Mergers (107 articles)

Apple buying Lala say multiple sources

Apple is in talks to buy online music service Lala if reports from both Bloomberg and Cnet are to be believed.

Although the maker of the iPod has yet to confirm or deny the reports, multiple "sources" close to the matter put it as virtually a done deal.

"The...

T-Mobile and Orange 50:50 joint venture finalised

The deal that will see Orange and T-Mobile merged in the UK to form the biggest mobile phone operator has been finalised.

Deutsche Telekom and France Telecom have now signed the final agreement to combine their respective UK operations into a 50:50 joint venture...

10 things we'd love the Orange/T-Mobile merger to mean...

The news of an Orange/T-Mobile merger was quite a lot for most of us to deal with this morning on the wrong side of a shower and a cup of coffee, but we are all assured through bleary eyes that the resulting largest network in the UK would bring "substantial benefits" to...

Orange and T-Mobile to merge

For some time, there've been rumours that one of the major UK phone networks was looking to buy T-Mobile. At one point or other, O2 and Vodafone have been rumoured, but Orange has been the most recent source of gossip on the matter.

Today, Orange and T-Mobile...

T-Mobile UK in crisis

While T-Mobile UK is busy organising singalongs in central London, it seems the company is under serious threat of being forced to merge or - worse still for customers - being sold off.

The operator, described as "under performing", is suffering from such losses...

Microsoft to Yahoo: Let's talk

If you thought you had seen the end of the "will they won't they" debacle that has become the Yahoo Microsoft merger then be prepared for a flood of new rumours following comments made by Microsoft's chief operating officer this week.

According to The Times,...

Panasonic confirms Sanyo takeover

Following rumours that talks for a takeover deal were taking place, Panasonic has confirmed it plans to acquire its smaller tech rival Sanyo.

Although the deal has been confirmed, the financial agreement has not. Analysts suggest the takeover could cost Panasonic...

Microsoft gets antsy over Yahoo merger rumours

Microsoft has issued a short, and we mean short, statement following yet more rumours that the company is still interested in buying Yahoo following the almost collapse of the Yahoo share price.

In a statement just 18 words long, Microsoft says:

"Our...

Symantec buy PC Tools

Symantec has announced that it is to acquire software maker PC Tools in a hope to gain even more control in the spyware and registry fixing software market.

The company, famous for its Spyware Doctor and Registry Mechanic software is expected to become a part...

Google doubting billion dollar investment in AOL

Google has said that the $1 billion investment in AOL might not have been such a good idea afterall.

According to Reuters, the Mountain View-based company disclosed in a quarterly report filed late Thursday with the Securities and Exchange Commission that the...

Sony buys out BMG stake of record label

Sony is buying Bertelsmann AG out of their 50-50 music venture Sony BMG for $900 million, giving the Japanese company full ownership.

Analysts say the move will enable Sony to move more quickly as the number two player in the music industry, and will give it...

Yahoo Microsoft talks end

Yahoo has said that it has pulled out of talks with Microsoft yet again as it jumped into bed with Google signing a lucrative adverting deal with the Mountain View based company.

In a busy day for the world of search, Yahoo issued a statement on Thursday announcing,...

SanDisk buys MusicGremlin

SanDisk is likely to develop more connected music players in the future following the acquisition of a MusicGremlin on Tuesday.

"MusicGremlin’s digital distribution platform and capabilities will provide SanDisk with adaptive and innovative technology that...

TomTom gets EC okay to buy Tele Atlas

TomTom and Tele Atlas have announce that they have received "unconditional clearance" from the European Commission for the proposed acquisition by TomTom of Tele Atlas.

After an investigation, the Commission has concluded that the merger will not significantly...

Microsoft dumps Yahoo bid

Microsoft has announced it will withdraw its plans to buy Yahoo even though analysts believed it would launch a hostile takeover for the company.

The software giant, who has been actively trying to buy the search engine over the past 3 months has cited that...

Microsoft and Google go for Digg

Google and Microsoft are claimed to be going up against each other for the social media site, Digg.

TechCrunch is reporting that Digg is working with influential investment bank Allen & Co. and has been pitching to big tech and media companies on a sale.

Microsoft buys Danger

Microsoft has announced that announced that it will be buying software maker Danger at this year's Mobile World Congress in Barcelona, Spain.

The software company behind the Sidekick mobile phone, available on T-Mobile in the US and the UK, will become part...

Nokia to acquire Trolltech

Nokia and Trolltech have announced that they have entered into an agreement that Nokia will make a public voluntary tender offer to acquire Trolltech, a Norwegian software provider.

Nokia says the acquisition will enable it to speed up its cross-platform software...

2007: A year in review, April

The month started with a massive announcement for the music download industry.

Apple and EMI announced DRM-free iTunes Plus offering copyright protection free music through Apple's iTunes music store.

It meant for the first time, customers could...

US regulators OK Google-DoubleClick merger

Google's DoubleClick buy-out has been given the official go ahead from America's competition regulator, the Federal Trade Commission.

The £1.6 billion takeover, that took place earlier in the year, saw Google buy the rival online advertising company DoubleClick,...

Garmin withdraws Tele Atlas bid

Garmin has withdrawn its $3.3 billion takeover bid for Dutch digital mapmaker Tele Atlas, clearing the way for rival TomTom, reports the AP.

TomTom made the first takeover bid for Tele Atlas in July, but Garmin then topped TomTom's bid in an aggressive market...

EC decides to investigate Google-DoubleClick deal

After a initial investigation, the EC has decided that there are enough concerns to need a full, in-depth look at the ramifications of the Google-Doubleclick deal, Ars Technica reports.

If the $3.1 million deal for Google to buy the ad company goes through,...

Acer completes Gateway tender

Acer has announced its subsidiary company Galaxy Acquisition Corp has completed its tender offer for Gateway with 86% of Gateway stockholders approving the proposed purchase.

J.T. Wang, Chairman and CEO of Acer stated, "I want to thank all of the teams who...

Virgin Megastore to disappear from high street

The Virgin Megastore retail chain will rebrand itself later in the year following Sir Richard Branson's exit from the company.

The new stores will be called Zavvi, after the Zavvi Entertainment Group that has bought the business.

The Virgin brand...

Acer buys Gateway PC

Acer has announced that it is to buy Gateway, the fourth largest PC company in the US.

The deal, costing the Taiwanese laptop maker $710 million will create a company that is worth over $15 billion in revenues and shipments in excess of 20 million PC units...