BRIEFCASE THQ BUYBACK GOAL NOW $25 MILLION.

Byline: - Staff and Wire Services

CALABASAS - Game maker THQ Inc. plans to buy back as much as $25 million in common stock, the company announced this week.

Brian Farrell, president and chief executive officer, said THQ was taking advantage of its cash position and stock price, which closed at $23.80 on Wednesday.

Tyco finance chief brings credibility

EXETER, N.H. - Tyco International Inc. has hired David FitzPatrick, the chief financial officer at United Technologies Corp., as its new financial chief, another step aimed at restoring the conglomerate's reputation.

FitzPatrick, 48, said CEO Edward Breen's ``commitment to building a strong management team dedicated to the highest standards of corporate governance'' was key to his decision to take the job.

Breen took over from Dennis Kozlowski, who resigned a day before he was indicted on criminal tax-evasion charges, and has been cleaning house since then.

FitzPatrick succeeds Mark Swartz, who announced his plans to resign days after Breen took over. Several Tyco board members also have resigned in recent weeks.

Adelphi reported reneging on Rigas

PHILADELPHIA - Adelphia Communications Corp. won't make $4.2 million in payments to John J. Rigas under a severance agreement reached when the cable TV systems company founder and former chairman stepped down in May, according to a person who has been briefed on the situation.

No payments had been made yet under the severance agreement, said the person, who agreed to speak on condition of anonymity. The company has been operating under bankruptcy protection since late June.