The business news thread

[Rewind]

Geoffrey the Giraffe may not be forced into an early retirement after all.

Billionaire toy marketer Isaac Larian bids $890 million to help save Toys Я Us

http://www.msn.com/en-us/money/compa...D=ansmsnnews11

[Rewind]

As John Lennon observed in the Beatles' 1966 song Taxman, eventually everything that can be taxed will be taxed.

South Dakota e-commerce sales tax fight reaches US Supreme Court
Reuters, Apr 16 2018 5:04 AM

A high-stakes showdown at the US Supreme Court on Tuesday will determine whether states can force out-of-state online retailers to collect sales taxes. in a fight between South Dakota and e-commerce businesses. South Dakota is asking the nine justices to overturn a 1992 Supreme Court precedent that states cannot require retailers to collect state sales taxes on purchases unless the businesses have a "physical presence" in the state.

The state, appealing a lower court decision that favored Wayfair, Overstock and Newegg, is being supported by President Donald Trump’s administration. A ruling favoring South Dakota could help small brick-and-mortar retailers compete with online rivals while funneling up to $18 billion into the coffers of the affected states.

https://www.reuters.com/article/us-u...-idUSKBN1HM0G1

[Rewind]

The Massachusetts-based chain is $119 million in debt and plans to break the leases of 29 of its 59 restaurants.

Italian restaurant chain Bertucci's files Chapter 11 bankruptcy

http://www.upi.com/Top_News/US/2018/...5061523898432/

[Rewind]

Here is today's winner of the "Rich Get Richer" award:

Carl Icahn sells Tropicana Entertainment hotel-casinos for $185 billion

http://www.msn.com/en-us/money/compa...D=ansmsnnews11

[Rewind]

What was CEO Dave Brandon thinking? "Let's see. We can keep 275 stores in business or we can shut down every store. Hmmm, what to do, what to do? This is a tough decision."

Toys Я Us rejects bid from billionaire Isaac Larian

http://www.money.cnn.com/2018/04/17/...ceo/index.html

[Rewind]

I don't think I would ever want a car, a phone, a watch, a television or a refrigerator that is smarter than I am.

Amazon teams up with Best Buy on new wave of Fire TV Edition smart TVs
Sets will be sold exclusively at Best Buy's stores and website and on Amazon.com.

http://www.msn.com/en-us/money/compa...D=ansmsnnews11

[Rewind]

People in other countries can now order from Amazon and their purchases will be shipped from the US. Amazon has driven many US retailers out of business and now Amazon can start driving other countries' retailers out of business, too.

Amazon launches international shopping on mobile webpage and mobile apps

http://www.fortune.com/2018/04/18/am...onal-shopping/

[Rewind]

Kentucky is now the ninth state to sue Johnson & Johnson subsidiary Janssen Pharmaceuticals for deceptive marketing of opioids. In 1970, Congress voted to ban cigarette advertising on radio and television. It would be nice if Congress would also ban ads for prescription drugs. Those ads are contributing to our nation's drug epidemic.

Kentucky sues Johnson & Johnson and two subsidiaries over opioid epidemic
State attorney general says he's taking action 'to make sure they pay for ravaging our communities.'

https://www.nbcnews.com/storyline/am...idemic-n867121

[Rewind]

Another day, another multi-billion-dollar deal.

Procter & Gamble to buy Merck's consumer health unit for $4.2 billion

http://www.msn.com/en-us/money/compa...D=ansmsnnews11

[Rewind]

Amazon is known for selling millions of products at big discounts. It seems Amazon also discounts their workers' paychecks.

Amazon workers' median pay is $28,446
Bloomberg, Apr 19 2018 10:00 AM

Amazon has disclosed a number that shows how much it relies on an army of people moving physical merchandise around the world: $28,446. That's the median annual compensation of Amazon's more than 560,000 employees. Amazon reported this number Wednesday under a new requirement that companies disclose the gap between pay for the rank-and-file and the person in the corner office. (Amazon Chief Executive Jeff Bezos, the world's richest person, reported total compensation of $1.68 million last year.)

"Median" means half of Amazon's workers make more than $28,446 and half make less. In a statement, Amazon said its median pay figure includes people in more than 50 countries and part-time employees. The company also said it offers "highly competitive wage and benefits." Compare Amazon's median pay with Facebook's $240,430.

http://www.latimes.com/business/la-f...419-story.html