Chevron Corporation has announced an agreement to acquire Atlas Energy for $4.3 billion, to provide it with a natural gas resource in southwestern Pennsylvania's Marcellus Shale.

Chevron will pay $3.2 billion in cash and assume Atlas Energy’s outstanding debt of approximately $1.1 billion. The acquisition is subject to certain Atlas Energy restructuring transactions, approval by Atlas Energy shareholders and regulatory clearance. Atlas shareholders will receive a package worth $43.34 per share - a 37 percent premium to Monday's closing price.

UK mobile telecoms giant Vodafone has continued with its drive to sell off minority assets, with the sale of its stake in Japanese telecoms group Softbank for £3.1 billion.

Vodafone’s stake in Softbank was left over from the £8.9 billion sale of Vodafone Japan in 2006. The Japanese carrier will now buy back Vodafone’s interests.

Silver Wheaton, the largest silver streaming company in the world, has reported record quarterly earnings, with net earnings for Q3 2010 more than doubling to $69.2 million, compared with $33.6 million in third quarter 2009.

Operating cash flows increased 55 percent to $70.5 million, compared with $45.4 million in 2009.

Martin Ashcroft reports on a first-of-its-kind economic study detailing the benefits of Everglades restoration, including a rise in job creation, real estate values and water quality.

Sustainability has been seen as a “good thing” for some time. Many have questioned, however, whether the price is worth paying. In the case of the Everglades, at least, what’s good for the environment is proving also to be good for the economy.

The traditional once-a-year budget is quickly falling by the wayside as a key management tool. Rolling financial forecasting can take the ambiguity out of the budget planning process, says Jason Webster.

No doubt about it; financial forecasting is a perilous task, yet budgetary accuracy remains a consistent top priority concern of most CFOs….and with good reason since the role of financial forecasting has never been more critical.

Thomas R. Cutler explains the benefits of automated overall equipment effectiveness data in a lean manufacturing environment.

For 35 years, Chicago, Illinois–based consultant Richard Axelrod pioneered and championed the use of employee engagement to effect large-scale organizational change. He believes that times are different now. To achieve change and to thrive in today’s marketplace requires maximizing employee engagement more than ever before. It’s a matter of survival.

Carr’s Milling, the UK-based animal feed and agricultural machinery group, has reported a strong growth in profits during the year ending August 2010.

The Carlisle-based company, which owns fertiliser manufacturing and fuel operations, saw pre-tax profits rise 27.4 per cent to £9 million.

Business is all about accepting risks but if you have the ‘do it yourself’ attitude, nothing remains out of reach, as Alan Swaby learns.

The mark of a true entrepreneurial spirit is when challenges turn into opportunities. In the 1970s, the Zamil family business in Saudi Arabia found that pioneering steel buildings to a predominantly concrete market was no easy task, as it involved educating and converting end-users to the benefits and advantages of locally manufactured steel buildings.

SEMS Exploration has built its reputation as a mineral exploration service consultancy on a unique business model. Managing director Simon Meadows Smith talks to Gay Sutton about the secrets of retaining staff through good times and bad.