Microsoft can start hostile merge with Yahoo already today
Written on 3 May 2008 by webmasterWorld software manufacturer Microsoft Corp. can already today make the direct offer on merge to shareholders Yahoo Inc.
According to the sources close to the software giant, Microsoft can start hostile absorption and it is going to appeal directly to Yahoo shareholders with the offer on merge. It can already occur today though the source has warned that Microsoft can postpone the announcement of the offer for the certain period of time.
Let’s remind that, on February, 1st, 2008, Microsoft has offered to buy Yahoo for 44,6 billion dollars, however, Yahoo management has refused from merge. On April, 6th, Bill Gates’ company has established three-week term for Yahoo board of directors to accept the offer on absorption. Otherwise Microsoft would have threatened to address with the offer directly to Yahoo shareholders.
Besides, software giant has not excluded an opportunity of downturn of the sum of the offer for the owner of a popular search portal. Nevertheless, after term of the ultimatum management Yahoo has disagreed on offer; Microsoft, in turn, did not begin to raise the sum of the offer and has declared, that it is not measured to do it.
Today Microsoft’s offer on merge with Yahoo, proceeding from market cost of papers of the companies, is estimated in 42,4 billion dollars. Yahoo management repeatedly declared that fair cost of their company is above this sum.
Mars is going to buy Wrigley for more than for $22 billion
Written on 28 April 2008 by webmasterOn informal data, American corporation Mars Inc. together with investment company Berkshire Hathaway Inc. is measured to get the world leader in the field of manufacture of chewing elastic band Wm. Wrigley Jr. Co.
The sum of the transaction, which can be declared already today, on April, 28th, will make more than 22 billion dollars, that represents the significant premium to the current market capitalization of Wrigley, making nearby 17,3 billion of dollars. Official representatives of the companies do not make comments on it.
It is necessary to note, that corporation Mars is one of the largest private companies in the world. The company is engaged in manufacture of food stuffs, drinks, forages for pets. Its turn in 2006 has made nearby 21 billion dollars. Mars conducts work in more than 65 countries of the world and more than 40 thousand employees work there.
The company has been based in 1911 as a family business. Company’s portfolio includes such brands as Mars, Snickers, Milky Way, Bounty, Twix, tiled chocolate Dove, M&M ’s dragger, sugary confectionery products Rondo, Skittles, Tunes, Starburst, rice Uncle Ben’s, and also forages for pets and means on care of them Pedigree, Chappi, Kitekat, Whiskas, Sheba, Catsan.
Sony will overtake Microsoft by means of game GTA IV
Written on 25 April 2008 by webmasterGamers worldwide are looking forward to release of new videogame from Take-Two Interactive Software Inc - Grand Theft Auto IV (GTA4) which will appear on sale already on April, 29th, 2008. Experts mark, that this game can become the leader of sales in 2008: it is expected, that only for the first week it will gain nearby 400 million dollars.
However, GTA IV prime-ministers expect not only gamers. Company Sony Also waits for on April, 29th. The matter is that, in opinion of the majority of analysts, Grand Theft Auto IV will help Sony to increase essentially sales of PlayStation 3 and to bypass competitor Microsoft with its prefix Xbox 360.
GameStop Corp vice-president believes that this game will increase sales volumes both PS3, and Xbox 360.
It is also necessary to note, that GTA has already for a long time helped Sony to break records by quantity of sold playstations. For example, when in 2001, Grand Theft Auto III for PlayStation 2 has appeared, the majority of people have bought this playstation only to play GTA. Many gamers bought this playstation only because of GTA. And it looks like this time there will be the same: people will buy PlayStation 3 to play GTA IV.
Economic growth in the USA and the Europe will begin already in 2009
Written on 24 April 2008 by webmasterIMF experts believe that economic growth in the USA and Europe will begin already in 2009. As the chapter of permanent mission of the International Monetary Fund has noted, “economic activity in the Europe will start to improve already in 2009″.
