SENATE'S PROXMIRE URGES CURBS ON TAKEOVERS Senate Banking Committee chairman William Proxmire called for curbs of hostile corporate takeovers and new restrictions on risk arbitrageurs. "At the very least, it is high time that we require all risk arbitrageurs to register seperately and specifically with the Securities and Exchange Commission and that we consider precluding brokerage firms and their employers from investing in, or owning any securities issued by, third party risk arbitrage operations," Proxmire said at the start of a hearing on corporate takeovers. "A burning issue must be whether there ought to be a complete seperation in the future of risk arbitrage and investment banking," Proxmire said. He said he was concerned that hostile takeover attempts were hurting the economy, a view shared by corporate executives who tesitified at the hearing. "I believe that takeovers have become so abusive and so tilted in favor of the financial buccaneers that remedial action is required," USX Corp chairman David Roderick said. "For Congress to allow the takeover game to continue unchecked, would be economic suicide," Champion International Corp chairman Andrew Sigler added.