Pinnacle Foods Group, owned by private equity firm Blackstone Group, will buy frozen-food provider Birds Eye Foods for $1.3 billion. Bloomberg has the scoop:

Blackstone Group LP’s Pinnacle Foods Group LLC agreed to buy Birds Eye Foods Inc., the largest U.S. frozen-vegetable company, for $1.3 billion, adding to its Duncan Hines and Swanson food brands as the pace of buyouts increases.

Birds Eye has sales of more than $930 million, according to Pinnacle. The Rochester, New York-based company is currently owned by Pro-Fac Cooperate Inc., a New York agricultural cooperative; funds affiliated with Vestar Capital Partners, a New York-based buyout firm; and Birds Eye management.

Image: Brands of the World

AOL layoffs affecting 1/3 of the company’s workforce, or up to 2,300 people, will hit during the next few months. The layoffs come as a result of restructuring after the Time Warner spin-off. Bloomberg reports:

AOL is aiming to reduce its annual operating costs by about $300 million through the restructuring, the New York-based company said today in a regulatory filing. AOL expects to take as much as $200 million in restructuring charges in the first half of 2010 if the plan is approved by the new board after the spinoff, according to the filing.

AOL employs about 6,900 people, AOL spokeswoman Tricia Primrose said in an e-mail, indicating job cuts of about 2,300. The company will begin a voluntary layoff program Dec. 4 and is looking for as many as 2,500 volunteers, she said. AOL will begin firing employees if the voluntary departures fall short.

Ouch.

American Express today announced its $300 million purchase of Revolution Money, a PayPal competitor backed, among others, by former AOL CEO Steve Case. The Washington Post reports:

Revolution Money, founded in 2007, is designed to provide secure online person-to-person transactions by using a PIN number instead of credit cards or accounts.

Revolution Money will operate as a subsidiary of American Express.

Google will offer free Wi-Fi starting today at 47 national airports. The Wi-Fi offer will last until January 15, 2010. PC World has more:

The FAA estimates 100 million people will travel back and forth across the country during the holidays, and those hunkered down in airport terminals due to weather delays will likely appreciate the free Wi-Fi.

Google’s move follows a similar free Wi-Fi offer from Yahoo. On Tuesday, Yahoo announced that it would provide free Wi-Fi for an entire year in New York’s Times Square.

Here’s a full list of airports, from Google’s Free Wi-Fi for the Holidays website:

* Austin (AUS)
* Baltimore (BWI)
* Billings (BIL)
* Boston (BOS)
* Bozeman (BZN)
* Buffalo (BUF)
* Burbank (BUR)
* Central Wisconsin (CWA)
* Charlotte (CLT)
* Des Moines (DSM)
* El Paso (ELP)
* Fort Lauderdale (FLL)
* Fort Myers/SW (RSW)
* Greensboro (GSO)
* Houston (HOU)
* Houston Bush (IAH)

* Indianapolis (IND)
* Jacksonville (JIA)
* Kalamazoo (AZO)
* Las Vegas (LAS)
* Louisville (SDF)
* Madison (MSN)
* Memphis (MEM)
* Miami (MIA)
* Milwaukee (MKE)
* Monterey (MRY)
* Nashville (BNA)
* Newport News (PHF)
* Norfolk (ORF)
* Oklahoma City (OKC)
* Omaha (OMA)
* Orlando (MCO)

* Panama City (PFN)
* Pittsburgh (PIT)
* Portland (PWM)
* Sacramento (SMF)
* San Antonio (SAT)
* San Diego (SAN)
* San Jose (SJC)
* Seattle (SEA)
* South Bend (SBN)
* Spokane (GEG)
* St. Louis (STL)
* State College (SCE)
* Toledo (TOL)
* Traverse City (TVC)
* West Palm Beach (PBI)

Image: Google

Kraft Foods Inc. formally launched a hostile takeover bid for British candymaker Cadbury today. The Wall Street Journal has more:

Cadbury Sept. 7 rejected Kraft’s initial cash-and-share offer, worth 745 pence per share at the time and at around 722 pence at current values. Cadbury said it could offer its shareholders more value by pursuing its standalone strategy of organic growth and expansion abroad. It accused Kraft of being a “low growth conglomerate” that contrasted with its own strategy of being a pure play confectionary company.

