Takeover Rumours

MSY

2008-05-08T00:50:00.002+01:00

"On the FTSE 250, vague bid rumours gave a boost to Misys, the software specialist that rose by 9.25p to 174.25p. The chatter suggested that the company may soon be subject to a bid; there were no clues about the identity of the bidder, but the talk bore a price of between 200p and 210p."

The Independent

CPW

2008-05-08T00:50:00.001+01:00

"Elsewhere, on the FTSE 100, traders noted renewed interest in Carphone Warehouse, which was rumoured to be close to announcing a deal with Best Buy or Vodafone."

The Independent

DOO

2008-05-08T00:49:00.002+01:00

"Lower down the market, D1 Oils , the biodiesel company, was steady at 26.5p despite news that former director Karl Watkin, who owns 4.75% of the company, did not plan to make an offer for the business at the moment."

The Guardian

CPW

2008-05-08T00:49:00.001+01:00

"Takeover speculation resurfaced and gathered pace around Carphone Warehouse yesterday. US group Best Buy, which owns around 3% of the company, is tipped as the most likely bidder, either alone or as a partner with Vodafone in a break-up of the Carphone business."

The Guardian

TNS

2008-05-06T03:08:00.001+01:00

"Sir Martin Sorrell's advertising company WPP is pushing for more information on Taylor Nelson Sofres after its initial unsolicited offer of about £1bn for the market research company was rejected."

The Guardian

TNS

2008-05-06T03:07:00.002+01:00

"Taylor Nelson Sofres is set to further frustrate a takeover bid from Sir Martin Sorrell's WPP this week by denying it access to the market research group's books."

Telegraph

BGY

2008-05-06T03:07:00.001+01:00

"The bid battle for British Energy (BE), the nuclear generating company, looks like turning into a one horse race, with France's EDF seen as the clear frontrunner to table an offer ahead of this week's deadline."

Telegraph

TNS

2008-05-05T06:06:00.001+01:00

"Taylor Nelson Sofres, the consumer research company, has rejected a 230p-a-share takeover proposal from WPP, the advertising and communications giant."

The Independent

RDW

2008-05-05T06:05:00.004+01:00

"Construction giant Bellway has approached rival Redrow with plans for a £1.3bn merger to create the second-biggest housebuilder in Britain."

This is Money

TNS

2008-05-05T06:05:00.003+01:00

"Taylor Nelson Sofres, the market research group, said last night it had rejected a £1bn bid from Sir Martin Sorrell's WPP."

Telegraph

RDW

2008-05-05T06:05:00.001+01:00

"Property group Bellway has approached its rival Redrow with plans for a £1.3bn merger, creating a construction giant which would be the country's second biggest, it has emerged."

Telegraph

MOSB

2008-05-04T06:09:00.001+01:00

"Baugur will announce this week that it plans to proceed with the proposed £40.2m takeover of struggling menswear chain Moss Bros."

The Observer

FPM

2008-05-04T06:08:00.003+01:00

"Dana, which produces about 75% of its oil from the North Sea, said pre-tax profits for 2007 rose 48% to £143.3m driven by higher oil and gas prices and an increase in production of 37%. The company was rumoured to be looking at Faroe Petroleum after increasing its stake earlier this year."

Sunday Times

ARDN

2008-05-04T06:08:00.001+01:00

"Cenkos Securities, the stockbroker owned by City veteran Andy Stewart, is in talks with its smaller rival Arden Partners about a possible £30m takeover."

Sunday Times

RIO

2008-05-04T06:07:00.002+01:00

"BHP Billiton is poised to lodge a filing with the European Commission within the next two weeks, starting the clock ticking on its hostile takeover bid for mining rival Rio Tinto."

Sunday Telegraph

BGY

2008-05-04T06:07:00.001+01:00

"On the downside, British Energy slipped 3.9 per cent to 728½p following reports which claimed that Germany’s RWE might bid for parts of the power company but not all of it."

Financial Times

RIO

2008-05-04T06:06:00.002+01:00

"Takeover target Rio Tinto rose 4.6 per cent to £61.06 after its chairman, Paul Skinner, suggested that a break-up of the company might be the best way to create value for shareholders."

