TFN NEWS BRIEFING: Mergers and acquisitions highlights to 15:50 BST

2008-10-13 15:48:54

GLANCE EU mergers and takeovers (Oct 13)

BRUSSELS, Oct 13 (Reuters) - The following are proposed mergers,

acquisitions and joint ventures under review by the European Commission, and a

brief guide to the EU merger process:

APPROVALS AND WITHDRAWALS:

-- UK pharmaceutical products wholesaler Alliance Boots buys German

-- Allianz Lebensversicherungs and Allianz Versicherungs, belonging to

German insurer Allianz, and GLL AMB Generali Holding Bank Center of Luxembourg,

belonging to the Italian Generali Group, acquire joint control of Hungarian

2008-10-13 15:46:35

BRIEF-Sovereign confirms talks with Banco Santander regarding possible business

NEW YORK (Thomson Financial) - Oct 13 (Reuters) - Sovereign Bancorp Inc:

* Confirms talks with Banco Santander regarding possible business

combination

* Says does not intend to comment further until an agreement is reached or

discussions are terminated

2008-10-13 15:43:37

COMPSON HOLDING CORP. SAYS ACQUISITION PRICE WOULD BE $328,674,000

NEW YORK (Thomson Financial) - COMPSON HOLDING CORP. SAYS ACQUISITION PRICE

WOULD BE $328,674,000

Chuck Mikolajczak

cm

2008-10-13 15:43:15

COMPSON HOLDING CORP. OFFERS $27.50/SHR FOR AGREE REALTY CORP OR ITS ASSETS

NEW YORK (Thomson Financial) - COMPSON HOLDING CORP. OFFERS $27.50 PER SHARE

FOR AGREE REALTY CORPORATION OR ITS ASSETS

Chuck Mikolajczak

cm

2008-10-13 14:55:35

SOVEREIGN BANCORP SAYS DOES NOT INTEND TO COMMENT FURTHER UNTIL DEAL IS REACHED

- SOVEREIGN BANCORP INC SAYS DOES NOT INTEND TO COMMENT FURTHER UNTIL AN

AGREEMENT IS REACHED OR DISCUSSIONS ARE TERMINATED

Varghese Joseph

vj

2008-10-13 14:54:14

SOVEREIGN CONFIRMS TALKS WITH BANCO SANTANDER REGARDING BUSINESS COMBINATION

- SOVEREIGN CONFIRMS TALKS WITH BANCO SANTANDER REGARDING POSSIBLE BUSINESS

COMBINATION

Varghese Joseph

vj

2008-10-13 14:47:59

1-Adidas division to buy Ashworth for $1.90/shr

- Oct 7 (Reuters) - Golf inspired sportwear maker Ashworth Inc said it will

be bought by TaylorMade-adidas Golf, a subsidiary of the Adidas, for $1.90 per

share in cash, in a deal valued at about $26.5 million.

2008-10-13 14:45:52

1-Vishay says terminates offer to buy IRF

NEW YORK (Thomson Financial) - (Recasts; adds details, background, share

Oct 13 (Reuters) - Chipmaker Vishay Intertechnology Inc said it

terminated its offer to acquire International Rectifier Corp for $23.00 per

share in cash, and will return tendered shares to their holders.

2008-10-13 14:36:06

BRIEF-U.S. Energy signs lease purchase and drilling agreement

- Oct 13 (Reuters) - US Energy Corp:

