Roche Surprises Genentech With Takeover Bid

(NewsVisual, powered by IntellectSpace) -- Genentech Inc (NYSE: DNA) was in for a surprise when partner Roch Holdings AG made it's $44 billion takeover offer. The move could significantly change the way the two do business from here on out.

Yahoo-Google Ad Partnership Comes Under Fire

(NewsVisual, powered by IntellectSpace) -- Yahoo Inc (NASDAQ: YHOO) and Google Inc (NASDAQ: GOOG) may only get so far in their partnership, as Congress entered the picture to find out if the deal, an attempt at fending of Microsoft Corp's (NASDAQ: MSFT) takeover plans, carries significant antitrust risk.

Executives from all three companies testified before the Senate and House Judiciary Committees yesterday. The deal proposed by Yahoo and Google would have some of Google's ads displayed on Yahoo's website, with Microsoft arguing that the move would unfairly limit competition and raise online ad prices (see article from The Associated Press).

Yahoo has placed a great deal of faith in its partnership with Google as a means of avoiding Microsoft's advances. If lawmakers rule against the deal, Yahoo will once again be vulnerable to Microsoft.

Yahoo Prepares For Battle Against Icahn and Microsoft

(NewsVisual, powered by IntellectSpace) -- Yahoo Inc (NASDAQ: YHOO) is facing even more heat from it's opponents as Microsoft Corp (NASDAQ: MSFT) and billionaire investor Carl Icahn continue to challenge the company's board.

Microsoft and Icahn are still pushing for a deal, despite resistance from Yahoo's leadership, and are now circumventing the higher-ups by publicly detailing why such a move would benefit the company's shareholders.

Icahn is set on replacing the board and Microsoft is insistent on a break-up of Yahoo, two proposals that have been quickly rejected by Yahoo's leaders. Despite the board's obvious lack of enthusiasm for Icahn and Microsoft's involvement, the company has agreed to an August 1 shareholder meeting to determine whether the current Directors stay or leave.

Microsoft Re-Enters Yahoo Takeover Battle

(NewsVisual, powered by IntellectSpace) -- Microsoft Corp (NASDAQ: MSFT) is reviving its intentions to aquire all or part of Yahoo Corp (NASDAQ: YHOO), and in the process could find a powerful ally in billionaire investor Carl Icahn.

The computer giant said Monday that it was willing to reconsider a deal with Yahoo if the internet services company was willing to replace its board. Many of Yahoo's current board has been strongly opposed to any attempts at a sale or break-up of the company in the past few months.

Bear Stearns Bailout Will Be Aided By Taxpayer Dollars

(NewsVisual, powered by IntellectSpace) -- Bear Stearns Cos (NYSE: BSC) is on the verge of collapse, and the Federal Reserve's report on the matter could mean more bad news for taxpayers.

Last Thursday the Federal Reserve estimated Bear Stearns' value after accepting JP Morgan's (NYSE: JPM) $28.9 billion loan used to buy the troubled firm as collateral.

However, thanks to falling markets that collateral is now worth only $28.8 billion, meaning that the $1.15 billion that JP Morgan agreed to take on as exposure is already being eaten into.

DealBreaker reported that the collateral has already experienced a 3.7% drop in the last couple months. Unless a major change occurs in the markets, these drops are likely to increase, leaving tax payers to foot the balance of this huge attempt at a turnaround.

NewsVisual created an IntellectSpace Knowledge Map illustrating how leadership links could add value to the firm's renewal efforts. Despite strong ties to major industry players, the huge blows that Bear Stearns has recently experienced may be beyond what the firm can handle on its own, which explains the need for JP Morgan and the Federal Reserve to step in.

Yahoo Eyes Time Warner For Deal As Microsoft Revives Takeover Interest

(NewsVisual, powered by IntellectSpace) -- Yahoo Inc (NYSE: YHOO) may be looking to combine with Time Warner Inc (NYSE: TWX) in an effort to deter future takeover attempts by Microsoft Corp (NASDAQ: MSFT).

The potential deal could give Yahoo control of AOL, and Time Warner would then take a stake in Yahoo.

Talks between the companies had originally started earlier this year, though Microsoft's failed attempt to acquire Yahoo and the subsequent fall-out after effectively haulted any deals. Now with Yahoo's share price sliding and investor confidence waning, it's clear that Yahoo is eager to spark some new life into the company's performance.

Yesterday NewsVisual mapped the connections between Microsoft and Yahoo that could be used to revive a deal. Today, an IntellectSpace Knowledge Map illustrates the ties between Time Warner and Yahoo that could be used to keep Microsoft at bay.

Microsoft Considers A New Run For Yahoo

(NewsVisual, powered by IntellectSpace) -- Microsoft Corp (NASDAQ: MSFT) hasn't given up on its attempt for a piece of Yahoo Inc (NASDAQ: YHOO), and is supposedly planning its methods for a successful takeover.

In another attempt to acquire Yahoo's search business, Microsoft has met with Time Warner Inc (NYSE: TWX) and News Corp (NYSE: NWS) to discuss deals that would up its chances of successfully reaching an agreement with Yahoo.

Though some close to the meetings are quick to downplay the talks as preliminary, analysts are speculating that Microsoft is planning acquisitions from Yahoo as well as segments from the companies it's been meeting with, including News Corp's Myspace or Time Warner's AOL (see article from The Wall Street Journal).   

Lehman Brothers Faces Record Lows; Leadership Scrambling For Turnaround

(NewsVisual, powered by IntellectSpace) -- Lehman Brothers Holdings Inc (NYSE: LEH) experienced major drops in the value of its shares on Monday, leaving the troubled finance firm at risk of a takeover.

Share prices haven't been this low since 2000, and some analysts are speculating that Lehman Brothers could be facing some major hurdles in the near future. One prediction is that the firm may even be forced to sell itself on the cheap if performance doesn't quickly improve.

Sprint Begins To See Turnaround Success

(NewsVisual, powered by IntellectSpace) -- Sprint Nextel Corp (NYSE: S) could be on its way to a full recovery from its recent financial struggles.

The wireless carrier, which has experienced major losses in the last year, has been implimenting turnaround tactics that are increasing investor confidence, leading to a 13% jump in stock price last week.

Increased focus on improving consumer service and it's new products has some analysts predicting that the next quarter will see greater customer retention and increasing performance (see article from The Wall Street Journal). 

Earlier this month, NewsVisual published an article and Knowledge Map illustrating one new tactic that Sprint is using to boost its numbers (see article).

It's likely that Sprint's current leadership played a huge role in sparking a turnaround. NewsVisual created an IntellectSpace Knowledge Map to convey the degree of high-level corporate experience that Sprint has under its belt that may prove key in this critical time.

Yahoo Plans Another Revamp Despite Investor Skepticism

(NewsVisual, powered by IntellectSpace) -- Yahoo! Inc (NASDAQ: YHOO) has announced yet another plan for reorganization, yet after a shaky last few months that left investors doubting its leadership, some are wondering whether this latest plan is mearly an attempt at distraction.

On Thursday the company announced that it would create three primary divisions focused on new product creation and data usage. The plan may have been a good idea last year, however critics are panning Yahoo for supposedly using the reorganizations as a way to save face after the embarrassment surrounding the failed takeover by Microsoft (NASDAQ: MSFT).

DealJournal compared Yahoo in its revamp attempts to "the great sorcerer" from The Wizard of Oz, who mearly turned out to be a purveyor of smoke and mirrors in order to project a greater image of himself to those around (see article ).