Sunday, September 14, 2014

HP exploring sale of photo sharing service Snapfish

 Hewlett-Packard Co is exploring the sale of its web-based photo sharing service Snapfish, and has held discussions with multiple private equity and industry buyers, a person with knowledge of the situation said.

Snapfish, which HP bought for more than $300 million in 2005 and currently sits within its printing and personal systems group, is considered non-core for the company, the person said, asking not to be named because the matter is not public.

A spokesman for HP declined to comment.

Last year, HP replaced the printing and personal business' long-time head Todd Bradley with former Lenovo executive Dion Weisler. Bradley has since left the technology company, to join Tibco Software Inc as its president.

Some of the parties that have been eyeing Snapfish have also expressed interest in buying another online photo-sharing services provider, Shutterfly Inc, the person said.

Shutterfly hired Frank Quattrone's Qatalyst Partners over the summer to find a buyer, and is expected wrap up its process in the next several weeks, people familiar with the matter have said previously.

Source : Reuters

Citigroup's OneMain planning to go public by month end: Bloomberg

An Online news says.. Citigroup Inc (C.N) is planning on taking its OneMain Financial Inc personal loan business public by September end, Bloomberg said citing people with knowledge of the matter.

OneMain, which is worth at least $4 billion, is expected to start considering offers from potential buyers, the report said.

In May, Chief Executive Officer Mike Corbat said at an investor conference that Citigroup could dispose of the company through an outright sale to a private equity firm, a public stock offering, or a combination of the two, if prices are good.

OneMain makes subprime loans to individuals and is profitable but does not fit the company's strategy, Corbat had said.

Rival installment loans providers, SpringLeaf Holdings Inc (LEAF.N) is interested in acquiring OneMain, the report said, citing the people.

In recent months, Citigroup has held talks with suitors including SpringLeaf, but the talks have not translated into formal discussions, the people said.

Citigroup and SpringLeaf were not immediately available to comment.


Source: Reuters