Kraft backed its decision not to sweeten the offer by saying it hasn’t seen any signs of a competing offer for the British company and it therefore offers the best value to Cadbury’s shareholders.

British takeover rules give Kraft 28 days to publish a shareholder prospectus on the offer. After publishing the prospectus, Kraft has up to two months to acquire enough shares to close the deal, according to the article. If and when Kraft does buy Cadbury, it will become the second-largest confectionary in the world, trailing behind Mars Inc, the article says.

Former Hewlett Packard CEO Carly Fiorina announced that she will run for Senate in California today. The Washington Post has more:

“Throughout my career I’ve brought people together, and I’ve solved problems,” wrote Fiorina in an editorial in the Orange County Register today. “And that is what is needed in our government today. People who are willing to set aside ego and partisanship and instead work to develop solutions to our problems.”

One California Republican strategist acknowledged that Fiorina “has a long way to go” in terms of viability but quickly added that her profile, her personal wealth (assuming she spends some of it) and Boxer’s controversial persona means that the Republican will likely stay within shouting distance of the incumbent through next summer and fall.

If Fiorina’s HP legacy has any bearing on her ability to be a successful political leader, this doesn’t bode well. That said, many people have become politicians after unusual careers (especially in California). And in politics, dogma and money override past mistakes. It’s not about ability to govern, it’s about the ability to get votes.

This will get interesting.

McDonald’s will close all of its restaurants in Iceland next week, after high ingredient costs, high import taxes, and a depreciation of the Icelandic krona have made the national Big Mac the most expensive in the world. The Guardian has more:

The closure of the fast-food giant’s three restaurants on Monday means Iceland will become one of the few European countries, including Albania and Bosnia and Herzegovina, without a McDonald’s.

McDonald’s opened in Reykjavik in 1993. The company said in a statement that it would not seek a new partner in Iceland owing to the state of the economy and the complexity of doing business in an island nation of just 300,000 people.

Bank of America will sell San Francisco-based First Republic Bank to two private equity groups. The deal is set to go through next year. Bloomberg has the details:

Bank of America Corp. said it agreed to sell First Republic Bank to a group led by private-equity firms General Atlantic LLC and Colony Capital LLC. The Wall Street Journal reported earlier today that the group will pay more than $1 billion, citing unidentified people familiar with the situation.

Bank of America inherited First Republic when it bought Merrill Lynch & Co. in January. Merrill Lynch bought the bank, which had assets of $19 billion on Sept. 30, for $1.8 billion in 2007. First Republic serves affluent clients in California, Connecticut New York and Nevada.

Almost two years ago, soon-to-be-ex-CEO Ken Lewis said that as a big bank, “it’s your prerogative to use ‘retreat’ or ‘retrench” (as quoted from the New York Times). Looks like “retreat” is winning. The Wall Street Journal explains:

The long-expected sale of First Republic is the result of a review of Bank of America assets. The bank is working to bolster its capital ratios and shed any units that are no longer strategic fits. Last month it sold the long-term asset management business of Columbia Management to Ameriprise Financial Inc. for up to $1.2 billion.

Last month, social media network Facebook hit 300 million users. If you think a few of those people could use your company’s widget, then it’s time to fire up your business’s presence.

When used correctly, Facebook drives traffic to your website, gains you valuable customer input, and lets you market and advertise for free (via your profile). If you use your account to its full potential, even more is possible. This step-by-step guide will show you how to create a business Facebook account that really works.

1. Create an interesting profile

Include lots of photos in your profile. Photos help fans make an emotional connection to your company. The bare minimum would be a logo and a couple of executive profile pictures. Depending on your situation, you can also add pictures of your bestselling products, company events, ads, employees, company events, and even company pets.

Make your business descriptions compelling. For example, let’s say I run a strawberry jam company called Strawmelade. A dull description would be “Strawmelade, makers of strawberry jam.” True, but rather dull. Instead, I might want to spice it up: “Squished strawberries never tasted so good.” “So yummy, you’ll lick the jar clean.”

