2007-01
08 09:12:38John de Mol acquires 5.15 pct stake in Endemol - report
AMSTERDAM (AFX) - John de Mol, owner of Dutch television station Talpa, has bought a 5.15 pct stake in TV production company Endemol, Het Financieele Dagblad reported, without naming its sources.
2007-01
08 09:11:30Endesa permitted CEO to pass confidential information to Gas Natural - report
MADRID (AFX) - Endesa SA's board gave chief executive Rafael Miranda powers to pass confidential information about the company to Gas Natural SDG SA and other firms prior to German utility E.ON AG's bid last year, El Economista reported, citing documents from a board meeting on Dec 26 2005.
2007-01
08 08:55:08Arriva buys Spanish bus operator Esfera for up to 4.7 mln eur
LONDON (AFX) - Arriva PLC, the European bus and rail group, said it has bought privately-held Spanish bus operator Esfera for up to 4.7 mln eur.
2007-01
08 08:52:29Wolters Kluwer puts Education ops up for sale, seen fetching 700 mln eur-report
AMSTERDAM (AFX) - Dutch publishing group Wolters Kluwer NV has started the sale of its education publishing unit, sending out information memoranda to potential buyers of the business, which is seen fetching 700 mln eur, the Telegraph reported without citing sources.
2007-01
08 08:43:12Intesa Sanpaolo banking foundation shareholders eye stake in Eurizon - report
MILAN (AFX) - Banking foundation shareholders of Intesa Sanpaolo SpA are considering buying some 30 pct in the bank's asset management and insurance unit, Eurizon, before its listing, said daily Il Messagero without giving its sources.
2007-01
08 08:27:31EFG International to buy PRS Group for undisclosed sum
ZURICH (AFX) - EFG International said it has agreed to acquire wealth manager PRS Group.
2007-01
08 08:13:24Nasdaq urges LSE shareholders to agree to 1,243 pence per share offer
LONDON (AFX) - Nasdaq today reiterated that it has no plans to revise its 1,243 pence per share offer for London Stock Exchange Group PLC.
2007-01
08 08:13:04Germany's North-Rhine Westphalia state may sell its 38 pct WestLB stake
FRANKFURT (AFX) - Germany's North-Rhine Westphalia (NRW) federal state may sell its 38 pct stake in WestLB, NRW finance minister Helmut Linssen told Handelsblatt.
2007-01
08 07:54:19Vinci unit acquires 80 pct of Romanian road builder Viarom Construct
PARIS (AFX) - Vinci said its Eurovia unit has acquired 80 pct of the Romanian road-building company Viarom Construct.
2007-01
08 07:52:29Husqvarna acquires Swedish lawnmower producer Klippo for undisclosed sum
STOCKHOLM (AFX) - Husqvarna AB said it has acquired Swedish lawnmower producer Klippo for an undisclosed sum.
2007-01
08 07:47:01Accor sells 2 Sofitel hotels in US for 255 mln usd to JV in which it has 25 pct
PARIS (AFX) - Accor said it sold two Sofitel hotels in the US for 255 mln usd to a joint venture in which it has a 25 pct stake, and that it will continue to manage the hotels under a 25-year contract.
2007-01
08 07:45:23GE confirms to buy Vetco Gray for 1.9 bln usd from Candover, 3i, JP Morgan
LONDON (AFX) - General Electric Co confirmed an earlier report that it is expanding its presence in the global oil and gas industry, by agreeing to acquire Vetco Gray for 1.9 bln usd from Candover, 3i & JP Morgan Partners.
2007-01
08 07:44:04ABN Amro Capital spins off life sciences operations
AMSTERDAM (AFX) - ABN Amro Capital, a unit of ABN Amro Holding NV, has sold off its life sciences venture activities to form Forbion Capital Partners, a new, independent venture capital group, Forbion said.
2007-01
08 07:21:42GE confirms to buy Vetco Gray for 1.9 bln usd from Candover, 31 and JP Morgan
- General Electric Co confirmed an earlier report that it is expanding its presence in the global oil and gas industry, by agreeing to acquire Vetco Gray for 1.9 bln usd from Candover, 3i & JP Morgan Partners.