* U.S. energy corp. signs lease purchase and drilling agreement with private

Texas-based company

* Says to acquire a 25% non-operating working interest in an oil prospect

located in east Texas

* Says will pay $45,000 prospect fee, be responsible for 33 percent of costs

for first well to the tanks, if successful

* Says spudding of the first well is expected to commence in late 2008 or

the Q1 2009

Varghese Joseph

vj

2008-10-13 14:34:44

US ENERGY CORP SAYS SPUDDING OF FIRST WELL EXPECTED IN LATE 2008 OR THE Q1 2009

- US ENERGY CORP SAYS SPUDDING OF THE FIRST WELL IS EXPECTED TO COMMENCE IN

LATE 2008 OR THE Q1 2009

Varghese Joseph

vj

2008-10-13 14:33:54

US ENERGY TO BUY 25% NON-OPERATING WORKING INTEREST IN E. TEXAS OIL PROSPECT

- US ENERGY CORP SAYS TO ACQUIRE A 25% NON-OPERATING WORKING INTEREST IN AN

OIL PROSPECT LOCATED IN EAST TEXAS

Varghese Joseph

vj

2008-10-13 14:27:52

BRIEF-Wilmington Trust completes acquisition of UBS Fiduciary Trust

- Oct 13 (Reuters) - Wilmington Trust Corp:

* Completes acquisition of UBS Fiduciary Trust company

* Says deal non-dilutive to earnings in 2008

* Sees deal adding $38 million of revenue and $36 million of expense per

year

Varghese Joseph

vj

2008-10-13 14:27:30

Greek central bank positive on Bank of Piraeus' buy of 26 pct stake in Proton

ATHENS (Thomson Financial) - The central bank of Greece said it was positive

on Bank of Piraeus SA's acquisition of a 26.62 percent stake in local Proton

Bank SA.

2008-10-13 14:25:55

1-Progressive retains Roth Capital to seek alternatives

Oct 13 (Reuters) - Progressive Gaming International Corp <PGICD.O&gt;, a

supplier of branded slot machines, said it retained Roth Capital Partners LLC to

assist the company in evaluating strategic alternatives, including a possible

sale.

2008-10-13 14:08:38

Greek Bank of Piraeus, Proton Bank resume trading on ASE

ATHENS (Thomson Financial) - Shares in Greeces Bank of Piraeus SA and Proton

Bank SA resumed trading on the Athens Stock Exchange (ASE).

2008-10-13 14:08:22

1-RBS placed 9.98 pct of Storebrand -bankers

OSLO, Oct 13 (Reuters) - Royal Bank of Scotland has sold a 9.98 percent

stake in Norwegian insurance company Storebrand, a transaction worth 987.8

million Norwegian crowns ($159.3 million), the bookrunner ABN AMRO said on

Monday.

2008-10-13 14:05:34

BRIEF-Principal Financial Q3 preliminary results

- Oct 13 (Reuters) - Principal Financial Group Inc:

* Sees Q3 2008 operating earnings per share $0.92 to $0.97

* Sees Q3 2008 earnings per share $0.30 to $0.40

* Reuters Estimates Q3 earnings per share view $0.94

* Says net reflects estimated net realized/unrealized capital losses of $140

to $170 million after tax

* Says suspending purchases of its common stock under the existing share

repurchase program

* Sets FY dividend of $0.45 per share

* Rpt-principal financial group inc reuters estimates q3 shr view $0.94

* Says has no current plans to raise equity capital for non-strategic

reasons

* Says gross unrealized losses component of accumulated other comprehensive

income was about $4.4 billion at September 30

* Says cuts common stock dividend

* Says as of September 30, 2008, capital position improved from June 30,

2008 to about $375 million

Varghese Joseph

vj

2008-10-13 14:04:19

PRINCIPAL FINANCIAL GROUP INC SAYS CUTS COMMON STOCK DIVIDEND

- PRINCIPAL FINANCIAL GROUP INC SAYS CUTS COMMON STOCK DIVIDEND

Varghese Joseph

vj

2008-10-13 14:04:15

LBBW, BayernLB bank owners test merger waters

FRANKFURT, Oct 13 (Reuters) - The owners of regional wholesale lenders LBBW

and BayernLB are talking about merging the two landesbanks, a spokesman for

Baden-Wuerttemberg's savings bank association said on Monday.

