Stories related to: mergers and acquisitions

Prodded by Beijing to invest in developing countries, China's massive state-owned bank has inked a deal to buy 20% of South Africa's Standard Bank for $5.6 billion, marking the largest Chinese investment ever in Africa. ICBC, flush with cash, is eager to provide financial services to Chinese companies increasingly active in the Horn of Africa, Reuters reports. More »

The board of BEA Systems responded to a time-sensitive takeover offer from Oracle today, valuing itself at $8.2 billion—fully $1.5 billion more than the database giant's bid. Oracle’s $17-a-share offer, now two weeks old, will expire on Sunday evening if BEA doesn’t act on it. But the fiercely independent middleware company says a sale at that figure simply isn’t in its “best interests,” the Journal reports. More »

Software giant Oracle is growing impatient as it attempts to take over BEA Systems, a smaller and fiercely independent tech organization. Oracle offered on Oct. 9 to buy BEA for $6.7 billion, or $17 a share, which BEA considers too low. But the company hasn't  formally rejected the offer, and now Oracle has issued an ultimatum: sign by Sunday or the deal is off, reports the Wall Street Journal. More »

The EU’s highest court today overturned a 47-year-old German law that protected Volkswagen AG from takeover, opening the door for a long-rumored Porsche coup. Porsche already owns 31% of VW, but the law capped their voting rights at 20%. With that impediment gone, “I see Porsche flexing its muscles and going for outright control,” one analyst told Bloomberg. More »

In a welcome boost after this year's devastating subprime losses, Bear Stearns today moved to secure a long-coveted slice of the Chinese market. Stearns and China’s Citic Securities Co. agreed  to invest $1 billion in each other, pooling their Asian resources to develop new products for the Chinese market, and launching a Hong Kong-based joint venture to reach markets outside China, Bloomberg reports. More »

The group that offered to buy out educational lender Sallie Mae for $25 billion is now seeking court approval to back out and avoid paying a $900 million break-up fee. The investor group, including Bank of America and JPMorgan Chase, is arguing that recent legislation will reduce the student loan corporation's profits, which investors see as "material adverse circumstances" and grounds to get out of the deal without penalty. More »

After months of counteroffers, court cases and credit crises, the battle to buy Dutch banking giant ABN Amro concludes today, with a break-up of the bank. The Wall Street Journal reports that a three-bank consortium led by the Royal Bank of Scotland will almost certainly win ABN Amro shareholders' approval of the $101 billion takeover. RBS fought Barclays to the end for the prize, but some observers are wondering whether it will regret the purchase. More »

The Bancroft family met yesterday in Boston to consider Rupert Murdoch's $5B offer for Dow Jones, but is expected to take at least until Friday to vote on the deal, Reuters reports. Christopher Bancroft, who opposes the sale, showed up sporting a baseball cap with the words "Bite me" on it; he told reporters that the family hadn't reached a consensus. More »

In an attempt to lower resistance to their proposed merger, satellite radio providers Sirius and XM unveiled new pricing plans today that they say will cut subscription prices by 46%. The plans, which start at $6.99 as opposed to the current $12.95 per month standard price, also allow listeners to select channels to add a la carte. More »

The CEO of Whole Foods apologized yesterday for boosting his company and posting snide comments about a rival supermarket chain in Internet forums and said he "had fun doing it." John Mackey's actions over the last 8 years have already triggered an SEC investigation, and the company's board said yesterday it will launch its probe, the Wall Street Journal reports. More »

CVC Capital, a British private equity firm, has bought out Samsonite, the American luggage line, in an all-cash deal worth $1.7B, BBC reports. CVC will pay $1.49 a share--12% more than the stock was worth Tuesday. Samonsite has had five owners in the last 21 years, as luggage sales in general have declined. More »

Coca-Cola is talking to private-equity firms about purchasing Cadbury Schweppes PLC's Snapple and Mott's brands, the Wall Street Journal reports. Coke is trying to expand its presence in the fast-growing market for noncarbonated drinks--namely juices, waters and ready-to-drink teas, like Snapple. Mott's includes apple juice and sauces, as well as other items. More »