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The article reports that Winfried Bischoff, chairman of the financial institution Lloyds Banking Group PLC, plans to retire in May 2014.

The article mentions a share auction and reports that the pharmaceutical investment firm Royalty Pharma AG has agreed to increase its offer for the drug maker Elan Corp. PLC as of April 15, 2013.

The article reports that the drug company AstraZeneca PLC will eliminate 1,600 jobs as part of a corporate reorganization initiative that involves the relocation of its headquarters to Cambridge, England.

The article reports that the U.S. drug industry investment firm Royalty Pharma made a public takeover offer of 6.55 billion dollars for the Irish pharmaceutical company Elan, following the sale of Elan's stake in the multiple sclerosis drug Tysabri to Biogen Idec Inc. for 3.25 billion dollars.

The article reports that British drug manufacturer GlaxoSmithKline PLC, led by Chief Executive Andrew Witty, announced plans to layoff employees at its European businesses as part of efforts to restructure its manufacturing and research and development operations at its European businesses.

The article discusses drug partnerships in the biopharmaceutical industry as of February 2013, with a focus on how firms AstraZeneca PLC and Bristol-Myers Squibb Co. merged their diabetes marketing teams, the appointment of team directors, and declines in revenue.

The article looks at DVD rental company Blockbuster as of January 2013, noting its parent company is satellite television company Dish Network Corp. and reporting on the planned closure or sale of its British operations.

The article examines competition between consumer-products companies and drug manufacturers to purchase vitamin and health supplement makers, noting that aging populations in advanced economies are spending more on supplements.

The article reports on the third-quarter 2012 earnings announcement of pharmaceutical company GlaxoSmithKline PLC and presents comments from chief executive Andrew Witty.

The article briefly discusses a delayed initial public offering by Russian banking company Promsvyazbank, and the addition of Adebayo O. Ogunlesi of private-equity firm Global Infrastructure Partners as the ninth independent director of financial firm Goldman Sachs Group Inc.

The article reports that investment company Invesco Perpetual, a shareholder in the defense and aerospace company BAE Systems PLC has expressed reservations over the proposed merger of BAE with fellow defense and aerospace company European Aeronautic Defence and Space Co.

The article provides information on the sale of luxury goods in China, stating that brands such as clothing maker Burberry Group PLC, watchmaker Financière Richemont, and diamond miner De Beers SA reported declining profits in the country while high-end and absolute-luxury brands increased sales.

The article examines outages experienced by BlackBerry smartphone users in Europe and the U.S. as parent company Research in Motion Ltd. (RIM) struggles to correct the problems with its operating system and regain a piece of the smartphone market dominated by rival companies Apple and Google.

The article offers finance news briefs as of September 19, 2012, on Sberbank bank, BATS Global Markets Inc. stock-exchange operator, and credit-default swaps on U.S. government debt.

The article reports on the planned September 2012 initial public offering (IPO) by the bank Grupo Financiero Santander Mexico, the Mexican subsidiary of Banco Santander SA.

The article reports that the Royal Bank of Scotland (RBS) Group PLC is investigation whether its business with Iran breached U.S. sanctions, which could results in fines for the bank.

The article reports on companies in Europe that are taking steps to reduce their level of risk associated with the Spanish economy, such as terminating contracts with Spanish businesses, and cites ING Groep NV bank and Securitas AB security services company.

The article reports that fashion company Valentino has agreed to be acquired by Mayhoola, an investment vehicle that is said to be controlled by the royal family of Qatar.

The article discusses an investment in media buying firm Aegis Group PLC by investor Vincent Bolloré's conglomerate, Bolloré Group, which will reap a capital gain of about 450 million euros following Aegis' agreement to be acquired by advertising company Dentsu Inc.

The article reports that the fashion house Valentino has entered exclusive talks with an unidentified bidder and examines the private-equity firm Permira's stake in the company and the German company Hugo Boss AG.

The article reports that stockholders of the British advertising agency holding company WPP PLC rejected a proposed 60 percent salary increase for Chief Executive Officer Martin Sorrell for his 2011 compensation.

