World Business Briefs at 4: Federal Reserve; Alitalia; Microsoft Tuesday, Sep 23 - Round-up of global economies and business . . ECONOMY ------ US FEDERAL RESERVE has relaxed rules on bank minority ownership by private equity investors and other investment groups. Investors can own up to 33% of a bank's equity, which includes 15% of voting shares, as against 25% with 10% voting shares earlier. (Forbes) +++ GOVERNMENT OF SINGAPORE INVESTMENT CORP, which oversees over $100 bln (4.58 trln rupees) of reserves, will invest in emerging markets, cutting back investments in developed nations. GIC Chairman Lee Kuan Yew said annual returns over 20 years averaged 7.8% in dollar terms. (various) . . COMPANIES --------- TORONTO-DOMINION BANK is weighing a bid for Washington Mutual. Citigroup, JP Morgan Chase, and Banco Santander SA are also likely to bid for WaMu. Meanwhile, WaMu is considering options like outright sale, raising new capital, and government-assisted takeover to tide over the financial crisis. (various) +++ ALITALIA's operating license may be withdrawn unless it presents a cost-cutting plan, Italy's civil aviation authority ENAC said. Italy's national airline is currently flying with a provisional license, said ENAC President Vito Riggio. Alitalia's estimated loss is over 2 mln euros (135.13 mln rupees) a day. (BBC) +++ MICROSOFT will buy back its shares from investors for $40 bln (1.82 trln rupees), the biggest single buy-back plan in history. The move is an attempt by the software giant to use its spare cash to prop up its share price, which has fallen nearly 30% so far this year. (BBC) +++ MORGAN STANLEY plans to sell 20% stake for $8.4 bln (381.36 bln rupees) to Mitsubishi UFJ Financial Group, Japan's largest bank. Mitsubishi UFJ, in a statement today, said it will buy 10-20% of Morgan Stanley and exercise due diligence before determining the final price. (various) +++ AMERICAN INTERNATIONAL GROUP will have a list of assets to sell by next week to repay an emergency bailout loan, Chief Executive Edward Liddy said Monday. The financial services major needs to raise cash to repay an $85 bln (3.88 trln rupees) US Federal Reserve loan to avoid bankruptcy. (various) +++ MCAFEE plans to buy Secure Computing Corp for about $465 mln (21.2 bln rupees). It will pay $5.75 for each common share of Secure Computing and redeem $84 mln in preferred stock. McAfee makes software used to protect computers from spam, viruses, and other security threats. (Marketwatch) End .
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