DealZone

Deals wrap: Brokers sharpen elbows

A traffic light is pictured beside the Wall Street road sign in the financial district of New York September 19, 2008. REUTERS/Lucas Jackson Corporate broking relationships are experiencing a shake-up this year as relative newcomers and smaller advisors look to grow by charming disillusioned clients from rivals.

Two fledgling European clearing houses, EMCF and EuroCCP, are in merger talks as they face the prospect of increasing competition from larger rivals, three industry sources with knowledge of the matter said.

India’s Hero Group will buy Honda Motor’s entire 26 percent stake in their Honda motorcycle venture Hero Honda Motors, paving the way for the Japanese firm to focus on its wholly-owned Indian unit.

Teen clothing retailer Aeropostale has hired Barclays Capital as a strategic adviser to shore up its takeover defenses in the event it got an approach from private equity firms, the New York Post reported.

The NYT’s “Deal Professor” weighs in on the Novartis/Alcon and the Dynegy/Icahn deals.

from Russell Boyce:

The politics of bowing in Japan – How low do you go?

By Michael Caronna, Chief Photographer Japan

In Japan nothing says I'm sorry like a nice, deep bow, and lately there's been a whole lot to be sorry for. Ideally the depth of the bow should match the level of regret, allowing observers to make judgements about how sincere the apology really is. Facing massive recalls Toyota President Akio Toyoda and Toyota Motor Corp's managing director Yuji Yokoyama faced journalists at separate news conferences.

TOYOTA/

Toyota Motor Corp's managing director Yuji Yokoyama (R) bows after submitting a document of a recall to an official of the Transport Ministry Ryuji Masuno (2nd R) at the Transport Ministry in Tokyo February 9, 2010. Toyota Motor Corp is recalling nearly half a million of its flagship Prius and other hybrid cars for braking problems, a third major recall since September and a further blow to the reputation of the world's largest automaker.      REUTERS/Toru Hanai

TOYOTA/

Toyota Motor Corp President Akio Toyoda bows at the start of a news conference in Nagoya, central Japan February 5, 2010. Toyota Motor Corp President Toyoda apologised on Friday for a massive global recall that has tarnished the reputation of the world's largest car maker. REUTERS/Kim Kyung-Hoon