>>> UIL To Acquire Philadelphia Gas Works Operations for $1.86B cash

UIL Holdings Corp To Acquire Philadelphia Gas Works Operations for $1.86B cash; Sees deal immediatly accretive
- Co reached a definitive agreement to acquire assets and certain liabilities of Philadelphia Gas Works (PGW Operations), the nations largest municipally-owned natural gas utility, from the City of Philadelphia for $1.86 billion in cash (the Transaction). The PGW Operations will be acquired on a cash-free and debt-free basis. The Transaction has been unanimously approved by UILs Board of Directors.
- Founded in 1836, Philadelphia Gas Works manages a distribution system of approximately 6,000 miles of gas mains and service pipes supplying approximately 500,000 customers in the city of Philadelphia. The acquisition of PGW Operations will significantly expand the size and scale of UILs natural gas operations and create a more geographically diversified energy delivery utility holding company serving more than 1.2 million total gas and electric customers, including nearly 900,000 gas customers, with proximity to abundant regional gas supply in the Marcellus and Utica shales.
- The Transaction, which upon closing is expected to be immediately accretive to UILs operating and free cash flow, will enable PGW Operations to increase investment in infrastructure and expand its services. The Transaction is expected to be initially earnings neutral and long-term earnings accretive to UIL.
- UIL has secured a $1.9 billion fully committed facility to support the Transaction from Morgan Stanley Senior Funding, Inc. UIL intends to issue long-term debt and equity in amounts consistent with maintaining investment grade credit ratings to permanently fund the Transaction and capitalize a new operating subsidiary at close.
- Under the terms of the agreement, UIL will maintain PGW Operations current base rate structure through 2017.

(BFW) IAEA Says Iran Diluted Half of 20% Enriched-Uranium Stockpile

 BN 03/03 09:44 *IAEA DIRECTOR GENERAL AMANO SPOKE TODAY IN VIENNA
 BN 03/03 09:44 *IAEA SAYS IRAN DILUTED HALF OF 20% ENRICHED STOCKPILE
IAEA Says Iran Diluted Half of 20% Enriched-Uranium Stockpile
2014-03-03 09:48:18.486 GMT


By Jonathan Tirone
     March 3 (Bloomberg) -- “Measured agreed under the Joint
Plan of Action are being implemented as planned, including the
dilution of a proportion of Iran’s inventory of UF6 enriched up
to 20 percent, which has reached the half-way mark,”
International Atomic Energy Agency Director General Yukiya Amano
said today in Vienna.
  * NOTE: IAEA reported Feb. 20 Iran’s 20% stockpile had fallen
    by about a fifth {NSN N1K52T6K510D <go>}

Link to Company News:{3246895Z AV <Equity> CN <GO>}

For Related News and Information:
First Word scrolling panel: {FIRST<GO>}
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To contact the editor responsible for this story:
Jonathan Tirone at +43-1-513-266-025 or
jtirone@bloomberg.net

>>> Putin and Ukraine - foreignpolicy.com article by Alexander J Motyl





Putin and Ukraine:

Attached article draws attention to the statement from Putin to the Russian parliament calling on them "to use the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation on the territory of Ukraine until the social and political situation in that country is normalised."

subsequently approved, it is noted that this is not Crimea specific and gives Putin the right to interevene anywhere where "citizens of the Russian federation" are under threat.. Russia's definition of what may be "normal" situation is also a concern - and their refusal to acknowledge the new government may suggest this would only be when the old guard is back in power.. the article goes as far as to suggest the "occupation could last as long as he likes -- possibly resulting in permanent annexation."

{http://www.foreignpolicy.com/articles/2014/03/01/putin_russia_ukraine_intervention_war}

(BFW) AT&T Views European Wireless Market Attractive: Deutsche Bank

+------------------------------------------------------------------------------+

AT&T Views European Wireless Market Attractive: Deutsche Bank 2014-03-03 09:27:07.498 GMT

By Gaurav Panchal March 3 (Bloomberg) -- AT&T management wouldn’t discuss media reports that it is interested in acquiring Vodafone, did reiterate views on why European wireless market may be attractive, Deutsche Bank says after investor meetings with CFO John Stephens. * AT&T noted that it may be able to generate revenues in Europe without acquiring a network operator: Deutsche Bank * AT&T cited large/dense population, high usage of mobile, high GDP/capita and low adoption of LTE as EU wireless market being attractive: Deutsche Bank * Key risk is regulatory environment, which T believes discourages LT investment: Deutsche Bank * Rates AT&T hold * Feb. 28: AT&T said to build case for Europe without uttering ‘Vodafone’ {NSN N1ON2B6JIJVJ <go>}

Link to Company News:{VOD LN <Equity> CN <GO>} Link to Company News:{T US <Equity> CN <GO>}

For Related News and Information: First Word scrolling panel: {FIRST<GO>} First Word newswire: {NH BFW<GO>}

To contact the reporter on this story: Gaurav Panchal in London at +44-20-7392-0511 or gpanchal2@bloomberg.net

To contact the editor responsible for this story: Brian Lysaght at +44-20-7330-7908 or blysaght@bloomberg.net

>>> World's first supersonic private jet will replace windows with live-streamin


World's first supersonic private jet will replace windows with live-streaming screens

Boston engineering firm Spike Aerospace is building a windowless supersonic jet that will be able to fly from London to New York in under four hours, and will offer passengers digital views of their surroundings (+ slideshow).

