Zell's F-words prove too much for Tribune staff

Billionaire Sam Zell is traveling the United States using pep talks laced with profanity to exhort Tribune Co's 19,000 employees to be more creative or risk seeing their jobs disappear.

EADS 'eyes stateside acquisition'

EADS wants to identify up to two acquisitions in the United States this year, according to an internal memo obtained by Reuters as the European aerospace group battles opposition in Congress to a US Air Force deal.

Rain poses threat to Oz sugar crop

Torrential rain over the past month could pose a threat to Australia's sugar crop for 2008/09, but the industry was still expecting production to increase from previous seasons, the Canegrowers group said yesterday.

US fund trims its Sapporo ambitions

US fund Steel Partners said yesterday it now wants only one-third stake in Japan's third-biggest beer maker Sapporo Holdings, ending its push for a majority, and was willing to pay 6 percent more to get it.

Biz people

'Takeover bid makes no sense'

IN BRIEF (Page 16)

Business International

Is Ford offer to quit tempting enough?

For Rick McDonald, the biggest gamble of his young life comes down to whether he believes Ford Motor Co can turn itself around.

Firm to pay out $1,000 bonuses

Ford Motor Co on Wednesday said that it would pay out bonuses to all of its employees in North America - including $1,000 payouts to hourly workers - despite reporting a loss of $2.7 billion last year.

Fiat may make Alfa Romeos in US

Fiat SpA, the largest manufacturer in Italy, will reintroduce Alfa Romeo cars in the United States in the next two years and is considering whether to make the vehicles there, Chief Executive Officer Sergio Marchionne said.

Europe's wealthy diversify investments

Europe's wealthiest families are planning to shift their investments further away from traditional assets into alternatives such as hedge funds and commodities.

IN BRIEF (Page 16)