Acer spin-off boosted by Sirius, XM tie-up news
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(InfoWorld) - A major Taiwanese maker of satellite radios and components stands to benefit from theÂ proposed mergerÂ between two U.S. companies, Sirius Satellite RadioÂ and XM Satellite Radio Holdings, lifting its stock higher in Taipei on Monday. Wistron Neweb Corp. (WNC), one of many spin-offs from the Acer Group when it reorganized several years ago, could grab new orders for its satellite-related components and gear if the Sirius and XM merger is approved, according to Goldman Sachs (Asia). The company may have to wait for good news, however, as the investment banker sees a long road ahead for regulatory approval of the merger. "We believe it would be a big bonus to WNC in the long-term if the merger of Sirius and XM happens, given that Sirius is likely to take the lead on procurement. However, we believe it may not occur in the near term," Goldman Sachs technology analyst Henry King said in a report Monday. Regulatory approval for the proposed deal, valued at $13 billion, could take until the end of this year, he said. Even if a deal is pushed through, it could take as long as until the second half of 2008 for the companies to consolidate their businesses and start ordering gear from a single supplier. Currently, WNC competes with several Taiwanese and South Korean rivals. WNC has long supplied Sirius with satellite radios, and the U.S. company's success has helped boost WNC's shares on the Taiwan Stock Exchange. News of the merger sent WNC shares up NT$2.70, or 3.1 percent, to NT$91.10 (US$2.75) on the TSE Monday, the first day trading resumed after the long Lunar New Year holiday. The main index of the exchange, the TAIEX, rose 1.2 percent on the day. Many Taiwanese factories fill orders for U.S. companies, and often benefit when certain products become popular. For example, Inventec Appliances, which makes some iPod models for Apple, saw its share price rise 30 percent on the day of its initial public offering a year and a half ago because of the popularity of the digital music player and hopes it would continue to gain followers. It was the biggest one-day rise for an initial offering in the market's history. Sirius and XM claim total subscribers of around 13.6 million, 6 million for Sirius and 7.6 million for XM. Â
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Sirius Satellite Radio and larger rival XM Satellite Radio Holdings have both announced gains in subscribers as 2004 draws to a close.
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Sirius Satellite Radio Inc.   and XM Satellite Radio Holdings Inc.  expect their  merger to close by the end of 2007, according to presentation  slides for an analysts' conference call on Tuesday.
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The nation&#39;s largest provider of satellite radio will launch a premium internet music service in early October. XM Satellite Radio, the nation&#39;s largest provider of satellite radio with more than 2.1 million
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JUST IN Satellite radio providers XM and Sirius confirmed the rumors Monday, announcing a surprise $13 billion merger of equals, which would keep Sirius CEO Mel Karmazin and XM Chairman Gary Parsons in their respective roles.
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(InfoWorld) - The U.S.'s two satellite radio operators, Sirius Satellite RadioÂ and XM Satellite Radio Holdings announced Monday they plan to merge, pending a potentially difficult approval process. The all-stock deal will see XM shareholders receiving 4.6 shares of Sirius stock for each XM share they own. The new company would be worth $13 billion, based on the companies' estimates, although neither company has ever turned a profit. Sirius and XM combined lost over a billion dollars last year on total revenues of about $1.5 billion. Because the two are the only companies licensed by the U.S. Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to offer satellite radio services, the merger may face regulatory opposition over creating an industry giant that would be hinder competition. Sirius CEO Mel Karmazin will become the new company's CEO, with Gary Parsons, currently XM's chairman, set to become its new chairman. Executives from both companies will continue in their present roles until the deal closes, expected by the end of 2007. The two companies pioneered the concept of subscription-based radio services, delivered nationwide via satellite. Both Sirius and XM charge subscribers $12.95 per month for their services. Sirius surprised the radio world in 2004 when it signed shock-jock Howard Stern to a five-year, $100 million contract. Stern remains the network's chief draw of over 130 channels, which includes NFL game broadcasts and related talk shows. XM has about 160 channels and counts talk-show and entertainment titan Oprah Winfrey among its celebrities. XM claims 7.6 million subscribers, and Sirius 6 million.
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Satellite radio rivals XM and Sirius have every intention of merging, but not just yet.
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Sirius Satellite Radio  and XM Satellite Radio  shares jumped on Tuesday after the companies announced a merger plan, although a top regulator said the deal would face a tough review.
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I'm rooting for satellite radio to succeed. (It's been just three years since XM launched the first satellite radio service.) How come? The appeal of XM and Sirius becomes obvious to folks who are turned off by excessive and dumb commercials, tired formats and static on much of what passes for AM and FM nowadays.
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Executives of satellite radio rivals  Sirius Satellite Radio Inc. SIRI.O and XM Satellite Radio  Holdings Inc. XMSR.O have been meeting lately to discuss the  possibility of a merger, the New York Post reported on  Wednesday, citing several sources close to the matter.
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Rivals XM Satellite Radio Holdings Inc. and Sirius Satellite Radio Inc. on Tuesday traded hits in the intensifying race for new subscribers, separately announcing distribution deals with Toyota Motor Corp.
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Taiwan-based Acer Inc, the world&#039;s fourth largest branded personal computer vendor, has said it is set to more than triple its sales in China this year through its own retail network.
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The biggest question: How is Acer going to handle the presentation of three PC brands to the public?
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Sirius Satellite Radio Inc. and XM  Satellite Radio Holdings Inc. said on Monday they would offer a  subscription package priced 46 percent below current levels,  and would also let customers buy packages of their favorite  channels, after their proposed merger.
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By Newsday, Melville, N.Y.  Feb. 26--The only two satellite radio systems in America, Sirius and XM, want to merge. A decade-old federal rule bars it. But neither has shown a profit, so Washington should let them combine.
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The much-anticipated merger between Sirius and XM brings up some important issues. Plus: 10 gadgets for writers. In Gadget Lab.
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When companies start talking about a âmerger of equals,â someone is usually getting the better deal. It is especially true in the proposed merger of XM and Sirius.