Nippon Sheet Glass to acquire Britain's Pilkington by June
February 27, 2006Nippon Sheet Glass Co. said Monday it will acquire Pilkington plc by June for 1.8 billion pounds, or about 358.5 billion yen, to make the major British glassmaker a wholly-owned subsidiary. The deal enables Nippon Sheet Glass, which already holds about 20 percent of Pilkington's outstanding shares, to match the current global industry leaders Asahi Glass Co. and France's Saint-Gobain SA in terms of market share.
H.K. fund Gandhara takes 6.89% stake in Livedoor
February 27, 2006The Gandhara Master Fund has acquired 6.89 percent of outstanding Livedoor Co. shares, according to a report submitted by the Hong Kong-based investment fund to the Finance Ministry on Monday. Gandhara said in the report that it has acquired the stake for investment purposes.
Sony to sell 51% of planned holding firm for lifestyle businesses
February 27, 2006Sony Corp. said Monday it has made a deal to transfer a 51 percent stake in a holding firm it will form this year for six of its group arms in charge of lifestyle businesses to an investment arm of Nikko Cordial Corp. The six companies are French restaurant group Maxim's de Paris Corp., imported goods sales firm Sony Plaza Co., mail-order firm Sony Family Club Inc., fitness club operator Lifeneo Inc., as well as B&C Laboratories Inc. and CP Cosmetics Inc., both of which act as cosmetics makers and dealers.
Mazda-Ford-Changan venture starts making Mazda3 sedan in China
February 27, 2006A vehicle manufacturing venture of Mazda Motor Corp., Ford Motor Co. of the United States and Changan Automotive Group of China started production of the Mazda3 sedan at its plant in China, the automakers said Monday. ''With the help of our partners, we will do our utmost to forge a cooperative, mutually advantageous business model that integrates the corporate resources of Mazda and Changan Auto with the corporate strategy model that Ford has advanced in China to date,'' said Mei-Wei Cheng, chairman and CEO of Ford Motor (China) Ltd.