Financial Times

SBRY

2008-05-04T06:06:00.001+01:00

"J Sainsbury was marked 2.9 per cent higher at 391½p as traders realised that Delta Two, the investment fund backed by the state of Qatar, would be free to bid again next week."

Financial Times

MPS

2008-05-04T06:05:00.004+01:00

"MinorPlanet Systems, the telematics company, rose 7p to 27p after it rejected a takeover approach."

The Times

CDMS

2008-05-04T06:05:00.003+01:00

"China Medstar rose 18½p to 50p after the diagnostic imaging and radiotherapy equipment provider confirmed it was in early-stage talks which might lead to a cash offer for the company at 62p a share."

The Times

ITRK

2008-05-04T06:05:00.001+01:00

"Intertek, the product tester, rose 40p to £10.02 after Goldman Sachs upgraded it with a £12.03 target price. It is also seen as a potential bid target as a round of consolidation may be triggered after Bodycote, up 2¾p to 230¾p, put its own testing arm up for sale this week."

The Times

BGY

2008-05-04T06:04:00.003+01:00

"British Energy, the nuclear generator, was the worst blue-chip performer, down 29½p to 728½p, as investors took profits and as bid hopes began to fade."

The Times

BGY

2008-05-04T06:04:00.001+01:00

"Nuclear power generator British Energy was the biggest FTSE 100 faller, slipping 29½ to 728½ on speculation that German utility RWE has decided not to make an offer. However, Centrica is believed to have approached RWE about the possibility of making a joint bid."

Telegraph

CMDS

2008-05-04T06:03:00.002+01:00

"Diagnostic imaging and radiotherapy group China Medstar saw its shares jump 58pc as it revealed it had received a potential bid offer."

Telegraph

BGY

2008-05-04T06:03:00.001+01:00

"Centrica, the UK power company, has made a fresh approach to Germany's RWE about mounting a joint bid for British Energy."

Telegraph

MOSB

2008-05-02T14:27:00.001+01:00

"The immediate future of the Moss Bros menswear chain is expected to be resolved this weekend after growing speculation that Baugur, the Icelandic investor, is close to deciding whether to make a formal £40 million offer."

The Times

IGP

2008-05-02T07:50:00.000+01:00

"Intercede, which makes technology used in identity card systems, jumped 5.5p to 43p on talk that it could attract attention from Indian group Bartronics. Bartronics has said it wants to buy an established European company by the end of the year."

The Guardian

CMDS

2008-05-02T07:49:00.000+01:00

"China Medstar, which supplies radiotherapy equipment to Chinese medical centres, was steady yesterday at 31.5p. Traders believe the company has received a takeover approach at 60p a share."

The Guardian

CPW

2008-05-02T07:44:00.001+01:00

"The speculators continued to drive Carphone Warehouse, which rose by 3.25p to 275p. Hopes of a takeover by Best Buy, or of a division of the business between the American company and Vodafone, continued to draw investors."

The Independent

DHP

2008-05-02T07:40:00.001+01:00

"Darwen Holdings, the Lancashire coach builder, had its shares suspended at 47p after The Daily Telegraph revealed that it was lining up a sizeable reverse takeover."

Telegraph

CAL

2008-05-02T07:38:00.000+01:00

"After bottoming out at 329p in January, Capital & Regional's shares rebounded strongly amid speculation that the company was being eyed up a by a string of suitors. However, to date, no bidders have materialised."

Telegraph

CBRY

2008-05-02T07:32:00.001+01:00

"Credit Suisse advised investors to sell Cadbury shares, arguing that they are overvalued by around 10pc. While Cadbury may be part of an ongoing confectionery consolidation we don't see Cadbury as a takeover target," said analyst Alex Molloy."

Telegraph

GMG

2008-05-02T07:13:00.000+01:00

"Game Group dropped 1.2 per cent to 271p as bid speculation cooled with news that its non-executive chairman, Peter Lewis, had sold stock worth £2.3m."

