Rival clubs share shirt sponsors

14 July 2011 Last updated at 14:54 GMT Sheffield United and Sheffield Wednesday have signed a joint shirt sponsorship deal Sheffield's rival professional clubs are to wear identical logos for the first time in their history following a joint shirt sponsor deal.

The one-year agreement is thought to be worth a six-figure sum to Sheffield United and Sheffield Wednesday.

Both clubs said the partnership with firms Gilders and Westfield Health was a positive move for their supporters and the city.

It is the first time a deal like this has been agreed in English football.

Sheffield United chairman Kevin McCabe said: "With this deal the city has added yet another first to the history books."

Chairman of Sheffield Wednesday Milan Mandaric said: "This is an exciting partnership for all concerned."

The two clubs came together to negotiate the deal when local firms said that they would not want to sponsor only one of the city's teams for fear of being accused of favouring one over the other.

The agreement means Gilders, a Volkswagen dealership, will appear on the front of Wednesday's shirt when they are at home and United away. Westfield Health, a health insurance firm, will appear on United's home shirts and Wednesday's away shirts.

Sheffield Wednesday supporter BigArby on Twitter said: "I think it's a great idea."

Another Sheffield United fan said: "I don't see what harm this does whatsoever, if the deal brings the most cash in then get it done."

Both clubs will be playing in League One next season. Celtic and Rangers have shared sponsors in the past.

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Nasdaq drops bid for rival NYSE

16 May 2011 Last updated at 12:04 GMT NYSE Euronext is planning a future under Germany's Deutsche Boerse US stock exchanges Nasdaq and ICE are dropping their $11.3bn (?6.9bn, 7.8bn euros) bid for rival NYSE Euronext.

The two exchanges concluded the proposed takeover would not be approved by US regulators.

NYSE Euronext had already rejected the unsolicited bid for the same reasons last month.

It said it would concentrate instead on plans to merge with German exchange Deutsche Boerse in a deal worth $10.2bn.

Nasdaq and ICE, an Atlanta-based futures specialist, said they had spoken with the anti-trust division of the Department of Justice.

"While we are surprised and disappointed in the anti-trust division's conclusion, some of the uncertainty, at least as it relates to our joint proposal, has been resolved," said Nasdaq chief executive Bob Greifeld.

Under the Nasdaq-ICE bid, ICE would have taken over NYSE's derivatives business, while Nasdaq would have taken the stock exchanges and options businesses - thus combining two of the largest US stock exchanges.

The Deutsche Boerse bid itself is also likely to raise regulation issues anyway - a deal would create a massive presence in certain European financial products.

There is also some political opposition from those against the idea of a foreign company taking over a Wall Street brand.

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