Journalists
Robert Cyran moved from the London office to New York, where he covers global technology, pharmaceuticals and special situations. Rob began his career at Forbes magazine, where he assisted in the start-up of the international version of the magazine. Before working at breakingviews he worked as a market researcher and reporter covering the pharmaceutical industry. Robert has a Masters degree in economics from Birmingham University and an undergraduate degree from George Washington University.
This looks a good match. After its spell in bankruptcy, the U.S. lender needs a motivated technocrat, not an expert in the art of corralling bankers with big egos. The job also plays to the former Merrill chief's strengths -- and offers him a deserved chance at redemption.
The veteran activist gave the biotech firm the shake-up it needed. He won two board seats, ousted the CEO and put the company on the block. Unless he has more, better ideas, his 6 pct stake doesn't merit the extra board representation he wants. If not, he should just buy Biogen.
If the Middle Kingdom's industrialization follows the course of other nations, per capita demand for infrastructure like concrete and steel will peak long before meat consumption. This may explain why M&A in agriculture, not steel, is so hot. Case in point: Vale's $3.8 bln deal.
The U.S. tech group has shown an impressive ability to generate profit from designing iconic devices. This quarter was no different. Free cash flow rose nearly 50 pct. Now for the next difficult trick: unveiling a tablet in two days that meets the hopes of users and investors.
The $14 bln U.S. biotech is getting a much-needed shakeup. Relational Investors is backing management for now. But Carl Icahn, with a history of forcing companies into auctions, hovers. A sale might book a quick gain -- but a smaller, more focused firm would be more valuable.
Coordinated attacks on IT systems are common, yet companies and governments have kept largely silent. The growth of cloud computing means the stakes are growing higher. That may explain why Google spoke up - and why the U.S. State Department has also publicly taken China to task.
Investors have suffered 10 years of poor performance in venture capital. Natural shrinkage should raise returns for the survivors. Yet NEA just raised another $2.5 bln fund. This may not be good for the industry - or NEA’s backers.
The Internet retailer generated a stunning $2.6 billion in cash from operations in the fourth quarter, and it is plowing $2 billion into a stock buyback. But much of this bounty comes from delaying payment to suppliers -- that may not be sustainable.
Unsurprisingly, the tech supremo's new tablet is a gorgeous device that does everything but make your breakfast. Over time, more apps will be added and its price will drop, making it even more desirable. And that's a problem for already strained carriers like AT&T.
The Department of Justice's new approach to competition law was supposed to be vigorous. Yet it declined to take the Ticketmaster/Live Nation merger to court and settled for relatively minor remedies. That's not how a watchdog inspires fear.
More precisely, where should the search giant point its green gusher? The online ad recovery and increasing efficiency pushed Q4 free cash flow up 44 pct to $2.5 bln. Adding to its $24 bln hoard doesn’t make sense. Giving it to shareholders does.
The U.S. accounting scandal has petered out. Yet Comverse Technology’s founder still hides out in Namibia, leaving the company in a bind. The former CEO may never come back. The returns on a Comverse investment look promising.
Carol Bartz shows promise. In her first year, she worked well with difficult classmates (despite occasional outbursts of profanity). Her B-minus self-assessment illustrates her discipline and work ethic. Carol’s creative efforts, however, need improvement.
Investors are certainly expecting a lot from the company's new tablet gadget. They have slapped a “iSlate” premium of some $25 bln on the company. It's hard to doubt Steve Jobs, but there are some big assumptions underlying these hopes.