2008-10-13 14:03:58

PRINCIPAL FINANCIAL GROUP INC REUTERS ESTIMATES Q3 SHR VIEW $0.94

NEW YORK (Thomson Financial) - RPT-PRINCIPAL FINANCIAL GROUP INC REUTERS

ESTIMATES Q3 SHR VIEW $0.94

Chuck Mikolajczak

cm

2008-10-13 14:03:46

PRINCIPAL FINANCIAL GROUP INC SETS FY DIVIDEND OF $0.45/SHR

NEW YORK (Thomson Financial) - PRINCIPAL FINANCIAL GROUP INC SETS FY

DIVIDEND OF $0.45/SHR

Chuck Mikolajczak

cm

2008-10-13 13:46:55

BRIEF-Marshall and Ilsley to buy majority stake in Taplin, Canida & Habacht

- Oct 13 (Reuters) - Marshall & Ilsley Corp:

* To acquire a majority interest in Taplin, Canida & Habacht Inc

* Says terms were not disclosed

* Says transaction is not expected to have a material impact on its

financial results

* Says substantially all of initial payment by is comprised of M&I common

stock

* Says Tere Alvarez Canida will continue in her current role as president

Varghese Joseph

vj

2008-10-13 13:45:07

BRIEF-Progressive Gaming retains Roth Capital to evaluate options

NEW YORK (Thomson Financial) - Oct 13 (Reuters) - Progressive Gaming

International Corp:

* Retains investment bank to assist company with review of strategic

alternatives

* Says expects to consider and evaluate available alternatives including,

but

not limited to, sale of company

* Says board has engaged Roth Capital Partners, LLC to assist the company

Chuck Mikolajczak

cm

2008-10-13 13:40:32

BEFORE THE BELL-Wachovia, Wells Fargo rise on Fed approval

NEW YORK, Oct 13 (Reuters) - Shares of Wachovia rose 10 percent before the

bell on Monday the day after the Federal Reserve gave its stamp of approval to

the bank's takeover by Wells Fargo & Co.

2008-10-13 13:40:20

BRIEF-Toro acquires assets of Southern Green

NEW YORK (Thomson Financial) - Oct 13 (Reuters) - Toro Co:

* Acquires assets of Southern Green to strengthen position in aerification

market

Chuck Mikolajczak

cm

2008-10-13 13:39:30

BRIEF-TaylorMade-adidas Golf to acquire Ashworth

NEW YORK (Thomson Financial) - Oct 13 (Reuters) - Ashworth Inc:

* Taylormade-adidas Golf company to acquire Ashworth Inc,

* Says agreement to acquire all of the outstanding shares of Ashworth Inc,

for

$1.90 per share in cash

* Says transaction value is $72.8 million

* Says transaction includes the assumption of $46.3 million of Ashworth debt

((Bangalore Equities Newsroom; +91 80 4135 5800; within U.S. +1 646 223

Chuck Mikolajczak

cm

2008-10-13 13:39:21

BRIEF-Morgan Stanley total assets now under $900 bln

- Oct 13 (Reuters) - Morgan Stanley:

* Says total assets as of Monday under $900 billion versus $987 billion at

end of August

* Says leverage ratio reduced to 20, tier 1 capital 15.5 percent with MUFG

deal

* To collaborate with MUFG on corporate and investment banking, retail

banking, lending activities

2008-10-13 13:38:17

BEFORE THE BELL-GM rises on Chrysler merger talk

NEW YORK, Oct 13 (Reuters) - Shares of General Motors Corp rose before the

opening bell on Monday after sources briefed on the matter said over the weekend

the automaker has had talks with Chrysler LLC about a possible merger.

2008-10-13 13:35:41

Greece's Bank of Piraeus to acquire 26.6 pct of Proton Bank in all share deal

ATHENS (Thomson Financial) - Greece's Bank of Piraeus SA said it will

acquire 26.62 percent of Proton Bank SA in an all share transaction.

