IN BRIEF (Page 15)

Cash injection

Mizuho Financial Group Inc said on yesterday it would inject $1.4 billion into its money-losing brokerage unit, which has been hit by spiraling losses on subprime-related investments.

Mizuho Corporate Bank, the group's corporate financing arm, will buy 150 billion yen ($1.4 billion) of new shares issued by unit, Mizuho Securities, the companies said in a statement. Mizuho Financial is Japan's second-largest bank.

Warrior joins Cisco

Cisco Systems Inc said on Tuesday it hired Padmasree Warrior (above), the former head of technology at mobile phone maker Motorola Inc, as chief technology officer.

Warrior's departure from Motorola was announced on Monday, and came after embattled its chief executive, Ed Zander, announced last week he was stepping down and would be replaced by Chief Operating Officer Greg Brown.

Moving into beer

Coca-Cola Amatil Ltd, Australia's biggest soft-drink maker, and SABMiller Plc agreed to buy Bluetongue Brewery Pty, gaining their first beer-making plant in Australia.

The deal includes a 50,000-hectoliter Newcastle brewery and brands including Bluetongue Premium Lager and Bondi Blonde, Sydney-based Coca-Cola Amatil said in a statement yesterday. The purchase price wasn't disclosed.

Bank nationalization

The UK government has drafted a bill to nationalize Northern Rock Plc as early as February if a private buyer fails to acquire the bank, the Daily Telegraph reported, without saying where it got its information.

The governing Labour Party has begun discussions on the nationalization bill with the opposition Conservatives, the newspaper said.

Lufthansa undecided

Deutsche Lufthansa AG, Europe's second-largest airline, said it hasn't decided whether to bid for Alitalia SpA, two days before the unprofitable Italian competitor expects to receive offers.

"A decision hasn't been made yet," Chief Financial Officer Stephan Gemkow said yesterday.

Agencies-Bloomberg News

(China Daily 12/06/2007 page15)