intends to increase his stake in General Motors Corp to at least 10 pct, after buying a stake of 'several percent' in the troubled US automaker, reported Manager Magazine without citing its sources in an article to be published Saturday
Deripaska, whose Aluminium company Rusal recently became the world's largest after merging with Sual, is looking to create a co-operation between GM and auto manufacturer Gas, of which Deripaska owns a majority stake, the magazine reported.
2006-10
19 10:30:54LogicaCMG claims 95.34 pct of WM-data shares
LONDON (AFX) - LogicaCMG PLC said its recommended cash and share offer for WM-data AB has attracted acceptances from holders of 95.34 pct of the Swedish company's shares and about 97.16 pct of the voting rights.
2006-10
19 10:14:32Wood Group refuses comment on India's Reliance bid report
LONDON (AFX) - John Wood Group PLC, which provides support services to the energy industry, has refused to comment on press reports claiming it is a target of a bid approach from India's Reliance Industries.
2006-10
19 10:09:47Mercapital continues negotiating with 'several' parties over Occidental stake
MADRID (AFX) - Mercapital said it is still in talks with 'several interested parties' over the sale of its 30 pct stake in Occidental Hoteles, playing down today's reports that NH Hoteles SA is the only remaining bidder.
2006-10
19 10:07:38Mediobanca, SAI, ordered to pay 38 mln eur in damages in Fondiaria row - report
MILAN (AFX) - Mediobanca SpA, SAI SpA, which is now merged with Fondiaria into Fondiaria-SAI SpA, and SAI owner Premafin have been ordered to pay 38 mln eur in damages over a hidden shareholder agreement and SAI's failure to launch a timely public offer for Fondiaria shares, daily MF reported, citing a Milan court judgement.
2006-10
19 09:53:32KKR consortium drops 18.2 bln aud bid for Australia's Coles Myer
SYDNEY (XFN-ASIA) - The Kohlberg Kravis Roberts-led consortium seeking to take over Australia's second largest retailer, Coles Myer, has abandoned its bid after Coles Myer rejected its final offer.
2006-10
19 09:51:10Auction of Linde's forklift ops at final stage - report
FRANKFURT (AFX) - The auction of Linde AG's forklift operations is in its third and final stage, Financial Times Deutschland reported citing inside sources.
2006-10
19 09:50:08Chloride buys Spain's Cener for 6 mln stg
LONDON (AFX) - Chloride Group PLC said it has bought Spanish power protection company Cener for 6 mln stg, of which 0.7 mln stg is linked to performance over the next year.
2006-10
19 09:42:03Eriks Group buys engineering parts supplier Wyko for 139 mln stg
LONDON (AFX) - Dutch technical products distributor Eriks Group NV has bought the UK's biggest engineering parts supplier, Wyko Holdings Ltd, for 139 mln stg.
2006-10
19 09:33:23Villar Mir to launch full bid for outstanding OHL stock at 15.61 eur/shr
MADRID (AFX) - Grupo Villar Mir said it plans to launch a full bid for the shares of Obrascon Huarte Lain SA it does not already own at 15.61 eur per share within the next three months. For more information and to contact AFX: www.afxnews.com and www.afxpress.com