Financial News

WASHINGTON, May 13 (Reuters) - U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder said on Thursday that the Justice Department would: * Take the 'time that is necessary' to review the merger proposal between United Airlines and Continental Airlines (Company news desk in Washington; +1 202 898 8400, washington.newsroom@thomsonreuters.com) COPYRIGHT Copyright Thomson Reuters 2010. All rights reserved. The ...

May 13 (Reuters) - Portec Rail Products Inc: L.B. FOSTER AND PORTEC ENTER INTO TIMING AGREEMENT WITH THE DEPARTMENT OF Justice and amend merger agreement SAYS TO EXTEND THE DROP DEAD DATE FOR COMPLETION OF THE ACQUISITION to August 31, 2010 SAYS COS WILL NOT COMPLETE L.B. FOSTER'S ACQUISITION OF PORTEC before July 16, 2010 SAYS L.B. FOSTER AND PORTEC ARE COOPERATING WI ...

WASHINGTON, May 13 (Reuters) - The Obama administration will take all the time that is needed in its antitrust review of the proposed merger of United Airlines and Continental Airlines but will not unnecessarily delay things, U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder said on Thursday. "The (Justice Department) will examine this merger, as it does all of those that are within our responsibilit ...

By Geoff Foster13 May 2010, 8:16am Lloyd's of London insurer Jardine Lloyd Thompson is on the acquisition trail. It apparently wants to expand by mopping up regional businesses. It had better get a move on because word is the Yanks are coming. Aon Corporation, the world's premier insurance broker, is strongly rumoured to be about to launch a 'friendly' £1.8bn - or 850p a share - cash offer for JLT. Geoff Foster: The prospect of speedy spending cuts helped the Footsie trade  ...

PERTH, May 13 (Reuters) - Australian takeover target Macarthur Coal has called off an agreed merger with local smaller rival Gloucester Coal, it said on Thursday, as it considers a reduced takeover offer from its U.S. suitor. Macarthur, which has received takeover offers from Peabody Energy Corp and Australia's New Hope Corp, said in a statement that it will be not be changing or extending ...

CITES DEBTOR BALANCES AT UNIT DURING OFFER * Did not expect controller consent from FSA (Adds details) May 13 (Reuters) - British stock broker Astaire Securities' said its offer to buy peer Hoodless Brennan Holdings lapsed due to irrecoverable debtor balances at its unit. Astaire said it withdrew the offer application from the Financial Services Authority as it did not ex ...

PERTH, May 13 (Reuters) - Australian miner Macarthur Coal Ltd said on Thursday it has terminated an agreed takeover deal with smaller local rival Gloucester Coal Ltd. Macarthur, which has received takeover offers from U.S. miner Peabody Energy Corp and Australia's New Hope Corp , said it will be not be changing or extending the acquisition agreement with Gloucester. (Reporting by Fayen W ...

LJUBLJANA, May 13 (Reuters) - Slovenia's largest household appliances maker Gorenje plans to take over Swedish washing machine maker Asko, daily Finance reported on Thursday. Asko spokeswoman Lotta Wangdahl told Finance takeover talks were ongoing. Asko is a part of Italian group Antonio Merloni group, the paper said. Gorenje told Reuters it was eying several takeover targets but r ...

By Ed Monk12 May 2010, 9:47am 17.30: Pressure: Shares will struggle this morning. WANT TO KNOW MORE? Shares stem losses on Tory pact rumours FTSE close: RBS, Xstrata down Newspaper and magazine share tips FTSE LATEST 5383.4549.24 document.write(""); document.write(""); document.write(""); £12.50 SHARE DEALING • Buy and sell shares online or by phone for £12.50 (£20 for certificates) TALK ABOUT SHARES Join the lively debates on shares:  ...

By Pav Jordan and Alex Dobuzinskis TORONTO/LOS ANGELES, May 12 (Reuters) - Shareholders of Lions Gate Entertainment Corp, the Hollywood studio behind "Saw" and "Mad Men", voted on Wednesday in favor of a poison pill defense against unsolicited takeover bids, even after a court declared the move invalid. Holders of about 56 percent of the company's shares voted in favor ...