Posted on November 5, 2009 at 4:12 PM
Filed under: Careers | Divesting and Restructuring | Middle market | Movers & Shakers | People | Trends
Tagged: Don Dodge , job cuts , Johnson & Johnson , layoffs , Microsoft Corp. , Nokia Siemens

Corporate layoffs are churning this earnings season, with companies trying to cut costs while growing their core businesses. We've gathered a list of pink slippers from the past couple weeks. Of course, aggressively cutting costs is only one side of recent corporate strategy. Downsizing while acquiring has been a frequent...  Continue reading

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Posted on November 5, 2009 at 9:22 AM
Filed under: Best Practices | Corporate Strategy | Joint Ventures and Alliances | Middle market
Tagged: Cox Communications , Kenneth Lowe , Scripps Networks , Travel Channel

Scripps Networks Interactive Inc. (NYSE:SNI) is taking a 65% stake in Travel Channel Media, valuing the cable network at about $975 million -- the high end of analyst valuations. Cox Communications Inc. (NYSE:COX) will retain a 35% stake, spinning it off into a so-called leveraged joint venture. Scripps will...  Continue reading

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Posted on November 4, 2009 at 12:42 PM
Filed under: Divesting and Restructuring | Middle market | People
Tagged: Chapter 11 , FTI Capital Advisors , Halcyon Holding , Joss Whedon , Sony Pictures , Terminator

The auction isn't slated to happen until later this month (reportedly), but the multimillion dollar "Terminator" movie franchise has its first formal bidder ... sort of. It's not a major film studio such as Sony Pictures or an investment fund; it's filmmaker and writer Joseph Hill "Joss" Whedon. He made...  Continue reading

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Posted on October 30, 2009 at 11:43 AM
Filed under: Acquisitions | Corporate Strategy | Deal International | Middle market
Tagged: Aquila Resources , Baosteel , Felix Resources , Rio Tinto , Stern Hu , Yanzhou Coal

Like we keep saying, China needs resources, and Australia needs revenue. So despite any political strains, Baosteel Group Corp. will be allowed to buy up to a 19.9% stake in Aquila Resources Ltd. for A$285 million ($258 million), says Australia's Foreign Investment Review Board. The Chinese steel-producing giant will put...  Continue reading

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Posted on October 30, 2009 at 8:00 AM
Filed under: Inside the Deal | Middle market
Tagged: Harris Williams & Co. , Inside the Deal , Jeff Bistrong , middle market , technology

Banks have spent nearly two years downsizing through workforce reductions and other cost-cutting measures. Now many are turning to technology to further drive efficiency and to help maintain service levels. That in turn is attracting a variety of investors to financial services technology, or fintech, firms with the tools to...  Continue reading

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Posted on October 29, 2009 at 2:56 PM
Filed under: Acquisitions | Best Practices | Corporate Strategy | Middle market
Tagged: Alan Mayer , Chris Hammond , CVRs , earnouts , Green Manning & Bunch , seller financing

Earnouts are much in favor these days, thanks to a tough economy that makes it harder for sellers and buyers to agree on a valuation. For example, King of Prussia, Pa., e-commerce company GSI Commerce Inc. is acquiring VC-backed Retail Convergence Inc. in a deal valued at up to $350...  Continue reading

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Posted on October 29, 2009 at 9:35 AM
Filed under: Acquisitions | Deal International | Growth Strategy | Information Technology | Middle market | Sector Watch | Trends
Tagged: Amdocs , Cognizant , CSC , Dell , ExlService , Genpact , Hewitt Associates , Jack Henry , Sapient , WNS Global

Analysts are expecting more IT services deals in the wake of Dell Inc.'s (NASDAQ:DELL) $3.9 billion acquisition of Perot Systems Corp. (NYSE:PER) and Xerox Corp. (NYSE:XRX) buying document and BPO company Affiliated Computer Services Inc. (NYSE:ACS) for $6.4 billion. Reuters gathered a list of the most likely to be acquired...  Continue reading

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Posted on October 28, 2009 at 12:37 PM
Filed under: Inside the Deal | Middle market
Tagged: Inside the Deal , Jeff Bistrong , middle market , technology

The technology M&A marketplace is set for a rebound, driven by a convergence of higher stock prices and a willingness among buyers to "loosen the purse strings" after months of cash conservation. So says Jeff Bistrong, managing director with the middle-market-focused investment bank Harris Williams & Co. In this edition...  Continue reading

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Posted on October 27, 2009 at 4:03 PM
Filed under: Acquisitions | Best Practices | Corporate Strategy | Growth Strategy | Joint Ventures and Alliances | Middle market | Sector Watch | Trends
Tagged: Cisco Systems , Dell Inc. , General Atlantic , Hewlett-Packard , IBM , Ingram Micro , Juniper Networks

Tech titans are wielding deals to battle for market share. They have been acquiring and partnering, trying to figure out the right business strategy to win customers. The data center market would make a nice little case study. There is growing demand as server farms that run corporate back offices...  Continue reading

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Posted on October 23, 2009 at 12:28 PM
Filed under: Best Practices | Growth Strategy | Middle market
Tagged: Brocade , Cisco , hewlettt-packard , Juniper Networks , Kevin Johnson , WiChorus

Tech spending is coming back but don't expect Juniper Networks Inc. (NASDAQ:JNPR) to spend on M&A. It posted a 44% drop in net income for the third quarter compared to the same period last year, but the network gear maker beat Wall Street Street estimates with revenue of $823.9 million...  Continue reading

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