Spirent to buy U.S. unit of Axel Johnson for cash, stock valued at $1.69 bil

Article Abstract:

Axel Johnson will sell its Hekimian Labs unit to Spirent PLC for $712.3 mil cash and $974.7 mil worth of stock. The deal will give Axel Johnson a 12% stake in Spirent. This marks the 15th acquisition for Spirent in the last 4 years, as it rounds out its presence in the telecom testing field. Hekimian had earnings of $36 mil on $129 mil revenue YTD, in 2000, compared to 1999 earnings of $19 mil on $102 mil for the entire year. Agilent Technologies Inc. is Hekimian's main U.S. competitor.

Asset sales & divestitures, Acquisitions & mergers, Sweden, Instruments to measure electricity, Electronic Test & Measure Eqp, Instrument Manufacturing for Measuring and Testing Electricity and Electrical Signals, Noncurrent-carrying wiring devices, Noncurrent-Carrying Wiring Device Manufacturing, Noncurrent Carrying Wiring Eqp, Statistical Data Included, Instrument industry (Equipment), Electrical equipment and supplies industry, Electric equipment industry, Mergers, acquisitions and divestments, Company acquisition/merger, Testing and measuring equipment industry, Electronic test equipment, Electronics industry, Electric wiring, Hekimian Laboratories Inc., SPIRENT PLC, Axel Johnson AB

---

Microsoft buys stake in Britain's Sendo

Article Abstract:

Microsoft Corp. has made a small investment in Sendo Holdings PLC, a British mobile-phone maker, in an effort to enter the mobile-telephone operating system market. Sendo already ships phones to three mobile operators, and has five more deals on the way.

Radio & TV communications equipment, Radio and Television Broadcasting and Wireless Communications Equipment Manufacturing, Cellular Mobile Tel Equip, Wireless telephones, Company investment, Investments, Telecommunications equipment, Securities, Cellular telephone equipment industry, Cellular transmission equipment, Sendo Holdings PLC

---

Micrososft finds rival in Liberate for Europe's interactive-TV market

Article Abstract:

Some major European cable firms, including Telewest Communications PLC and NTL Inc., will be using interactive television software from Liberate Technologies, effectively shutting Microsoft and its Advanced TV software out of the European market for now. In addition, major European satellite networks are using software from OpenTV Corp. or Canal Plus Technologies. Liberate's software is running on existing set-top boxes that are expected to last for a minimum of five years.

Netherlands, COMMUNICATION, Communications, Broadcasting and Telecommunications, Cable Television Systems, Cable Networks, Cable and other pay TV services, Radio and Television Broadcasting, Radio & TV Broadcasting, Interactive CATV, Product information, Telecommunications services industry, Telecommunications industry, Internet services, Cable television broadcasting industry, Cable television, Contracts, Market share, NTLI, Broadcasting industry, Broadcasting, TeleWest Communications PLC, United Pan-Europe Communications N.V., Cable television/data services, UPCO Y, Interactive computer systems, Interactive media, NTL Group Ltd., Liberate Technologies, Interactive television, Interactive technology

Similar abstracts:

• Abstracts: Sprint expected to quit WorldCom pact; Deutsche Telekom weighs launching bid valued at over $110 billion. Qwest, U S West to discuss German bid
• Abstracts: Sprint plan to use chips to track cellphones stirs privacy concerns. Little rumbling ahead of FCC auction
• Abstracts: IT changes tack: in a tighter market, suppliers are having to sell the value their systems offer. Compaq battles for corporate cohesion
• Abstracts: Consolidating on its strengths keeps an international firm in front. Mindship raises the bar and its global ambitions
• Abstracts: Blue sky mining: These are bright and busy days for iron-ore miners, and demand seems to be growing stronger. Iron ore booms from Asian recovery

This website is not affiliated with document authors or copyright owners. This page is provided for informational purposes only. Unintentional errors are possible.