M&A
First Derivatives acquires Prelytix for £13m
Software group First Derivatives has completed the acquisition of US-based data analysts Prelytix for £13m.
RBS under pressure to cut Coutts sale price
Royal Bank of Scotland may have to endure a cut price sale or shelve its plans to dispose of Zurich-based Coutts International due to recent scandals around tax evasion at Swiss banks.
DS Smith acquires Duropack, performance in line with expectations
Packaging group DS Smith said on Monday it intends to buy Duropack , a recycled corrugated board packaging business for €300m.
Shire completes tender offer for NPS Pharma shares
Shire has successfully completed a tender offer for all outstanding shares of NPS Pharmaceuticals.
Kennedy Wilson completes acquisition of Park Inn hotel loan portfolio
Kennedy Wilson Europe Real Estate has completed the acquisition of the Park Inn hotel loan portfolio for £61. 5m.
Brit recommends £1.2bn takeover as analysts eye next Lloyd's bid candidate
Less than a year after returning to the stock market, insurer Brit has accepted a £1. 22bn cash takeover offer from Canadian rival Fairfax Financial, with analysts expecting further bids for other listed Lloyd's insurers imminently.
US rival Bunge may be developing a taste for Tate & Lyle
Tate & Lyle is looking sweet, analysts at Cannacord Genuity said in a research note e-mailed to clients on Monday.
888 terminates takeover talks with potential bidder William Hill
Online gambling group 888 Holdings was “unable” to agree on the terms of a possible takeover by William Hill and talks have been called off.
Aer Lingus board to recommend IAG take-over offer
Following the close of trading on Friday Ireland’s flag airline carrier recommended to its shareholders the take-over bid tabled last month by rival IAG.
RPS buys Klotz Associates for $24.1m
RPS has bought Klotz Associates, a US consultancy providing engineering, planning and environmental services, for $24. 1m.
Shire in talks to take over Salix Pharmaceuticals, reports say
Shire is preparing to make a bid for Salix Pharmaceuticals, a drugmaker based in the US, according to reports.
IAG ready to improve on its Aer Lingus commitments to Dublin
IAG would be willing to consider improving its commitments to Ireland in order to clinch Dublin’s approval for its £1. 36bn bid for its smaller rival Aer Lingus, according to reports.
888 Holdings rockets on bid speculation
Shares in online betting company 888 Holdings soared on speculation that a buyout bid, the value of which was put at £750m, from rival William Hill, could soon materialise.
Tesco appoints bank for Dunnhumby sale, rebuffs Thai Lotus unit bid
As it looks to ease pressure on its balance sheet, Tesco has reportedly appointed Goldman Sachs to pursue a disposal of a significant stake in its customer data analysis subsidiary Dunnhumby, but has recently turned down an approach for its Thai business.
Poundland proposes £55m acquisition of 99p Stores
Poundland Group has proposed the acquisition of its rival retailer 99p Stores for £55m, according to a statement to investors on Friday.
Rexam rockets on £4.3bn proposal from Ball Corp
Rexam's share price surged on Thursday after the beverage can maker confirmed rumours that it has been approached by Ball Corporation.
Astrazeneca misses fourth quarter target but eyes growth in 2015
After a year of accelerating investment in its drug pipeline, drug group Astrazeneca's earnings per share fell more than expected in the fourth quarter to drag the full year number short of the market's target.
BT confirms terms of £12.5bn EE takeover, equity placing
BT has confirmed reports it has settled on terms of its acquisition of EE from Deutsche Telekom and Orange, saying it will be spending £12. 5bn on the UK mobile network.
Staples and Office Depot in advanced talks over merger
Negotiations over a merger between Staples and Office Depot were at an advanced stage on Tuesday, according to sources cited by The Wall Street Journal.
IAG sweetens Aer Lingus bid to win over Irish government
IAG, the owner of British Airways which is currently trying to take over Aer Lingus, outlined plans on Monday to safeguard the future of the Dublin-based airline in an effort to win over the Irish government.