Boston, MA 02/03/2014 (wallstreetpr) – Twitter Inc (NYSE:TWTR) becomes the latest high profile social networking company to acquire patents from International Business Machines Corp. (NYSE:IBM). TWTR has ended its lawsuit with IBM by agreeing to acquire more than 900 patents related to social engagement, social media content and location-based networking. The two companies have been locked in a patent infringement lawsuit where IBM took offense of Twitter, now such squabbles have been ironed out and the companies have also announced cross-patent agreements. Facebook Inc (NASDAQ:FB) was the first high profile social network company to sign a patent deal with IBM whereby it acquired about 750 patents. It was a good move by Twitter Inc (NYSE:TWTR) to settle its case with IBM because that not only allows it to keep away from bad press, but also allows it focus on monetizing its technologies without fear of any infringement suit.
Itau Unibanco Holding SA (ADR) (NYSE:ITUB) is reacting to the slowdown in the Brazilian economy by seeking to invest in foreign assets. The company is reported to be inching closer to a deal with Corpbanca where $2.2 billion will exchange hands in form of cash and stock. This move will add value to ITUB which is already troubled at home where economic growth is expected to be just around 2.1 percent this year. In contrast, Chile is projected at a growth rate of 4.2 percent and Colombia will realize 4.5 percent growth this year. In the stated deal, Itau Unibanco Holding SA (ADR) (NYSE:ITUB) will merge its Colombia and Chilean units with those of Corpbanca.
Juniper Networks, Inc. (NYSE:JNPR) might not be doing enough already in getting value for investors. Perhaps this explains why Elliot Management which owns 6.2 percent stake in the company has come up with a proposal of changes that it wants the board to implement. If the proposed changes are adopted, the hedge funds says, JNPR will be able to cut cost by $200 million every year. The proposed changes are in research and development spending and engineers compensation. As a result of these adjustments, Juniper Networks, Inc. (NYSE:JNPR) will find it easy to raise its stock repurchase budget and also boost dividend to shareholders.
