International Business News - merger http://www.ibtimes.com All articles are copyrighted by IBTimes.com 400 100 http://www.ibtimes.com/ http://www.ibtimes.com/images/top_logo_ibt2_3.gif Two Chinese tobacco companies are merging to form the world's fourth-largest cigarette producer by volume, a financial newspaper reported Tuesday. Hongyun Group and Honghe Group signed a letter of intent Monday, the newspaper 21st Century Business Herald said, citing Li Weidong, an executive of their parent company, China Tobacco Yunnan Industrial Corp. It said the deal requires approval from China's State Tobacco Monopoly Administration. http://www.ibtimes.com/articles/20080826/report-china-tobacco-merger-to-create-no-4-maker.htm Tue, 26 Aug 2008 07:06:51 EDT Sneaker maker Skechers USA Inc. said Thursday it was disappointed that wheeled-footwear manufacturer Heelys Inc. rejected its proposal to enter discussions regarding a business combination. http://www.ibtimes.com/articles/20080821/skechers-still-interested-in-heelys-tie-up.htm Thu, 21 Aug 2008 08:46:37 EDT F.N.B. Corp. said Monday it completed its acquisition of Iron and Glass Bancorp Inc., which operates eight bank branches in Pittsburgh. Under the deal, which was first announced in February, F.N.B. paid $86.1 million for Iron and Glass Bancorp. http://www.ibtimes.com/articles/20080818/f-n-b-completes-buyout-of-iron-and-glass.htm Mon, 18 Aug 2008 15:26:20 EDT Australia's competition watchdog said Wednesday it will not oppose a merger between Australia's St. George Bank Ltd. and Westpac Banking Corp. St. George, Australia's fifth largest bank, is the subject of a 17.5 billion Australian dollar ($15.4 billion) friendly takeover offer from the larger Westpac. http://www.ibtimes.com/articles/20080813/australian-regulator-approves-bank-merger.htm Wed, 13 Aug 2008 04:08:43 EDT Two senators on Thursday said they were concerned that mergers among health insurers were leading to higher premiums for consumers--and questioned whether a proposed merger between Pennsylvania's two largest health insurance companies was a good idea. http://www.ibtimes.com/articles/20080801/subcommittee-reviews-health-insurers-merger.htm Fri, 01 Aug 2008 07:50:33 EDT Sirius Satellite Radio Inc. and XM Satellite Radio Inc. merged yesterday after one year and a half since their plan to make the joint firm was first announced. http://www.ibtimes.com/articles/20080730/sirus-satellite-merger-radio.htm Wed, 30 Jul 2008 17:14:15 EDT John Paul DeJoria, co-founder of Patron tequila, said Tuesday he will become principal owner of the parent company of Patron Spirits Co. in a move to invest in the brand's growth. http://www.ibtimes.com/articles/20080729/patron-founder-to-become-main-owner-of-company.htm Tue, 29 Jul 2008 12:46:49 EDT Germany's antitrust regulator said Tuesday it had approved the merger of two leading discount supermarket chains, with certain conditions. The Federal Cartel Office said Edeka's Netto chain could go ahead with plans to take a majority stake in Plus, owned by the Tengelmann Group, to create the country's No. 3 discount supermarket chain behind rivals Aldi and Lidl. http://www.ibtimes.com/articles/20080701/germany-merger-of-2-leading-supermarkets-approved.htm Tue, 01 Jul 2008 11:24:26 EDT The drug store and pharmacy benefit management industries on Tuesday will announce a combination of their information systems in order to boost electronic prescribing by physicians. http://www.ibtimes.com/articles/20080701/medication-managers-drug-stores-merge-networks.htm Tue, 01 Jul 2008 00:15:12 EDT Two Chinese steel companies combined Monday to form the world's fifth-largest producer, the latest in a series of government-orchestrated deals aimed at creating globally competitive suppliers amid booming demand. http://www.ibtimes.com/articles/20080630/china-combines-2-steel-makers-as-demand-surges.htm Mon, 30 Jun 2008 08:29:00 EDT Internet broadcaster JumpTV Inc. rejected a proposal from Web entrepreneur Brad Greenspan and plans to go ahead with a merger with U.S. online TV service NeuLion Inc. http://www.ibtimes.com/articles/20080627/jumptv-spurns-bid-plans-merger-with-neulion.htm Fri, 27 Jun 2008 10:44:51 EDT Pork producer Smithfield Foods Inc. confirmed Wednesday that Spanish processed meats company Campofrio Alimentacion SA is negotiating to buy its main European subsidiary. http://www.ibtimes.com/articles/20080625/smithfield-confirms-deal-talks-with-campofrio.htm Wed, 25 Jun 2008 14:54:30 EDT Several consumer groups and a labor union that represents health-care workers want the state to appoint an independent consumer advocate to help review the proposed combination of Pennsylvania's two largest health insurers. http://www.ibtimes.com/articles/20080619/pa-consumer-advocate-sought-in-insurer-deal.htm Thu, 19 Jun 2008 17:27:29 EDT State authorities have directed two health care companies to resubmit their application for a proposed merger that would affect three-quarters of Rhode Island's hospital system. http://www.ibtimes.com/articles/20080617/r-i-hospital-merger-application-is-inadequate.htm Tue, 17 Jun 2008 10:55:44 EDT NBC Sports and World Championship Sports Network are forming a partnership to create a network that airs Olympic sports. Universal Sports will include a television network and Web site, the two organizations announced Monday. WCSN, which will operate under the Universal Sports name, had broadcast many events between Olympic Games. NBC, a unit of General Electric Co., owns American TV rights to the Olympics. http://www.ibtimes.com/articles/20080616/nbc-wcsn-to-create-new-olympic-sports-network.htm Mon, 16 Jun 2008 16:06:13 EDT State authorities have directed two health care companies to resubmit their application for a merger that would affect three-quarters of Rhode Island's hospital system. http://www.ibtimes.com/articles/20080616/r-i-hospital-merger-application-is-inadequate.htm Mon, 16 Jun 2008 14:36:23 EDT Tangshan Iron & Steel and rival Handan Iron & Steel have begun talks to combine operations in a deal that would create one of China's biggest steelmakers, Handan said Thursday. http://www.ibtimes.com/articles/20080612/china-merger-to-create-major-steelmaker.htm Thu, 12 Jun 2008 06:08:44 EDT 1st Source Corp. said Wednesday that it finished merging First National Bank of Valparaiso into 1st Source Bank. First National, based in Valparaiso, Ind., was a full-service bank with about $700 million in assets and personal and business products and services, 1st Source said. http://www.ibtimes.com/articles/20080611/2-northern-indiana-banks-finish-merger.htm Wed, 11 Jun 2008 15:12:55 EDT US banking giant, Bank of America, is free to take over the country's biggest mortgage lender, Countrywide Financial after gaining the Federal Reserve's approval. http://www.ibtimes.com/articles/20080605/bank-america-countrywide-federal-reserve-fed-merger.htm Thu, 05 Jun 2008 23:39:58 EDT U.S. office supplies giant Staples Inc. said late Wednesday that its subsidiary Staples Acquisition B.V. has entered into agreements to buy an additional 12.3 percent of Corporate Express NV's shares in its hostile bid for the Dutch office products company. http://www.ibtimes.com/articles/20080605/staples-corporate-express-shares-merger.htm Thu, 05 Jun 2008 00:10:34 EDT