Visit our Filed page for categories. To browse by specific topic, see our Inside page. For a list of companies covered on this site, visit our Companies page.
Shares of Potash Corp. and other leading fertilizer makers jumped on Friday after the U.S. government estimated a smaller-than-expected U.S. corn harvest, driving up prices of the nutrient-intensive crop.
Shares of Agrium, Mosaic Co. and CF Industries also rose on the data. Get the full story »
Bloomberg News| Billionaire investor Warren Buffett says he won’t shop for takeover candidates at leverage buyout firms, because “don’t know the business.”
“We have an entrance strategy,” Buffett said, and they have an exit one.
Sanofi-Aventis dismissed a claim by bid target Genzyme that it dangled a higher price for the U.S. biotech company, as a trans-Atlantic takeover fight descended into an ill-tempered stand-off Friday.
Genzyme said Thursday that Sanofi’s chief executive floated the possibility of paying as much as $80 per share at a meeting in September before going hostile with a bid worth $69 per Genzyme share, or a total $18.5 billion. Get the full story »
General Electric Co. on Wednesday signed a deal to buy Dresser Inc. for about $3 billion, its latest deal to expand its product offerings in gas and other energy markets.
The parent companies of Delnor Hospital in Geneva and Central DuPage Hospital in Winfield said Tuesday they have signed an agreement to merge their operations in Chicago’s northwest suburbs.
The deal comes as the health care overhaul law is being implemented over the next four years, triggering a wave of consolidation of hospitals and doctor practices across the country. Get the full story »
The owner of the Little Caesars Pizza chain and Detroit’s baseball and ice hockey teams has opened negotiations to buy the Detroit Pistons basketball team, according to two reports. Get the full story »
Potash Corp. slammed a report commissioned by the province of Saskatchewan that favors BHP Billiton’s $39 billion offer for the fertilizer maker over a potential bid from a state-owned Chinese entity.
The Conference Board’s report, released on Monday, cautioned the provincial government against thwarting BHP’s takeover bid, saying that would depress Potash Corp’s share price and could have a negative impact on new investment in the province. Get the full story »
The Federal Communications Commission is requesting more information from Comcast Corp. and NBC Universal. Regulators are reviewing the cable operator’s plan to acquire a controlling stake in the media company. Get the full story »
Navigant Consulting Inc., a consulting firm that provides dispute resolution and financial and regulatory advice, said Monday it bought EthosPartners Healthcare Management Group Inc. for $37 million.
The Street | Saying U.S. assets are attractive to Swiss banks, Rochdale analyst Richard Bove says Credit Suisse should buy Northern Trust. He cites the Chicago institution’s cash balance and inability to “withstand a takeover bid.”
Grant Thornton LLP said it bought the assets of Huron Consulting Group’s disputes and investigations practice for an undisclosed sum. Get the full story »
Sally Beauty Holdings Inc. bought Aerial Co. Inc. for $70 million as the professional beauty supplier looks to expand its footprint in the Midwest.
The Marinette, Wisc.-based Aerial sells professional beauty supplies such as hair and skin-care products to salons and spas. It had about $100 million in revenue last year. Get the full story »
French drugmaker Sanofi-Aventis launched a hostile bid for Genzyme at $69 per share on Monday, taking its $18.5 billion offer direct to shareholders after Genzyme management refused to negotiate. Get the full story »
Triton Container International Ltd., owned by Chicago’s Pritzker family, is up for sale, the latest attempt at selling the container leasing company that could be worth about $1 billion, several sources familiar with the matter said on Friday.
The auction is the latest in a series of asset sales by the Pritzkers, one of the wealthiest U.S. families. They have been selling assets after a 2001 settlement agreement, in which 11 heirs set a plan to break up the family fortune. Get the full story »
Continental Airlines CEO Jeff Smisek walks through Terminal C of Houston Intercontinental Airport to catch a flight to Chicago on Sept. 23, 2010. (Tribune)
United Airlines closed its merger with Continental Airlines Friday to create the world’s largest airline, called United Airlines. The stock begins trading this morning under the symbol UAL. The holding company formed from the all-stock merger will be called United Continental Holdings Inc.
The two airlines will begin marketing as one company in the spring. In the meantime, travelers will see United employees at United kiosks and Continental employees at Continental kiosks, depending on which carrier is handling the flight.
The company is working to combine frequent flyer programs. In a call with reporters, Smisek underscored, “your miles are safe.” Get the full story »