FT

BVS

2008-05-02T07:09:00.001+01:00

Bovis Homes, off just 0.5 per cent at 463p, managed to avoid the worst of the selling, however. That was because of speculation it could be target for a group looking to ride out the storm in the housing market by merging with a rival, cutting costs and taking advantage of greater buying power.

FT

HTG

2008-05-02T03:45:00.000+01:00

"The oil services group Hunting was buoyant, rising by 6p to 896p, following renewed bid speculation."

The Independent

ISAT

2008-05-01T03:38:00.001+01:00

"Also on the FTSE 250, the satellite company Inmarsat was up 18.5p at 462.5p thanks to renewed bid speculation."

The Independent

BOY

2008-05-01T03:37:00.002+01:00

"Elsewhere, bid speculation was evident around Bodycote, the engineering company, which gained 30.25p to 241.75p."

The Independent

BRBY

2008-05-01T03:37:00.001+01:00

"Burberry was back in fashion yesterday after early rumours suggested a bid may be forthcoming from Coach, the American handbag maker."

The Independent

ISAT

2008-05-01T03:36:00.002+01:00

"Inmarsat, the satellite communications group, provided the day’s speculative feature. Its shares rose 4.2 per cent to 462½p on rumours of a bid approach from Asia. Traders said any deal would require the backing of Inmarsat’s biggest shareholder, Harbinger Capital, which owns 28 per cent of the company."

FT

DHP

2008-05-01T03:36:00.001+01:00

"Darwen Holdings, the recently floated Lancashire-based bus builder, firmed ¼ to 44¾p yesterday as market sources suggested that chairman and majority-owner Roy Stanley was lining up a big reverse takeover."

Telegraph

CPW

2008-05-01T03:35:00.003+01:00

"Carphone Warehouse, the mobile phone retailer and broadband supplier, was in focus, rising 9¼ to 271¾p as rumours of a possible bid from US retailer BestBuy resurfaced. The latest bout of BestBuy bid speculation was triggered by Carphone's decision to separate its retail and broadband businesses into distinct divisions."

Telegraph

BRBY

2008-05-01T03:35:00.002+01:00

"Upmarket fashion group Burberry edged up 21¼ to 483¾p amid continuing speculation that it is a takeover target for Coach, a larger US rival.

Telegraph

GMG

2008-04-30T05:11:00.001+01:00

"The specialist video games retailer Game was strong yesterday after posting its preliminary results and attracting the interest of speculators pegging their hopes on a bid. Vague rumours, which emerged after the company impressed the market with bumper results, suggested that Texas-based Gamestop Corporation, the world's largest video game and entertainment software retailer, was considering an offer for the company."

The Independent

CNP

2008-04-30T05:10:00.002+01:00

"But ClinPhone, which provides technology for clinical trials, lost 14.25p to 85p as analysts said the chances of a bid from US group Parexel, were receding."

The Guardian

TNS

2008-04-30T05:10:00.001+01:00

"Market research group Taylor Nelson Sofres yesterday jumped 19% as it announced a nil-paid merger with German rival GfK. However, analysts believe another bidder may step in to break up the agreed deal."

The Guardian

TNS

2008-04-30T05:09:00.002+01:00

"Taylor Nelson Sofres grabbed top spot on the FTSE 250 leaderboard. Shares in the market research group rose 19.3 per cent to 204p after revealing merger discussions with German rival GfK. Traders said Taylor Nelson was now in play and vulnerable to a bid from cash rich private equity group."

FT

GMG

2008-04-30T05:09:00.001+01:00

"Game Group climbed 4.9 per cent to 264½p after annual results impressed. Another reason for the gain was speculation a US rival, possibly GameStop, had appointed advisers to examine a bid for Game Group. Traders said one big US bank was now “restricted” on Game Group."

FT

BGY

2008-04-30T04:46:00.000+01:00

"British Energy firmed 0.3 per cent to 768p after Sweden’s Vattenfall said it was looking at supply and generation assets in the UK and had €7bn-€10bn available for acquisitions."

