Simon Pegg eyes return as lab geek for “M:I-4″

LOS ANGELELS (Hollywood Reporter) – Simon Pegg is being brought back into the Impossible Missions Force fold.

The actor is in negotiations to reprise his character of lab geek Benji Dunn for Paramount’s “Mission: Impossible 4.”

While not officially greenlighted, the movie is tracking for an early September start, and director Brad Bird has been reading actors this week. Tom Cruise is returning as agent Ethan Hunt in a plot whose details are being kept under a lid of secrecy. The move also would reunite Pegg with producer J.J. Abrams, who not only directed the third installment but also directed the actor in the rebooted “Star Trek,” in which Pegg portrayed Starship engineer Scotty.

Pegg will be at Comic-Con in San Diego this week to showcase “Paul,” a comedy about two geeks who encounter an alien while traveling across the U.S. to a comic convention.

Etisalat close to buying 26 pct in Reliance Comm: report

(Reuters) – Emirates Telecommunications ETEL.AD (Etisalat) is close to buying 26 percent in Indian telecoms Reliance Communications (RLCM.BO), the Financial Times said on Monday, sending Reliance shares up nearly 4 percent.

Citing people familiar with the negotiations, the newspaper said the deal was estimated to be worth $3 billion.

The two groups are also considering merging Reliance Comm, India’s No. 2 mobile operator, with Swan Telecom, the Indian company in which Etisalat holds a 45 percent stake, it said.

Reliance Comm and Etisalat could not be immediately reached for comment.

Shares in Reliance Comm, valued by the market at $8.3 billion, jumped as much as 3.9 percent on the report in a subdued Mumbai market.

An alliance between the two groups could be completed as soon as mid-August, the Financial Times reported, citing a person close to the matter. Another person told the paper it could take up to the end of the year. Reliance Comm and Etisalat declined to comment on any specific negotiations, the paper said.

A successful outcome hinges on how fast Etisalat can free itself of the stake in Swan Telecom, a joint venture it acquired in 2008, as Indian regulations do not allow one company to own more than 10 per cent in two telecom groups, the paper said.

Several potential suitors cited in media reports based on unnamed sources have denied being in talks with Reliance Comm, controlled by billionaire Anil Ambani.

So far, only Abu Dhabi-based Etisalat has acknowledged that it is considering a deal with Reliance Comm, the only major local cellular carrier without a foreign strategic investor in the world’s fastest-growing mobile market.

Anil Ambani has been in dealmaking mode since ending a pact in May with his long-estranged brother, Mukesh Ambani, that forbade the two from competing on the other’s turf, freeing Anil to bring new investors into his debt-laden company.

That pact had enabled Mukesh Ambani, the world’s fourth-richest man, to assert a right of first refusal two years ago that blocked a deal between Reliance Comm and South Africa’s MTN (MTNJ.J).

Last month, Reliance Comm agreed to merge its telecoms communication towers business with that of GTL Infrastructure Ltd (GTLI.BO) in a deal that a source said would cut its debt by $3.9 billion.

By 0443 GMT, shares in Reliance Comm were up 2.3 percent at 191.40 rupees, while the main BSE index .BSESN was flat.

(Reporting by Pratish Narayanan and Tony Munroe in Mumbai; Stanley Carvalho in Abu Dhabi; Editing by Ranjit Gangadharan)

Deals of the day — mergers and acquisitions

(Reuters) – The following bids, mergers, acquisitions and disposals involving European, U.S. and Asian companies were reported by 0530 GMT on Monday.

(For Reuters columns on deals, click on [DEALTALK/])

** China’s Shougang Group (000959.SZ) is pushing ahead with the takeover of Tonghua Iron & Steel Group in Jilin province, a company official said. To read more, please double click on [ID:nTOE66B030]

** Embattled Australian drug maker Sigma Pharmaceuticals (SIP.AX) wants South Africa’s Aspen Pharmacare (APNJ.J) to improve its A$648 million ($567 million) bid but declined to extend Aspen’s exclusive negotiations. [ID:nSGE66B00C] (Compiled by Tina Kwan in Singapore)

E.ON could invest in EDF nuclear reactors – press

July 9 (Reuters) – German utility E.ON (EONGn.DE) could take a partial stake in some of EDF’s (EDF.PA) nuclear reactors as part of a plan to extend the life of the plants, E.ON told a newspaper on Friday.

French parliamentarians last month passed a bill that will force former power monopoly EDF to sell a quarter of its nuclear output to rivals to foster greater competition in the electricity market.

