Playboy

Companies such as Duke Energy and DuPont are off and running with megamergers early this year. Even Playboy is among the dealers. And market pros say the trend is far from over. Why are so many U.S. companies tying the knot? Fast growth is hard to come by in any other strategy.

For more than a year, adult entertainment company Playboy Enterprises has been looking for someone to save it, but in the end, its savior came from within. Last July, founder Hugh Hefner offered to take Playboy private, and Monday, the company finally announced that it has agreed to his offer.

Ford is rolling out an upgraded version of its MyKey system in its vehicles, which will allow parents of driving-age kids to block saucy content from satellite radio -- channels such as Howard Stern, the Playboy Channel and RawDog Comedy. MyKey, which was available on some Ford vehicles in 2010,...

Forbes Media is reaching outside the family ranks for the first time to name a new CEO, the company announced Tuesday. Veteran venture capitalist and media executive Mike Perlis will assume his new post Dec. 1, replacing longtime CEO and former presidential candidate Steve Forbes.

Steve Jobs' dictate that apps for Apple's iPad and iPhone contain no pornography or nudity affects plenty of major magazines, including Playboy and Cosmopolitan. How are they dealing with it?

Playboy Enterprises, which founder and major shareholder Hugh Hefner wants to take private, reports that its second-quarter loss eased as gains in its licensing business offset declines in publishing.

Colonel Sanders pulled it off, and so has Steve Jobs. Yet few companies allow one individual to represent their brand. Why not? The risks are large, and, well, few CEOs are actually good at it.

Playboy Enterprises (PLA) launched a website it says will be safe to browse at work. The site, thesmokingjacket.com, contains none of the nudity of the iconic magazine. Instead, it will focus on humor – original content and funny moments harvested from sources as diverse as The Daily Show...

Hugh Hefner's offer to buy all of Playboy Enterprises and take it private may look like a slam-dunk because he already owns so much of it. Not so. Some big shareholders say it's a low-ball bid, and already FriendFinder has made a higher offer.

Playboy has missed the Internet revolution, resulting in a dismal performance for shareholders. Web adult entertainment network and Penthouse owner FriendFinder wants to buy the company for at least $210 million -- a chance for Playboy to get online assets.