Swedish telecommunications operator Ericsson has agreed to acquire New Jersey, US-based Telcordia for $1.15 billion.

Telcordia develops mobile, broadband and enterprise communications software and services within the operations support systems/business support systems (OSS/BSS) field.

Ericsson said Telcordia’s core competence and leading market position within the OSS/BSS market would reinforce and expand its own existing competences.

Jim Beqaj offers his expertise in how to sustain yourself in employment by finding your FIT in your target rich environment.

To make sure your business is prepared for anything, you need more than just a plan, says Ray Bryant, CEO of Idappcom.

Sunnyvale, California-based positioning technology specialist Trimble today announced the acquisition of Yamei Electronics Technology, Co. Ltd, a Chinese wholly foreign owned entity (WFOE) of Digisec Group of the Caymans.

Financial terms have not been disclosed.

Wood Group PSN has announced the extension of its contract with TAQA Bratani by a further five years.

Under the terms of the services contract, Wood Group PSN will provide operations and maintenance support, and engineering and construction services, to TAQA's Cormorant Alpha, North Cormorant, Tern and Eider platforms in the northern North Sea.

The contract is an extension of the previous duty holder and integrated facility management services contract that was awarded to Wood Group in November 2008.

VF Corporation, the apparel business best known for its Wrangler brand, is to acquire The Timberland Company to create a $10 billion global apparel and footwear powerhouse.

The two companies signed a definitive merger agreement today under which VF will pay Timberland shareholders $43 per share, representing a total enterprise value of approximately $2 billion. The merger agreement was unanimously approved by both companies' boards of directors.

Copper producer Kazakhmys has announced the signing of a memorandum of understanding with the China Development Bank for a $1.5 billion loan.

The money will be used to develop the company’s major copper project at Aktogay in Kazakhstan.

The Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company has agreed to sell its global wire business to Hyosung Corporation, a multinational corporation with substantial tire reinforcement operations, for $50 million.

The business manufactures tire reinforcement wire in Asheboro, North Carolina, and Colmar-Berg, Luxembourg, employing around 600 people.

Goodyear and Hyosung will also sign a multi-year supply agreement upon closing, which is expected to occur in the third quarter of 2011.

Gold mining company Pan African Resources has reported “encouraging” results from its drilling programme at a tailings dam at Barberton Mines in South Africa.

The drilling, on the Bramber tailings dam, revealed a resource of 148,000oz at a grade of 1.47g per ton in situ—a relatively high grade for a tailings dam.

General Dynamics Information Technology, a business unit of General Dynamics, has been awarded a task order through the US General Services Administration's Alliant Contract to support the relocation of the US Department of Homeland Security's headquarters.

The task order has a ceiling value of $876 million and duration of seven years if all options are exercised.