The bill will now have to be examined by the upper house in an extraordinary parliamentary session in July or September, but a senator of the UMP ruling party has proposed instead that EDF invite shareholders into the country’s 58 nuclear reactors.

“E.ON would be very interested. But this objective must be clearly written in the law. Otherwise, the historical operator would have excessive leverage in negotiations,” said Luc Poyer, the head of E.ON France in an interview with daily Le Figaro.

“If 500 million euros are needed to extend the life of a reactor, a part of that investment could come from a player that has the technical and economic expertise. In exchange, it would get a share in the output,” he added.

Poyer also said France should further open its electricity market, which was liberalised in July 2007 in line with European Union demands, but EDF’s competitors are struggling to attract customers because of scarce access to baseload output. (Reporting by Michel Rose and Benjamin Mallet; Editing by Hans Peters)

“Twilight” actress joins Miley Cyrus film

LOS ANGELES (Hollywood Reporter) – Ashley Greene, who plays Alice Cullen in the “Twilight” movies, and “Hung” star Thomas Jane are in negotiations to join Miley Cyrus and Demi Moore in an English-language remake of a French comedy.

“LOL” centers on a teenaged girl (Cyrus) who is dumped by her more sexually experienced boyfriend (George Finn) while her divorcee mother (Moore) struggles to move on with her life.

Greene will play a high school bad girl, and Jane will be Cyrus’ father. Additionally Ashley Hinshaw (“Fringe”) will play Cyrus’ best friend, while Douglas Booth has already been cast as Cyrus’ love interest.

Liza Azuelos, who directed the 2008 original, is shooting the remake for Mandate Pictures, the company behind “Juno.”

Toyota plans to restart halted China plant Monday

June 24 (Reuters) – Toyota Motor Corp (7203.T) said it planned to resume production at a halted Chinese auto assembly plant on Monday, after workers at a factory owned by supplier Denso Corp (6902.T) returned to work. [ID:nHKU000032]

Stocks | Global Markets | Cyclical Consumer Goods

Work at the Toyota factory in Guangzhou, which has an annual production capacity of 360,000 vehicles, had been suspended since Tuesday morning due to the strike at Denso (Guangzhou Nansha) Co.

A Denso spokesman said production at its factory had returned to normal in the afternoon, but negotiations over compensation still continued. (Reporting by Chang-Ran Kim)

European stock index futures rise, miners eyed

June 24 (Reuters) – European shares were set to rise on Thursday, snapping two consecutive sessions of losses, tracking gains in Asia on hopes new Australian Prime Minister Julia Gillard would compromise on a controversial mining tax.

Stocks | Global Markets | Financials

At 0601 GMT, futures for the STOXX Europe 50 STXEc1, Germany’s DAX FDXc1 and France’s CAC 40 FCEc1 were up 0.4 to 0.7 percent.

Mining stocks were expected to be a focus, after mining shares in Australia gained around 1.5 percent, encouraged by new Prime Minister Julia Gillard’s comments about seeking negotiations with the miners over the super tax. (Reporting by Joanne Frearson)

Australia’s minerals council suspends anti-tax ads – TV

June 24 (Reuters) – Australia’s minerals council will suspend advertisements opposing government plans for a new tax on mining after new prime minister Julia Gillard pledged to open the door to miners for negotiations, Sky TV reported on Thursday.

(Reporting by Ed Davies; Editing by Michael Smith)

UPDATE 1-Hungary govt eyes new IMF/EU deal – PM aide

June 17 (Reuters) – Hungary’s new government will start negotiations in July with the International Monetary Fund and EU about a new loan agreement, a chief aide to the prime minister told television M1 on Thursday.

Hungary secured a $25.1 billion financing deal with the IMF, the European Union and the World Bank in October 2008 to avert a meltdown amid a market crisis. The agreement will expire in October.

When asked if there would be a new agreement with lenders, Gyprgy Szapary, chief aide to Prime Minister Viktor Orban, said:

“I hope there will be (an agreement)…The delegations (of IMF and EU) will come here in early July; we will sit down to negotiate then so that there can be a new agreement.”

“We are thinking about possibly extending (the current aid deal) until December so that there is no break in the programme, because we think that potentially we could get another agreement for 2011,” Szapary added.

He said Hungary did not plan to draw down the currently available tranches of the existing loan for now, but said the funds may have to be used if the global sentiment turns unfavourable.

“For the time being the decision is that we will not drawn down the remaining amount…but there may be a scenario later under which these funds need to be used as something may happen in the global economy which could force Hungary to draw down the remaining part of the loan,” Szapary said.