2008-10-13 13:35:36

BRIEF-Vishay terminates offer to buy International Rectifier

NEW YORK (Thomson Financial) - Oct 13 (Reuters) - Vishay Intertechnology

Inc:

* Terminates offer to acquire International Rectifier

* Says will be returning tendered shares to their holders

Chuck Mikolajczak

cm

2008-10-13 13:35:25

MARSHALL & ILSLEY CORP SAYS TERMS WERE NOT DISCLOSED

- MARSHALL & ILSLEY CORP SAYS TERMS WERE NOT DISCLOSED

Varghese Joseph

vj

2008-10-13 13:34:42

MARSHALL & ILSLEY CORP TO ACQUIRE MAJORITY INTEREST IN TAPLIN, CANIDA & HABACHT

- MARSHALL & ILSLEY CORPORATION TO ACQUIRE A MAJORITY INTEREST IN TAPLIN,

CANIDA & HABACHT, INC.

2008-10-13 13:33:18

WELLS FARGO RISES 6% TO $30 AFTER FED GIVES NOD TO PURCHASE OF WACHOVIA

- WELLS FARGO SHARES RISE 6 PCT TO $30 BEFORE THE BELL AFTER FED GIVES NOD

TO COMPANY'S PURCHASE OF WACHOVIA

Varghese Joseph

vj

2008-10-13 13:32:41

PROGRESSIVE GAMING TO CONSIDER AND EVALUATE AVAILABLE ALTERNATIVES OF CO

NEW YORK (Thomson Financial) - PROGRESSIVE GAMING INTERNATIONAL CORP SAYS

EXPECTS TO CONSIDER AND EVALUATE AVAILABLE ALTERNATIVES INCLUDING, BUT NOT

LIMITED TO, SALE OF CO

Chuck Mikolajczak

cm

2008-10-13 13:26:10

GMSHARES JUMP 17.6% TO $5.75 ON NEWS CO HAS HAD MERGER TALKS WITH CHRYSLER

- GENERAL MOTORS SHARES JUMP 17.6 PCT TO $5.75 FOLLOWING NEWS COMPANY HAS

HAD MERGER TALKS WITH CHRYSLER

Varghese Joseph

vj

2008-10-13 13:20:49

INSTANT VIEW 1-MUFG revises terms of Morgan Stanley investment

NEW YORK NEW YORK, Oct 13 (Reuters) - Mitsubishi UFJ Financial Group on

Monday said it would modify the terms under which it is injecting $9 billion

into investment bank Morgan Stanley <MS.N&gt;, buying two forms of preferred

stock, each with 10 percent dividends.

2008-10-13 13:19:53

BRIEF-Mitsubishi UFJ closes $9 billion equity investment in Morgan Stanley

NEW YORK (Thomson Financial) - Oct 13 (Reuters) - Mitsubishi UFJ

Financial Group Inc:

* Mitsubishi UFJ Financial Group closes $9 billion equity

investment in Morgan Stanley as part of global strategic alliance

Chuck Mikolajczak

cm

2008-10-13 13:16:08

BRIEF-Mitsubishi UFJ Financial to get 10 pct dividend on Morgan Stanley

investment

Oct 13 (Reuters) - Oct 13 (Reuters) - Mitsubishi UFJ Financial Group

Inc:

* Says has right to maintain equivalent of 20 percent fully diluted

ownership

interest in Morgan Stanley

* Says investment dividend 10 percent

* Says after three years Morgan Stanley has right to redeem non-convertible

stock portion at 110 percent of face value

[email protected]

cmr

2008-10-13 13:15:26

Sampo raises Nordea stake to 10.9 pct

HELSINKI, Oct 13 (Reuters) - Finnish insurer Sampo Oyj has increased its

stake in Swedish bank Nordea to 10.9 percent by the end of September, data on

Nordea's website showed on Monday.