FT

CNP

2008-04-30T04:44:00.001+01:00

"In February, ClinPhone revealed that it had rejected a preliminary takeover approach from US rival Parexel International, arguing that it "materially undervalues the company and its prospects". ClinPhone said yesterday it was still in talks with Parexel, although it has refused to open its books for due diligence."

Telegraph

GMG

2008-04-30T04:42:00.001+01:00

"Computer games retailer Game Group gained 12¼ to 264½p after unveiling strong full-year results and a robust trading outlook. The stock was also boosted by vague takeover speculation, with US rival Gamestop the name supposedly in the frame."

Telegraph

AL.

2008-04-29T10:46:00.001+01:00

"Elsewhere in banking Alliance & Leicester ended 3% higher at 530.5p on continued speculation that it could be vulnerable to a bid."

The Guardian

CPW

2008-04-29T10:45:00.001+01:00

"Break-up rumours continued to swirl around Carphone Warehouse. The company has been at the centre of speculation for the past week pegging a sale of its broadband business to Vodafone and of the retail arm to Best Buy. Last night's chatter suggested a deal was still on the cards, but bore no clue about its timing."

The Independent

HTG

2008-04-29T10:44:00.003+01:00

"On the FTSE 250, M&A talk surrounded Hunting, the oil services company, which rose 28p to 897.5p. ABN Amro, which maintains a "buy" rating, said: "We believe in the past Hunting may have received several approaches for individual pieces of Hunting but has not received an approach for the group as a whole."

The Independent

SEG

2008-04-29T10:44:00.002+01:00

"Infogrames, the French video games company behind Atari, has revealed it was behind a rejected share bid for Lara Croft’s SCi Entertainment worth about £60 million. The would-be predator said that it could go hostile — presenting investors with a choice between SCi’s planned fundraising and a bid at a “significant premium” to the 55p the shares were trading at last week."

The Times

REG

2008-04-29T10:44:00.001+01:00

"Regent Inns, which owns the Old Orleans restaurant chain, leapt 3 to 17½p amid speculation that the US buy-out firm Sun Capital Partners was the front-runner to take over the group."

Telegraph

BOR

2008-04-29T10:43:00.002+01:00

"Borders & Southern Petroleum, one of several companies prospecting for oil off the Falkland Islands, rose 1½ to a record high of 84¾p on vague takeover rumours."

Telegraph

SEG

2008-04-29T10:43:00.001+01:00

"SCi Entertainment, which makes the Lara Croft computer games, is likely to be in demand this morning after Infogrames confirmed after the market close that it had approached SCi."

Telegraph

BGY

2008-04-29T10:42:00.002+01:00

"The deadline for the next round of bids for British Energy (BE) has been brought forward, as the Government seeks a swift decision on the future of the UK's nuclear industry. Rothschild, BE's financial adviser, has told potential bidders that it would like to see detailed offers by May 9."

Telegraph

PRU

2008-04-29T10:42:00.001+01:00

"Ping An, the giant Chinese insurer, will this week hold a board meeting in London, underlining the increasingly international outlook of China's large state-owned companies. Ping An has recently been linked with a bid for Prudential, but no talks have taken place."

Telegraph

CPW

2008-04-26T07:25:00.003+01:00

"Elsewhere, bid rumours were evident around Carphone Warehouse, again. And yet again, Vodafone and Best Buy were cast as suitors, vying for the broadband and retail businesses respectively."

The Independent

MAB

2008-04-26T07:25:00.001+01:00

"The pubs group Mitchells & Butlers, one of the longest-running takeover sagas left in the market, slipped 3.5p to 309.25p after it said it was no longer in talks with anyone about a bid for the whole firm."

The Guardian

CPW

2008-04-26T07:24:00.000+01:00

"Carphone Warehouse climbed 8p to 257p on talk of a break-up bid from Vodafone and the US group Best Buy, which owns nearly 3% of Carphone."

The Guardian

AL.

2008-04-26T07:23:00.002+01:00

"But yesterday A&L climbed 21.5p to 514.5p, with dealers suggesting it could be vulnerable to a bid. It appears that HSBC for one has recently cast its eyes over A&L, although HSBC - up 4.5p at 859.5p - decided it would prefer to concentrate on expanding its Asian businesses."