As to economy of the USA, in experts opinion, now the country experiences “soft recession”, which will be quite short, and economic growth will begin already in 2009. It has been also emphasized, that the structure of the American economy is quite flexible and at it “has no internal rigidity”, that allows the economy to overcome the crisis phenomena more effectively.
Speaking about sector of hypothec financial tools in the Europe, IMF experts have noted, that it “is much better, easier and more reliable, than in the USA”. It has been emphasized, that complex derivative tools are not inherent in hypothec sector of the Europe, and thus, the given sector is steadier, than similar sector in the USA. Making comments on economic growth of industrially developed European countries and the countries with a developing economy, experts stressed that in 2008 and in 2009 the economy of the first group of the countries will grow with low potential rates, and economy of the countries with developing markets will grow at the level of potential and will even surpass it.
Meantime, in IMF economists’ opinion, a sheer loss of bank system of the Europe from financial crisis will make 123 billion dollars and they believe that losses of large European banks from derivative tools will be comparable to losses of banks of the USA.
Ernst&Young unites 87 an expert in the Europe, in the Near East, in India and Africa.
Written on 21 April 2008 by webmasterExecutive and consulting council of the international auditor company Ernst&Young Global has approved the plan on integration of 87 practices of the company in Western and the East Europe, in the Near East, in India and Africa. The new incorporated practice will refer EMEIA (Europe, Middle East, India and Africa). Management of the company has also confirmed the information that more than 700 partners have supported the similar plan on integration of 15 practices Ernst&Young in the Far East.
EMEIA Practice will officially begin to work as the uniform organization with a uniform management since July, 1st 2008. In the end of May of current year it is planned to take voting concerning integration in which 3,3 thousand EMEIA partners will participate. The capital of the new organization will make 11,2 billion dollars and more than 60 thousand employees will work there.
In result of creation of new regional practice in the Far East the organization with the capital in 1,2 billion dollars and more than 20 thousand employees will be formed. This structure will also officially begin to work since July, 1st 2008.
Earlier, in 2006, Ernst&Young has declared integration of practices in 29 countries of Northern, Central and South America.
GPS navigators market is close to glut
Written on 19 April 2008 by webmasterManufacturers of portable navigating devices are getting worried: now consumers prefer to buy not GPS devices, and cell telephones with already built in GPS navigation. In this connection the majority of the large companies, engaged in manufacture of GPS devices are facing sharp decrease in a sales volume and, accordingly, profits.
Moreover, experts mark that if the companies wish to survive, they should change completely the strategy - or to reduce of the price for the devices, or to develop navigators with a lot of functions.
During last years demand for these devices has been growing with very fast rates. However, recently buyers become more legible and often prefer to get cellular telephones with built in GPS function. For example, such smartphones as Nokia N95, besides of phone function, combine a huge quantity of other devices, in particular GPS navigation.
Certainly, many buyers still prefer GPS devices. However, demand for them is promptly decreasing - in many respects owing to toughening a competition. So, company Best Buy offers about 59 navigating devices. And some devices can be bought less, than for 200 dollars.
In this connection large manufacturers of such devices already predict decrease in their profits. For example, one of GPS market leaders TomTom has informed, that its profit can decrease on 40 % while company Garmin speaks about decrease in profit on 36 %.
And it is impossible to forget, that now GPS navigators are used more often in cars. So, the built in systems can show electronic card, allowing drivers to supervise a route of movement and to search for the necessary addresses, restaurants, hotels and other objects.
Merge Take-Two and EA is inevitable
Written on 18 April 2008 by webmasterAmerican manufacturer of computer games Electronic Arts Inc. (EA) still now does not leave attempts to get the competitor - New York company Take-Two Interactive (the publisher of games of popular series Grand Theft Auto), despite of active resistance of the last one.
However, Take-Two declares that it does not refuse negotiations with EA, and simply offers to postpone them till April, 29th, 2008, when the new product of the company will be on sale - the fourth version of computer game Grand Theft Auto (GTA).
