Google sells its Motorola Mobility to Lenovo

Google announced it reached an agreement with Lenovo to sell the Motorola mobility for $3 billion. Chinese company Lenovo paid Google about a sum of $2.9 billion for the smartphone business with $1.4 billion being paid at the closing of the deal. 

The deal was primary due to the fact that google which only bought Motorola in 2011 struggled with making headway with the smartphone after bailing it out from liquidation. Google purchased Motorola earlier with a sum of $12.5 billion which has been in support of android operating system. Larry Page, CEO of Google says “this is an important move for android”.

CHINA: Nestle opens food safety facility in Beijing

Nestle has opened a food safety research centre in Beijing as part of its drive to support the Chinese government and "strengthen" food safety efforts in the country.

The Nestle Food Safety Institute will work "closely" with Chinese authorities to help provide a "scientific foundation" for policy and standards, Nestle said. Support will include early management of food safety issues and collaboration with local universities, research institutes and government agencies. Food safety and consumer trust are key priorities for Nestle. The new Food Safety Institute will help meet China's growing demand for healthy and safe food, one of the top three concerns among Chinese consumers," Nestle said.It will also promote scientific communication and help run food safety training programmes. 

'Gears of War' franchise rights snagged by Microsoft

Microsoft has bought the rights to the “Gears of War” franchise from epic games making “Gears of War” no longer a Cary-based franchise. The deal gives Microsoft rights to both past and future games in the series and Microsoft has handed development duties of “Gears of War” franchise to Black Tusk Studios in Vancouver, BC.

One of the main reason for Microsoft to purchase the “Gears of War” franchise because they believe that this franchise has a very strong, passionate and valued fan base on Xbox.  By acquiring this franchise, Microsoft Studios will continue to offer their committed fans more of their favourite games and entertainment experiences from the “Gears of War” universe.

Spotify acquires Echo Nest

  

                                  

Spotify announces that it made a deal to acquire music data firm The Echo Nest for an unknown amount. Echo Nest is a music service that recommends music, audio fingerprinting and also provides other services. They (Echo Nest) have a database of about 30 million songs which was put through together by a mixture of techniques. Swedish firm Spotify says this technology will help the firm drive music discovery and also build music experience. The service is expected to remain free and open for external developers and the main priority is to attain success for both companies. 

Whitecap buys Imperial oil and gas assets for $855M

In the latest flurries of Acquisitions and financing in the sector , Whitecap resources Inc. said on Monday that it is buying Western Canadian oil and Gas properties from Imperial oil ltd. for $855 million.

A big reason for the massive increase is a brighter outlook for Canadian oil and natural gas prices following the unusual frigid winter, which prompted a surge in heating demand.Whitecap,one of the new breed of small energy producers set up to provide investors with stock- price gains and dividends,issued $500 million in subscription receipts to help fund its acquisition.

Applied Materials (AMAT) Buy`s Tokyo Electron (TOELY)

Applied Material (AMAT) and Tokyo Electron (TOYLY) are the two biggest and most important supplier to the semi-conductor industry in the world , making the machines and technology that turns Silicon wafers into Computer Chips.The transaction value between the Applied Material and Tokyo Electron is $ 10 billion.

 Merging the number one and number three manufacturers in the industry created giant with a market cap of about $ 3 billion but more than anything its a defensive move.Technical and financial pressure are squeezing margins and profits in a already mature industry.

UK supermarket giant Tesco announces India entry

According to The New Zealand Herald, British retailer Tesco agreed to make a joint venture with a company Trent Hypermarket Ltd. owned by Tata Group in India to invest in a chain of grocery and household goods stores.

Tesco is investing in this joint venture about 110 million to take a 50 percent share of Tata-owned Trent Hypermarket Ltd. It would operate 12 stores in southern and western India selling food and groceries, home and personal products, plus fashion and accessories. The Tata Group, owner of Trent Hypermarket, is one of India's largest and best-known conglomerates.

SWITZERLAND: Aryzta acquries North American bakers

Switzerland-based bakery group Aryzta has set its eyes on the expansion in the North America with the acquisition of two bakeries in the region which are the - Pine ridge Bakery in Canada and Clover hill Bakery in the US. The company said it had agreed to pay a combined EUR730m (US$1.01bn), with further post-acquisition investments of EUR70m anticipated. Aryzta said its deals would "significantly" boost its North American bakery capabilities, customer access and product portfolio.

Matthews International Corporation signs Merger Agreement to Acquire Schawk, Inc.

Matthews International Corporation announced on the March 17, 2014 that it has signed an agreement to acquire Schawk, Inc.  (SGK). Matthews International Corporation is a designer, manufacturer and marketer of memorialization products and brand solutions. The memorialization products consist of bronze and granite memorials. While SGK is a leading global brand development, activation and deployment that drives brand performance. SGK had reported sales of $443 million for 2013 and it has about 3600 in over 20 countries around globe.

Findus Group BUYS LUTOSA retail business.

