Yeah, you're missing a massive piece of internet browser history... What you're describing has absolutely nothing to do with the behavior that landed Microsoft in court and nearly had it broken up by the government.
'tis a story that demands another thread, however.
I can understand its a grayzone. And personally I want a browser as default too. Maybe because I remember the days before.
However when that is said. It is a huge dominant tool to be able to use. And Microsoft choose to abuse it to promote their own products.
The EU cant block two US companies from merging they can just say no to them selling products in Europe. I doubt this merger would even happen to begin with either but you seem to view the EU as all mighty and powerful and doesnt care about anyone as long as theirs competition. The US system isnt great but the EU is far from perfect.
Different mentality I guess. In the EU bureaucrats can go on idiotic rampages, in the U.S. it's unreasonable lawsuits you have to fear. Prime example is http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Liebeck_v._McDonald's_RestaurantsThe EU is a bunch of unelected bureaucrats. If you think your politicians are dangerous then you have never met these lot.
Different mentality I guess. In the EU bureaucrats can go on idiotic rampages, in the U.S. it's unreasonable lawsuits you have to fear. Prime example is http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Liebeck_v._McDonald's_Restaurants
Or still remember the accelerating Audis? 700 accidents were connected to it in the U.S. with dozens of lawsuits, none in the EU.
So their converting old senior Notes, to new ones, in the same amount.it has commenced a registered exchange offer to exchange any and all of its outstanding 7.50% Senior Notes due 2022, which were issued in a private placement (the "Private Notes,") for an equal principal amount of new 7.50% Senior Notes due 2022 that have been registered under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "Registered Notes").
So it has something to do with the "terms" of the notes.The sole purpose of the exchange offer is to fulfill AMD's obligations with respect to the registration of the Private Notes. Pursuant to a registration rights agreement entered into by AMD in connection with the sale of the Private Notes, AMD agreed to file with the Securities and Exchange Commission a registration statement relating to the exchange offer pursuant to which AMD would offer to exchange any Private Notes tendered by the holders of those notes for Registered Notes containing terms that are substantially identical to the Private Notes.
I can understand its a grayzone. And personally I want a browser as default too. Maybe because I remember the days before.
No grayzone but clear as cristal.
In the first place Microsoft invented ways to difficult the removal of IE from Windows up to a point that they claimed that removing Internet Explorer from Windows would result in system instability. This claim was showjn to be bogus and some computer scientist released a freeware tool to remove IE from Windows: IEradicator.
In the second place Microsoft agreed with the EU that it would provide esay ways to allow users to choice alternative browsers. This worked up to Windows 7 SP1 when BrowserChoice.eu was dropped and remained absent for 14 months despite Microsoft reporting that it was still present. As a result, in March 2013 the European Commission fined Microsoft 561 million to deter companies from reneging on settlement promises.
Not to mention, it isn't 2001 anymore. IE isn't a good browser, i'm not sure why anyone would use it.
How many times AMD has been out of business or did buy by competence?
So their converting old senior Notes, to new ones, in the same amount.
Why are they doing that?
So it has something to do with the "terms" of the notes.
Without knowing what terms the old and new ones are,
its hard to understand what the point of the article is, or understand the reasoning for it (the exchange).
Someone with more business sense than me, explain what is happending?
The EU already did.
http://www.marketwatch.com/story/eu-blocks-ges-honeywell-deal
The US said yes and the EU said no. Bush threw a tantrum and the deal never happened.
The EU is the largest economy in the world.
And yes the EU can arrest any director which refuses to comply with an EU ruling. They can also sieze assets if you fail to pay the fines. Many American companies keep cash outside of America because Corp Tax in the US is huge compared to Ireland for example. Look at what just happened in Cyprus when they seized peoples savings to help bailout cyprus.
The EU is a bunch of unelected bureaucrats. If you think your politicians are dangerous then you have never met these lot.
Well it appears they can but only if they have a presence in europe, if it was US only they couldnt do anything. I actually like the quickness of the EU in some things like this but its also the same reason why I dont care for it either. They seem to go after companies a little too much in my opinion while I think the US doesnt do enough in looking into mergers.
If they're going to go through all the hassle wouldn't they be better off trying to acquire Nvidia?
Ok, but could block the products in the EU market, which means that the hypothetical purchase would not do them more competitive, but just the contrary.
I would say that Europe is more restrictive at looking into mergers. However, Europe also is more lax on tax havens. Look how much money money is locked up in Ireland and Luxembourg because it would be taxed if repatriated into the U.S./Germany/France/Asia, etc. Many major international companies funnel profits through Ireland to avoid taxes.
Lets face it, with the exception of Guinness who buys anything from Ireland?
Exactly this. Computing isn't x86 exclusive anymore, in fact the "average" consumer who isn't an enthusiast is much much more likely to buy an ARM SOC as their primary computing device. There are still a few users and enthusiasts like us left for desktop (desktops are my thing, I love them... I hate that they're in decline so it pains me to say that..), but unfortunately new consumers just aren't buying desktops as their first computer or gateway computing device. Therefore wintel isn't a monopoly in the computing world. This is a stark contrast to 10 years ago where everyone bought a new wintel PC for their primary computing device. Heck, everyone in my extended family bought a PC for their computing needs 10-15 years ago. Now they all buy tablets. You see where i'm going with this? x86 isn't the dominant force anymore, therefore not a monopoly. AMD being acquired by intel would change that very little.
Also as mentioned, there's a strong likelihood of AMD going out of business without some help. The rumors could very well be completely untrue (actually it seems likely untrue), but if they are true it would be good for AMD IMO. Perhaps it's just a method to spur trading as IDC mentioned, who knows.