Technology

Drugstore.com CEO Lepore Sees Takeovers After `Permanent' Consumer Shift Drugstore.com Inc. Chief Executive Officer Dawn Lepore said she will pursue acquisitions to boost growth in the company’s main businesses of vitamins, vision and beauty products.

Elle Publisher Lagardere Falls Most in 10 Months After Media Profit Slides Lagardere SCA, the publisher of Elle magazine and the “Twilight” series of vampire-themed novels, fell the most in a year after reporting 2009 profit that missed analysts’ predictions.

Obama's $79 Billion Technology Spending Plan May Favor Web-Based Programs Vivek Kundra, the Obama official with $79 billion to spend on technology, said the government can be more efficient by putting programs on the Web, paving the way for companies like Microsoft Corp. and Google Inc. to win business.

Battery Ventures Completes $750 Million Fund, Biggest So Far This Year Battery Ventures completed a $750 million venture-capital fund, the biggest so far this year, raising money to invest in computing startups and clean-energy deals.

TV-Internet Mergers Can't Drive Up Rates, Rockefeller Says at NBC Hearing Mergers involving television and the Internet can’t leave consumers with “lesser programming and higher rates,” Senator Jay Rockefeller said as the panel he heads reviewed Comcast Corp.’s proposed purchase of General Electric Co.’s NBC Universal unit.

Berlusconi's Control of Italian Television Is Criticized by Soros's Group Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi’s effective control of the country’s television market limits the public’s access to information, a group linked to billionaire George Soros said.

Conan O'Brien Plans 30-City Comedy Tour After Ousting From `Tonight Show' Conan O’Brien, ousted as host of “The Tonight Show” by NBC, plans a 30-city comedy and music show beginning next month.

EMI's New Chief Charles Allen Needs to Raise Money in `Make or Break' Dash Charles Allen, the new executive chairman of EMI Music, needs to raise money in a “make or break” dash, while stroking artists’ egos to prevent the loss- making music company from being taken over.

Slim Overtakes Gates, Buffett for Top Spot on Forbes's Billionaires List Mexico’s Carlos Slim beat Bill Gates and Warren Buffett for the top spot on Forbes magazine’s annual list of billionaires, becoming the first person from outside the U.S. to lead the rankings in 16 years.