2008-10-13 13:14:26

MUFG SAYS PREFERRED SHARES IN MORGAN STANLEY STILL TO CARRY 10 PCT YIELD

NEW YORK (Thomson Financial) - MUFG SAYS PREFERRED SHARES IN MORGAN STANLEY

STILL TO CARRY 10 PCT YIELD

Chuck Mikolajczak

cm

2008-10-13 13:13:49

MUFJ HAS RIGHT TO MAINTAIN EQUIVALENT OF 20% FULLY DILUTED OWNERSHIP INTEREST

NEW YORK (Thomson Financial) - MITSUBISHI UFJ FINANCIAL GROUP INC SAYS HAS

RIGHT TO MAINTAIN EQUIVALENT OF 20 PCT FULLY DILUTED OWNERSHIP INTEREST IN

MORGAN STANLEY

Chuck Mikolajczak

cm

2008-10-13 13:13:35

STOCKS NEWS EUROPE-Great Portland sinks amid reshuffle rumours

- STOCKS NEWS Reuters Results

diary

Stocks on the move Real-time Equity News

12:02GMT 13Oct2008-Great Portland sinks amid CEO rumours

--------------------------------------------------------

Shares in London property specialist Great Portland Estates shed 3.7

percent to 283 pence as rumours abound its chief executive Toby Courtauld could

be headhunted by British Land to replace its outgoing chief Stephen Hester.

2008-10-13 13:12:37

MUFG CHANGES CONVERSION PRICE FOR MORGAN STANLEY SHARES TO $25.25 FROM $31.25

NEW YORK (Thomson Financial) - MUFG SAYS CHANGES CONVERSION PRICE FOR MORGAN

STANLEY SHARES TO $25.25 FROM $31.25

Chuck Mikolajczak

cm

2008-10-13 13:11:47

MUFG SAYS STILL PLANS TO BUY 21 PCT STAKE IN MORGAN STANLEY, PAY ABOUT $9B

NEW YORK (Thomson Financial) - MUFG SAYS STILL PLANS TO BUY 21 PCT STAKE IN

MORGAN STANLEY, PAY ABOUT $9 BILLION

Chuck Mikolajczak

cm

2008-10-13 13:07:45

MUFG SAYS TO BUY ONLY PREFERRED SHARES FROM MORGAN STANLEY

NEW YORK (Thomson Financial) - MUFG SAYS TO BUY ONLY PREFERRED SHARES FROM

MORGAN STANLEY

Chuck Mikolajczak

cm

2008-10-13 12:47:23

RBS placed 9.98 pct of Storebrand -bankers

OSLO, Oct 13 (Reuters) - Royal Bank of Scotland has sold a 9.98 percent

stake in Norwegian insurance company Storebrand, a transaction worth 987.8

million Norwegian crowns ($159.3 million), the bookrunner ABN AMRO said on

Monday.

2008-10-13 12:46:10

US STOCKS-Futures jump on bank rescues; Morgan higher

NEW YORK NEW YORK, Oct 13 (Reuters) - U.S. stock index futures

soared on Monday as a push by governments around the world to

pump money into the clogged banking system sparked relief among

investors and credit markets showed signs of loosening up.

2008-10-13 12:44:39

1-Investcorp says feeling impact of global volatility

DUBAI, Oct 13 (Reuters) - Bahrain and London-listed Investcorp's president

and chief operating officer Gary Long said on Monday the investment firm's

portfolio companies were under stress, getting leverage for deals was difficult

and investors were nervous.

2008-10-13 12:42:20

1-King extends tender offer to acquire Alpharma

NEW YORK, Oct 13 (Reuters) - King Pharmaceuticals Inc extended its tender

offer for Alpharma Inc to Nov. 21, continuing its effort to boost its pain

management franchise.

2008-10-13 12:40:12

BRIEF-Waste Management withdraws proposal to acquire Republic Services

NEW YORK (Thomson Financial) - Oct 13 (Reuters) - Waste Management Inc:

* Announces preliminary third quarter 2008 earnings per diluted share above

Wall street expectations

* Says withdraws proposal to acquire Republic Services

* Sees Q3 2008 earnings per share $0.62

* Sees Q3 2008 earnings per share after adjusting for certain items noted

below

are expected to be between $0.62 and $0.63 per diluted share.

