Technology

Elle Publisher Lagardere Falls Most in 10 Months After Media Profit Slides Lagardere SCA, the publisher of Elle magazine and the “Twilight” series of vampire-themed novels, fell the most in about 10 months after reporting 2009 profit that missed analysts’ predictions.

Battery Ventures Completes $750 Million Fund, Biggest So Far This Year Battery Ventures completed a $750 million venture-capital fund, the biggest so far this year, raising money to invest in computing startups and clean-energy deals.

Slim Overtakes Gates, Buffett for Top Spot on Forbes's Billionaires List Mexico’s Carlos Slim beat Bill Gates and Warren Buffett for the top spot on Forbes magazine’s annual list of billionaires, becoming the first person from outside the U.S. to lead the rankings in 16 years.

EMI's New Chief Charles Allen Needs to Raise Money in `Make or Break' Dash Charles Allen, the new executive chairman of EMI Music, needs to raise money in a “make or break” dash, while stroking artists’ egos to prevent the loss- making music company from being taken over.

Berlusconi's Control of Italian Television Is Criticized by Soros's Group Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi’s effective control of the country’s television market limits the public’s access to information, a group linked to billionaire George Soros said.

EMI Isn't Allowed to Sell Pink Floyd Single Tracks Online, U.K. Court Says EMI Group Ltd. should only sell the music of Pink Floyd, the band that recorded the best-selling album “The Dark Side of the Moon,” in full album format and can’t sell single songs online, a London judge ruled today.

MTN Says Profit Fell 3.9% to $1.98 Billion in Year Through December 2009 MTN Group Ltd., Africa’s largest mobile-phone operator, said full-year profit fell after South Africa’s rand gained, reducing income it earns from abroad when converted back into the local currency.

NHN Said to be Among Final Bidders for Assets of Morgan Stanley-Owned LDH NHN Corp., the owner of South Korea’s biggest Web search engine, is among the final bidders for LDH Corp.’s Livedoor Co. Internet unit, three people with knowledge of the matter said.

Telefonica's Vivo Ready to Offer High-Speed Internet for Half Brazil Price Vivo Participacoes SA, Brazil’s largest mobile-phone company, is ready to offer high-speed Internet services for less than half the current industry average if the government agrees to cut taxes, Chief Executive Officer Roberto Lima said.

Solar Prospectors Chase `Gold Mine' Deals in Chinese, Israeli Subsidies Olivier de Vergnies quit managing family fortunes at Dexia Private Bank (Switzerland) Ltd. in 2008 to run a New York start-up at 100 Wall St. that’s trying to tap riches in solar energy.