"Pub group Mitchells & Butlers, which has been approached by rival Punch Taverns as well as several private equity groups, slid 41¼ to 335¾p. Douglas Jack, an analyst at Panmure Gordon, said that there was a "decreasing chance of takeover". He added: "M&B's management does not appear enthusiastic over Punch's merger proposal. The alternative of a private equity bid appears remote in the current environment.""
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/money/main.jhtml?xml=/money/2008/03/18/cxmktrep118.xml