Texas Pacific declines comment on Alitalia cash

(Reuters) - to buy Alitalia.

"We are making no comment on that," a spokesman for the U.S. private equity company told Reuters.


Read more at Reuters.com Mergers News

UPDATE 1-B/E Aerospace's Q1 profit rises, raises outlook

(Reuters) - The world's largest maker of plane seats, which also fits out commercial and business jets with oxygen masks, food carts and other equipment, said it was increasing its profit forecast for 2007 and was on track to exceed its 2008 earnings and margin expansion targets.

Net income in the first quarter increased to $32.1 million, or 40 cents per share, compared with $13.8 million, or 18 cents per share, in the same period last year.


Read more at Reuters.com Market News

UPDATE 1-DaVita 1st-qtr profit rises 33 pct

(Reuters) - First-quarter profit increased to $76.6 million, or 72 cents per share from $57.5 million, or 55 cents per share, a year earlier.

Wall Street analysts had on average forecast 72 cents per share, according to Reuters Estimates.


Read more at Reuters.com Market News

UPS offers to exchange 2031 stg bond for 2050 debt

(Reuters) - A special committee of the Association of British Insurers representing 44 percent of the existing notes has considered the deal and thinks it suitable to present to holders, the company said.

Deutsche Bank is transaction coordinator, with Goldman Sachs as joint dealer manager.


Read more at Reuters.com Bonds News

European Telecommunications Stocks Gain; Wereldhave, Property Shares Drop

(Bloomberg) -- European telecommunication stocks advanced after Telefonica SA and a group of investors agreed to pay 4.1 billion euros ($5.6 billion) for a controlling stake in Telecom Italia SpA, Italy's biggest phone company

Wereldhave NV led a slide by property companies slid after JPMorgan Chase & Co. downgraded the industry on concern higher interest rates will hurt earnings.


Read more at Bloomberg Stocks News

UPDATE 1-Porsche launches lowball VW bid

(Reuters) - Porsche, which is already the largest shareholder in VW, was required to bid for Europe's biggest carmaker after Porsche's voting stake exceeded 30 percent in March, but it has made clear it is not striving for majority control at this stage.

German regulators have approved the offer, which runs until May 29.


Read more at Reuters.com Mergers News

Russian Day Traders Increase as Gains in Stocks Slow After Six-Year Rally

(Bloomberg) -- Speculators are increasing their purchases of Russian stocks just as six years of gains grind to a halt in the world's second-largest emerging market.

Day traders, who seek instant profits from stock price fluctuations, on Russia's Micex Stock Exchange have more than doubled in the past 16 months, said Chief Executive Officer Alexei Rybnikov. Purchases and sales of less than 100,000 rubles ($3,890) by individuals make up 60 percent of trades on the Micex, compared with 4.6 percent of trading on the New York Stock Exchange.


Read more at Bloomberg Exclusive News