Deals of the Hour

Trying to find out what's the deal with the world, tracking what's on sale and who's talking about it on Twitter. Update hourly.

Deals of the Hour / August 18, 2010, 4:40 pm

Fertilizer maker Potash Corp. rejects BHP Billiton Ltd. buyout offer

ST. LOUIS -- A global race to snap up fertilizer companies accelerated Tuesday, when fertilizer producer Potash Corp. of Saskatchewan Inc. rejected a buyout offer worth $38.49 billion, calling it "grossly ... (Source: Cleveland Plain Dealer 2010-08-18T02:42:29Z)

Bryce Harper, Nationals agree to $9.9 million deal

NEW YORK -- Just like last year, the Washington Nationals and agent Scott Boras agreed to a contract for baseball's top draft pick with just a few seconds to spare. Bryce Harper and the Washington Nationals ... (Source: Richmond Times-Dispatch 2010-08-17T10:14:38Z)

BHP goes hostile in $39 billion Potash bid

BHP Billiton launched a hostile $39 billion bid for Potash Corp to become the world's top fertilizer maker after the Canadian group rejected this year's biggest takeover offer. BHP Billiton, the world's biggest miner ... (Source: msnbc.com 2010-08-18T14:38:18Z)

Would-be GM plant buyer says offer misconstrued

INDIANAPOLIS—A businessman who hopes to buy a General Motors stamping plant in Indianapolis says he's offering higher wages than union representatives say. President Justin Norman of Addison, Ill.-based JD ... (Source: Pioneer Press 2010-08-18T21:26:20Z)

Prospective buyer of Indy GM plant set for closure says his offer better than some ...

INDIANAPOLIS (AP) — A businessman who hopes to buy a General Motors stamping plant in Indianapolis says he's offering higher wages than union representatives say. President Justin Norman of Addison, Ill.-based JD ... (Source: WGNtv.com 2010-08-18T21:26:20Z)

A powerful argument for signing Bryce Harper

The next sure thing in the baseball draft will be the first. There is, however, a sure-enough thing. As the Washington Nationals return with agent Scott Boras into the draft-deadline octagon, the Lerner family and GM ... (Source: YAHOO! 2010-08-13T23:55:25Z)

Makeshift Taliban prison found

Security forces in southern Afghanistan found 27 shackled Afghan men in a makeshift Taliban prison compound, NATO's International Security Assistance Force said on Wednesday. The force said the men appeared to ... (Source: CNN (blog) 2010-08-18T21:19:10Z)

Mining giant BHP Billiton to take bid to Potash shareholders

Mining giant BHP Billiton went on the attack Wednesday, saying it would take its nearly $39-billion takeover bid for Potash Corp. straight to shareholders after the fertilizer firm's board spurned the offer as ... (Source: Los Angeles Times 2010-08-18T20:14:45Z)

20 Afghan Taliban Fighters Killed In NATO Joint Operation

(RTTNews) - At least 20 Taliban fighters have been killed in a joint operation carried out by the NATO-led International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) and Afghan troops in eastern Afghanistan, the security alliance ... (Source: RTT News 2010-08-12T13:05:12Z)

BHP Billiton gets $US45bn in loans from six banks

BHP has secured loan facilities totalling $45 billion ($50bn) from six banks to fund its hostile offer for Potash Corp of Saskatchewan. Five banks are acting as underwriters and book runners on the loan facilities, Banco ... (Source: The Australian 2010-08-18T21:47:48Z)

Kloppers Goes Hostile as Potash's Doyle Fights Bid

(Updates share price in 15th paragraph.) Aug. 19 (Bloomberg) -- BHP Billiton Ltd. Chief Executive Officer Marius Kloppers flew to Chicago to deliver the letter containing his $40 billion offer to Potash Corp ... (Source: BusinessWeek 2010-08-18T17:22:57Z)

Al-Qaida-inspired group says its slain leader was headed from Lebanon to Iraq

BEIRUT – BEIRUT (AP) — An al-Qaida-inspired group says its leader and a top commander were heading to Iraq to join insurgents there when Lebanese security troops killed them over the weekend, according to ... (Source: FOX News 2010-08-18T19:53:16Z)

CT firm settles Web marketing complaints in NY

NEW YORK (AP) -A marketing company has agreed to pay $8 million to settle allegations that it tricked Internet shoppers into signing up for discount clubs with hidden fees. New York Attorney General Andrew Cuomo ... (Source: 13 WHAM 2010-08-18T21:47:48Z)

Merrill to Pay More Than $2.5 Million Over Security Discounts

Aug. 18 (Bloomberg) -- Bank of America Corp. will pay more than $2.5 million to settle a regulator's claims that its Merrill Lynch unit failed to offer customers required discounts on purchases of pooled ... (Source: BusinessWeek 2010-08-18T19:38:57Z)

BHP betting on crop production boom with hostile $38.5B bid for fertilizer maker ...

