In Case You Missed It: News Round-Up

martin.jpgContributed by Martin Mitchell, director of eLearning for the Corporate Training Group

In case you were too busy to have kept up with all the news, contributor Martin Mitchell has gathered some important market events from last week to help you start this week well informed:

Mergers and Acquisitions

  • Satyam Computer Services, the scandal-hit Indian outsourcing company where the financial statements were fudged by the CEO, is to invite formal bids from potential suitors. This is despite the fact that the accounts are unlikely to be restated for some months. Goldman Sachs and Avendus Capital are the advisors.
  • Genentech, the US biotechnology group, launched a vigorous defense against Roche’s planned $42bn takeover. Roche is attempting to buy the 44% of the company it does not currently own at $86.50 per share and Genentech’s chief executive claimed the bid undervalues the entity and success might stifle its innovative culture. Later in the week, Roche raised its offer to $93 per share after discussions with big Genentech shareholders.The possible future ownership of LCH.Clearnet added a third possibility, with the revelation that LCH.Clearnet is working on a proposal to buy out its roughly 120 shareholders as part of a conversion to an user-owned facility. There are two further possibilities – a merger with US clearer the DTCC and a rival possible bid from a consortium including eight banks, Icap and the London Stock Exchange.
  • Analysts are speculating over whether Anheuser-Busch InBev will sell its Russian and Ukrainian business to raise cash to help pay down debt and focus more on its American beer brands. The business is thought to be worth around $6bn and possible buyers include SABMiller.
  • Dow Chemical’s takeover of Rohm and Haas is looking increasingly likely again. An original deal foundered when Dow’s potential sources of finance suffered after Kuwait’s state-owned oil company backed out of a joint venture. After the withdrawal of the deal by Dow, Rohm and Haas embarked on a lawsuit that is due to start on Monday. However, the companies have announced that they are ‘in discussions relating to the merger of their companies and the pending litigation’.

Read more

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International Women’s Day

Happy International Women’s Day to the readers of theglasshammer.com!

While Sunday is not generally a publishing day for us, we could not let this day pass without acknowledgement as career advancement can only happen once basic rights are in place for women.

I must admit that I personally had not paid much attention to the events of International Women’s Day in before launching The Glass Hammer. But here are some things I’ve since learned: the first International Women’s Day was established in 1910 to honor the movement for women’s rights and to assist in achieving universal suffrage for women. It was actually marked for the first time on March 19th of the following year, in Austria, Denmark, Germany and Switzerland. In recent years, International Women’s Day has become a day on which we focus on the advancements that have been made and acknowledge the acts of ordinary women who have played an extraordinary role in the history of women’s rights. If you want to know more, then have a quick look at this short video with three young women explaining what the day means.

The theme for International Women’s Day this year is “Women and Men United to End Violence Against Women and Girls.” Visit the official site to read up on various global news on the subject ranging from harrowing tales of the struggle to more upbeat coverage of evolved people doing good things. Laurie Curry from Right to Play writes one of those inspiring pieces when she asks two simple questions: “Have women made enough change?” and “Are things as good as they are going to get?”

“I think that by definition, there will always be change; this will never stop. But what I find compelling is the amount of progress that women have made and that those who’ve had the opportunity to progress, continue to lead the charge and champion this chance for others. Some women pursue this quietly and discreetly and others, in a more vociferous way. Some speak out and others take action. Some spend time with women or girls who need support and others perhaps educate boys on the role that they can play. It’s inspiring to see so many people working in their own personal way to further social and economic prospects for women.”

I met one of those inspiring people last week when my friend and fellow blogger Cleo Thompson of PwC invited us to PwC’s event marking International Women’s Day. I had the pleasure of hearing Gita Patel of Stargate Capital speak about her Trapezia Fund for women. I won’t say anything more as we will be publishing something on this later this week and I don’t want to spoil the surprise. Keep reading this week for full event coverage!

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Ms. JD’s Third Annual Conference: Avenues to Advancement

Partner or Public Servant?

Competitor or Collaborator?

Flex-Time or Full-Time?

On-Ramp or Opt-Out?

Announcing Ms. JD’s Third Annual Conference: Avenues to Advancement

Ms.JD’s Third Annual Conference on Women in Law: Avenues to Advancement will highlight the choices available to women in the legal profession, the changing definitions of success, and the personal and professional infrastructure that best promotes retention and advancement of female attorneys.

Save the Date!! Registration will be open soon so be sure to join the mailing list for updates and additional information about featured speakers!

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Beyond Ideas: Making Global Impact: Women in Business Conference 2009

The ninth annual London Business School Women in Business Conference, Beyond Ideas: Making Global Impact, will address women’s evolving roles in today’s business world. Building on past themes such as “Challenging Norms: Changing the Face of Business” and “Opportunities in an Evolving Business World”, the conference will highlight the impact women are making in local and global marketplaces and how they are making it.The conference will profile influential women leaders and provide key takeaways on how participants may make greater impact in their respective countries and business environments.The following panels will be hosted to discuss specific topics on Global Impact:

  • Global Economy: Women’s Perspective
  • Charting Your Course: Career Navigation
  • Energising Entrepreneurship: Women’s Ingenuity

The London Business School Women in Business Conference is widely recognised as a leading women’s conference in Europe. Join professionals, academics and students for a full day of events planned with distinguished speakers, panels and networking to promote impact beyond the day’s events.

