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Boosted by cost cuts and a stake sale, Royal Philips Electronics N.V. reports better-than-expected third-quarter net profit of 534 million euro, compared with profit of 176 million euro a year earlier. Revenue increased 9.6% to 6.16 billion euro.

Buoyed by increased sales and cost cuts, Philips Electronics N.V. swung to a first-quarter net profit of 200 million euro - compared with a net loss of 59 million euro a year earlier - but the company remains cautious about second-half earnings. First-quarter revenue rose 12% to 5.68 billion euro.

Because of 1.2 billion euro in impairment charges related to the acquisition of Imperial Chemical Industries PLC, AkzoNobel N.V. reports a net loss of 1.52 billion euro, and a drop in sales of 2.7% to 3.56 billion euro for the quarter ended December 31.

Bogged down by 1.3 billion euro in write-offs, Philips Electronics N.V. reports a fourth-quarter net loss of 1.47 billion euro, and an 8.9% drop in sales to 7.62 billion euro. The company also said it will suspend its share-buyback program and cut 6,000 jobs in an effort to reduce costs by 400 million euro in 2009. Article discusses Philips' share value, and sales by division.

Bogged down by a decline in semiconductor demand, chip-manufacturing equipment firm ASML Holding NV reports a fourth-quarter net loss of 88 million euro, and a drop in sales of 48% to 494 million euro. The company reported restructuring charges of 138 million in the quarter. ASML expects first-half sales in 2009 to drop to between 180 million euro and 200 million euro from a previous forecast of 250 million euro.

Boosted by the sale of its stake in Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co., Philips Electronics N.V. posted a 7.9% third-quarter net profit increase to 357 million euro, while sales dropped 2% to 6.33 billion euro. Earnings before taxes, amortization, and interest fell to 128 million euro from 444 million euro a year earlier. The company plans to save 230 million euro through cost cuts and layoffs in its fourth quarter. Philips's shares dropped 3.2% to close at 15.28 euro on Monday.

Unilever Group has agreed to sell its Bertolli olive oil and vinegar brand to Spanish food company Grupo SOS S.A. for 630 million euro raising Grupo SOS's global olive oil market share to 20%. Article discusses Grupo SOS's reported revenue, and plans to expand to the U.S. market.

Philips Electronics NV posts a 57% second-quarter net profit drop to 740 million euro while sales rose 7.1% to 6.46 billion euro. Article discusses Philips's share value, operations in emerging markets, and sales prospects for the rest of 2008.

Due in part to the sale of cheese brand Boursin and a joint venture with Pepsico Inc., Unilever posts a 31% first-quarter net profit increase to $2.16 billion. Article discusses Unilever's financial standing, stock value, production costs, brands management, and expected revenue for the rest of 2008.

US medical equipment maker Respironics Inc. will be bought by Dutch firm Koninklijke Philips Electronics N.V. for $5.16 bil, or $66 per share, which represents a 24% premium. The deal will provide Philips with new product categories in the health care market.

UK brewer SABMiller PLC has bid 816 mil euro bil for Dutch firm Grolsch N.V., an 84% premium to the firm's average share price at 48.25 euro. The shareholder threshold to approve the bid is 75%.

France's Rexel S.A. and the Netherlands' Hagemeyer N.V. are in exclusive negotiations for the French electric equipment firm to acquire the Dutch company. Rexel has increased its offer, from 4.60 euro per share to 4.85 euro per share, which values Hagemeyer at 3.13 bil euro.

A $14.22 bil takeover bid made by Dutch chemical company Akzo Novel N.V. was refused by British firm Imperial Chemical Industries PLC, which said the $11.85-per-share offer undervalued the firm.

Netherlands' SNS Reaal NV is purchasing AXA SA's Dutch insurance units for $2.35 bil. AXA is selling as growth in the Netherlands market was hampered by competition by large local entities.

A consortium of European banks headed by Royal Bank of Scotland Group PLC has submitted a revised offer of $95.61 bil for Dutch bank ABN Amro Holding N.V. The renewed bid is larger than that made by U.K.'s Barclays PLC, and represents a premium of 13.7% to the value.

This section offers news briefs concerning corporate finance including an increase in the net profit posted by Royal Philips Electronics NV for the third quarter of 2010, the loss incurred by McMoRan Exploration Co. for the third quarter of 2010, and the organic revenue growth posted by Havas SA.

The article reports on the acquisition of Unilever's Bertolli business by Grupo SOS SA for €630 million in an effort to strengthen its position as the world's leading olive oil bottler. The acquisition will bring the market share of Grupo SOS to 20%. It notes the increase in the consumption of olive oil after being linked to health benefits such as longer life and lower cholesterol. It also mentions that the sale is part of Unilever's divestment plan.

The article reports on the increase in the profit posted by ASML Holding NV in July 2008 as a result of a tax benefit. The company predicted that sales for the year could decline as much as 20% because of uncertain economic condition. The net profit of ASML in the second quarter grew by 20% from €159.5 million in 2007 to €192 million this year. ASML president Eric Meurice claimed that the firm will be prepared when macroeconomic conditions improve in 2009 and there is a growth in orders.

The article reports that SABMiller PLC has offered to buy rival brewer Grolsch NV. The offer of &Euro;48.25 a share represents an 84% premium to Grolsch's average closing share price over October 2007, according to SABMiller. It cites that the offer is subject to 75% shareholder-approval. Grolsch is expected to help better position SABMiller to expand in the premium beer markets worldwide.

The article reports on the agreement of Dutch chemicals, coatings and pharmaceuticals company Akzo Nobel NV to buy rival Imperial Chemical Industries PLC (ICI) for £8 billion. The company has raised its bid to 670 pence a share from its earlier bid of 650 pence. Akzo has also agreed to sell the adhesives and electronic material businesses of ICI to German consumer products and adhesives company Henkel KGaA.

The article deals with the decision of Imperial Chemical Industries PLC (ICI) to reject the acquisition offer of Akzo Nobel NV. The acquisition proposal of Akzo would trigger competing bids for the chemical company, according to analysts. Among the potential bidders of ICI are Dupont Co. and Dow Chemical Co.

This section offers news briefs on the financial performance of several companies in the third quarter of 2010 which include United Technologies Corp., Abbott Laboratories and TomTom NV.

The article reports on a bid by U.S. pharmaceutical, medical devices and consumer goods manufacturer Johnson & Johnson to purchase Dutch vaccine manufacturer Crucell NV for 2.3 billion U.S. dollars.

This section offers news briefs related to corporate earnings in the U.S. as of April 20, 2010, including one on net profit of 200 million euros recorded by Philips Electronics NV on its first quarter, the 45% decline in the first-quarter earnings of Halliburton Co., and another on the 47% increase in the fourth quarter of Tata Consultancy Services Ltd.

The article reports on the efforts of Philips Electronics NV to aim higher targets for growth and profit margins in the next three years because it expects that sales of new health-care and lifestyle products will offset competition and declining profit in its traditional consumer-electronics business. Chief executive Gerard Kleisterlee stated that the company is making ready for a period of sustainable growth. Kleisterlee refused to comment on when the company will reduce their 33% stake in LG. Philips LCD Co., a producer of LCD panels.

This section offers news briefs on earnings posted by some companies in 2010, including Tokyo, Japan-based firm Canon Inc., Park Ridge, New Jersey-based car-rental firm Hertz Global Holdings Inc. and Dutch navigation-equipment manufacturer TomTom NV.