The Guardian

AL.

2008-04-26T07:23:00.001+01:00

"Vague chatter of predatory interest from HSBC, up 0.5 per cent to 859½p, pushed up Alliance & Leicester, 4.4 per cent higher at 514½p. However, traders reckon the gain owed more to short covering."

FT

BGY

2008-04-26T07:22:00.001+01:00

"Bid hopes helped nuclear power company British Energy gain 4.3 per cent to 785p."

FT

CPW

2008-04-26T07:21:00.001+01:00

"Carphone Warehouse provided the session’s speculative feature. Its shares rose 3.2 per cent to 257p amid rumours of a break-up bid from Vodafone, up 1.1 per cent to 159.2p and US retailer Best Buy."

FT

WFC

2008-04-26T07:20:00.001+01:00

"Elsewhere on the small-cap bid front, Watford Leisure, which owns the eponymous Championship football club, soared 14½ to 33p after revealing that it had received a "tentative" takeover approach."

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/money/main.jhtml?xml=/money/2008/04/26/cxmktrep126.xml

WHI

2008-04-26T07:19:00.000+01:00

"Stockbroker WH Ireland ticked up 1 to 115p even though it revealed that bid talks with suitor Blue Oar Securities had ended. Blue Oar, which closed down ¾ at 14½p, insisted that it remained "interested in pursuing a potential acquisition of WH Ireland" and was still seeking to "meet with the board of WH Ireland on an amicable basis"."

Telegraph

RNK

2008-04-26T07:18:00.001+01:00

"Rank, the casino and bingo hall group, slipped ¼ to 89¾p despite Guoco, the Malaysian leisure group, increasing its stake to 10pc. Genting, another Malaysian gaming group, has an 11pc stake in Rank. There has been long-running speculation that either company could mount a bid in an attempt to get hold of Rank's lucrative casino licences."

Telegraph

CPW

2008-04-26T07:17:00.000+01:00

"Carphone Warehouse, which sells mobile phones and broadband access, was in focus as bid speculation resurfaced on the back of a positive broker note. Traders speculated once more that US retailer Best Buy might be interested in bidding for all or part of Carphone."

Telegraph

DRX

2008-04-25T03:02:00.000+01:00

"Drax, the coal-fired generator, out-performed the sector, up 9½p to 627½p on talk of predatory interest. Centrica, up 2¼p at 295½p, is seen as a contender."

The Times

RFG

2008-04-25T02:40:00.001+01:00

"RDF Media, which makes programmes including Wife Swap and Faking It, received a management buy-out proposal yesterday from a consortium that includes the company's executive directors."

The Independent

DRX

2008-04-25T02:37:00.000+01:00

"Renewed bid talk energised Drax, which outperformed the wider market, gaining 9.5p to 627.5p yesterday. Speculation suggested that Centrica was considering an offer for the rival energy group and owner of Britain's largest coal-fired power station."

The Independent

RFG

2008-04-25T02:24:00.000+01:00

"David Frank, RDF Media's founder, is understood to have gained tentative support for a bid - at a price not yet determined - from the 27 per cent shareholder Cyrte Investments."

The Times

RFG

2008-04-25T01:58:00.001+01:00

"John de Mol, the Dutch TV executive behind Big Brother, is backing a management buyout of leading independent production company RDF Media."

Telegraph

RFG

2008-04-24T05:15:00.000+01:00

"Media types were abuzz with talk a buyer was sniffing around RDF Media, the TV production firm behind Wife Swap, Location Location and the controversial A Year With A Queen series."

This is Money

SEG

2008-04-24T05:14:00.000+01:00

"Shares in SCi Entertainment, the firm behind the Tomb Raider star, ticked 2½p higher to 57p after it rejected a takeover approach from an unnamed bidder.

This is Money

BSLA

2008-04-24T05:13:00.000+01:00

"Elsewhere, rumours gave a boost to Blacks Leisure, which rose by 1.50p to 177.50p. Market speculation suggested that Sports Direct, Mike Ashley's sports retail chain, was about to bid for the company."

