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 / September 25, 2010, 6:40 pm

Cazador plans to offer 5M units in IPO

Cazador Acquisition Corp. is planning to offer 5 million units in an initial public offering worth up to $50 million, according to a Securities and Exchange Commission filing. Each unit consists of one share and one warrant that allows the holder to buy ... (Source: AP - msnbc.com 2010-09-24T19:23:42Z)

State: Appliance rebate program only lasts 21/2 hours

CHICAGO - It took only 2½ hours for Illinois' latest Energy Star appliance rebate program to run out of cash. Thousands headed for stores Friday to take advantage of the $3.6 million offered in rebates to consumers who buy energy efficient appliances. The ... (Source: Kankakee Daily Journal 2010-09-25T15:04:49Z)

CSG to buy British company in $372M deal

CSG Systems Inc. is trying to acquire a British maker of billing technology for the communications industry in a deal valued at $372 million. Englewood-based CSG (NASDAQ: CSGS) reached agreement to acquire Intec Telecom in an all-cash offer to purchase its ... (Source: Denver Business Journal 2010-09-24T20:49:36Z)

Hertz says last bid for Dollar Thrifty is final

Hertz says its last bid for Dollar Thrifty was its final offer, one day after its rival Avis topped it. Hertz says it is standing by its offer valuing Dollar Thrifty at $50.25 per share, compared with an Avis bid valued at $53 per share, or about $1.52 ... (Source: AP - msnbc.com 2010-09-24T13:47:16Z)

Ellis Johnson, USC Defense Preparing For Auburn

Playing well on defense at home against a I-AA opponent is one thing. Doing it on the road in an SEC stadium is an entirely different matter. Especially when the opposing team's quarterback would make a nice power forward for his school's basketball team ... (Source: WLTX.com 2010-09-20T18:09:43Z)

Safeway Offers Flu Shot Incentive

PLEASANTON, Calif. — Anyone who gets a flu shot at a Safeway pharmacy will get a coupon for 10% off their next grocery order. "Stay well and save," Safeway writes in promotional materials. The chain offers flu vaccines on a "walk-in" basis and ... (Source: Supermarket News 2010-09-17T16:18:44Z)

Vicksburg to be stop on river cruise

VICKSBURG, Miss. (AP) — American Cruise Lines will offer eight riverboat cruises between New Orleans and Memphis beginning in 2012 with stops in Vicksburg and Natchez. Officials said American Cruises new sternwheeler will follow much of the routes run by ... (Source: Hattiesburg American 2010-09-24T12:42:51Z)

Hertz says latest bid for rival Dollar Thrifty is 'best and final offer'

NEW YORK (AP) — Hertz says its last bid for Dollar Thrifty was its final offer, one day after its rival Avis topped it. Hertz says it is standing by its offer valuing Dollar Thrifty at $50.25 per share, compared with an Avis bid valued at $53 per share ... (Source: Chicago Tribune 2010-09-24T13:40:07Z)

New riverboat cruises set between New Orleans-Memphis

VICKSBURG, Miss. (AP) — American Cruise Lines will offer eight riverboat cruises between New Orleans and Memphis beginning in 2012 with stops in Vicksburg and Natchez. Officials said American Cruises new sternwheeler will follow much of the routes run by ... (Source: Palm Beach Post (blog) 2010-09-24T19:02:14Z)

Brazil oil company Petrobras aims at offshore reserves with $70B stock offer, world's largest

BIG DEAL: Petroleo Brasileiro SA , or Petrobras, Brazil's state-run energy company, raised $70 billion through the sale of more than 4 billion common and preferred shares in Brazil and the U.S. BIG OIL: The money will fund Petrobras' ambitious $224 billion ... (Source: Chicago Tribune 2010-09-24T18:19:17Z)

STOCKS NEWS EUROPE-Intec Telecom surges on takeover bid

Shares in Intec Telecom ( ITL.L ) jump more than 31 percent after the telecoms billing firm agrees to a 236.7 million pounds ($370.9 million) takeover offer from U.S. rival CSG Systems ( CSGS.O ). Shareholders are set to receive 72 pence a share in cash, a ... (Source: Reuters UK 2010-09-24T08:32:18Z)

Quark Pharma seeks up to $20M IPO

Quark Pharmaceuticals Inc. , a developer of RNA interference drugs that signed a big deal last month with Novartis AG , wants to raise up to $20 million in the Bay Area's latest biotech IPO. The Fremont company, whose second-largest shareholder is a firm ... (Source: San Jose Business Journal 2010-09-25T12:05:52Z)

Cruise line starting riverboat trips on region's rivers

VICKSBURG, Miss. — American Cruise Lines will offer eight riverboat cruises between New Orleans and Memphis beginning in 2012 with stops in Vicksburg and Natchez. Officials said American Cruises new sternwheeler will follow much of the routes run by the ... (Source: Knoxville News Sentinel 2010-09-25T01:50:15Z)

COLLEGE FOOTBALL: No. 7 Texas toast as UCLA easily upsets Longhorns again

AUSTIN, Texas -- Thirteen years after "Rout 66," UCLA produced another stunner: The Bruins walloped Texas again. Johnathan Franklin rushed for 118 yards and a touchdown, Kevin Prince ran for a score and passed another and UCLA beat the seventh-ranked ... (Source: North County Times 2010-09-26T01:27:36Z)

Brazil's huge oil reserves fuel largest-ever share offer

SAO PAULO, Brazil - The exploration and production of Brazil's huge offshore oil reserves is the driving force behind the globe's biggest-ever share offering. Petroleo Brasileiro SA, or Petrobras, the nation's state-run energy company, raised $70 billion ... (Source: Philadelphia Daily News 2010-09-25T07:12:23Z)

