IBM (NYSE: IBM) has announced its intent to acquire the strategic messaging service assets of Outblaze, Ltd., a privately held provider of online messaging and collaboration services, based in Hong Kong.

Dell and Allin Corporation announced today that Dell has acquired Microsoft IT consulting and solutions segments of Allin for $12 million in a stock purchase agreement.

A new study in Strategic Management Journal examines how the nature of outside directors’ prior experience, and resulting expertise, will influence the performance of a firm’s performance. Results show that this past experience and expertise will have positive effects on the firm’s acquisitions.

Nokia and Informatica have signed an agreement for Informatica to acquire Identity Systems, headquartered in Greenwich, CT. Identity Systems became a subsidiary of Nokia in February 2006 as part of Nokia's acquisition of Intellisync. Informatica will acquire all of the capital stock of Identity Systems in a cash transaction valued at approximately USD 85 million.

E.ON AG’s interest in large acquisitions this year is fading fast as it seeks to focus on integrating earlier takeovers, said the company's chief executive.

SA of Belgium by Norddeutsche Affinerie AG (NA) of Germany. Both companies are active at several stages of the copper processing chain, in particular producing copper cathodes, copper rod and copper shapes. In September 2007 the Commission opened an in-depth investigation to check whether the proposed acquisition might significantly impede competition, in particular with regard to the European market for copper shapes.

Motorola, Inc. (NYSE: MOT) announced today that its subsidiary, MI, Inc., will launch a tender offer to acquire a controlling interest in Vertex Standard Co., Ltd. (JASDAQ: 6821), a global provider of 2-way radio communication solutions.

Cisco® today announced a definitive agreement to purchase Richardson, TX-based Navini Networks, Inc. a leader in the Mobile WiMAX 802.16e-2005 broadband wireless industry.

HP today announced that is has signed a definitive agreement to acquire the Atos Origin Middle East group, also known as “AOME,” one of the Middle East’s leading systems integrators, to broaden its consulting and integration capacity in the region.

Texas Instruments (TI) Incorporated (NYSE: TXN) today announced that it acquired POWERPRECISE Solutions, Inc., a fabless portable power management integrated circuit (IC) solutions company based in Herndon, Virginia. The acquisition combines POWERPRECISE advanced technologies, design expertise and innovative products with TI's extensive analog and power management portfolio.

Siemens Metals Technologies, a division of the Siemens Group Industrial Solutions and Services is merging its components business in the metallurgical plant building industry and has taken over the remaining 50 percent of the supplier, Shape Technology Ltd, Bournemouth/UK.

Mochida Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd., and Siemens K.K. Japan have agreed to change the ownership interest both companies hold in their joint venture Mochida Siemens Medical Systems Co., Ltd. Today, Mochida Pharmaceutical transferred 16 percent of its outstanding shares to Siemens K.K., making Siemens K.K. a 51 percent equity stakeholder.