The New York Times (NYSE:NYT) said yesterday that it will sell its Regional Media Group to privately-owned Halifax Media Holdings for $143 million. After the announcement, NYT stock went up 1.7%  after hours. Regional Media Group owns 16 small regional newspapers including he News Chief in Winter Haven, Fla. and The Tuscaloosa News in Tuscaloosa, Ala. The sale looks to close in Q1 2012.

Investing Insights: These Blue Chips Are Tanking the Dow Jones Industrial Average.

Harleysville (NASDAQ:HGIC) numbers plummet after the insurance company turns away a takeover offer competing with an offer it took in September from Nationwide. The new deal provided $250 million for certain policy holders, who would not receive a payout from Nationwide. The disclosure “could add to the challenges already raised against the merger,” the Philadelphia Inquirer speculates.

In a deal with Fidelity National Financial (NYSE:FNF), WT Holdings will receive 85% interest in FNF’s personal lines business for $119 million. Acquisitions include Fidelity National Insurance Company, Fidelity National Property and Casualty Insurance Company and FNIS Insurance Services.

In an attempt to tap into the South Korean market, Berkshire Hathaway’s (NYSE:BRKA) General Re has his eye on Tong Yang Life Insurance. Tong Yang majority stakeholder Vogo Fund happens to want to sell his 60.7% share ( worth $808.7 millon), and reports say General Re has signed a confidentiality agreement to participate in the deal.

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To contact the reporter on this story: Lindsey Grossman at staff.writers@wallstcheatsheet.com

To contact the editor responsible for this story: Damien Hoffman at editors@wallstcheatsheet.com

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