BUSINESS BRIEFS
Acer plans to acquire Gateway
Advertiser Staff and News Services
TAIPEI, Taiwan — Acer Inc., the world's fourth-largest computer vendor by unit sales, plans to acquire U.S. computer maker Gateway Inc. for about $710 million, the company said today. Acer is offering to buy Gateway shares for $1.90 each, the Taiwanese company said in a statement. Acer expects to complete the acquisition by December.
HOME DEPOT SELLS UNIT FOR LESS
ATLANTA — The Home Depot Inc. has tentatively agreed to sell its wholesale distribution unit to a group of private equity firms for $1.8 billion less than originally planned, and it will retain a small stake in the unit, a person with direct knowledge of the situation said yesterday.
The person, who asked not to be identified because he was not authorized to speak publicly, said the revised agreement calls for Home Depot to receive $8.5 billion in cash instead of the original $10.3 billion agreed to in June.
DUNKIN' DONUTS TRIMS TRANS FAT
BOSTON — Dunkin' Donuts is largely eliminating trans fat across its menu — doughnuts included. Dunkin' planned to announce today that it's developed an alternative cooking oil and reformulated more than 50 menu items. The Canton, Mass.-based chain says its menu will be "zero grams trans fat" by Oct. 15 across its 5,400 U.S. restaurants in 34 states.
YAHOO BOOSTS E-MAIL FEATURES
SAN FRANCISCO — Yahoo Inc. will introduce new features today for its popular Web-based e-mail program, including software that allows computer users to type text messages on a keyboard and send them to a cell phone.
The enhancements make it easier to send messages from a single Web site. It will take up to six weeks for all the new features to become available.
