Reuters Takeover Rumors Fly

Family ready to consider bid, with Reuters-Thomson merger in wings

(NEWSER) - The family that controls Dow Jones, after initially rebuffing a $5-billion buyout offer from Rupert Murdoch, has decided to consider selling after all. In a stunning about-face, the Bancroft family announced last night it had "reached consensus that the mission of Dow Jones may be better accomplished in combination or collaboration with another organization, which may include News Corporation.” More»

(NEWSER) - Reuters and Thomson have settled on the terms of the $17.24 billion merger announced last week, sounding the starting bell for a longer-than-usual regulatory review, the Journal reports. Reuters head Tom Glocer will become CEO of the new Thomson-Reuters, which combines the second- and third-largest providers of financial data and raises antitrust concerns. More»

Proposed purchase of Reuters puts Bloomberg on notice

(NEWSER) - Financial data giants Reuters and Thomson have confirmed that a merger is in the works. Should the deal go through, the company will control 34 percent of the financial data market, to current leader Bloomberg's 33 percent. Reuters CEO Tom Glocer would head the new Thomson-Reuters, which would remain under the Thomson family's control. More»

(NEWSER) - Thomson, the Canadian publishing company, is poised to buy Reuters, the global news and information agency, the Globe and Mail reports. The timing of the takeover, which values Reuters at $17.7 billion, appears a response to Rupert Murdoch's proposed purchase of Dow Jones, but sources say they have been in talks with Reuters for months. More»

Chief execs becoming more bullish about recovery prospects

(NEWSER) - Mergers and acquisitions activity is still way down from pre-financial crisis levels, but a recent flurry of big deals suggests America's chief executives are regaining confidence in their own businesses. Recent mergers have involved strategic buys by big companies instead of the debt-fueled private equity buys seen a couple of years ago. That bodes well for a strong recovery, analysts tell the New York Times. More»