M&A
Minoan approaches 'imminent' sale of travel business
Travel and leisure firm Minoan Group on Friday confirmed that it is close to reaching an agreement for the sale of Stewart Travel to its main lender, Zachary Asset Holdings.
Whitbread to sell Costa coffee chain to Coca-Cola for £3.9bn
Whitbread shares surged on Friday as it agreed to sell the Costa coffee chain to Coca-Cola for £3. 9bn.
Stryker to buy spinal technology group K2M for $27.50 a share
US medical technology group Stryker has agreed to buy spinal technology company K2M Group Holdings for $27. 50 a share, or a total equity value of around $1. 4bn.
Severn Trent to buy Agrivert Holdings for £120m
Severn Trent has announced the acquisition of Agrivert Holdings, which specialises in sustainable and cost-effective food waste recycling, for £120m.
Vodafone agrees £8.4bn merger for Australian joint venture
Vodafone has agreed to merge its loss-making Australian mobile joint venture with broadband provider TPG Telecom in a deal valuing the combined company at about A$15bn (£8. 4bn).
UK Oil and Gas ups stake in Horse Hill Developments
AIM-listed investor UK Oil and Gas has upped its stake in the Horse Hill oil discovery via a £4. 5m acquisition of fellow AIM-listed firm Solo Oil's interest in the project's operator.
Sinclair Pharma agrees to potential 32p a share offer from Huadong
Sinclair Pharma has agreed to a potential takeover offer by a subsidiary of China’s Huadong Medicine Co for 32p a share in cash.
Apollo Global Management to buy Aspen Insurance for $2.6bn
Private equity firm Apollo Global Management has agreed to buy Aspen Insurance for around $2. 6bn.
Strong growth in Europe drives Bunzl first half profit
Distribution and outsourcing group Bunzl announced its first acquisition in Norway on Tuesday and reported a 4% increase in first-half profit growth in Europe more than made up for the negative effect of the strengthening pound on overseas profits.
UniCredit and Societe General rumoured to be disussing a tie-up
Italian bank UniCredit and Societe Generale are rumoured to be discussing a tie-up with several top-flight consultants, including Daniel Bouton of Rothschild.
Systemair acquires Canadian manufacturer Greentek
Dual-listed ventilation company Systemair has acquired Canadian company Greentek, a division of Imperial Manufacturing Group, for an undisclosed amount.
Petrofac to sell stake in Greater Stella Area for up to $292m
Oil field services company Petrofac on Friday said it was selling its interest in the North Sea's Greater Stella area to Ithaca Energy up to $292m.
CMA launches investigation into Sainsbury's proposed merger with Asda
The Competition and Markets Authority has launched an investigation into Sainsbury's proposed merger with Asda.
Phoenix Group expects to beat cash generation target
Phoenix Group said it expected to beat the upper end of its cash generation target as the closed life funds company posted flat profits for the first half.
The Hartford Financial to buy Navigators Group for $2.1bn
Navigators Group looked set to surge at the open on Wednesday after agreeing to be bought by The Hartford Financial Services Group for $2. 1bn in cash.
Diploma buys St Albans-based FS Cables for £18m
Diploma has announced the acquisition of St Albans-based FS Cables for £18m in cash, in a deal that is expected to be immediately earnings-enhancing.
Tyson Foods to buy Keystone Foods for $2.16bn
Tyson Foods has agreed to buy the Pennsylvania-based Keystone Foods business from Marfrig Global Foods for $2. 16bn.
PepsiCo to buy SodaStream for $3.2bn
Drinks giant PepsiCo has agreed to buy Israeli at-home carbonated drinks maker SodaStream for $3. 2bn.
Sainsbury and Asda merger could force sale of 300 stores
Sainsbury could be forced to sell around 300 stores all across the UK if its merger with Asda is approved by regulators, according to a new analysis.
JTC acquires Dutch services group Van Doorn
JTC has acquired Amsterdam-based corporate and related fiduciary services group Van Doorn from International Capital for a maximum consideration of €21. 5m.