M&A
Anbang backs out of Starwood chase to leave door open for Marriott
China's Anbang has backed out of the takeover battle for Starwood Hotels & Resorts, according to reports, leaving the door open for Marriott International.
Fidessa shares jump on takeover chatter
Software and services firm Fidessa rallied on Thursday, with traders pointing to talk in FT Alphaville of a US private equity bid for the London-listed firm.
Premier Foods agrees to talk after McCormick ups takeover offer to £1.5bn
Premier Foods has agreed to enter talks with spices giant McCormick after the US company upped its offer from 60p to 65p per share, valuing the Mr Kipling to Oxo Cubes group at £1. 5bn.
Vodafone's veteran dealmaker Finegold to retire from board
Vodafone's veteran dealmaker Warren Finegold will retire at the end of June, after a glittering history with the company that began when he advised on the mobile group's initial public offering in 1988 when at Goldman Sachs.
Bidding war heats up as Anbang sweetens offer for Starwood
The bidding war for Starwood Hotels & Resorts heated up as a consortium led by Anbang Insurance Group lifted its offer for the company to $14bn, trumping Marriott International’s $13. 6bn.
Premier Foods urged by major shareholder and suitor McCormick to 'engage'
US spice giant McCormick has appealed to investors in Premier Foods to consider its bid for the Mr Kipling and Ambrosia Creamed Rice owner, and said it might be willing to up its offer if the UK company's board were willing to "engage".
Telecom Italia chief steps down amid change of strategy at Vivendi
Telecom Italia´s chief tendered his resignation after a tense seven months characterised by a power struggle with French corporate raider Vincent Bollore over the company´s strategy.
Starwood Hotels accepts sweetened offer from Marriott
Starwood Hotels & Resorts has agreed to a revised bid from Marriott International at $79. 53 per share or $13. 6bn, which trumps the $13. 2bn offered by a consortium led by China’s Anbang Insurance Group.
Valeant Pharmaceuticals chief to step down, shares bounce
Shares in beleaguered drugs giant Valeant Pharmaceuticals were halted after the company announced its chief J. Michael Pearson would be stepping down after an internal committee found the company had misstated its financial statements for 2014 and the first three months of 2015.
IHS and Markit agree $13bn merger
UK data company Markit has agreed to merge with its US rival IHS in a deal valued at more than $13bn (£9bn).
Home Retail slumps as Steinhoff backs out, Sainsbury's ups bid
Shares in Argos owner Home Retail Group tumbled in afternoon trade after Steinhoff International Holdings abandoned the chase in favour of a bid for Darty, clearing the path for Sainsbury’s, which later upped its bid.
Starwood agrees to "superior" Anbang deal; bidding war may be on cards
Starwood Hotels & Resorts announced plans to end its deal with Marriott Hotels in favour of what it deemed to be a better offer from a consortium led by China’s Anbang Insurance Group.
Lighthouse rejects AFH Financial bid
Wealth manager AFH Financial Group has confirmed its takeover proposal to the board of financial adviser Lighthouse Group at 13p per share has been rejected.
Vectura receives support from Skyepharma shareholder
Vectura – which focuses on the development of pharmaceutical therapies for airways diseases – has received a letter of intent from a Skyepharma shareholder supporting the companies’ proposed merger.
Anglo American, Aquarius get South African approval for platinum disposals
Anglo American's platinum subsidiary and Aquarius Platinum have received regulatory approval to sell certain mining assets.
Skyepharma and Vectura agree merger; Skyepharma swings to profit
Vectura and Skyepharma have reached an agreement on the terms of a recommended merger.
LSE, Deutsche Boerse agree merger terms
The London Stock Exchange and Deutsche Boerse said they have agreed to merge.
Starwood Hotels surges on fresh buyout bid of $76 a share
Shares in Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide surged in pre-market trade after it said it had received an unsolicited buyout bid from a consortium of companies for $76 per share in cash.
ICE said to line up financing for LSE bidding war
Intercontinental Stock Exchange is reportedly lining up financing for a bid for the London Stock Exchange to rival Deutsche Boerse’s offer.
Burberry shares tank after holder of mystery position revealed
Shares in Burberry came off sharply following a report that the ‘mystery investor’ who had built up a greater than 5. 0% stake in the company’s stock was in fact the result of a series of trading positions taken on by HSBC.