Finance Links

Kraft executives found themselves in a boorish den at feeding time at the
Houses of Parliament yesterday.

Kraft has promised that there will be no job cuts at Cadbury factories for at
least two years in a bid to defuse mistrust surrounding its £11.5bn takeover
of the iconic British company.

Kraft’s chief executive, Irene Rosenfeld, has dodged a grilling by MPs over
her company’s £11.9bn takeover of Cadbury earlier this year.

Kraft and its City advisers face a Takeover Panel investigation after claims
that it broke a “promise” to keep open Cadbury’s Somerdale
factory.

Breaking pre-market news on Monday,

- Royal Dutch Shell and PetroChina make $3.4bn offer for Arrow Energy – statement.

- Prudential to seek secondary listing on Hong Kong stock exchange –…

Lord Mandelson looked impotent as he flapped around trying to influence the
outcome of Kraft Foods’ bid for Cadbury, so it is hardly surprising that
Britain’s business secretary is now looking for revenge.

Lord Mandelson has called for five specific changes to the rules that govern
Britain’s bid battles just days after the Takeover Panel announced a review.

We mused last week on what suggested reforms the First Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills might have made to the UK’s Takeover Panel.

And now we know,…

The insider dealing trial of Michael “Streaky” Calvert continues at
the High Court with, by most accounts his defence putting a strong case in
his favour.

Rules governing takeovers of British companies could be toughened following the launch of a consultation by the Takeover Panel on the code governing M&A deals. The move follows…