* Sees Q3 2008 revenue $3.53 billion

* Reuters Estimates Q3 earnings per share view $0.60, revenue view $3,519.88

million

* Reuters Estimates q3 shr view $0.60, rev view $3,519.88 mln

* Says currently have over $500 million of available cash and liquid

investments

* Cites current state of the financial markets for decision on Republic deal

2008-10-13 12:39:52

BRIEF-International Rectifier amends stockholder rights plan

NEW YORK (Thomson Financial) - Oct 13 (Reuters) - International

Rectifier Corp:

* Says amends stockholder rights plan

* Says reduces trigger to 10 percent from 20 pecent

Chuck Mikolajczak

cm

2008-10-13 12:39:40

MUFG to announce revised Morgan deal soon-source

NEW YORK TOKYO, Oct 13 (Reuters) - Mitsubishi UFJ Financial Group plans to

announce revised terms for its $9 billion investment in Morgan Stanley later on

Monday, a source familiar with the matter said.

2008-10-13 12:39:08

MORGAN STANLEY SHARES UP BY MORE THAN 23 PCT BEFORE THE BELL

NEW YORK (Thomson Financial) - MORGAN STANLEY SHARES UP BY MORE THAN 23 PCT

BEFORE THE BELL

Chuck Mikolajczak

cm

2008-10-13 12:38:49

INTERNATIONAL RECTIFIER CORP SAYS REDUCES TRIGGER TO 10% FROM 20%

NEW YORK (Thomson Financial) - INTERNATIONAL RECTIFIER CORP SAYS REDUCES

TRIGGER TO 10% FROM 20%

Chuck Mikolajczak

cm

2008-10-13 12:36:52

BRIEF-Helen of Troy buys Ogilvie brand from Ascendia Brands

NEW YORK (Thomson Financial) - Oct 13 (Reuters) - Helen of Troy Ltd:

* Announces acquisition of the ogilvie brand from ascendia brands, inc

* Sees acquisition to be accretive during fourth quarter ending February 28,

2009

2008-10-13 12:36:25

BRIEF-Mariner Energy adopts stockholder rights plan

NEW YORK (Thomson Financial) - Oct 13 (Reuters) - Mariner Energy Inc:

* Adopts stockholder rights plan

* Says rights plan would be triggered if acquiring party accumulates 10

percent

or more of Mariner's common stock

Chuck Mikolajczak

cm

2008-10-13 12:35:56

WASTE MGMT CITES CURRENT STATE OF FINANCIAL MARKETS FOR DECISION ON REPUBLIC

NEW YORK (Thomson Financial) - WASTE MANAGEMENT INC CITES CURRENT STATE OF

THE FINANCIAL MARKETS FOR DECISION ON REPUBLIC DEAL

Chuck Mikolajczak

cm

2008-10-13 12:34:40

WASTE MGMT SAYS CURRENTLY HAS OVER $500M AVAILABLE CASH AND LIQUID INVESTMENTS

NEW YORK (Thomson Financial) - WASTE MANAGEMENT INC SAYS CURRENTLY HAVE OVER

$500 MILLION OF AVAILABLE CASH AND LIQUID INVESTMENTS

Chuck Mikolajczak

cm

2008-10-13 12:34:06

WASTE MANAGEMENT INC REUTERS ESTIMATES Q3 SHR VIEW $0.60, REV VIEW $3,519.88

NEW YORK (Thomson Financial) - RPT-WASTE MANAGEMENT INC REUTERS ESTIMATES Q3

SHR VIEW $0.60, REV VIEW $3,519.88 MLN

Chuck Mikolajczak

cm

2008-10-13 12:33:19

HELEN OF TROY LTD SEES BUY TO BE ACCRETIVE DURING 4Q ENDING FEBRUARY 28, 2009

NEW YORK (Thomson Financial) - HELEN OF TROY LTD SEES ACQUISITION TO BE

ACCRETIVE DURING FOURTH QUARTER ENDING FEBRUARY 28, 2009

Chuck Mikolajczak

cm

2008-10-13 12:31:46

HELEN OF TROY LIMITED ANNOUNCES ACQUISITION OF THE OGILVIE BRAND FROM ASCENDIA

NEW YORK (Thomson Financial) - HELEN OF TROY LIMITED ANNOUNCES ACQUISITION

OF THE OGILVIE BRAND FROM ASCENDIA BRANDS, INC.

