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POLITICS: ON THE AIR;Fox to Give Free TV Time To Candidates For President

Date: 27 February 1996

By Lawrie Mifflin

Lawrie Mifflin

Declaring that the millions of dollars candidates must raise to buy televised political advertisements has become "a cancer in our political system," Rupert Murdoch, chairman of the News Corporation, announced that his Fox television network would give a series of free prime-time speaking opportunities to the leading Presidential candidates in the fall. Mr. Murdoch, challenging the other three broadcast networks to join his plan, said Fox would offer two forms of free time. An hour of prime time will be made available to the candidates on the evening of Nov. 4, the day before Election Day, "to address the American people." In addition, the candidates will get 10 minutes each, in one-minute pre-taped segments, to address each of 10 "important issues as defined by the American people"; Fox would broadcast the segments at various points in its prime-time programs in the month leading up to the election.

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POLITICS: THE POLL;SOCIAL ISSUES GIVE BUCHANAN BOOST, A NEW POLL FINDS

Date: 27 February 1996

By R. W. Apple Jr

R. Apple

Patrick J. Buchanan's views on social issues like abortion and immigration are attracting voters to his campaign more than his economic populism, a new New York Times/CBS News poll shows. The poll, which was taken last Thursday through Saturday, showed that Mr. Buchanan had established himself nationally -- and not just in the early primary and caucus states where the candidates have spent most of their time -- as the main rival to Senator Bob Dole for the Republican Presidential nomination. But some issues that Mr. Buchanan has emphasized threaten to split the Republican coalition.

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NEWS SUMMARY

Date: 28 February 1996

International A2-9

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NEWS SUMMARY

Date: 27 February 1996

International A2-15

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COMPANY NEWS;BOMBARDIER DECIDES NOT TO BID FOR FOKKER

Date: 28 February 1996

Bloomberg Business News

Bloomberg News

Bombardier Inc., the Montreal-based aircraft maker, said yesterday that it had decided against making an offer for Fokker N.V., leaving the Dutch commuter aircraft maker with only a few days to find an alternate plan to avert bankruptcy. "The risks involved were too high," a Bombardier spokesman said. Bombardier, a company with a record of turning around troubled plane builders, had been seen as Fokker's best hope for survival. A unit of Bombardier, Short Brothers of Northern Ireland, makes wings for Fokker, and a spokesman said the unit was still in talks with Fokker. Meanwhile, Hans Wijers, the Dutch Economics Minister, said he expected Samsung of South Korea to make its intentions on Fokker clear in the next few days. Fokker's majority shareholder, Daimler-Benz A.G., halted its support for the company last month.

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COMPANY NEWS;LORAL ACKNOWLEDGES AN INVESTIGATION BY THE S.E.C.

Date: 28 February 1996

Bloomberg Business News

Bloomberg News

The Loral Corporation said yesterday that the Securities and Exchange Commission was investigating trading in shares of Loral prior to an announcement that the Lockheed Martin Corporation would acquire the company. On Jan. 8, Lockheed Martin said it would acquire most of Loral in a deal then valued at more than $7 billion. In a filing with the S.E.C. yesterday, Loral said the commission informed Lockheed on Feb. 8 that it had begun an informal inquiry into the trading. Lockheed said on Jan. 25 that the New York Stock Exchange had also asked for information on the trading. Also yesterday, Lockheed extended its offer until March 20 because the Federal Trade Commission had not acted on the transaction.

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COMPANY NEWS;KERKORIAN MIGHT INCREASE GAMING INVESTMENT

Date: 27 February 1996

Bloomberg Business News

Bloomberg News

Kirk Kerkorian is considering raising his investment in the gaming industry, the chairman of his investment company, the Tracinda Corporation, said yesterday. "Our investment in the gaming industry is one that we will continue to find ways to expand over the next several years," the chairman, Jerome B. York, said yesterday. Mr. Kerkorian already owns 47.9 million shares, or 74 percent, of the stock in MGM Grand Inc., which operates the MGM Grand hotel in Las Vegas, Nev. Mr. Kerkorian, Chrysler's largest shareholder, ended a 10-month battle with the auto maker earlier this month. Chrysler pledged to repurchase $2 billion of its stock this year and $1 billion next year, and Mr. Kerkorian stands to receive about 14 percent of that, or about $420 million.

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COMPANY NEWS;NORTHWEST AIRLINES AGREES TO AIRBUS ORDER

Date: 27 February 1996

Reuters

In its first major aircraft purchase since it went public two years ago, Northwest Airlines said yesterday that it had a memorandum of understanding with Airbus Industrie for a new order of 20 Airbus A320 planes. Northwest, based in St. Paul, did not disclose the value of the purchase, but it is expected to be $500 million or more. Northwest also said it had delayed delivery on 16 long-range Airbus A330 planes. Under the Airbus agreement, Northwest would take delivery of 10 A320's in 1998 and 10 more in 1999. It now operates a fleet of 50 A320's.

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COMPANY NEWS;A MERGER FOR INTERIM SERVICES AND BRANDON SYSTEMS

Date: 28 February 1996

Dow Jones

Dow Jones

Interim Services Inc. and the Brandon Systems Corporation signed a merger agreement yesterday valued at about $163 million. Interim said that Brandon stockholders would receive 0.88 Interim Services share for each Brandon share held. Interim said the merger, which would be recorded as a tax-free pooling of interests, was expected to close in June. Interim Services, based in Fort Lauderdale, Fla., provides flexible staffing and home health care services. Brandon Systems is an information technology staffing company in Secaucus, N.J.

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COMPANY NEWS;MICROCHIP TECHNOLOGY LOWERS EARNINGS ESTIMATE

Date: 28 February 1996

Reuters

The shares of Microchip Technology Inc. fell more than 20 percent yesterday after the company warned that earnings and revenue would be lower than expected in its fourth quarter, ending on March 31. The shares fell $7.50, to $28.50, in Nasdaq trading. Microchip, based in Chandler, Ariz., makes microcontrollers for cellular telephones and computer pointing devices and other products. The company said many of its customers were delaying orders because of high inventory levels. At least two brokerage houses downgraded the company's stock, and some analysts reduced their earnings estimates by 5 percent to 10 percent for the year that ends in March 1997.

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