PepsiCo could still be interested in Danone – report

PepsiCo, the listed New York-food behemoth, could still be interested in smaller French competitor Danone, La Tribune reported. The report cited a “well-informed” banker as saying that the former head of PepsiCo, Steve Reinemund, was one of the people opposed to a takeover of Danone during the meetings of the board. PepsiCo decided not to launch an offer because the board was not unanimously in favour of such a move. However, the banker said that the new head of PesiCo, Indra Nooyi, who was the finance director of the group then, was in favour of Danone’s takeover. And the report pointed out that Nooyi led the 2001 acquisition of Quaker Oats and Gatorade. The report also referred to comments made by an analyst at Lehman Brothers who said at the end of last month that Danone could still be under the threat of a takeover.

Home Depot receiving calls on potential LBO deal - market report

Retailers Home Depot is receiving calls from bankers about potential take private deal, according to CNBC reporter Charles Gasparino, who cited industry sources.
The reporter named KKR as one of PE firms that “have run numbers” on Home Depot, also adding that it could be a hostile situation.
This would be the largest LBO deal ever, with a potential price tag of USD 100bn.
Home Depot has a market cap of USD 77bn.

Euro Disney could see hostile takeover offer from Center-Tainment – report

Center-Tainment, the listed Swiss leisure investor, could be making a hostile bid for the listed French leisure park Euro Disney, Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung reported. The report stated that Center-Tainment issued a statement last week in which it announced a significant acquisition. Center-Tainment also claims that the company was listed at the Frankfurt stock exchange in September this year with the purpose of making a takeover offer for Euro Disney.
Euro Disney stated it has not received any takeover offer yet. A 40% stake in Euro Disney is owned by the Walt Disney Company. The report noted that Center-Tainment offers EUR 0.11 for each Euro Disney share which at present has a value of EUR 0.06 per share. The offer would not be made in cash but Euro Disney’s shareholders would receive Center-Tainment shares in exchange. The report indicated that Center-Tainment’s website revealed the company is valued at EUR 150m. The report said that Center-Tainment plans to reveal further details at a press conference to be held in Paris tomorrow.

Sirius and XM could merge in next 18 months - report

Sirius and XM, the two listed satellite companies could merge soon, reported the New York Daily News. The report, citing Stifel Nicolaus analyst Kit Spring, reported the two companies could merge over the next year-and-a-half. According to the report, the combined company would have a USD 7bn value and could cut costs by USD 650m annually.
Sirius is based in New York and XM is based in Washington DC.

Coca-Cola plans buys in Russia, not interested in WBD

Coca-Cola, the listed US beverages giant, plans to expand in Russia, reported Vedomosti. Cited in the report, Coca-Cola CEO Neville Isdell said that Coca-Cola currently owns 13 plants and it will be acquiring Russian firms. Isdell ruled out a possibility of Coca-Coal buying into listed Russian dairy and beverages group Wimm-Bill-Dann (WBD).
Coca-Cola has already invested over USD 1.5bn in Russia, Isdell noted.

Celestica could be sold by Onex, analyst says - report

Celestica, the listed Canadian electronic manufacturing services firm, could be sold if its new CEO does not quickly turn things around, noted the Globe and Mail.
Steven Fox, an analyst with Merrill Lynch, was cited in the report as saying that Onex, which owns Celestica, could opt to sell the company, if the new CEO is unable to deliver. Craig Muhlhauser, chief executive of the company, acknowledged in the report that he understands the importance of fixing up the company sooner rather than later.
Celestica's market value is around USD 2.4bn.

Chrysler: DaimlerChrysler shareholders increasingly pushing for spin off

DaimlerChrysler, the listed German automaker, is seeing more of its shareholders voicing their preference for a Chrysler spin off, reported the National Post. Ingo Speich, a portfolio manager for DaimlerChrysler-shareholder Union Investment in Germany, was cited in the report as saying that it would be a "welcome" move if DaimlerChrysler spun off its Michigan-based Chrysler unit, whose performance is hurting its parent company financially. In the report, it was noted that DaimlerChrysler's chief executive officer Dieter Zetsche and other executives favored keeping Chrysler and fixing it up.
Chrysler recorded a loss of USD 1.47bn in the third quarter.