19 Sep 11. Tyco International Ltd. plans to split into separate publicly traded home-security, pipes and valves, and fire-protection companies in about 12 months, the conglomerate’s second breakup in less than 10 years.
Tyco’s move follows similar ones by Marathon Oil Corp., Sara Lee Corp. and ITT Corp., each of which has concluded this year that the sum of its parts is worth more than the whole. Tyco split into three public companies in 2007 when it spun off its medical-products company Covidien PLC and electronics maker Tyco Electronics Ltd. Since the breakup, Tyco has focused on strengthening its core business units, particularly its ADT home-security business, with acquisitions. Tyco Chairman and Chief Executive Edward Breen said further spinoffs have been contemplated by the company’s board since 2007 but held off as it strengthened the businesses. (Source: WSJ)
15 Sep 11. The Gulf state of Qatar is in talks to buy into European aerospace firm EADS by purchasing half of German carmaker Daimler’s shares up for sale, the German weekly Der Spiegel reported.
Members of the Qatari government met two weeks ago with German Economy Minister Philipp Roesler for initial talks, said the magazine in its edition to be published Monday. A ministry spokeswoman said Saturday that she was not able to comment on “ongoing negotiations,” but sources said that EADS was “a very attractive business as shown by Qatar’s interest.”
“The (possible) entry of sovereign funds is reviewed particularly critically due to the political and technological issues,” linked to EADS’ activities, sources told AFP. Der Spiegel said Qatar aimed to acquire half of the 15 percent of EADS shares put up for sale a few months ago by Daimler, which has so far failed to spark the interest of potential investors. (Source: AFP)