2008-10-13 12:31:19

WASTE MANAGEMENT INC SAYS WITHDRAWS PROPOSAL TO ACQUIRE REPUBLIC SERVICES

NEW YORK (Thomson Financial) - WASTE MANAGEMENT INC SAYS WITHDRAWS PROPOSAL

TO ACQUIRE REPUBLIC SERVICES

Chuck Mikolajczak

cm

2008-10-13 12:31:01

MARINER ENERGY, INC. ADOPTS STOCKHOLDER RIGHTS PLAN

NEW YORK (Thomson Financial) - MARINER ENERGY, INC. ADOPTS STOCKHOLDER

RIGHTS PLAN

Chuck Mikolajczak

cm

2008-10-13 12:28:26

BRIEF-JAKKS Pacific announces acquisition of Tollytots and Kids Only

NEW YORK (Thomson Financial) - Oct 13 (Reuters) - JAKKS Pacific Inc:

* Announces acquisition of tollytots and kids only

Chuck Mikolajczak

cm

2008-10-13 12:26:09

MUFG PLANS TO ANNOUNCE REVISED TERMS OF DEAL WITH MORGAN STANLEY SHORTLY-SOURCE

NEW YORK (Thomson Financial) - MUFG PLANS TO ANNOUNCE REVISED TERMS OF DEAL

WITH MORGAN STANLEY SHORTLY-SOURCE

Chuck Mikolajczak

cm

2008-10-13 12:19:14

WRAPUP 5-UK bank bail-out to take big stakes in top banks

LONDON (Thomson Financial) - * 3 major UK banks could take 37 bln pounds

in govt capital

* Government could end up with direct majority holdings

* RBS Chief Executive Fred Goodwin resigns

* Lloyds revises terms of takeover of HBOS

* Similar measures to be echoed across Europe

LONDON, Oct 13 (Reuters) - Britain waded in with 37 billion pounds ($64

billion) of taxpayers' cash to bail out three major banks on Monday, in a move

that could make it their main shareholder.

2008-10-13 12:03:16

KING PHARMA EXTENDS OFFER UNTIL 5:00 PM, NEW YORK CITY TIME, ON NOV 21, 2008

NEW YORK (Thomson Financial) - KING PHARMACEUTICALS INC SAYS EXTENDS

OFFERUNTIL 5:00 PM, NEW YORK CITY TIME, ON NOVEMBER 21, 2008

Chuck Mikolajczak

cm

2008-10-13 12:02:23

KING PHARMACEUTICALS EXTENDS TENDER OFFER TO ACQUIRE ALPHARMA

NEW YORK (Thomson Financial) - KING PHARMACEUTICALS EXTENDS TENDER OFFER TO

ACQUIRE ALPHARMA

Chuck Mikolajczak

cm

2008-10-13 11:56:31

BRIEF-RBS new CEO says 'no sacred cows' in strategic overhaul

LONDON, Oct 13 (Reuters) - Royal Bank of Scotland Group's new chief

executive Stephen Hester says on a conference call:

* New CEO Hester says 'no sacred cows' in review of bank's strategy, asset

sales

* New CEO Hester says expects rbs to emerge as 'a strong international bank'

with different shape, risk profile

2008-10-13 11:54:16

GM Europe labour opposes Chrysler merger - paper

FRANKFURT, Oct 13 (Reuters) - A merger between U.S. carmakers General Motors

Corp and Chrysler would be 'an absolute catastrophe', the top labour

representative at GM Europe was quoted on Monday as saying.

2008-10-13 11:44:58

Greek Piraeus eyes share offer for Proton - source

ATHENS, Oct 13 (Reuters) - Greece's fourth largest lender, Bank of Piraeus,

is aiming for an all-share offer for its smaller rival Proton Bank, a source at

Piraeus told Reuters on Monday.