2007-01
08 06:59:51Hutchison, Essar ran Indian jv without legally binding contract - report
MUMBAI (AFX) - Hutchison Whampoa and the Essar Group ran their Indian telecommunications joint venture on the basis of a term sheet - only a statement of intent and not a legally binding contract - signed in 2003, reported India's Economic Times.
2007-01
08 06:59:39Portugal govt to keep Portugal Telecom golden share; wants mkt to work - Lino
LISBON (AFX) - Mario Lino, the minister in charge of telecoms, told newspaper Publico that the government will not give up its golden share in Portugal Telecom but will let the market work in Sonaecom's takeover bid for PT.
2007-01
08 06:58:21Berardo says govt's Portugal Telecom golden share worth 200 mln eur
LISBON (AFX) - Joe Berardo is willing to pay 200 mln eur to buy the 500 class-A shares which the Portuguese government owns in Portugal Telecom, the Madeira-based businessman told weekly newspaper Sol.
2007-01
08 06:49:49Countrywide estate agency to defend takeover deal - report
LONDON (AFX) - The chairman of Countrywide PLC, Britain's largest estate agent, is to write to shareholders this week defending a 940 mln stg takeover deal, the Financial Times reported, citing Countrywide's outgoing chairman.
2007-01
08 06:46:59Vodafone opens Hutchison Essar's books - report
LONDON (AFX) - Vodafone Group PLC will start due diligence today on a potential 18-19 bln usd (9.3-9.8 bln stg) offer for Hutchison Essar, the privately held mobile operator, the Financial Times reported.
2007-01
08 06:30:01Forest Oil to buy Houston Exploration in 1.5 bln usd cash, stock deal
HOUSTON, TX (AFX) - HoustonExploration Co said it has agreed to be acquired by Forest Oil Corp for 1.5 bln usd in cash and common stock, with Forest also assuming approximately 0.1 bln usd HoustonExploration's net debt.
2007-01
08 06:20:36Renault-Nissan reaffirms interest in US partner
DETROIT (AFX) - Renault-Nissan reaffirmed late Sunday its interest in expanding operations by getting an American partner.
2007-01
08 03:57:14GE to acquire Vetco's oil & gas technology ops for 1.9 bln usd - report
HONG KONG (XFN-ASIA) - General Electric Co is expected to announce that it has agreed to acquire the oil and gas services operations of Vetco International Ltd for 1.9 bln usd, the Wall Street Journal reported, citing people familiar with the situation.
2007-01
08 03:42:13HK's Hutchison says Essar mistaken on refusal rights for India jv stake - report
HONG KONG (XFN-ASIA) - Hutchison Telecommunications International Ltd has said that India's Essar Group has only limited refusal rights to bidders for Hutchison's stake in its Indian wireless joint venture, the Wall Street Journal reported.
2007-01
08 01:55:15Vodafone starts Hutchison Essar due diligence today - report
BEIJING (XFN-ASIA) - Vodafone will start due diligence today on privately-held Hutchison Essar ahead of a potential 18-19 bln usd offer for the Indian mobile company, the Financial Times reported.
2007-01
08 01:41:03Australia's QBE's ratings unaffected by Winterthur US buy - Fitch
SYDNEY (XFN-ASIA) - Fitch Ratings said it has maintained its A-plus ratings on QBE Insurance Group Ltd and its insurance operating subsidiaries following Friday's announcement that the group is acquiring Winterthur US Holdings Inc from AXA SA for about 1.72 bln usd including debt.
2007-01
07 23:31:39Australian govt seeks jobs guarantees from Qantas bid consortium - report
SYDNEY (XFN-ASIA) - The Macquarie Bank Ltd-led consortium offering to buy Qantas Airways Ltd for 11.1 bln aud will have to guarantee to keep jobs and maintenance facilities in Australia to gain the required support of the Australian government, The Australian newspaper reported, citing Deputy Prime Minister Mark Vaile. For more information and to contact AFX: www.afxnews.com and www.afxpress.com
© 2007 AFX News