The S-512 eschews the small porthole style windows typically found on planes in favour of full-length curved digital screens that run the length of the fuselage. An array of cameras installed on the outside of the cabin will feed images through to the displays, which will then be stitched together to create panoramic views.

"Passengers will be able to dim the screens to catch some sleep or change it to one of the many scenic images stored in the system," Spike Aerospace said in a press release.

Unlike standard commercial airliners, which fly at approximately 567 mph, the S-512 will achieve speeds of between 1,060-1,200mph thanks to advanced airframe and engine technology, and the absence of windows.

“It has long been known that the windows cause significant challenges in designing and constructing an aircraft fuselage. They require additional structural support, add to the parts count and add weight to the aircraft,” said the company.

The reduced weight and lack of drag caused by removing the windows will also mean the S-512 will use considerably less fuel compared to other private jets. Spike projects that this means the plane could carry 18 passengers at up to 1370 mph.

The result is a plane that will shave flight times in half, meaning traveling from Los Angeles to Tokyo would take eight instead of 16 hours.

The S-512 is still in development, but Spike Aerospace hopes to begin shipping in December 2018, with a price tag of £48million.

"We expect the first customers for the jet will be businesses and their management teams that need to manage global operations more efficiently. They will be able to reach destinations faster, evaluate more opportunities and have a bigger impact on their enterprises," said the company.

(BFW) *NUMERICABLE SAID TO PLAN $15 BILLION CASH BID FOR VIVENDI’S SFR

+------------------------------------------------------------------------------+

BN 03/03 08:19 *NUMERICABLE SAID TO PLAN $15 BILLION CASH BID FOR VIVENDI’S SFR

+------------------------------------------------------------------------------+

*NUMERICABLE SAID TO PLAN $15 BILLION CASH BID FOR VIVENDI’S SFR 2014-03-03 08:20:16.624 GMT

--JAMES LUDDEN

-0- Mar/03/2014 08:20 GMT

(BFW) Statoil Says Zafarani Reservoir in Tanzania Successfully Tested

+------------------------------------------------------------------------------+

BN 03/03 07:52 *STATOIL COMMENTS ON ZAFARANI RESERVOIR IN E-MAILED STATEMENT BN 03/03 07:51 *STATOIL SAYS ZAFARANI-2 OPS FLOW CONSTRAINED BY EQUIPMENT BN 03/03 07:51 *STATOIL SAYS ZAFARANI-2 OPS FLOWED AT MAX. 66M SCF GAS/DAY BN 03/03 07:50 *STATOIL SAYS ZAFARANI-2 OPS TESTED 2 SEPARATE INTERVALS FLOWED BN 03/03 07:49 *STATOIL SAYS ZAFARANI RESERVOIR IN TANZANIA SUCCESSFULLY TESTED

+------------------------------------------------------------------------------+

Statoil Says Zafarani Reservoir in Tanzania Successfully Tested 2014-03-03 08:00:08.552 GMT

By Mikael Holter March 3 (Bloomberg) -- Says Zafarani-2 operation tested 2 separate intervals, flowed at maximum of 66mln scf gas/day. * Says production-well rate potentials estimated to be higher than equipment-constrained rates obtained during test * Says test confirmed good reservoir quality, connectivity * See statement {NSN N1UOU16KLVRI <GO>}

Link to Company News:{STL NO <Equity> CN <GO>} Link to Company News:{XOM US <Equity> CN <GO>}

For Related News and Information: First Word scrolling panel: {FIRST<GO>} First Word newswire: {NH BFW<GO>}

To contact the reporter on this story: Mikael Holter in Oslo at +47-22-00-8209 or mholter2@bloomberg.net

To contact the editor responsible for this story: Stephen Treloar at +47-22-00-8211 or streloar1@bloomberg.net

>>> Apple announces leading auto OEMs are rolling out CarPlay, for use iPhone in

Apple announces leading auto OEMs are rolling out CarPlay, for use iPhone in the car

Co announces that leading auto manufacturers are rolling out CarPlay, the smarter, safer and more fun way to use iPhone in the car.
CarPlay gives iPhone users an incredibly intuitive way to make calls, use Maps, listen to music and access messages with just a word or a touch.
Users can easily control CarPlay from the car's native interface or just push-and-hold the voice control button on the steering wheel to activate Siri without distraction.
Vehicles from Ferrari, Mercedes-Benz and Volvo will premiere CarPlay to their drivers this week, while additional auto manufacturers bringing CarPlay to their drivers down the road include BMW Group, Ford, General Motors, Honda, Hyundai Motor Company, Jaguar Land Rover, Kia Motors, Mitsubishi Motors, Nissan Motor Company, PSA Peugeot Citroën, Subaru, Suzuki and Toyota Motor Corp.