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 / October 9, 2010, 7:40 pm

Official says North Koreans honored to follow Kim Jong Un as next leader after father

PYONGYANG, North Korea - A top official told broadcaster APTN on Friday that North Koreans will be honored to follow the youngest son of Kim Jong Il as the third-generation leader of the reclusive communist nation. Yang Hyong Sop, a top official in North ... (Source: Minneapolis Star Tribune 2010-10-08T16:36:47Z)

Grand Jury Probing Anti-Abortion Murder

WICHITA, Kan. (AP) - A law enforcement official says a federal grand jury is investigating whether last year's murder of a Kansas abortion doctor was connected to a broader case involving radical anti-abortion activists. The official is familiar with the ... (Source: myfoxny.com 2010-10-09T18:58:46Z)

Ex-N.Y. Comptroller Pleads Guilty In Pension Scam

New York's former state comptroller pleaded guilty Thursday to a corruption charge stemming from his role as manager of the state's pension fund. The former comptroller, Alan Hevesi, agreed to cooperate with the ongoing investigation. Robert Siegel talks ... (Source: NPR News 2010-10-08T04:12:19Z)

T-Mobile USA to offer new Microsoft phones

SEATTLE Oct 4 (Reuters) - T-Mobile USA, a unit of Deutsche Telekom ( DTEGn.DE ), said it will support Windows Phone 7 software and plans to reveal details of phones based on the Microsoft Corp ( MSFT.O ) software at an event on Oct 11. AT&T Inc ( T.N ... (Source: Reuters 2010-10-04T21:56:29Z)

Calif. proceeds with building sale despite warning

California lawmakers and Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger are moving ahead with a plan to generate $1.2 billion from the sale of state office buildings to help close a $19 billion budget deficit, despite warnings that the deal doesn't pencil out for taxpayers ... (Source: AP - msnbc.com 2010-10-08T11:50:27Z)

UPDATE 1-Sanofi denies floating higher Genzyme offer

PARIS, Oct 8 (Reuters) - Sanofi-Aventis ( SASY.PA ) dismissed suggestions by bid target Genzyme ( GENZ.O ) that it had opened the door to paying a higher price for the U.S. biotech firm, deepening an increasingly fractious takeover battle on Friday ... (Source: Reuters 2010-10-08T07:54:14Z)

Dropped call? T-Mobile on, then off, Phone 7 invite

When it debuts on October 11th, Microsoft's new Windows Phone 7 OS will be available on devices from T-Mobile as well as AT&T. And that's official. Moments ago, the carrier--whose name was mysteriously removed from a Windows Phone 7 launch event invitation ... (Source: CNET News 2010-10-04T23:22:23Z)

UPDATE 3-Ellington Financial shares down in debut

On Thursday, Connecticut-based Ellington Financial sold 4.5 million shares at $22.50, raising about $101.25 million in its IPO. It had planned to sell shares for $22 to $24 each. All of the shares sold in the IPO were new. Separately, Global Education ... (Source: Reuters 2010-10-08T20:47:19Z)

Ellington Financial files for IPO worth $108M

Ellington Financial LLC, a specialty finance company that deals in mortgage-backed securities, on Tuesday filed for an initial public offering worth as much as $108 million. The Old Greenwich, Conn., company said it expects to sell 4.5 million shares at $ ... (Source: AP - msnbc.com 2010-10-06T18:12:13Z)

PolyOne Corporation Announces Expiration and Results of Its Cash Tender Offer

CLEVELAND , Oct. 8 -- PolyOne Corporation (NYSE: POL), a premier global provider of specialized polymer materials, services and solutions, today announced the final results of its previously announced cash tender offer for any and all of its outstanding 8 ... (Source: Earthtimes 2010-10-08T15:39:31Z)

North Korea Official Confirms Kim Jong Un Succession, APTN Says

North Korea confirmed for the first time that Kim Jong Il's son will succeed him as the country's leader, the Associated Press Television News reported, citing an interview with Politburo member Yang Hyong Sop. Kim Jong Un, who South Korean officials ... (Source: NewsMax.com 2010-10-08T12:33:24Z)

Tensions rise in Sanofi-Genzyme bid war

PARIS (Reuters) - Sanofi-Aventis (Paris: SASY.PA - News ) dismissed a claim by bid target Genzyme ( GENZ - News ) that it dangled a higher price for the U.S. biotech company, as a transatlantic takeover fight descended into an ill-tempered stand-off on ... (Source: Yahoo Finance 2010-10-08T12:33:24Z)

North Korean official confirms Kim Jong Un as leader

P YONGYANG, North Korea — A top North Korean official confirmed Friday to broadcaster APTN that Kim Jong Il's youngest son will succeed him as the next leader of the reclusive communist nation. In the first public confirmation of the succession plan ... (Source: Boston Herald 2010-10-09T08:35:59Z)

UPDATE 1-Penn National buys debt of M Resort in Las Vegas

LOS ANGELES Oct 8 (Reuters) - Penn National Gaming Inc ( PENN.O ) has purchased the outstanding debt of the troubled M Resort casino-hotel in Las Vegas for $230.5 million, the casino and racetrack operator said on Friday. The deal with Bank of Scotland Plc ... (Source: Reuters 2010-10-08T16:51:06Z)

Historic deadlock over California's budget ends

SACRAMENTO, Calif. - Shortly after sunrise Friday, California lawmakers brought the state's longest-ever budget impasse to a close - but not before stuffing their spending plan with last-minute favors for special interests. Lawmakers had worked through the ... (Source: Bellingham Herald 2010-10-08T18:52:47Z)