SYDNEY (AP) — BHP Billiton 's hostile $38.5 billion takeover offer for one of the world's biggest fertilizer producers, a bet that developing nations will drive a farming boom, could get the Australian iron ... (Source: Los Angeles Times 2010-08-18T11:17:52Z)

Two Islamist militants killed in clashes with army forces

Lebanese troops on Saturday killed two Islamist militants including a head of an Al-Qaeda-inspired group which fought a battle with the army in 2007 that cost hundreds of lives, a military spokesman said. "Abdel Rahman ... (Source: Ethiopian Review 2010-08-17T09:53:10Z)

Potash spurns BHP Billiton's offer

NEW YORK - Fertilizer producer Potash Corp. of Saskatchewan Inc. said Tuesday that it rejected an unsolicited takeover bid from BHP Billiton Ltd. worth about $38.49 billion as "grossly inadequate." The Potash ... (Source: AZCentral.com 2010-08-18T02:28:10Z)

BHP goes hostile on $39 billion Potash Corp bid

By Euan Rocha and Eric Onstad TORONTO/LONDON (Reuters) - BHP Billiton will pitch its $39 billion offer to buy Potash Corp directly to shareholders of the No.1 fertilizer supplier after arranging a massive bank loan that ... (Source: msnbc.com 2010-08-18T21:54:58Z)

Deal reached in case of Internet discount clubs with hidden fees

NEW YORK — A marketing company has agreed to pay $8 million to settle allegations that it tricked Internet shoppers into signing up for discount clubs with hidden fees. New York Atty. Gen. Andrew Cuomo ... (Source: Los Angeles Times 2010-08-18T21:12:01Z)

Human Rights Campaign: Target won't offer olive branch

MINNEAPOLIS — Target Corp. has decided against giving money to gay-friendly causes to quiet the uproar over a $150,000 donation that helped support a Minnesota governor candidate who opposes gay marriage, a ... (Source: Columbia Missourian 2010-08-16T22:33:07Z)

UN, NATO Considering Taliban's Offer To Study Afghan Casualties

Kabul, Afghanistan (AHN) - Just hours after Taliban offered to study Afghan civilian casualties with the United Nations and the NATO, the two bodies are carefully considering the proposal to establish a joint committee ... (Source: All Headline News 2010-08-18T00:33:38Z)

BofA Merrill Lynch to Pay $2.5 Million in FINRA Matter

CHARLOTTE, North Carolina (Reuters) - Bank of America Merrill Lynch will pay $2.5 million in restitution and fines after it failed to provide discounts to customers on a type of securities sale, the brokerage ... (Source: ABC News 2010-08-18T19:31:48Z)

BofA to Pay More Than $2.5 Million for Failure to Offer Security Discounts

Bank of America Corp. will pay more than $2.5 million to settle a regulator's claims that its Merrill Lynch unit failed to offer customers required discounts on purchases of pooled assets known as unit ... (Source: Bloomberg 2010-08-18T20:50:32Z)

Target Ends Talks With Gay-Rights Group Over Donation

The Human Rights Campaign (HRC) says talks with Target have ended. The gay-rights group was working with the retailer on solutions to the backlash over Target's recent $150,000 donation to a political action committee ... (Source: Diversity Inc 2010-08-18T20:43:23Z)

'Deceptive' tactics to cost Conn. firm $8M

NEW YORK -- A marketing company has agreed to pay $8 million to settle allegations that it tricked Internet shoppers into signing up for discount clubs with hidden fees. New York Attorney General Andrew Cuomo announced ... (Source: Post-Star 2010-08-18T22:45:04Z)

PotashCorp. (POT) Surges After Rejecting BHP's $130/Share Takeover Offer

Potash Corp. of Saskatchewan Inc. (NYSE: POT ) said Tuesday that it has rejected an unsolicited offer from BHP Billiton Ltd. (NYSE: BHP ) valued at $38.49 billion, saying that it undervalues the fertilizer company. The ... (Source: StreetInsider.com 2010-08-17T12:02:01Z)

How To Go Extinct

Labor: The members of a United Auto Workers local decide they'd rather shut their Indiana GM plant than take a pay cut to keep their jobs. It's their choice, but it's also about as intelligent as a dodo. Commentators ... (Source: Investors Business Daily 2010-08-18T21:54:58Z)

Nationals encounter risks, rewards of dealing with Scott Boras while working to sign Bryce Harper

And does his wide-ranging direct influence which extends from the top of the organization to the bottom - from owner Ted Lerner through General Manager Mike Rizzo to Manager Jim Riggleman to key Nats like ... (Source: Washington Post 2010-08-16T03:56:26Z)

Target says it won't give to gay groups to balance MN Forward donation

Target Corp. said Monday it won't give money to gay-friendly causes to quiet the uproar over a $150,000 donation that helped support a Minnesota governor candidate who opposes gay marriage. The discount ... (Source: Pioneer Press 2010-08-17T04:23:53Z)

Lebanon militants: Leader slain en route to Iraq

An al-Qaida-inspired group says its leader and a top commander were heading to Iraq to join insurgents there when Lebanese security troops killed them over the weekend, according to a U.S. terror-monitoring firm. The ... (Source: AP - msnbc.com 2010-08-18T19:31:48Z)

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