Frozen food giant Findus has added to European business by acquiring Lutosa deal as a part of the European Unions clearance of McCain Foods acquisition of the potato products supplier.Lutosa is a producer of French fries and the main speciality contributes to potato products accounts for 15% sale of the Belgian retail frozen potato market.

The Findus Group is a multinational food business headquartered in the UK and with operations around Europe. It is the parent Group of Young’s, Findus and The Seafood Company. An estimated 20 million people eat the products of Findus on average every week. Findus described the deal as a small but important acquisition which offered "synergies" with its operations in France.

WALMART BUYS ON LINE FOOD RECIPE START UP YUMPRINT

Walmart has acquired another US online start-up, this time moving for recipe service Yumprint.

The US retail giant said Yumprint, founded in Seattle in 2011, will join its digital Walmart Labs arm.

Yumprint uses a website application and browser to allow users to discover and save on line recipes from various website. Each month more than 15 millon recipe are displayed on the publishers network. Its technology claims to "understand recipe semantics; match ingredients to advertisements; understand consumer taste preferences; calculate nutritional information and prepare shopping lists from recipes". 

Delays in joint-venture Bombardier-Rostec

Bombardier said on Friday that possibles sanctions by Canada and western countries against Russia probably will delay its join -venture deal with Rostec, the Russian state-owned industrial and defence conglomerate.

Media General to buy LIN Media

Media General announce last friday that it would acquire LIN Media for $1.6 billion. As a result, it will create the second-largest local television broadcasting company.                                                                              Both companies operate local television stations acting as affiliate of big networks as ABC, CBS and NBC.

These two companies combined, would have 74 stations in more than 45 countries, having about 23% of market share in US.

CANADA KOREA TRADE AGREEMENT.

The Canada-Korea Free Trade agreement took place at the British Colombia (B.C.) on the 12^th of March, 2014. The Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper who was in attendance at the British Colombia hyped the benefits of the Canada-Korea free trade deal not only for the provinces, but particularly for B.C which has tremendous gains and export opportunities that exists in South Korea

The free trade agreement is expected to remove all tariffs between the two nations [South Korea and Canada] also with the initiative to have more access to South Korea. 

Actavis buys speciality Drugmaker forest labs for $25 bn

Generic Drugmaker Actavis said it would buy Forest Laboratories Inc for about $25 bn in cash and stock,expanding its portfolio of speciality Pharmaceuticals for neurological and other disorders .
The deal is a major for activist investor Carl Inahn, the second largest shareholder at Forest Labs,who waged two proxy battles and threatened a third to change its leadership and strategy.
Actavis said it would pay the equivalent of $89.48 per share , representing a premium of 25 to Forests Closing price. The offer comprises of $26.04 in cash and 0.3306 Actavis share for every Forest share.

Nexxt Technologies TEAMS up with 3D Printing Ally.

Last week Nexxt Technologies  merged with 3D Printing Ally  and this strategic partnership

will enhance the capability of both companies to deliver a complete digital manufacturing package from system sales to custom parts.

Nexxt Technologies is a technology company that specializes in Rapid Prototyping and Additive Manufacturing.3D Printing Ally is a well-rounded 3D print shop that specializes in servicing businesses of all industries and sizes with their 3D modelling, rapid prototyping and finishing capabilities and now since the two companies have entered into partnership and working  together they will soon become a single source supplier for 3D Systems equipment and materials,3D printed parts and engineering support and also installation and manufacturing of custom parts.

“If the banana is the king of the fruit, the king of bananas will be Chiquita”

Chiquita will overtake its competitors by acquiring the Fyffes, Ireland's company that distributes fruit across Europe. Chiquita will pay about $526 million for Fyffes. It will be named ChiquitaFyffes.

 This deal could give to Chiquita the control of tropical fruit prices. According to the Department of Agriculture, 1 in 4 fruits eaten in United States are bananas.

The combination of a strong presence in United States market with the Fyffes acquisition, will turn Chiquita in a global producer and distributor of bananas. The expected annual revenues will be about $4.6 billion, shipping 160 million boxes of banana a year

DBS to RULE Societe Generale’s Asian Private Banking Business

Singapore's DBS Group Holdings has agreed to acquire Societe Generale's (SocGen) Asian private bank for about $250 million by the coming week,boosting its access to the regions super rich.DBS is headquartered and listed in Singapore and also a market leader in Singapore with over four million customers .DBS is uniquely placed to deliver banking the Asian way and they provide full range of services in corporate,SME,consumer and wholesale banking activities across Asia.

DBS said in a statement to the Singapore Exchange that the deal "will accelerate DBS' ambition of becoming a leading wealth manager in Asia".

Facebook Acquisition of WhatsApp

        

Facebook bought WhatsApp for a price of $19 billion on the 19^th of February, 2014. According to businessinsider.com, Facebook paid hugely with $12 billion in stock and $4 billion in cash, and another $3 billion restricted stock for WhatsApp workers and employers.