A federal judge ordered a two-week halt to the $81bn Paramount-Warner Bros Discovery merger after 12 states, led by California, sued to block the deal, citing concerns over competition and consumer choice in Hollywood.
Google workers, led by the Alphabet Workers Union, delivered a petition with over 4,500 signatures to CEO Sundar Pichai's office, demanding layoff protections, guaranteed severance, and an end to quota-based performance ratings. This action comes as tech giants continue workforce reductions while heavily investing in AI.
Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic anticipates a swift conclusion to negotiations for Hungarian energy group MOL to acquire Russia's stake in NIS. The deal faces complexities due to US sanctions on Gazprom Neft, NIS's majority shareholder, with a July 31 deadline for resolution.
Blackstone hat für seinen dritten Asien-Private-Equity-Fonds 13,1 Milliarden Dollar eingeworben, deutlich über dem Ziel von 10 Milliarden Dollar. Der Fonds kommt ohne Mittel der Muttergesellschaft aus und verzeichnete starke Exits in Indien und Japan.
Indian companies are increasingly acquiring foreign firms due to a slowdown in domestic growth, weak private investment, and better diversification opportunities abroad. This trend, marked by significant deals like Sun Pharma's acquisition of Organon & Co., reflects a strategic shift from past global sprees.
China's top economic planner, the NDRC, denied pressuring domestic tech firms to reject foreign investment, following concerns sparked by its blocking of Meta's proposed buyout of AI startup Manus. Spokesman Li Chao stated support for international collaboration but emphasized adherence to China's rules and national security.
NPR is restructuring its newsroom, offering buyouts to about 300 employees and potentially laying off journalists due to an $8 million budget gap caused by the loss of federal subsidies. The network aims to adapt to changing audience habits and a digital environment impacted by AI.
Magnum Ice Cream Company's shares rose 18% after Reuters reported Blackstone and CD&R are exploring a potential bid, six months after its spin-off from Unilever.
Spire Healthcare's board approves a £1bn buyout offer from Toscafund Asset Management at 250p per share, sending shares up 47% to 221p, amid a strategic review and previous failed talks with private equity firms.
Intertek, a FTSE 100 laboratory testing company, agrees to a £10.6bn takeover by EQT, a Swedish private equity firm, after rejecting three previous bids; the deal is subject to shareholder approval and preconditions.
Microsoft has unveiled its first voluntary retirement program, offering eligible US employees a package including five years of healthcare coverage (one fully paid), cash severance up to 39 weeks' pay, and accelerated stock vesting. This initiative aims to reduce headcount ahead of the new fiscal year, following recent layoffs and executive departures.
Hong Kong conglomerate CK Hutchison agrees to sell 49% stake as it attempts to reshape its portfolioBusiness live – latest updatesVodafone is to take full control of the UK’s biggest mobile operator in a £4.3bn buyout deal with the Hong Kong conglomerate CK Hutchison.Billionaire Li Ka-shing’s business said it had agreed to sell its 49% stake in VodafoneThree – a network with more than 27 million subscribers – to its partner Vodafone. Continue reading...
The proposed $1.63 billion buyout of IPL franchise Rajasthan Royals by Kal Somani's investor consortium faces delays due to funding constraints, regulatory uncertainties, and consortium complexities. The group includes Rob Walton (Walmart heir, Denver Broncos owner) and Sheila Ford Hamp (Detroit Lions owner). BCCI has raised concerns about fees on past secondary ownership transactions involving Mauritius-based EM Sporting Holdings. Alternative investors including Lakshmi Mittal's family have been approached. A legal dispute by former investor Raj Kundra seeking reinstatement of his 11.7% stake adds further uncertainty.
Microsoft CFO Amy Hood announced the company expects headcount to decrease year over year as it evolves operations for increased pace and agility. The announcement follows thousands of job cuts and a voluntary buyout program impacting around 7% of US workforce. The company reported $83 billion quarterly revenue with $32 billion net income, while Azure is forecast to grow 39-40%. Microsoft's first-ever voluntary retirement program targets employees with age plus years of service totaling 70 or more, with about 8,750 workers eligible.
Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Alexander Grushko said the pressure on Belgrade regarding the buyout of the Russian stake in Serbia's NIS company demonstrates the West's politicization of the energy sector. In an interview with Serbian Politika newspaper, Grushko said the West is applying external pressure on Serbia to reconsider cooperation with Russia, and that final decisions should conform to interests of both countries.
Meta said it's cutting 10% of its workforce, just as Microsoft announced that it's offering employee buyouts for the first time in its 51-year history.
Meta announces layoffs of approximately 8,000 employees (10% of workforce) and will leave 6,000 positions unfilled to fund AI investments, with projected costs of $162-169bn next year. Meanwhile, Microsoft offers voluntary buyouts to around 8,750 US workers as both tech giants grapple with escalating AI infrastructure expenses.
Microsoft is offering voluntary retirement buyouts for the first time in its 51-year history. Employees qualify if their age plus years of service equals 70 or more. The buyouts could affect about 8,750 employees, representing 7% of Microsoft's U.S. workforce of 125,000. The move provides a less abrasive alternative to mass layoffs, with Microsoft having cut 9,000 jobs last summer.
Microsoft is initiating its first-ever voluntary employee buyout program, offering retirement to approximately 7% of its U.S. workforce. This move, announced via memo, targets employees whose age and years of service total 70 or more, excluding some senior roles. The company is also adjusting stock reward distribution and simplifying manager review processes.
Microsoft is offering voluntary retirement buyouts for the first time in its 51-year history. Employees qualify if their age plus years of service totals 70 or more. The buyouts would apply to about 8,750 employees, or 7% of Microsoft's U.S. workforce of 125,000. This move provides a less abrasive alternative to mass layoffs, following several rounds of cuts including 9,000 jobs last summer.
Microsoft announced a voluntary buyout program for about 7% of its U.S. employees, the first such offer in the company's 51-year history. The one-time retirement program targets workers at senior director level and below whose years of employment plus age total 70 or higher. The move comes as the tech industry faces major changes from AI, with Microsoft ramping up capital spending on data centers while software stocks decline due to competition from AI coding tools.
