Chrysler could be dismembered as part of sale Chrysler could be sold in pieces to other companies as its majority shareholder Cerberus Capital Management seeks to exit the auto business, according to a person briefed on the discussions. Cerberus, the New York-based private equity firm, has been shopping the beleaguered automaker to General Motors Corp., the combined Nissan Motor Co. and Renault SA and other companies. Many combinations are being discussed, said the person who has been briefed on the talks. The person asked not to be identified because the discussions are private. Chrysler spokeswoman Shawn Morgan and Cerberus spokesman Peter Duda declined to comment.
H&R Block plans $145 million stock sale H&R Block Inc. said Wednesday that it plans to raise $145 million through a stock sale. The Kansas City-based tax preparer said it will issue nearly 8.3 million shares at $17.50 a share through subscription agreements with selected institutional investors. Company shares lost $1.03, or 5.7 percent, to $16.94 Wednesday. H&R Block said it intended to use the money "for general corporate purposes," including to "enhance capital and maintain financial flexibility." Company spokeswoman Nancy Mays said the stock sale was not to address any problems with liquidity. H&R Block relies on short-term borrowing to run operations in the fall as it prepares for the start of the income tax season, when it makes most of its income.
Aetna signs on for Net-based records storage Aetna Inc. is becoming the first health insurer to team with Microsoft Corp. to give its customers an Internet-based vault for storing medical records they can access even if they change jobs or leave their health plan. Starting next month, Hartford, Conn.-based Aetna will allow some customers to transfer electronic personal health records to Microsoft's HealthVault, a platform that lets care providers look at the information if they have patient permission. The vault will give the insurer's customers continuous access to their claims information and anything a patient wants to add, such as clinical data or older medical records, Aetna President Mark Bertolini said.