It is also necessary to note, that yesterday, on April, 17th, the assembly of shareholders Take-Two Interactive on which just and the offer of the competitor will be discussed takes place. Some analysts consider that this assembly will be strange enough as only those shareholders, who have got shares not later than on February, 19th, 2008, can participate in it. However, only about third of shareholders have got shares of the company before the specified term. Accordingly, it is impossible to expect the unequivocal decision in occasion of the EA’s offer.
Meanwhile, in analysts opinion, the manufacturer Grand Theft Auto just will not have no any way out, but to agree on the offer of the competitor as recently more and more media companies search for opportunities for expansion of their business, and transactions of merges and absorption (mergers and acquisitions, M&A) get the increasing popularity. So, in December of the last year, French media company Vivendi and the American manufacturer of computer games Activision Inc. have agreed to sign the agreement, in result of which the world’s largest videogames’ manufacturer Activision Blizzard has been created. The Total cost of the transaction has made 18,9 billion dollars
Cadbury and Hershey: merge will be favorable to both companies
Written on 14 April 2008 by webmasterLast week shareholders of the leading world manufacturer of confectionery products Cadbury Schweppes Plc. have approved the transaction on branch of North American division of company Dr Pepper, which will be engaged in soft drinks’ manufacture. This division is planned to be finished till May, 7th 2008г.
Now experts mark, that Cadbury has to reflect on purchase of any manufacturer of confectionery and chocolate production as the company can soon become the purpose for absorption.
Some analysts consider that Cadbury considers an opportunity of purchase of the American chocolate manufacturer Hershey Co. and this merge can be favorable to both companies, as British company hopes to increase the presence in the American market, while Hershey plans to receive a greater share in the world market.
It is necessary to note, that if Cadbury’ and Hershey’ negotiations will not be successful, British company can become the object of absorption. In particular, such companies as Kraft Foods Inc and Wrigley will not refuse to get the world leading confectionery products manufacturer.
It is worth of mentioning that British company Cadbury Schweppes Plc is one of world leaders in the soft drinks and confectionery products market. Cadbury Schweppes has been formed in 1969 after the Cadbury’s and Schweppes’ merge.
Ukraine will access WTO in 30 days
Written on 10 April 2008 by webmasterThe Supreme Rada of Ukraine has passed the law on Ratification of the report on the WTO joining. According to the term, marked in the Law, within 30 days period after ratification of the report, signed in Geneva on February, 5th 2008, Ukraine will become the WTO member. The main task of the government is to approve within a month a plan of action on adaptation of the Ukrainian economy to conditions of the World trading organization.
According to chapter 15 of Marrakech Agreement on WTO foundation, each country should provide conformity of the laws, rules and administrative procedures to its obligations, stipulated by WTO agreements.
With this purpose, regarding legislative maintenance of process of Ukraine access to WTO, during 2002-2007 the Supreme Rada of Ukraine has worked out 58 laws.
Some obligations of Ukraine stipulate the certain transition periods. In connection with this the requirements will be changed in the further the national legislation. Now WTO encounters 151 states.
Yahoo! is ready to merge, but it requires to increase the sum of transaction
Written on 7 April 2008 by webmasterAmerican Internet-company Yahoo! Inc. is ready to merge with Internet giant Microsoft Corp. if the offered sum will be increased. Such message contains in the letter of the company.
In the letter heads of Yahoo! Inc. express opinion, that Microsoft “has underestimated” Yahoo!.
The day before Microsoft has established three-week term to Yahoo! board of directors and has offered them to think over the purchase of company again. In the letter directed to Yahoo!, it is underlined, that if the board of directors of the company will not make a decision till April, 26th, Microsoft will address with the offer directly to shareholders of the company, however, it will name the sum below the present sum.
Microsoft has offered to buy Yahoo! for 44,6 billion dollars on February, 1st 2008.
The general sum of the transaction will be half paid by shares, and half - in cash. Management of Yahoo! has rejected Microsoft’s offer on February, 11th, and has started to look for alternative variants.
