Skype, the Web telecommunications provider, already has 500 million users and made $48 million in the third quarter, its last before going private. That's good, but eBay wasn't a natural owner. Its core auction and payments businesses had little to do with managing a communications company. 
Share:  <span class="company">Skype</span>, the Web telecommunications provider, already has 500 million users and made $48 million in the third quarter, its last before going private. That's good, but eBay wasn't a natural owner. Its core auction and payments businesses had little to do with managing a communications company. Tweet this 

That's good, but eBay wasn't a natural owner. Its core auction and payments businesses had little to do with managing a communications company. And eBay's poisoned relationship with the founders, Niklas Zennstrom and Janus Friis, also hurt. 
Share:  That's good, but <span class="company">eBay</span> wasn't a natural owner. Its core auction and payments businesses had little to do with managing a communications company. And <span class="company">eBay</span>'s poisoned relationship with the founders, Niklas Zennstrom and Janus Friis, also hurt. Tweet this 

The trans Atlantic ambitions of Barclays , the British bank, are moving to another level. Barclays became a big player on Wall Street by snapping up Lehman Brothers ' American operations after the firm collapsed in . The revelation that it is interested in buying a United States bank suggests it wants to become a familiar face on America's Main Street, too, according to Breakingviews. 
Share:  The trans Atlantic ambitions of <span class="company">Barclays</span> , the British bank, are moving to another level. <span class="company">Barclays</span> became a big player on Wall Street by snapping up Lehman Brothers ' American operations after the firm collapsed in . The revelation that it is interested in buying a United States bank suggests it wants to become a familiar face on America's Main Street, too, according to Breakingviews. Tweet this 

President Obama 's proposed levy on banks' wholesale liabilities could reduce Barclays' 2011 net income by 14 percent, according to JPMorgan . Amassing a retail deposit base in the United States could help ensure that further growth is financed by relatively stable customer deposits rather than by short term sources of funds that can dry up. That might also fit better with reforms being examined by the Basel Committee, which sets international banking standards. 
Share:  President Obama 's proposed levy on banks' wholesale liabilities could reduce <span class="company">Barclays</span>' 2011 net income by 14 percent, according to JPMorgan . Amassing a retail deposit base in the United States could help ensure that further growth is financed by relatively stable customer deposits rather than by short term sources of funds that can dry up. That might also fit better with reforms being examined by the Basel Committee, which sets international banking standards. Tweet this 

The chief executive of JPMorgan Chase runs one of the only major banks in the United States that did not post a quarterly loss during the crash. And he has maneuvered his firm into a strong position to grow as the economy rebounds. But investors don't yet seem convinced that it will. 
Share:  The chief executive of <span class="company">JPMorgan Chase</span> runs one of the only major banks in the United States that did not post a quarterly loss during the crash. And he has maneuvered his firm into a strong position to grow as the economy rebounds. But investors don't yet seem convinced that it will. Tweet this 

Take the purchase of Bowne & Company , a printer of financial documents like prospectuses for public stock offerings and merger proxies, by its larger rival RR Donnelley. On Feb. 23, Donnelley plunked down $11.50 a share, 65 percent more than investors thought Bowne was worth before the deal was announced. That sounds like an outrageous markup. 
Share:  Take the purchase of <span class="company">Bowne</span> & Company , a printer of financial documents like prospectuses for public stock offerings and merger proxies, by its larger rival RR Donnelley. On Feb. 23, Donnelley plunked down $11.50 a share, 65 percent more than investors thought <span class="company">Bowne</span> was worth before the deal was announced. That sounds like an outrageous markup. Tweet this 

Add to Portfolio Novell Inc. Go to your Portfolio ». Calpers says its portfolio of funds that challenge underperforming companies has generated an average return of 7.2 percent a year since it started in 1999, compared with an annualized 1 percent loss for the Standard & Poor's 500 stock index over the same period. By all rights, the activists' returns should be easy to match. Copying the tried and true approach shouldn't be difficult: Buy a slug of a laggard with a pristine balance sheet and demand the company sell itself. 
Share:  Add to Portfolio <span class="company">Novell</span> Inc. Go to your Portfolio ». Calpers says its portfolio of funds that challenge underperforming companies has generated an average return of 7.2 percent a year since it started in 1999, compared with an annualized 1 percent loss for the Standard & Poor's 500 stock index over the same period. By all rights, the activists' returns should be easy to match. Copying the tried and true approach shouldn't be difficult: Buy a slug of a laggard with a pristine balance sheet and demand the company sell itself. Tweet this 

CF Industries told shareholders in January that it was done chasing its big rival, Terra Industries . The nearly yearlong pursuit included some ungainly moments, as when CF's nominees to Terra's board rejected one of CF's many offers. But an about face by CF has brought it back with a new unsolicited bid worth $4.7 billion, or $47.40 a share. 
Share:  CF Industries told shareholders in January that it was done chasing its big rival, <span class="company">Terra</span> Industries . The nearly yearlong pursuit included some ungainly moments, as when CF's nominees to <span class="company">Terra</span>'s board rejected one of CF's many offers. But an about face by CF has brought it back with a new unsolicited bid worth $4.7 billion, or $47.40 a share. Tweet this 

CF Industries told shareholders in January that it was done chasing its big rival, Terra Industries . The nearly yearlong pursuit included some ungainly moments, as when CF's nominees to Terra's board rejected one of CF's many offers. But an about face by CF has brought it back with a new unsolicited bid worth $4.7 billion, or $47.40 a share. 
Share:  <span class="company">CF</span> Industries told shareholders in January that it was done chasing its big rival, Terra Industries . The nearly yearlong pursuit included some ungainly moments, as when <span class="company">CF</span>'s nominees to Terra's board rejected one of <span class="company">CF</span>'s many offers. But an about face by <span class="company">CF</span> has brought it back with a new unsolicited bid worth $4.7 billion, or $47.40 a share. Tweet this 

LONDON (SHARECAST) , Charle Stanley is advising its clients to hold on to their Blacks Leisure Group shares while Sports Direct makes up its mind whether to make a cash offer for the camping and sportswear retailer. The broker thinks that Mike Ashley, the boss of Sports Direct, has twigged that ‘Blacks' Achilles heel – its onerous store leases – has now been addressed, and so Blacks is well placed to return to good profitability,' though Charles Stanley concedes that ‘much work is left to be done to effect a turnaround.' . Given Sports Direct's 28.5% stake in Blacks the prospect of a rival bidder emerging is slight, but if Ashley requires the support of the Blacks board for any offer then a bid of around 100p may be required, as the current management's incentive plan payments are linked to a £1 share price. 
Share:  LONDON (SHARECAST) , Charle Stanley is advising its clients to hold on to their Blacks Leisure Group shares while <span class="company">Sports Direct</span> makes up its mind whether to make a cash offer for the camping and sportswear retailer. The broker thinks that Mike Ashley, the boss of <span class="company">Sports Direct</span>, has twigged that ‘Blacks' Achilles heel – its onerous store leases – has now been addressed, and so Blacks is well placed to return to good profitability,' though Charles Stanley concedes that ‘much work is left to be done to effect a turnaround.' . Given <span class="company">Sports Direct</span>'s 28.5% stake in Blacks the prospect of a rival bidder emerging is slight, but if Ashley requires the support of the Blacks board for any offer then a bid of around 100p may be required, as the current management's incentive plan payments are linked to a £1 share price. Tweet this