2008-10-13 11:02:23

Gazprom may get 27 pct in Canadian LNG terminal

MOSCOW, Oct 13 (Reuters) - Russian gas export monopoly Gazprom may get a 27

percent stake in Canada's Rabaska liquefied natural gas (LNG) terminal, a top

executive of France's GDF Suez was quoted as saying on Monday.

2008-10-13 10:58:53

New Britain Palm Oil to compulsorily buy remaining Ramu shares

LONDON (Thomson Financial) - New Britain Palm Oil Ltd. (NBPOL) said it has

implemented the compulsory acquisition procedures under the Papua New Guinea

Takeovers Code in respect of the remaining Ramu Agri Industries Ltd. shares

which it does not already own.

2008-10-13 10:36:32

EU extends review of Galp buy of Exxon Spain unit

BRUSSELS, Oct 13 (Reuters) - The European Commission has extended its

competition review of plans by Portuguese oil company Galp Energia to buy U.S.

2008-10-13 10:35:30

EU extends review of Rail Cargo Austria/MAV deal

BRUSSELS, Oct 13 (Reuters) - The European Commission on Monday set a new,

extended deadline for its review of plans by Rail Cargo Austria AG, a freight

transport and forwarding company, to buy Hungarian peer MAV Cargo.

2008-10-13 10:31:32

AstraZeneca CEO sees no extra buying from crisis

LONDON, Oct 13 (Reuters) - AstraZeneca, the UK's second biggest drugmaker,

does not believe the financial crisis offers extra buying opportunities, its

chief executive said at a conference on Monday.

2008-10-13 10:29:11

Kremlin holds key as crisis threatens oligarchs

MOSCOW, Oct 13 (Reuters) - The global financial crisis is set to force a

huge redistribution of wealth in Russia, with some oligarchs losing heavily,

others profiting and the state helping decide who survives.

2008-10-13 10:19:16

BRIEF-Barclays says UK govt stakes could constrain rivals' strategy

LONDON, Oct 13 (Reuters) - Barclays Plc executives said on a conference

call:

* Says expects to resume dividend payments in Q3 2009

* CEO says by raising funds with own investors, likes the freedom to make

strategic decisions without government involvement

* CEO says banks with government shareholdings 'will be more constrained' in

strategic, operational decisions, sees competitive opportunites for

Barclays

* Barclays finance director says if bank had significant additional

writedowns

it would be required to have announced them

* Barclays capital CEO Diamond says 'cautiously optimistic' of improvement

in

money markets, financial market liquidity

* CEO Varley says UK government wants banks' capital structures to cope with

'a

very significant downdraft' in economy

* CEO says UK government does not expect stronger bank capital ratios to be

permanent, will remain in place 'until the storm blows out'

2008-10-13 10:11:11

TEXT-Lloyds TSB terms for acquisition of HBOS

LONDON, Oct 13 (Reuters) - The following is a statement from the Lloyds TSB

on revised terms for the acquisition of HBOS and the raising of 5.5 billion

pounds of new capital:

In the context of unprecedented turbulence in global financial markets

the Board of Lloyds TSB Group plc (Lloyds TSB) welcomes the action that the UK

government has taken over the last week to stabilise the UK banking system for

the benefit of deposit holders, shareholders, customers and the UK economy as a

whole.

2008-10-13 09:40:28

BRIEF-Qimonda to book most restructuring costs this qtr

FRANKFURT, Oct 13 (Reuters) - Qimonda AG:

* Says to book bulk of 50 million euros in restructuring costs this quarter

* Says to cut capacity by around 40 percent within 9 months

* COO says sales to fall less than 50 percent

* CEO says expects second tranche of $200 million of purchase price in late

November

* Puts development cooperation with Elpida Memory Inc on hold - COO

[email protected]

vs

2008-10-13 09:26:59

FACTBOX-Government bails out UK banks, executives quit

LONDON, Oct 13 (Reuters) - The British government on Monday announced plans

to give three leading banks a 37 billion pound ($64 billion) cash injection

aimed at strengthening their capital reserves in the face of the credit crunch.