Add links, events, video, and notes pages as appropriate. Make sure that you give each page high-quality content. It’s better to start with fewer pages and make them good, then add as you go.

Start posting Wall comments and links while you proceed to Step 2.

2. Grow your fan base

Note: This only applies if you use your personal account for business. Business accounts can’t friend people.

Start by friending people you know. Because this is your business’s site, keep your friends professional. If they are your personal friends, make sure they’re clear on the fact that you’ll be posting business updates on the site—and that they should react accordingly. You don’t want your best buddy to reminisce about your weekend bender on your business site.

Use Facebook’s search engine to find more friends. Facebook can help you search your existing contacts through email, AOL Instant Messenger, Windows Live Contact, and college alumni, to name a few. Hit up old acquaintances. Then make new friends. Searches by keyword (eg. “strawberries” might be a good keyword for my strawberry jam company) will also generate potential friends. Find people you’re interested in. Approach and friend them.

Join groups. Do a Facebook search by industry, location, or company name. Select “Groups” on the lefthand menu. For example, my strawberry company might want to conduct the following searches:

Industry: “fruit preserves,” “fruit spread,” “fruit jam,” “strawberries,” “food manufacturer”
Location: My hometown, my home state, my region (eg. Midwest)
Company name: “Smuckers,” “Knott’s,” any other competitors or people along my supply chain

If there’s no group in your industry, start one. Do this by selecting “Create a New Group,” a button located to the right of the Groups search field. Find people to invite.

3. Cultivate your presence

Join Wall or forum discussions. They can help you establish a Facebook identity and visibility. Comment on others’ Walls when you have something to say.

Make your own Wall interesting. Update frequently and regularly. Good things to post:

-Promotions. Eg. contests, gift cards, raffles, giveaways, season ticket raffles, etc.
-Events. Eg. weekly specials
-Polls and feedback. Link to online polls, or just ask people for feedback on a product, service, or idea.
-Customer service. Encourage people to contact you through Facebook. Resolve customer service issues through messages or on your Wall.

Arrange discussion themes on your Wall. For example, you (or your moderator) can ask a question relevant to your industry or product. For example, a Denver-based sports bar moderator might ask who fans think will win the next Broncos game. Get people to talk.

Set up fan photo participation campaigns. For example, have fans send in their favorite photos, then you put them in a special album. Or announce a themed photo contest, such as “best Halloween costumes.” Have fans post images of themselves wearing their Halloween costumes on your Wall.

Follow your competition through their status updates. Continue to friend people in your industry as you find them–then keep an eye on them.

4. Syndicate

Link to your website. Drive traffic back to your site wherever possible. Some companies find that their Facebook profiles receive more visitors than their websites. To avoid this trend, send fans back to where the action is–your website.

Link to Twitter. If you plan on sharing similar news through your Twitter account, then link your Facebook account to your Twitter account. You will see this option during the setup process.

Add a Facebook Fan Box to your website. When people click on the Fan Box, they’ll become your Facebook fans–without having to log into Facebook and find you.

Syndicate your Facebook feed with your blog–if appropriate.

5. Advertise

Run ads on Facebook. Many businesses have found this to be a successful way to drive traffic.

Open a “Shop” section in your profile. Populate it with company products. If you’re a service, sell branded T-shirts, caps, etc.

Allow fans to sign up for your online newsletter via Facebook. Open a signup page for online offers, your newsletter, or regular updates.

...according to sources familiar with the situation–Twitter is in advanced talks with Microsoft and Google separately about striking data-mining deals, in which the companies would license a full feed from the microblogging service that could then be integrated into the results of their competing search engines.

Twitter is…seeking to create a large open platform, which many could plug into, from search engines to marketers to publishers to developers.

Smart move for Twitter. Licensing tweets for real-time inclusion is a potentially easy and steady way to monetize. It’s also less potentially irritating than some of Twitter’s other ideas (derived from changes in its Terms of Service), which include selling tweets to marketers. That won’t stop Twitter from doing both–especially if it that means it can remain an independent company.