The article presents news briefs on several finance-related topics including changes in how the U.S. Department of Labor will release its reports on job creation in the U.S., a sale of loans by banking company Lloyds Banking Group PLC, and a reopening of its fixed-income trading desk in Toronto, Canada by securities firm Morgan Stanley.

The article reports that institutional shareholders of hedge-fund company Man Group PLC voted to re-elect chief executive Peter Clarke, and notes factors including a declining share price and a decrease in assets under management that have prompted stockholders to demand corrective action.

The article discusses an April 2012 announcement by British insurance company Aviva PLC that it would review its executive compensation policy and states that chief executive Andrew Moss declined a proposed salary increase for 2012.

The article discusses a mobile-security joint venture involving microprocessor-design company ARM Holdings PLC, and also reports that smartphone manufacturer Samsung Electronics Co. had the highest market share among subscribers to mobile-phone services in the U.S. for the three months ended in February 2012.

The article discusses British supermarket chain Tesco PLC's expected March 5, 2012, announcement that it would create 20,000 jobs in Great Britain between 2012 and 2014.

The article discusses a February 13, 2012, announcement from British telecommunications firm Vodafone Group PLC that it is considering taking over British telecommunications provider Cable & Wireless Worldwide PLC.

The article reports that banking company Royal Bank of Scotland Group PLC will sell its aircraft-leasing business, RBS Aviation Capital, to a group from Sumitomo Mitsui Financial Group Inc. in the largest-ever sale of aircraft-leasing assets.

The article reports on the decision of chief executive Antonio Horta-Osório of Lloyds Banking Group PLC to waive his 2011 bonus.

This section offers business-related news briefs, including the rejection by De La Rue PLC of a 900 million British pounds takeover bid from Oberthur, the request by Kraft Inc. for a federal court to rule on a distribution deal it has signed with Starbucks, and the negotiation of Verigy Ltd. with fellow semiconductor-testing concern Advantest for a possible buyout.

The article reports that HSBC USA Inc. is being investigated by U.S. authorities for possible violations of antimoney-laundering regulations and other federal laws.

This article reports on the possible lawsuits faced by Goldman Sachs Group Inc. from Royal Bank of Scotland PLC and IKB Deutsche Industriebank AG over its role in marketing mortgaged-backed securities during the financial crisis.

The article reports that majority of the assets of Mobile Telecommunications Co. in Africa will be purchased by Bharti Airtel Ltd.

The article reports on a lawsuit filed by Microsoft Corp. against TiVo Inc. in a federal court in San Francisco, California for alleged patent infringement in January 2010.

This section offers news briefs concerning corporations in the U.S. As part of a cost-reduction program, 800 employees will be dismissed by Microsoft Corp. Voice, test messaging and data services have been restored by T-Mobile USA after affecting almost two million subscribers. AtriCure Inc. has a tentative agreement with the Justice Department regarding the marketing of a device for atrial fibrillation.

The article features the Ave Maria mutual funds managed by Schwartz Investment Counsel which adopts Catholic principles in screening U.S. companies. They avoid companies that are involved in abortion or planned-parenthood organizations but does not screen out stocks related to tobacco, firearms and alcohol. George Schwartz of Schwartz Investment said that less people are withdrawing their investments from the funds at the height of the recession compared to other funds. It excluded Wal-Mart Stores Inc. because it distributes an abortifacient.

The article reports on the increase in profit of Redwood Shores, California-based Oracle Corp. in the first quarter of 2009. It relates that the company's revenue has been affected by the weak economy and the reluctance of firm to invest in technology. It notes a drop in the stock following the earnings announcement. The benefits of a plan to bundle Sun hardware with Oracle's database software has been discussed by chief executive Larry Ellison.

The article reports on a temporary stay against injunction concerning the word-processing software Word granted to Microsoft Corp. by the U.S. Appeals Court for the Federal District on September 3, 2009. It is noted that the injunction could prevent the firm from selling the 2003 and 2007 versions of the software. According to a U.S. district court in Texas, a patent held by the technology firm i4i Inc. was violated by Microsoft. The damages awarded by the Texas court to i4i totaled 290 million dollars.