The state has so far drawn about 12.8 billion euros from the credit facility secured in 2008, but some of these funds have not been spent. The central bank has called down 1.4 billion euros from the package, placing it in its reserves.

Hungary still has access to a further financing of about 5 billion euros from the original facility, pending agreement with lenders at the next loan programme review.

The country has not drawn fresh funds from the IMF/EU this year as last year it successfully returned to market financing after the previous Socialist government stabilised finances with spending cuts and regained investors’ confidence.

Hungary, which has a new centre-right government since April elections, had a budget deficit of 4 percent of gross domestic product last year and targets a 3.8 percent deficit in 2010.

The country’s public debt at around 80 percent of GDP is still the highest in central Europe.

Earlier this month, highly confusing comments from some Hungarian government officials drawing comparisons between Hungary and debt-laden Greece triggered a selloff in the forint currency EURHUF=D2 and global financial markets.

The government announced a quick set of measures and pledged to meet the deficit target which has calmed markets, but analysts warned that implementation risks remain, especially linked to a planned big new tariff on the financial sector.

For analysis on Hungary’s govt pls see [ID:nLDE65F1SB]

For a factbox on Hungary’s debts [ID:nLDE65509Z]

For analysis on Hungary economy [ID:nLDE65924H]

(Reporting by Marton Dunai; Editing by Kim Coghill)

Hungary govt eyes new IMF/EU deal – PM aide

June 17 (Reuters) – Hungary’s new government will start negotiations in July with the International Monetary Fund and EU about a new loan agreement, a chief aide to the prime minister said on Thursday.

Currencies | Bonds | Global Markets

“I hope there will be (an agreement)…The delegations (of IMF and EU) will come here in early July; we will sit down to negotiate then so that there can be a new agreement,” Gyorgy Szapary, chief aide to Prime Minister Viktor Orban, told television m1.

“We are thinking about possibly extending (the current aid deal) until December so that there is no break in the programme, because we think that potentially we could get another agreement for 2011,” Szapary said.

He added that Hungary did not plan to draw down the currently available tranches of its existing loan for now, but said the funds may have to be used if the global sentiment turns unfavourable.

(Reporting by Marton Dunai; Editing by Kim Coghill)

Delta Lloyd Groep: Delta Lloyd Group agrees on unit-linked insurance compensation scheme

Amsterdam, 14 June 2010

Delta Lloyd Group has reached agreement with the consumer activist groups Verliespolis
and Woekerpolis Claim on the terms of a compensation scheme for unit-linked insurance
cost-capping. In September 2008, Delta Lloyd Group became the first insurer to enter
into an agreement with the consumer activist groups about unit-linked insurance
cost-capping, thus finally realising a breakthrough on this issue after several years of
protracted negotiations. With the compensation scheme now agreed, the definite
arrangement is in place and clarity is provided on the use of the earlier agreed total
amount of compensation.

The agreement applies to all units of Delta Lloyd Group covered by the compensation
scheme. Apart from Verliespolis and Woekerpolis Claim, the agreement has also been
signed by the Association of Homeowners (Vereniging Eigen Huis / VEH) and the
Association of Stockholders (Vereniging van Effectenbezitters / VEB).

Compensation scheme

In addition to the agreement of September 2008, costs of unit-linked insurance policies
with an accrued value over € 100,000 are capped at 1.5% for the value above € 100,000.
Moreover, additional arrangements have been made for unit-linked policies whose level of
the term life insurance premium depends on the accrued value of the unit-linked policy.
Finally, customers who were forced by special personal circumstances to commute their
unit-linked insurance policy may also be eligible for the compensation scheme.

What customers must do

Delta Lloyd Group has meanwhile sent customers a letter providing an indication of the
compensation, where applicable. Customers who may be eligible for the compensation
scheme now reached will be advised of this. Exceptions are customers who believe they
are eligible for the compensation scheme on the grounds of being forced by special
personal circumstances to commute their unit-linked insurance. These customers must take
action themselves. From 1 July 2010, they can register via the special page on the Delta
Lloyd Group website: www.deltalloydgroep.com/beleggingsverzekeringen
http://www.deltalloydgroep.com/beleggingsverzekeringen .

About Delta Lloyd Group

Delta Lloyd Group is a financial services provider offering life insurance, general
insurance, fund management and banking products and services. Delta Lloyd Group’s target
markets are the Netherlands and Belgium. In the Netherlands it mainly operates under the
brand names of Delta Lloyd, OHRA and ABN AMRO Insurance, in Belgium under the Delta
Lloyd brand.