Visit the website for the event schedule.

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Beyond the Storm: Opportunity & Risk in a New Era

Now in its eleventh year, the CFO European Summit takes on a new life as CFO Outlook 2009. Featuring enhanced networking opportunities and increased interactivity, CFO Outlook 2009 will take a long view on how the outcomes of the global financial crisis will transform your expectations, your strategies, and ultimately your role.

The event is designed to foster candid discussion amongst your peers from across Europe. Underpinned by key insights from CFO Europe’s award-winning editorial team alongside expert opinion from a panel of industry leaders, we encourage an atmosphere of lively and relevant debate on the topics that matter to you.

For more information or to Register.

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Why Laura isn’t CEO – Chicago Booth Global presentation series

More and more women are getting a business education but few of them seem to make it to the top … why are there so few female CEOs?

Various explanations have been proposed, including the suggestion that women are still discriminated against, or that women just don’t have what it takes to compete in the often cut-throat business environment. Current research led by Chicago Booth Professor Marianne Bertrand explores the reasons behind the gender gap in business. Unsurprisingly, her research confirms that female MBAs have not done as well as male MBAs in the labor market.

What may surprise you, however are some of the reasons why they have not done as well. Attend Chicago Booth’s Global Leadership series to hear Professor Bertrand discuss factors that explain the large and rising gender gap in earnings between MBA graduates of an elite business school. Her findings will provoke a re-assessment of personal career choices, offer insight into human resource policies, and provide broad guidance to those responsible for organisational practices.

With a reputation for excellence and personal service, the London Capital Club, based in the heart of the City, is the City’s premier private members Club for men and women, which combines the grace and integrity of a traditional city club with a modern understanding of business needs.

This event is free to attend but seats are limited. To secure a place, visit Chicago Booth School of Business.

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Volatility Forecasting & Trading Strategies 2009

Both on a national and global level, volatility has been continuing to radically escalate and experience wide swings. While some may use it as a means to hedge their portfolios, others are viewing volatility as an asset class on its own and have implemented ground-breaking arbitrage techniques to transform this recent surge into profits. During the current market crisis, institutional investors, asset managers and market players of all types, are forced to keep a close watch on volatility, while striving to build new strategies and systems to benefit from the vast amounts of returns it can provide.

This conference will fill a critical need to examine the evolving strategies, models, performance and different approaches to volatility trading on both a national and global stage. It will be the premier platform that will unite Hedge Funds, Asset Management Firms, Investment Banks, Quantitative Analysts, Portfolio Managers, Heads of Quantitative Research, Exchanges, CEO’s and Chief Risk Officers.

Visit the website for information on featured speakers.

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Global MBA Women’s Day Conference

Gender Balance: An Opportunity for Post-crisis management?Some companies are ‘hunkering down backwards’ to hide from this crisis, trimming and cutting all but the most tried-and-true success elements of their past. Others are ‘innovating forwards’, using this period to redesign their organisations for a very different future. The latter companies know that women offer skills and styles particularly suited to the 21st century…Are you seizing the opportunity of Women-omics?

International MBA Women Careers Day: March 4th, Online, on a PC near you

Avivah Wittenberg-CoxCEO 20-first, Publisher WOMEN-omics.comWOMEN-omics and MBA-Exchange.com will host an online careers day to celebrate Internatioanl Women’s Day. Our event is designed for women with MBAs from the world’s leading business schools and the companies interested in them.The day will include an online discussion, chaired by Avivah Wittenberg-Cox, author of Why Women Mean Business, and Publisher of WOMEN-omics.com. The discussion will bring together speakers from companies as well as leading career experts to focus on:

  • Why companies care about female talent;
  • How to compose a sustainable career by proactively managing women’s different career cycles;
  • How the best companies are attracting, retaining and developing both halves of the talent pool ? the female and male halves.

For MBA women and enlightened employers, the link is www.mba-exchange.com/womenHope to see you there (virtually).

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Risk and Reward:The 6th Prowess Annual International Conference 2009

Make the most of the networking opportunities at the Prowess 2009 conference!Make sure you book your place before 12 February to be included in the

Who’s Who of Women’s Enterprise Development

The Who’s Who is a fantastic networking tool profiling up to 300 key contacts in the women’s enterprise sector, and a great way to profile you and your organisation. The Who’s Who is part of the Prowess Conference handbook, and is sent out to all registered delegates one week before the event to help you plan networking.

If you have already booked your place, please send your profile text for inclusion in the Who’s Who to j.orourke@prowess.org.uk at Prowess by 5pm on Thursday 12 February.

Conference booking form

For further information call the Conference Booking Hotline: +44 (0)1603 762355 or email Conference@prowess.org.uk

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2009 United Way Women’s Leadership Summit

Join the National Women’s Leadership Council and the nation’s most significant women leaders in philanthropy and volunteerism at the 2009 National Women’s Leadership Summit

Come to the summit to:

• Learn key skills and strategies to advance the work of your Women’s Leadership Council in the areas of Resource Development, Advocacy and Leadership.

• To be inspired and empowered by like-minded women who are leading the way in advancing the common good.

• To raise awareness of the power of women to improve their communities by working together to give, advocate and volunteer.

• To be part of a dynamic forum focused on establishing, growing and increasing the impact of your local Women’s Leadership Council.

•To become part of a network of powerful women leaders who are passionate about improving their communities, the nation and the world.

Register here

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