The article reports on the launch by Microsoft of its Zune digital music player in the U.S. The player goes on sale at lower prices than Apple Inc.'s iPod touch and with features such as high-definition radio and a touchscreen. According to analyst Matt Rosoff, it is a good product but Microsoft should have made it earlier if it really wanted to play in the market. It uses Tegra, the first chip developed by Nvidia that includes a microprocessor and special purpose circuitry.

The article reports on the vote of stockholders of Sun Microsystems Inc., a computer-server and software maker, in favor of takeover by Oracle, a business-software maker. Oracle will acquire each share of Sun for 9.50 U.S. dollars in cash. Oracle said that it expects the deal to close by the end of August 2009.

The article reports on the plan of Oracle Corp. to reduce workforce by up to 1,000 in Europe in 2009. According to a post on the web site of Confédération Française Démocratique du Travail (CFDT) labor union in France, around 225 employees will be laid off. Oracle has yet to state plans to layoff in other regions.

The article reports on a 41% drop in profit posted by software maker Adobe Systems Inc. for its fiscal second-quarter ended May 29, 2009. According to the company, sales of its core creative software also declined due to the global economic crisis. The maker of Photoshop and Acrobat reported a profit of $126.1 million a share during the quarter compared with $214.9 million a year earlier.

The article reports that businesses will be charged by Adobe Systems Inc. for using Acrobat.com. in 2009. The San Jose, California-based software company is promoting the online version of its PDF reader software as a tool that businesses can use to share and edit documents. The move is part of the company's plan to have a steady revenue stream.

The article focuses on deals blurring the boundary between hardware and software companies. The acquisition of Wind River Systems Inc. by Intel Corp. has led to the development of a software that can be used in mobile devices. It relates the role of the expected growth in cloud computing in the growing number of software mergers and acquisitions (M&A). It discusses the proposed acquisition of Sun Microsystems Inc. by Oracle Corp.

The article reports on the expected availability of Windows 7 operating system from Microsoft Corp. on October 22, 2009, ahead of its original schedule. According to Bill Veghte, senior vice president for Microsoft's Windows business, they feel confident that they will deliver Windows 7 with their partners in October. Windows reportedly generated about one-third of Microsoft's sales in 2008 and is on more than 90 percent of the world's personal computers. The challenge facing Microsoft regarding the growth of the so-called netbook computer is also noted.

The article reports that International Business Machines (IBM) will lay off 5,000 workers in the U.S. as it continues to expand its work force in India. As of 2007 IBM employed 74,000 people in India. Analyst Carl Claunch notes that outsourcing gives IBM a cost structure that is better able to compete with Indian firms such as Infosys Technologies Ltd. and Wipro Ltd.

The article reports on the decline in earnings of the San Jose, California-based software company Adobe Systems Inc. for its fiscal first quarter ending February 27, 2009. The company posted a net income of $156.4 million compared with $219.4 million last year. The decline was blamed by the company on slow adoption of the latest version of its software Creative Suite. Adobe stated in December 2008 that it would reduce about 600 jobs and undertake other cost-cutting measures.

The article reports on the impact of the increasing number of small companies seeking lower cost software maintenance and support service contracts to the business of Oracle Corp. Santa Fe Natural Tobacco Co., a small cigarette company has switched its service contract for Oracle human resources software to Rimini Street Inc. The author notes that oracle charges a fixed 22 percent of the price of a software package, which can cost hundreds and thousands of dollars, for maintenance.

This article reports on the comments by Microsoft Corp. chief executive officer (CEO) Steve Ballmer that the company will continue to spend in research and development to improve the company's long-term growth, despite a bleak financial outlook. Ballmer explains that the company sees that the economy will remain weak for a long time. Ballmer also explains that he is interested in talking with Yahoo Inc. chief executive officer Carol Bartz for a possible Internet search deal as Microsoft struggles to keep up with its rival Google Inc.

The article reports on the plan of Microsoft Corp. to launch Windows Azure, an online application which will be operated by the company on behalf of start-ups and large companies. It says that this offering is the latest in the cloud computing market that already includes Amazon.com Inc. and Google Inc. According to the article, Azure will be offered as a service and will run inside a network of Microsoft-owned data centers around the world.