More information

Delta Lloyd Groep

Media relations +31 (0) 20 594 44 88

Investor relations +31 (0) 20 594 96 93

HUG#1423504

PDF Press release http://hugin.info/142905/R/1423504/372377.pdf

Mosaic in talks to buy Mexico’s Grupo Fertinal: report

(Reuters) – Fertilizer producer Mosaic Co (MOS.N) is in talks to buy Mexico’s Grupo Fertinal in a deal that could be worth up to $1 billion, The Wall Street Journal reported on Sunday.

Deals

It is uncertain when a deal could be reached, but the companies have been in talks for about six months, the newspaper said in its electronic edition. Negotiations could still falter, the newspaper said.

Mosaic and Grupo Fertinal, a fertilizer company, could not be immediately reached for comment.

(Reporting by Jessica Hall; Editing by Diane Craft)

Mosaic in talks to buy Mexico’s Grupo Fertinal-WSJ

June 13 (Reuters) – Fertilizer producer Mosaic Co (MOS.N) is in talks to buy Mexico’s Grupo Fertinal in a deal that could be worth up to $1 billion, The Wall Street Journal reported on Sunday.

Stocks | Mergers & Acquisitions | Global Markets | Basic Materials

It is uncertain when a deal could be reached, but the companies have been in talks for about six months, the newspaper said in its electronic edition. Negotiations could still falter, the newspaper said.

Mosaic and Grupo Fertinal, a fertilizer company, could not be immediately reached for comment. (Reporting by Jessica Hall; Editing by Diane Craft) (For more M&A news and our DealZone blog, go to here)

OT sale talks continue after MTN deal fails -paper

June 13 (Reuters) – Egypt’s Orascom Telecom (ORTE.CA) is still in talks with international telecoms firms to sell some of its African assets, after negotiations with South Africa’s MTN (MTNJ.J) failed last week, a newspaper reported on Sunday.

Telecommuncations Services

“Orascom Telecom Holding continues to hold a number of negotiations to sell its African units, with the exception of its (Algerian) unit Djezzy,” the daily al-Mal said, citing a source closely connected with the talks.

Orascom and MTN had been in talks to sell some or all of the Egyptian firm’s assets to MTN, but the deal failed after the Algerian government refused to allow Orascom to sell its Algerian unit Djezzy to MTN. (Writing by Alexander Dziadosz)

UPDATE 1-Japan’s Brother restarts China output after strike

TOKYO, June 10 (Reuters) – Japan’s Brother Industries Ltd (6448.T) said it has restarted production at two industrial sewing machine factories in China on Thursday after a strike had forced it to halt output for about one week.

About 900 workers at the two plants in Xian launched the strike on June 3 seeking better pay and improved working conditions, halting production through Wednesday, Brother spokeswoman Mika Oshima said.

The plants restarted production on Thursday morning but a representative for the workers is still in negotiations with management on pay and conditions, Oshima said.

Brother gets the bulk of its sales from printers and other office equipment. Industrial sewing machines accounted for about 4 percent of its revenues in the past business year.

Honda Motor Co’s (7267.T) output in China has been hampered by a series of strikes at its suppliers, prompting concerns that unrest among workers in the world’s manufacturing hub is spreading. [ID:nTOE65801O]

Shares in Brother closed up 0.3 percent at 995 yen, underperforming a 1.1 percent rise in the benchmark Nikkei average .N225. (Reporting by Nathan Layne; Editing by Hugh Lawson)

Japan’s Brother Indus: China plants have restarted

June 10 (Reuters) – Japan’s Brother Industries (6448.T) has restarted output at its two factories in China on Thursday, a company spokeswoman said. [ID:nTOE658086]

Technology

Negotiations with the factory workers over pay and conditions are still going on, the spokeswoman said.

Flint Telecom Group Reduces Debt by Over $7.5 Million and Restructures Balance Sheet

OVERLAND PARK, KS, Jun 09 (MARKET WIRE) —
Flint Telecom Group, Inc. (OTCBB: FLTT), a Telecoms Technology and
Services Organization, announces that it has successfully concluded
negotiations with its secured lender and a number of major debt holders,
which will result in the reduction of group debt by over $7.5 million and
the restructuring of existing debt on new terms over a longer period.
These agreements come as part of Flint Group’s previously announced
intention to restructure existing debt.

Details of the settlements will be disclosed in separate 8K filings with
the SEC as required.

