Lionsgate and Marvel studios have signed interim deals with the striking Writers Guild of America, the union said Thursday.
The deals followed separate guild pacts with other independent production companies such as United Artists, The Weinstein Co. and David Letterman’s Worldwide Pants.
The guild said such agreements confirm it’s possible for writers to be compensated fairly and for companies to operate profitably.
Lionsgate’s new projects include Sylvester Stallone’s "Rambo" sequel, "Saw 5" and the TV show "Mad Men."
Upcoming comic-book film projects from Marvel Studios, a unit of Marvel Entertainment Inc., (MVL) include "Iron Man" and "The Incredible Hulk."
The writers guild, on strike since Nov faxless payday loans pay day loan. 5, is in informal talks with studio bosses to reach a contract agreement and end the costly 11-week walkout that has idled much of the entertainment industry.
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Carlsberg and Heineken on Friday finally agreed a cash bid of 7.8 billion pounds ($15.3 billion) to buy and break up Scottish and Newcastle (S&N) to boost the Danish brewer’s position in Russia and the Dutch group’s presence in western Europe.
Carlsberg and Heineken said they had agreed a deal at 800 pence a S&N share which was recommended by the board of Britain’s biggest brewer and the world’s sixth-largest beermaker after a three-month takeover saga.
Analysts said the long-awaited deal would be positive for both the bidders as they moved to split up the brewer of Foster’s, Kronenbourg and Newcastle Brown Ale. Carlsberg and Heineken are splitting the costs of the deal 54-46 percent.
The deal comes as brewers look to cut costs as input prices for malting barley and aluminum cans have risen and to create a bigger platform for their top brands. It also puts pressure on other brewers such as Molson Coors and Foster’s to perform better or look for similar deals, analysts said direct payday loan cash advance payday advance low fees. –>.
S&N shares rose 2.2 percent to 783p by 1050 GMT while Carlsberg dipped 4.8 percent to 531 crowns and Heineken was 0.5 percent ahead at 40.58 euros.
“Given the compelling strategic rationale, we see the deal as a good one for Carlsberg,” said Cazenove analyst Matthew Webb, who added that the deal would also enhance Heineken’s earnings in the medium term.
S&N and Carlsberg have agreed to release projected information for their 50-50 Russia-based joint venture Baltic Beverages Holding (BBH) for 2008 to 2010, which had been a sticking point in the takeover fight.
“The deal appears to be a good one for (S&N) shareholders, and we expect it to proceed, with completion during Q2 2008,” said Charles Stanley analyst Sam Hart.
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KB Home, the fifth largest US homebuilder, has made quarterly loss of $773m (?392m) as the American housing market slowdown continues to bite.
Reporting for the last three months of 2007, KB Home said it had written off $305.5m because of the reduced value of its housing and land stocks.
The Los Angeles-based firm said its sales fell 22% in the quarter compared with the same time last year.
KB Home, which saw revenues fall 31%, said it also expected a tough 2008.
Record defaults
The company’s fourth quarter revenues totalled $2.07bn, compared with $3.01bn for the same period in 2006 cash advance loan no fax bad credit payday loans. –>.
Its $773m loss compares with a $49.6m loss a year earlier.
Government figures released at the end of December showed that sales of US homes fell to a 12-year low in November.
The US housing market has crashed over the past year in the face of higher mortgage rates, which have led to record mortgage default levels, particularly in the sub-prime sector.
The result has been falling house prices, and growing numbers of Americans either unwilling or unable to join the housing market.
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