Limited Brands to transfer 75 pct of namesake chain

(Reuters) - NEW YORK, July 9 - Limited Brands Inc. said on Monday it agreed to transfer a 75 percent stake in its Limited Stores chain to affiliates of Sun Capital Partners and that it finalized the sale of a 75 percent stake of its Express chain to Golden Gate Capital.



Sun Capital Partners will contribute $50 million of equity capital into the business and will arrange for a $75 million credit facility, said the company, which also owns Victoria's Secret and Bath & Body Works.


Read more at Reuters.com Mergers News

Scotts Miracle-Gro cuts outlook, cites cold April

(Reuters) - By Helen Chernikoff



NEW YORK, July 9 - Scotts Miracle-Gro Co. , a supplier of lawn and garden products, on Monday cut its fiscal-year earnings outlook, citing an unseasonably cold April that kept gardeners indoors.


Read more at Reuters.com Market News

Canada Stocks Rise on Profit, Buyout Speculation; Barrick and Alcan Gain

(Bloomberg) -- Canadian stocks rose, pushing the main
stock index to a record, as Barrick Gold Corp. gained on optimism
materials producers will profit from higher prices for gold and
copper. Takeover speculation also propelled the market.

Shares of Alcan Inc., Canada's biggest aluminum producer,
advanced on reports that Alcoa Inc.'s hostile takeover bid, which
expires tomorrow, may be topped by Rio Tinto Group. Alcoa is
scheduled to report second-quarter earnings today.


Read more at Bloomberg Stocks News

Tunisia to award fixed-line phone licence - paper

(Reuters) - Tunisia will launch an international tender soon for a fixed-line telecoms licence, part of a drive to boost inward investment and quicken economic growth, a Tunisian newspaper reported on Monday.

"The project of a second fixed-line phone concession will be accelerated, to be finalised as soon as possible," daily Le Quotidien said.


Read more at Reuters Africa

Canadian Stocks May Rise on Earnings, Takeovers; Alcan, Barrick May Gain

(Bloomberg) -- Canadian stocks may rise for a third
day, led by shares of such raw-materials producers as Barrick Gold
Corp., on optimism earnings will increase as prices for gold and
copper rise. Takeovers may also propel the market.

Shares of Alcan Inc., Canada's biggest aluminum producer, may
be active on reports that Alcoa Inc.'s hostile takeover bid, which
expires tomorrow, may be topped by Rio Tinto Group. Alcoa is
scheduled to report second-quarter earnings today.


Read more at Bloomberg Stocks News

Copper Rises to Two-Month High as Chilean Mine Strike Threatens Supplies

(Bloomberg) -- Copper rose to a two-month high in
New York after union workers went on strike at a mine in Chile,
the world's largest producer of the metal.

The protest will cut output at Dona Ines de Collahuasi,
Chile's third-largest copper mine, union treasurer Pedro Diaz
said today in a telephone interview. Supply disruptions helped
push copper to a record high in May 2006. The price gained
4.2 percent last week.


Read more at Bloomberg Commodities News

Egypt natural gas reserves 72.3 trillion cubic feet

(Reuters) - Egypt's confirmed reserves of natural gas reached 72.3 trillion cubic feet after increasing by 6.2 trillion cubic feet in the 2006-2007 fiscal year, Oil Minister Sameh Fahmy said on Monday, according to state news agency MENA.

Fahmy also said that Egypt's confirmed crude oil and condensate reserves had risen to 3.97 billion barrels, MENA said.


Read more at Reuters Africa