Daily Investor Briefing: Allergan seeks deal with Salix to...

	Click to View in Browser 08/19/2014 Allergan seeks deal with Salix to fend off Valeant: WSJ (Reuters) - Botox maker Allergan Inc has approached Salix Pharmaceuticals Ltd and at least one other company about a potential takeover in a bid to avert the $53 billion hostile takeover from Valeant Pharmaceuticals International Inc, the Wall Street Journal said. Ex-CEO Ballmer quits Microsoft board to focus on NBA's Clippers SEATTLE (Reuters) - Former Microsoft Corp Chief Executive Steve Ballmer, the new owner of the Los Angeles Clippers basketball team, has left the software company's board in order to spend more time on his new sports project. Exclusive: PetSmart to explore sale amid investor pressure - sources NEW YORK (Reuters) - PetSmart Inc plans to explore a potential sale of the company, people familiar with the matter said on Tuesday, after several shareholders led by activist investor Jana Partners LLC pressured the pet supply retailer to sell itself. Wall St. ends higher; Apple closes at record NEW YORK (Reuters) - U.S. stocks ended higher for the second straight session on Tuesday as upbeat housing market data and strong earnings from Dow component Home Depot overshadowed lingering concerns about the conflict in Ukraine. U.S. housing market improving, inflation pressures muted WASHINGTON (Reuters) - U.S. housing starts surged to an eight-month high in July, suggesting the nation's housing market recovery was back on track after stalling in the second half of last year. Exclusive: Icahn says Family Dollar wasting over $300 million in breakup fees NEW YORK (Reuters) - Billionaire activist investor Carl Icahn told Reuters late Monday that efforts by Family Dollar's board to fend off competing bids in favor of a deal with Dollar Tree have resulted in more than $300 million being needlessly spent on breakup fees. BHP announces spin-off plan, no share buyback for now MELBOURNE/LONDON (Reuters) - The world's biggest mining company, BHP Billiton, announced plans to spin off businesses worth an estimated $16 billion, most of them acquired in a 2001 merger, to focus on its most profitable activities. Home Depot says U.S. housing recovery to boost sales in second half (Reuters) - Home Depot Inc said it expected same-store sales to grow faster in the second half of the year as customers renovate homes with big-ticket purchases such as wood and laminate flooring in a recovering U.S. housing market. McDonald's U.S. grocery packaged coffee sales to start next year (Reuters) - McDonald's Corp and Kraft Foods Group Inc will begin selling the fast-food giant's McCafe brand packaged coffee in grocery stores across the United States beginning in early 2015, the companies said on Tuesday. Former Obama campaign manager to run Uber's political strategy SAN FRANCISCO (Reuters) - Uber has enlisted David Plouffe, President Barack Obama's 2008 campaign manager, to devise and run its global political and branding strategy, as the fast-expanding car rides-on-demand startup runs into stiff resistance in some cities. Related Video High ticket sales key for Home Depot- Jamie Katz Breakingviews: Brazil blackout? Related News Exclusive: Icahn says Family Dollar wasting over $300 million in breakup fees U.S. SEC launches municipal adviser exams A daily digest of breaking business news, coverage of the US economy, major corporate news and the financial markets. Register Today   The latest Reuters articles on M&A, IPOs, private equity, hedge funds and regulatory updates delivered to your inbox each day. Register Today   » MORE NEWSLETTERS - 3 Times Square New York, NY 10036 USA © Copyright 2010 Thomson Reuters Ensure delivery of Reuters Newsmails, add mail@nl.reuters.com to your address book. Details Subscribe to other Reuters newsletters. Unsubscribe from this newsletter. Follow us on Twitter Friend us on Facebook Forward to a friend