M&A
Fortress says CMA has not raised issues about Morrisons deal
Private equity firm Fortress, which is leading the consortium looking to buy Morrisons, said on Friday that the Competition and Markets Authority has not raised any issues with its proposed £6. 3bn acquisition of the supermarket chain.
Charles Stanley to be taken over by Raymond James in $279m deal
Charles Stanley shares rocketed on Thursday after the wealth manager agreed to be bought by US rival Raymond James in a $278. 9m deal.
Singapore sovereign wealth fund joins Fortress-led bid for Morrisons
Singapore's sovereign wealth fund has joined the Fortress-led private equity consortium looking to buy supermarket chain Morrisons.
Recruiter Adecco to buy AKKA Technologies in €2bn deal
Swiss recruitment firm Adecco has agreed to buy European engineering and technical consulting group, AKKA Technologies, in a €2bn deal.
Smurfit Kappa passing on cost increases as earnings rise
Packaging giant Smurfit Kappa said it was passing on cost increases via higher prices as it reported a rise in interim core earnings.
BHP tables all-cash bid for Canada's Noront Resources
BHP looked to have beat out Australian magnate Andrew Forrest in taking control of Canada's Noront Resources.
FCA offers Spacs flexibility in return for protections
The Financial Conduct Authority has allowed special purpose acquisition companies more flexibility in return for stronger consumer protections in a push to attract more of the vehicles to the UK.
Berenberg expects Ultra Electronics takeover to proceed, hikes target price
Analysts at Berenberg hiked their target price for shares of Ultra Electronics sharply, from 2,730. 0p to 3,500. 0p and labelled the takeover proposal tabled by Cobham "attractive".
Aon, Willis Towers abandon $30bn merger
Aon and Willis Towers Watson have abandoned a $30bn merger that would have created the world’s biggest insurance broker, after the US Department of Justice objected on competition grounds.
PerkinElmer to buy BioLegend for $5.25bn
US medical diagnostic company PerkinElmer has agreed to buy BioLegend, a provider of life science antibodies and reagents, for around $5. 25bn in cash and shares.
Ultra Electronics 'minded' to recommend £2.58bn Cobham offer
UK defence company Ultra Electronics on Friday said it was minded to recommend a £2. 58bn takeover bid from Cobham to shareholders.
Gateley buys Tozer Gallagher for up to £700,000
Legal and professional services group Gateley has bought Tozer Gallagher, a practice of chartered quantity surveyors and construction consultants, for a up to £700,000.
Audioboom rejects takeover offer from AAA
On-demand audio and podcasting distribution platform Audioboom said on Thursday that it has rejected a £188m takeover offer by All Active Asset Capital (AAA) as it "significantly undervalues" the business.
Riverstone raises $172m in stake sale
Riverstone Energy has raised $172m (£125m) by selling its stake in a business operating in the Gulf of Mexico to its joint venture partner.
Restore surges as it rejects £743m takeover offer from Marlowe
Restore shares surged on Thursday after the office services provider rejected a £743m takeover offer from Marlowe.
St Modwen bidder enters loan agreement
St Modwen Properties said the Blackstone-backed firm planning to take the UK residential property company private in a $1. 75bn deal has entered into a loan agreement to fund the transaction.
Apollo in talks to join Fortress bid for Morrisons
Apollo Global Management is in talks with Fortress Investment Group to join its bid for Morrisons and said it would not make an offer for the supermarket group on its own.
Shareholders oppose Ramsay's takeover of Spire Healthcare
Spire Healthcare shareholders have voted against the company’s £1. 4bn takeover by Australia’s Ramsay Health Care, sending shares in the UK private hospital group tumbling.
Bill Ackman's Pershing Square rejigs Universal stake acquisition
Bill Ackman’s Pershing Square Holdings will now look to buy a 10% stake in Universal Music from France’s Vivendi after US authorities blocked its attempts to use a special purpose acquisition company (SPAC) - Pershing Square Tontine Holdings - to do the deal.
Zoom to buy cloud call centre company Five9 in $14.7bn deal
Video conference company Zoom Video Communications has agreed to buy cloud call centre company Five9 in an all-share deal valued at around $14. 7bn.