M&A
GKN shareholders accept Melrose Industries' £8.1bn hostile bid
GKN shareholders have accepted turnaround specialist Melrose Industries' £8. 1bn bid for the engineer, ending a two-and-a-half month saga that has involved intervention from the government and countless tit-for-tat exchanges between the two companies.
NEX agrees takeover bid from Chicago's CME Group
NEX Group directors have agreed to a takeover by CME Group for 1,000p per share in cash and shares of the Chicago exchanges giant, a bid that analysts suggested could be big enough to deter any gatecrashing.
Renault revs up on report of possible merger with Nissan
Renault shares revved up on Thursday fuelled by reports the company is in merger negotiations with Japan's Nissan.
Moneysupermarket to buy Decision Tech for £40m
Moneysupermarket has agreed to buy home communications and mobile phone comparison business Decision Tech for £40m.
Sector movers: Utilities pace gains as Gilt yields move lower
Defensives were clearly in demand at quarter-end, amid a steady drip lower in technology shares on both sides of the Atlantic.
Shire surges on buy-out interest
Shares of Shire rocketed after Japanese rival Takeda Pharmaceutical said it was considering a buy-out of the company.
Nex Group jumps as CME buyout rumours build
Nex Group shares popped higher as Square Mile anticipation grew that US exchange giant CME Group will confirm its takeover bid for the London-based trading platform provider.
Melrose and GKN trade final barbs as vote approaches
Melrose Industries and GKN engaged in a final public slanging match before a shareholder vote on the turnaround company's hostile bid for the FTSE 100 engineer.
Phoenix Equity acquires controlling stake in Capital Economics
Phoenix Equity Partners has acquired a controlling stake in independent macro‐economic research company Capital Economics, alongside its existing management team and shareholders.
RBS agrees to buy AIM-listed FreeAgent for £53m
Royal Bank of Scotland has agreed to pay £53m for FreeAgent, which makes software that helps small businesses manage their finances.
Melrose seeks to reassure government on GKN bid
Melrose Industries has written to the government setting out commitments in a final push to win approval for its hostile bid for GKN.
Glaxo buys Novartis stake in consumer health venture for $13bn
GlaxoSmithKline (GSK) on Tuesdsay said it had agreed to buy Novartis' 36. 5% stake in their Consumer Healthcare Joint Venture for $13bn (£9. 2bn).
JD Sports sets eyes on USA with $558m Finish Line acquisition
JD Sports has agreed the "transformational" acquisition of Nasdaq-listed retailer The Finish Line for $558m (£396m) in a deal that would add a 556-store estate across 44 US states of the largest sportswear market in the world.
Uber continues Asia retreat with sale to Grab
Uber has agreed to sell its south-east Asia operations to local rival Grab for an undisclosed sum as it continues to retreat from the region.
GKN welcomes Dana's cash offer, retracts director quotes
GKN has received an increased cash offer for its Driveline business from US-based Dana, while also being forced to retract directors' statements quoted in Sunday newspapers about the hostile takeover bid from Melrose Industries.
Inchcape buys Central America dealership for £201m
Car seller Inchcape on Monday said it had bought Suzuki-focused Central American dealer Grupo Rudelman for $284m (£201m), on a cash-free and debt-free basis.
Smurfit Kappa rejects renewed offer from International Paper
Smurfit Kappa said it had rejected an increased offer from International Paper Company (IPC) which valued it at €37. 54, saying it “fundamentally undervalues the group”.
Vipera says Italian group considering a 7.5p per share bid
AIM-listed Vipera said on Thursday that Sella Open Fintech Platform (SOFP) is considering making a bid for the mobile payment company.
Flybe tanks as Stobart ditches bid
Shares in Flybe tanked on Thursday as Stobart said it no longer plans to make a bid for the regional airline after the companies failed to agree on "satisfactory" terms.
GKN tells shareholders Melrose is unsuitable steward
GKN has written to its shareholders urging them not to back Melrose Industries’ hostile takeover bid and describing Melrose as an unsuitable steward of the company.