M&A
Hipgnosis shares surge on $1.4bn Concord Chorus offer
Shares in troubled Hipgnosis Songs Fund rocketed by a third on Thursday after the music rights investor said it had agreed a $1. 4bn takeover by US-based Concord Chorus, a music and theatrical rights firm, in attempt to end months of infighting over the company's leadership and secure its future.
Royal Mail-owner rebuffs takeover approach
Shares in International Distribution Services soared on Wednesday, after it emerged that Czech billionaire Daniel Kretinsky had made a takeover approach for the Royal Mail owner.
International Paper to snap up DS Smith in £7.8bn deal
International Paper has agreed to buy British rival DS Smith in a £7. 8bn all-share deal, it was confirmed on Tuesday.
BNP Paribas to buy 9% stake in Ageas
French banking giant BNP Paribas announced on Monday that it is buying a 9% stake in Belgian insurer Ageas from Chinese conglomerate Fosun Group for €730m.
Centaur Media soars on takeover approach from Dutch PE firm
Shares in Centaur Media soared on Wednesday afternoon after the publishing, events and marketing company confirmed speculation about a takeover approach from a Dutch private equity firm.
Frasers, Next interested in Ted Baker’s European retail arm - report
Mike Ashley’s Frasers Group and Next have reportedly expressed an interest in purchasing Ted Baker’s stricken European retail arm.
Gresham Technologies to be bought by STG Partners in £147m deal
Gresham Technologies said on Tuesday that it has agreed to be bought by Alliance Bidco - a company owned indirectly by funds managed or advised by US private equity firm STG Partners - in a £146. 7m deal.
HSBC to take $1bn hit from Argentina unit sale
HSBC Holdings on Tuesday said it was selling its Argentina business to Grupo Financiero Galicia for $550m and take a $1bn pre-tax loss in the process as it continued to pivot its operations towards Asia.
International Paper closing in on £5bn-plus deal for DS Smith - report
US paper giant International Paper is reportedly closing in on a formal £5bn-plus bid for London-listed packaging group DS Smith.
Jonnson & Johnson to buy Shockwave Medical for $13.1bn
Johnson & Johnson said on Friday that it has agreed to buy Shockwave Medical, which develops products for the treatment of cardiovascular disease, for $13. 1bn.
International Paper to seek secondary London listing if DS Smith deal goes ahead
International Paper said on Thursday that it had made "significant progress" in reciprocal due diligence with regards to a potential takeover offer for UK-based DS Smith, and that it could seek a secondary listing in London if a deal goes ahead.
DS Smith extends Mondi offer deadline by two weeks
DS Smith, the packaging group at the centre of a a bidding war between UK-listed Mondi and US firm International Paper, has extended the so-called 'put up or shut up' deadline for the former to make a firm offer.
CMA to launch in-depth probe into Vodafone's merger with Three
The Competition and Markets Authority said on Thursday that it will launch an in-depth investigation into the planned £15bn merger between Vodafone and CK Hutchison’s Three that was announced last year.
Siemens not planning to make offer for Renishaw
German engineering firm Siemens confirmed late on Tuesday that it does not intend to make an offer for London-listed Renishaw.
RHI Magnesita buys US group Resco for $430m
RHI Magnesita said it was buying Resco Group, a US-based producer of alumina monolithics and refractories, for up to $430m.
Home Depot to buy SRS Distribution in $18.25bn deal
Home Depot said on Thursday that it has agreed to buy SRS Distribution, a residential specialty trade distribution company, for around $18. 25bn.
UK regulator decides against in-depth probe of Aviva/AIG deal
Britain's Competition and Markets Authority on Thursday said it would not open an in-depth investigation into Aviva's £460m acquisition of AIG Life UK.
Keysight outbids Viavi in £1.2bn takeover of Spirent Communications
Keysight Technologies has reached a deal to buy Spirent Communications for £1. 16bn, outbidding US peer Viavi Solutions which had already agreed to take over the UK telecoms group earlier this month.
Ithaca eyes UK tie up with Eni; Profits slump on UK tax levy
North Sea oil and gas producer Ithaca Energy on Wednesday said it was looking at a potential tie-up with Italy's largest energy firm Eni covering its UK assets and reported a slump in annual profits blaming the British government’s energy tax and project impairments.
Diploma buys US fastener maker Peerless for £236m
Diploma said it had bought Peerless Aerospace Fastener, a distributor of specialty fasteners into the US and European aerospace markets for £236m.