FRENCH COMPUTER-SERVICES CO. ATOS TO BUY XEROX'S IT OUTSOURCING UNIT 

Computer-services company Atos SA will buy Xerox Corp.'s information technology outsourcing business for $1.05 billion in cash, a deal that would bolster the French company's position in the U.S. (published 0037 GMT)

 
 
UNILEVER WITHDRAWS SUIT AGAINST MAKER OF EGG-FREE 'MAYO' -- UPDATE 

Unilever PLC on Thursday said it is withdrawing a high-profile lawsuit it filed against a California food startup over the marketing of mayonnaise. (published 0028 GMT)

 
 
AMERICAN APPAREL APPROACHED ABOUT POSSIBLE TAKEOVER, SOURCES SAY -- UPDATE 

American Apparel Inc. has been approached by Irving Place Capital about a possible takeover, according to people familiar with the matter. (published 0024 GMT)

 
 
NIKE SEES JUMP IN SALES, GROWTH CONCERNS -- 4TH UPDATE 

Nike Inc. reported strong sales growth, but a dip in future orders coupled with underwhelming margin expansion tempered the outlook for the world's biggest sportswear maker. (published 0012 GMT)

 
 
METLIFE CONSIDERS CHALLENGING 'SYSTEMICALLY IMPORTANT' LABEL 

The nation's biggest life insurer by assets is weighing a legal showdown with the U.S. after a panel of regulators concluded it poses significant risks to the financial system and warrants tougher oversight. (published 2346 GMT Thursday)

 
 
ROYAL BANK OF CANADA TO PAY $35 MILLION PENALTY FOR ILLEGAL FUTURES TRADING -- 2ND UPDATE 

Royal Bank of Canada will pay a $35 million penalty for engaging in illegal futures trading with itself over a three-year period in one of the biggest such cases brought by regulators. (published 2348 GMT Thursday)

 
 
SANTOS SECURES ADDITIONAL 3-YEAR, A$1 BILLION DEBT FACILITY 

Australia's Santos Ltd. has secured an additional 1 billion Australian dollar line of debt as it digs in against the continued slump in oil prices. (published 2316 GMT Thursday)

 
 
KEPPEL LAND: TO BUY 75% EQUITY STAKE IN MALLS DEVELOPER AND SELLER ARRAY 

Keppel Land Ltd. has signed a deal to buy a 75% equity stake in Array Real Estate Pte. Ltd., a malls developer and leasing firm in Hong Kong. (published 0054 GMT)

 
 
WAL-MART DE MEXICO SELLS BANK BUSINESS TO INBURSA -- UPDATE 

Retailer Wal-Mart de Mexico SAB said Thursday it has agreed to sell its banking unit to Grupo Financiero Inbursa SAB, Mexican billionaire Carlos Slim's bank. (published 2304 GMT Thursday)

 
 
DUPONT NAMES PLANNED PERFORMANCE CHEMICALS SPINOFF 

DuPont Co. said it plans to name the new public company created by the spinoff of its company's performance chemicals business the Chemours Co. (published 2237 GMT Thursday)

 
 
CINTAS PROFIT RISES ON BUSINESS SHED, DOCUMENT-SHREDDING PARTNERSHIP 

Cintas Corp.'s second-quarter profit rose 42% as the company benefited from the disposal of its document storage and imaging business and a partnership with Shred-it International Inc. (published 2153 GMT Thursday)

 
 
NEW ZEALAND REGULATOR DELAYS DECISION ON COPPER LINE PRICING TO SEPTEMBER 

New Zealand's regulatory body Friday delayed when it will make a final decision on the prices that telecommunications-infrastructure company Chorus Ltd. can charge for the use of its copper lines and broadband services. (published 2157 GMT Thursday)

 
 
NEW YORK BANK REGULATOR UNVEILS REVISED BITCOIN LICENSING PLAN -- 2ND UPDATE 

New York's top financial regulator on Thursday unveiled a significantly modified plan to regulate digital-currency firms after his initial attempt drew fire from bitcoin entrepreneurs who said it would harm innovation. (published 2309 GMT Thursday)

 
 
GOLDMAN'S WALDRON TO REPLACE WEINBERG AS CO-HEAD OF INVESTMENT BANKING -- UPDATE 

Goldman Sachs Group Inc. promoted John Waldron to co-head of investment banking, replacing John S. Weinberg, a vice chairman whose father and grandfather once led the Wall Street firm. (published 2306 GMT Thursday)