Paladin Energy Bid for NGM Resources Ltd-Extension of Offer Period

Paladin Energy Ltd (Paladin) (TSX: PDN)(ASX: PDN) notes that, on 24 September 2010, Paladin Energy Ltd (Paladin) announced that its off-market scrip takeover offer (Offer) for NGM Resources Ltd (NGM) would lapse at the end of the offer period on 8 October ... (Source: msnbc.com 2010-10-08T12:26:14Z)

Sanofi denies floating higher Genzyme offer

PARIS (Reuters) - Sanofi-Aventis <SASY.PA> dismissed suggestions by bid target Genzyme <GENZ.O> that it had opened the door to paying a higher price for the U.S. biotech firm, deepening an increasingly fractious takeover battle on Friday. Genzyme said on ... (Source: msnbc.com 2010-10-08T08:01:23Z)

Across the nation

BRANFORD, Conn. FBI agents and police officers surrounded a tractor-trailer at a travel stop on Interstate 95 in Connecticut on Friday night after a report of suspicious activity, but they found that the truck posed no danger to the public, authorities ... (Source: Lubbock Avalanche-Journal 2010-10-09T23:45:05Z)

Penn National Gaming buys Vegas' M Resort

Penn National Gaming Inc. said Friday that it had taken ownership of the M Resort, a hotel casino just off the Las Vegas Strip, for $230.5 million. The company, based in Wyomissing, Berks County, said it had bought all the casino's debt, as well as $160 ... (Source: Philadelphia Daily News 2010-10-09T07:02:56Z)

Reminder: Windows Phone 7 event Monday morning

I'll be covering live the joint Microsoft-AT&T Windows Phone 7 event Monday, during which the companies are expected to announce the release date of phones running Microsoft's new mobile operating system. The New York City event is slated to begin at 6:30 ... (Source: Seattle Post Intelligencer 2010-10-09T01:26:30Z)

Ellington Financial shares edge up after IPO

Shares of Ellington Financial LLC are inching higher in their first day of public trading Friday. Ellington, a specialty finance company that deals in mortgage-backed securities, priced 4.5 million shares at $22.50 each, raising a total of $101.3 million ... (Source: AP - msnbc.com 2010-10-08T15:53:50Z)

PolyOne To Sell $320 Mln Of Senior Notes Due 2020 - Quick Facts

(RTTNews) - PolyOne Corp. (POL: News ) announced that it is offering to sell $320 million aggregate principal amount of its senior notes due 2020 in an underwritten public offering under its effective shelf registration statement. PolyOne noted that it ... (Source: RTT News 2010-10-08T15:53:50Z)

Panel orders Paladin extend NGM offer

The Takeovers Panel has ordered Paladin Energy Ltd to extend its takeover bid for NGM Resources Ltd, saying the reason Paladin gave for allowing its offer to lapse was not acceptable. Paladin said in a notice last month that a defeating condition for its $ ... (Source: ninemsn 2010-10-08T06:28:20Z)

Schwarzenegger: State got best offer for buildings

SACRAMENTO, Calif.—While there are good reasons to own, Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger said Friday that California has received solid offers to sell 24 state office buildings to private investors and then rent that space back. "It went through the bidding ... (Source: San Jose Mercury News 2010-10-09T01:19:20Z)

Ex-comptroller admits role in pension case

NEW YORK — The state's former comptroller pleaded guilty yesterday to participating in a pay-to-play scandal at the public pension fund he once ran, the highest-ranking official convicted in a three-year investigation by state Attorney General Andrew ... (Source: Boston Globe 2010-10-08T06:28:20Z)

Murdered Kansas abortion doctor's clinic for sale

A "for sale" sign has been posted outside the Kansas medical clinic formerly operated by murdered abortion provider Dr. George Tiller. Tiller was among the few late-term abortion providers in the U.S. before he was fatally shot in his church last year by ... (Source: San Francisco Gate 2010-10-08T00:08:56Z)

Paladin ordered to extend NGM offer

The Takeovers Panel has ordered Paladin Energy Ltd to extend its offer period for NGM Resources Ltd, following the miner's withdrawal of a $27 million scrip bid. Paladin withdrew its friendly offer last month, saying terrorist activity in Niger, where NGM ... (Source: Business Spectator 2010-10-08T05:16:45Z)

PolyOne Begins Cash Tender Offer For Any And All Of Its 8.875% Senior Notes Due 2012 ...

(RTTNews) - PolyOne Corp. (POL: News ) announced the commencement of a cash tender offer for any and all of its outstanding 8.875% Senior Notes due 2012. There is currently approximately $280 million aggregate principal amount of the Notes outstanding. The ... (Source: RTT News 2010-10-08T15:53:50Z)

Plea bargain for comptroller who got corrupt $1M

Former state Comptroller Alan Hevesi yesterday pulled back the curtain on Albany's sleaze and dirty deals as he revealed in court how he turned his public office into the capital of corruption. Speaking in Manhattan Supreme Court, Hevesi detailed how he ... (Source: New York Post 2010-10-08T04:48:07Z)

Penn National, Leonard Green said to bid for M Resort

Penn National Gaming Inc. and Leonard Green & Partners LP have submitted offers for Lloyds Banking Group Plc's M Resort Spa Casino in Las Vegas, according to people with knowledge of the sale, Bloomberg News is reporting . (Source: Las Vegas Sun 2010-10-07T22:50:12Z)

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