Arrow-right Camera
The Spokesman-Review Newspaper
Spokane, Washington  Est. May 19, 1883

Sony may pay for faulty batteries

From Wire Reports The Spokesman-Review

Japanese computer makers Toshiba, Fujitsu and Hitachi said Monday they are considering seeking compensation from Sony Corp. over the massive recall of Sony-made batteries used in their laptop computers.

Toshiba Corp., which is recalling 830,000 Sony battery packs, said it is considering various measures including seeking compensation for lost business or damage to its brand image as a result of the recall.

Fujitsu Ltd. said seeking compensation was “possible” but that it needed to carry out its recall first before deciding the extent of damage on the company’s business.

Fujitsu announced last week that it would replace 51,000 more Sony-made laptop batteries around the world, in addition to the recall of 287,000 others earlier this month.

•Military and commercial vehicle maker Oshkosh Truck Corp. on Monday said it is buying JLG Industries Inc., a maker of aerial work platforms and booms, for about $3 billion in cash.

Oshkosh chairman, president and CEO Robert G. Bohn said the deal continues Oshkosh’s transformation into a global specialty vehicle maker.

“It is aligned with our historic acquisition strategy as we expand into complementary markets and it will be instrumental in building our global focus and scale that are increasingly needed to continue to be successful,” Bohn said of JLG.

The deal, which has been approved by the boards of both companies and still requires the approval from JLG shareholders and antitrust regulators, is expected to close in early December.

The company agreed to pay $28 per share for JLG, which represents a 35 percent premium over the stock’s Friday closing price of $20.75.

Oshkosh will also assume more than $200 million in JLG debt as part of the deal.

•The French government plans to offer financial help to Airbus suppliers hit by delays to the A380 superjumbo jet, Transport Minister Dominique Perben said Monday.

Speaking after a meeting with industry representatives in Paris, Perben said the government will extend bridging loans and loan guarantees to the French aerospace companies worst affected by problems with the 555-seater jet program.

Earlier this month, Airbus doubled the A380’s production delay to two years, blaming wiring problems, and warned that the setback will wipe 4.8 billion euros ($6 billion) off the profits of parent company EADS over four years.