DealZone

Foster’s said the split of its beer and wine divisions was on track for next year, but was silent on growing takeover talk for its profitable beer unit. Foster’s share price has been on a roller coaster ride on the takeover talk, surging 7 percent on Monday and sliding 4.5 percent on Tuesday. *View article

BHP Billiton’s monster earnings expected on Wednesday could strengthen its hand in its bid for Potash Corp and intimidate any rival bidders. *View article

*View analysis on China’s reaction to a possible BHP deal

*View Bloomberg article on the downside of mining mergers

The recent rush of M&A activity is a result of idle cash and not a sign of a stable rising market. *View Barron’s article *View NYT blog pouring more cold water on the boom in deals.

The Intel-McAfee deal is about leveraging Intel’s relationship with personal computer makers to boost McAfee’s products, said Gene Hodges, the former president of McAfee. *View NYT article

Potash Corp’s search for buyers willing to top BHP Billiton’s $39 billion hostile offer may lead to China. “I am not saying that we are opposed to a sale, but what I am saying is we are opposed to a steal of the company,” said Potash Corp CEO Bill Doyle. Here’s a factbox on the current market for potash, and a graphic on BHP and Potash Corp.

“As an Intel-watcher for 30+ years, I have my doubts that this acquisition will work,” writes guest columnist Robert Cringely about Intel’s deal for McAfee. *View article

The NYT takes a look at Rio Tinto’s often troubled relationship with China, and how the mining company is working hard to patch things up. *View NYT article

Chip maker Intel said it would buy security technology firm McAfee for $7.68 billion. “I think people were probably (expecting) some smaller acquisitions from Intel. It’s definitely — even by Intel’s standards — a pretty big acquisition for them,” said Vijay Rakesh, an analyst at Sterne Agee. *View article *View reaction from analysts and investors

GM declared plans for an IPO. For a breakdown of the U.S. government’s stake in the automaker, click here. Investors shouldn’t get too caught up in the IPO hype, writes Reuters columnist Antony Currie. The WSJ looks at some surprise risks gleaned from the IPO filings. The NYT follows the car maker’s progress over the past 100 years in this timeline.

Online gambling firms Sportingbet and 888 must strike deals to protect themselves from prosecution in the United States if they are to emerge as credible takeover candidates as the industry consolidates. *View article