SciQuest Shares Surge After $57 Million Software IPO

(Updates with closing prices.) Sept. 24 (Bloomberg) -- SciQuest Inc., the provider of procurement software to colleges, drugmakers and governments, surged 29 percent after raising $57 million in the third U.S. initial public offering of September. SciQuest ... (Source: BusinessWeek 2010-09-24T20:20:58Z)

Fulton County To Offer Flu Vaccines

ATLANTA -- Flu season is on the way, and for the first time ever, the CDC is recommending that everyone over the age of six months get vaccinated. Most people will need only one dose this year. But children may still need two, and older adults might ... (Source: WXIA 11 Alive 2010-09-13T10:11:15Z)

UPDATE: Intec Telecom Agrees Cash Offer, Counterbid Likely

LONDON -(Dow Jones)- Billing software company Intec Telecom Systems PLC (ITL.LN) Friday agreed to a 72 pence a share takeover by CSG Systems International Inc. (CSGS), although analysts haven't ruled out a counterbid at a higher price. CSG's offer, which ... (Source: Smart Money 2010-09-24T11:38:25Z)

Appliance shoppers pack Q-C stores as rebates dry up quickly

The SouthPark Mall Sears' appliance department was one of several locations hopping Friday morning as customers scrambled to make purchases during the one-day Illinois Energy Star Appliance Rebate Program. The program started at 8 a.m. but didn't last long ... (Source: Quad Cities Onlines 2010-09-25T00:17:12Z)

Illinois residents: Receive discount on Energy Star purchase

Illinois Gov. Pat Quinn announced recently that Illinois residents now have a second chance to receive a discount on their purchase of Energy Star-qualified appliances on Friday during the Illinois Energy Star Replacement Appliance Rebate Program. "The ... (Source: Tribune-Star 2010-09-19T09:28:20Z)

Petrobras raises $70B in offer, world's largest

The exploration and production of Brazil's massive offshore oil reserves is the driving force behind the globe's biggest-ever share offering. Petroleo Brasileiro SA, or Petrobras, the South American nation's state-run energy company, raised $70 billion ... (Source: AP - msnbc.com 2010-09-24T20:28:08Z)

USC looks to contain Auburn QB Newton

AUBURN, Ala. -- A lot of things have changed since the last time South Carolina was in Auburn, in 2005. And that's just fine with the Gamecocks, who would prefer to leave that 48-7 loss to Auburn buried in the past. One thing the Tigers didn't have then ... (Source: The Post and Courier 2010-09-25T04:06:16Z)

Hertz says its bid for Dollar Thrifty is final

Hertz said its bid for Dollar Thrifty would be its final offer, one day after rival Avis topped its bid of about $1.36 billion. Hertz said Friday that it wouldn't raise its bid valuing Dollar Thrifty Automotive Group Inc. at $50.25 a share. Avis on ... (Source: Los Angeles Times 2010-09-24T22:01:11Z)

California's Physician Groups Honored for Quality Performance and Improvement

The California Association of Physician Groups today announced that 45 of their member physician organizations, which represent approximately seven million patients statewide, were awarded the highest overall quality rating in 2009 from the Integrated Heal ... (Source: PR Inside 2010-09-24T10:26:50Z)

Answer man: Search is on for flu shot for seniors

Q. OK, Mr. Answer Man, you told all of the older folks last Tuesday to ask for a flu vaccine specifically made for seniors, but where do you find it? My family doctor doesn't know anything about it, and I've called a raft of stores and most don't know what ... (Source: News-Democrat 2010-09-25T12:27:20Z)

College football top 25 roundup: UCLA stuns Texas, Alabama rallies to top Arkansas

The two teams that played for the national championship last season trailed by 10 at halftime Staturday. No. 1 Alabama rallied from its deficit on the road and earned a tough 24-20 victory against No. 10 Arkansas, behind the hard running of Mark Ingram ... (Source: The Post-Standard - Syracuse.com (blog) 2010-09-26T01:06:07Z)

UCLA Medical Group ranks among top physician organizations in state

The Integrated Healthcare Association has announced that for the sixth consecutive year, the UCLA Medical Group has been rated one of California's top-performing physician organizations. Rankings were based on several important health care quality measures ... (Source: Asia Media 2010-09-24T17:29:10Z)

South Carolina wary of Auburn quarterback Newton

There are compliments, and there are Compliments. When Ellis Johnson, South Carolina's assistant head coach for defense, compares Auburn junior quarterback Cam Newton to three first-round NFL draft picks, that's an uppercase C. "He reminds me of the kid ... (Source: Sacramento Bee 2010-09-25T08:09:39Z)

Ground attack, turnovers carry UCLA to rout of No. 7 Texas

AUSTIN, Texas (AP) — Johnathan Franklin rushed for 118 yards and a touchdown and UCLA stunned No. 4 Texas 34-12 on Saturday. Thirteen years after the Bruins walloped the Longhorns 66-3 in the same stadium, UCLA sent Texas fans heading to the exits early ... (Source: USA Today 2010-09-26T00:44:39Z)

The Local Buzz, Sept. 25

Physicians from the Southern California Permanente Medical Group have been named top performers by the non-profit Integrated Healthcare Association in its annual statewide pay for performance rankings. These are the physicians who care for Kaiser ... (Source: San Gabriel Valley Tribune 2010-09-25T02:04:34Z)

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