Subscribe to Print Edition | Thu., July 10, 2008 Tamuz 7, 5768 | | Israel Time: 01:59 (EST+7) web haaretz.com   Back to Homepage Rosner's Domain Diplomacy Defense Jewish World Opinion National Print Edition Car Rental Books Peres Conference Business Real Estate Easy Start Travel Week's End Anglo File

Business in Brief Media mogul Haim Saban is reportedly among the contenders to buy the U.K. television company Sky's holdings in ITV, which is Britain's biggest commercial television network. British and Italian media outlets say that Silvio Berlusconi's media group Mediaset is also in the running, as is the German company RTL. Sky had astonished the British TV scene in November 2006, buying a 17.9% stake in ITV for 940 million pounds just as Richard Branson's Virgin was reportedly angling for it too. Since then, Sky has lost about two-thirds of its market cap, dropping to a record low last week. (Nimrod Halpern) Arcadi Gaydamak is reorganizing his assets under Ameris Holdings, a Tel Aviv-listed company whose bonds are presently trading at junk status, with yields of 67%. The transition will take place in stages, starting with the transfer of Gaydamak's 67.4% holding in Ocif, and his 50.5% holding in Gilon Investments to Ameris. In exchange for the transfers, Gaydamak will receive shares in the consolidated company based on an external value appraisal. Meanwhile Gaydamak is making moves to own 100% of Ameris by buying out other shareholders. (Michael Rochvarger) Advertisement An inspection of sponsorships that Israel Post granted in recent years is being carried out at the Communications Ministry, which suspects the government firm used its largesse to dissuade companies and organizations from choosing to work with rival forwarders. In other words, if the competition offered a discount amounting to X shekels, then Israel Post would grant a sponsorship roughly equivalent in sum to that X shekels, the ministry suspects. The probe began after complaints from competitors to Israel Post in bulk mail forwarding. Israel Post categorically denied granting any sponsorship to of the names on the list. (Amitai Ziv) Appalled by the flood of privately initiated bills that would cost NIS 1.9 billion to implement, Finance Minister Roni Bar-On warned Monday that the state simply can't afford it. "Someone is going to have to pay the price. There will have to be a budget cut so merciless, so deep, that we will all be holding our heads and saying 'how could we have taken part in that circus.'" Bar-On convened a special meeting with the heads of the coalition parties to relay his concerns. (Zvi Zrahiya) The Bezeq phone company may start negotiations to buy the "Bezeq Building" in Jerusalem from the bankrupt development company Heftsiba, Jerusalem District Court Judge Jacob Zaban ruled yesterday. The price will reportedly run to as much as NIS 200 million. Zaban has appointed attorney Ilan Shavit as receiver in charge of hawking the edifice, which is on 15 HaTzvi Street. Bezeq has been leasing it for years, hence the building's unofficial name. As the building's sole occupant, Bezeq had dibs on buying the property. Bank Hapoalim has rights to the amount to be paid by virtue of Heftsiba's debt to it, which is more than NIS 200 million. (Ranit Nahum-Halevy) Bookmark to del.icio.us   By the numbers A study shows Jewish Israeli men live almost four years longer than Israeli Arabs. Local threat The Shin Bet arrests two Bedouin, accused of supplying information to al-Qaida.

Read & React Iran test fires missiles said to be capable of striking Israel, U.S. Responses: 311 Editorial: Israel must protect Palestinians from Jewish violence Responses: 134 Two Israelis arrested for allegedly aiding al-Qaida Responses: 63 Deodorant maker apologizes for topless DJ, Haredim still angry Responses: 96 More Headlines 23:28 Family of Israeli Al-Qaida suspects: They're no terrorists 23:26 Border Police kills Hamas man trying to flee West Bank arrest 22:59 Talansky lands in Israel ahead of cross-examination in Olmert probe 00:51 Kadima agrees to mid-Sept. primary, but Olmert unlikely to run 21:58 Iran test fires missiles said to be capable of hitting Israel 22:44 Study: Israeli Jews live nearly 4 years longer than Israeli Arabs 23:35 Nazi hunters urge 'Dr. Death': Turn yourself in 23:01 Defense Ministry to PMO: Hurry and reinforce Gaza-area homes 23:24 Arab states ask UN Security Council to condemn West Bank settlements 22:25 Palestinian tries to topple West Bank barrier using bulldozer 20:44 Israeli gays shun condoms despite worrying rise in AIDS 23:37 Ex-president Katsav denied request for lavish office, luxury car 21:03 Teachers and parents: Schools must be made earthquake resistant 23:09 Two years after the Second Lebanon War, one soldier's recovery continues 19:23 South African rights group says harassed by settlers in Hebron Previous Editions Select Day 09 jul 08 jul 07 jul 06 jul 04 jul 03 jul 02 jul 01 jul 30 jun 29 jun 27 jun 26 jun

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