Three parties interested in Porsche stake: report
NEW YORK (MarketWatch) -- Three new parties with an interest in taking a stake in German car maker Porsche Automobil Holding have emerged, according to reports Saturday. Reuters quoted German magazine Focus, which reported that a Chinese and a Russian sovereign wealth fund as well as a hedge fund were interested, rivaling investment plans by Qatar. Reuters said a Porsche spokesman declined to comment on the report.
Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin stepping down
SAN FRANCISCO (MarketWatch) -- Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin announced in a televised statement that she would be stepping down, handing the office over to Lt. Gov. Sean Parnell. Palin was the running mate to 2008 Republican presidential candidate John McCain.
China taking a $1.5 billion stake in Canada's Teck
LONDON (MarketWatch) -- The state-run China Investment Corp. is going to take a C$1.7 billion ($1.5 billion) stake in Teck Cominco , a deal that will give it a 17% equity stake with 6.7% voting interest in the Vancouver miner, according to a statement released Friday. The miner said the deal will have a "very positive effect" on its balance sheet and give it a deeper understanding of China, its top consumer. CIC plans to be a "long-term passive financial investor" and hold the stake for at least one year and then won't sell it to any other rival or material customer of Teck.
Tesco says shareholders pass 22 of 23 resolutions
LONDON (MarketWatch) -- Tesco said Friday that 22 out of 23 resolutions were passed by shareholders at its annual general meeting, Dow Jones Newswires reported. The vote was close on resolution 21 with 57% voting in favor of the supermarket group changing the rules of its 2004 share option plan, the news service said. Resolution 23, which called for Tesco to improve the treatment and pay of meat workers employed by its suppliers, was rejected by shareholders as recommended by the company. Tesco shares rose 0.4% in London.
British Airways June passenger traffic fell 3.8%
LONDON (MarketWatch) -- British Airways , Europe's third-largest transatlantic airline, on Friday said June passenger traffic measured in revenue passenger kilometers fell by 3.8% compared to the same period last year. Non-premiun traffic declined 1.3% while premium traffic slumped 14.9%. Load factor, a measure of how full an airline's jets are, fell 1.8 percentage points to 79.6%. Cargo traffic, meanwhile, declined 9.8%. The company said it now plans to reduce capacity by 3.5% in the summer, compared to an earlier plan of a 2.5% slash. In the winter it will cut capacity by 5%. The airline also said it's delayed the delivery of its first six Airbus A380s by an average of five months and that of the remaining six by roughly 2 years. BA will receive its first A 380 in 2012 and its last one in 2016.
Beijing Auto makes offer for GM's Opel unit
LONDON (MarketWatch) -- General Motors has received a non-binding approach from China's Beijing Automotive (BAIC) for its European Adam Opel unit. The company is also in discussions with Belgian industrial holding company RHJ, a spokeswoman said Friday. GM has already signed a memorandum of understanding over the possible sale of a majority stake in Opel to Canada's Magna International Inc. . GM and Magna are continuing to work to close that deal, the spokeswoman said.
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