Vincent Browne, Chairman and CEO of Flint Telecom Group commented, “We
are clearly very pleased to have reached constructive agreements with our
secured lender and other major debt holders. These agreements will also
see them take an equity position in the business going forward and
normalizes our position with them. We are also at advanced stages with
the remainder of the debt holders and expect final agreements shortly
also.”

Mr. Browne added, “I expect that this significant reduction in debt on
our balance sheet will have a positive impact on our business overall and
will also now allow us to better focus on continuing to grow the business
as we continue to build value for our shareholders.”

About Flint Telecom Group, Inc.
Flint Telecom Group Inc. is a fast
growing Telecoms Technology and Services Organization with a portfolio of
companies that deliver next-generation IP communications Products and
Services. The Company was founded by telecom and technology entrepreneurs
with a proven track record in building global technology companies. Flint
Telecom has grown both organically and through corporate activity and is
traded on the OTC Bulletin Board(R) (OTCBB) under the ticker FLTT.OB.
Additional information may be found at www.flinttelecomgroup.com

This press release contains forward-looking statements, which are made
pursuant to the Safe-Harbor provisions of the Private Securities
Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Words such as “expects,” “intends,”
“believes,” and similar expressions reflecting something other than
historical fact are intended to identify forward-looking statements, but
are not the exclusive means of identifying such statements. These
forward-looking statements involve a number of risks and uncertainties,
including the timely development and market acceptance of products and
technologies, the ability to secure additional sources of finance, the
ability to reduce operating expenses, and other factors described in the
Company’s filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The actual
results that the Company achieves may differ materially from any
forward-looking statement due to such risks and uncertainties. The
Company undertakes no obligation to revise or update any forward-looking
statements in order to reflect events or circumstances that may arise
after the date of this release.

Investor Relations Contact:
Steve Keaveney
phone: 404-254-6980

Copyright 2010, Market Wire, All rights reserved.

Bergen Group: Financials settled for Fjord Line contract

The funding and necessary board approvals in connection with the contract for building
two new cruise ferries for Fjord Line, are now resolved. The contract for construction
of two cruise ferries has a total value of EURO 206 million, and the modern state-of-the
art vessels will be delivered in spring and autumn of 2012.

- We are very pleased that the formalities in this contract now are settled, and are
looking forward to deliver two very competitive and future-oriented cruise ferries to
Fjord Line during 2012, says executive vice president Inge Tangerås in Bergen Group
Shipbuilding.

The two sister ships have a length of 170 meters. Each ship will accommodate about 300
cabins and suites, and have space for about 1,500 passengers. The cargo deck has a
capacity of 600 cars.

The hull of the two cruise ferries will be built at the Polish shipyard Stocznia Gdansk.
Outfitting and completion of the ships will be done at Bergen Group Fosen who has a
solid expertise in building cruise ferries for the international market, including “The
World” and two of the newer ships operated by Hurtigruten.

Fjord Line has also signed an option agreement for building a third cruise ferry at
Bergen Group Fosen for delivery in 2013. The contract price for an eventually third ship
is to be clarified through negotiations at the time the option is exercised. The
expiration of the option agreement is due in June 2011.

Contacts:
Inge Tangerås, Executive Vice President Bergen Group Shipbuilding, tel. (+47) 982 067 67
Arnar Utseth, MD. Bergen Group Fosen, tel. (+47) 97 16 48 63
Terje Iversen, CFO of Bergen Group, tel. (+47) 932 40 359

This information is subject of the disclosure requirements acc. to §5-12 vphl (Norwegian
Securities Trading Act)

HUG#1421022

Germany mulls raising tobacco tax-coalition source

June 1 (Reuters) – Germany’s finance ministry is considering raising tax on tobacco in its efforts to consolidate the budget deficit, a source in the ruling coalition involved in the negotiations told Reuters on Tuesday.

No decision has yet been made, said the source, but a meeting of top cabinet members on Sunday and Monday would discuss the matter, along with other options for budget cuts.

(Reporting by Matthias Sobolewski; writing by Madeline Chambers)

Honda: China car plants seen suspended thru Thurs

June 1 (Reuters) – Honda Motor Co (7267.T) said its four car plants in China would likely stay suspended at least through Thursday as negotiations to smooth over a labour dispute at a parts plant continue.

Stocks | Global Markets

Japan’s second-biggest automaker has decided to keep the joint venture factory operated by Dongfeng Honda suspended until June 3, a spokesman in Tokyo said. It expects the two factories run by Guangqi Honda and a separate export-only factory also to stay idle through Thursday, although a final decision was pending, he said.

Plans for June 4 and beyond will be decided on Thursday, a spokesman said.