The Independent

WLF

2008-04-24T05:12:00.000+01:00

"Wolfson Microelectronics jumped 10.5p to 134p on talk of a bid from Texas Instruments. The US firm has said it is interested in buying analogue semiconductor specialists - which could include Wolfson."

The Guardian

SEG

2008-04-24T05:11:00.000+01:00

"SCi Entertainment, the Tomb Raider computer games group, added 2.5p to 57p after it admitted it had received an indicative offer at a significant premium to the share price."

The Guardian

XTA

2008-04-24T05:06:00.000+01:00

"Xstrata added 2.6 per cent to £41.01 on the view that it is one of the few major mining companies that could be acquired by China."

FT

SHP

2008-04-24T05:03:00.001+01:00

"Shire jumped 60½p to 979p after it won approval earlier than expected from regulators in the United States to sell its Vyvanse hyperactivity drug – already licensed to children – to adults. This approval is likely to drive bid speculation. Pfizer and Astra-Zeneca, up 55p to £21.32 before results today, have already been rumoured to be considering the company."

The Times

WLF

2008-04-24T04:56:00.001+01:00

"Chip-maker Wolfson Microelectronics leapt 10½ to 134p on renewed speculation of takeover interest from Texas Instruments."

Telegraph

FKI

2008-04-23T02:39:00.002+01:00

"Among the mid-caps, engineer FKI jumped 6.75p to 84.5p as it accepted a cash and shares offer from industrial investor Melrose. Melrose shares added 14.6p to 162p, valuing the offer at just under 85p an FKI share."

http://www.guardian.co.uk/business/2008/apr/23/oil.centricabusiness

CNA

2008-04-23T02:39:00.001+01:00

"Speculation that Warren Buffett is building a stake in Centrica put a flame under the owner of British Gas. Shares in the energy company, which did not comment on the rumour, rose 4½p to 305p."

http://business.timesonline.co.uk/tol/business/markets/article3799473.ece

FWEB

2008-04-23T02:38:00.004+01:00

"Fiberweb, which makes non-woven fibres for use in anything from nappies to car seats, tumbled 32pc to 37½p after Israeli suitor Avgol pulled out of takeover talks because of funding difficulties. Avgol made an indicative 100p-a-share offer in January but the credit crunch has put paid to its ambitions."

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/money/main.jhtml?xml=/money/2008/04/23/cxmktrep123.xml

PEG

2008-04-23T02:38:00.003+01:00

"Tiddler Petards, which makes CCTV systems, climbed 0.1 to 0.38p after revealing that it was in talks with a number of parties about a possible takeover or refinancing."

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/money/main.jhtml?xml=/money/2008/04/23/cxmktrep123.xml

HTG

2008-04-23T02:38:00.001+01:00

Hunting, the oil field services company, rose 3.1 per cent to 871½p ahead of today’s trading statement, which is tipped to impress. Traders also noted that Hunting looked cheap and remained a potential takeover target.

http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/18290fbc-1036-11dd-b8d6-0000779fd2ac.html

BB.

2008-04-22T08:11:00.001+01:00

"AFTER losing out on Northern Rock, Sir Richard Branson’s Virgin Money is said to be considering a £1bn bid for bank Bradford & Bingley (B&B)."

http://www.cityam.com/index.php?news=11925

DSGI

2008-04-22T05:55:00.001+01:00

"Bid speculation also lifted DSG International, which owns high street retailer Dixons. A report in the Financial Times said Metro, Germany's leading retailer, is eyeing Britain's DSG to help it expand in Europe. DSG rose 4.5% to close at 68p."

http://www.guardian.co.uk/business/2008/apr/22/mediabusiness.itvbusiness

ITV

2008-04-22T05:55:00.000+01:00

"But the fact that someone might be interested in buying the stake has reignited bid speculation over ITV, which closed up 6% at 68p."

http://www.guardian.co.uk/business/2008/apr/22/mediabusiness.itvbusiness

WHI

2008-04-22T05:54:00.000+01:00

"Manchester stockbroker WH Ireland surged 18 to 120½p after it received a preliminary bid approach. Market sources said that rival broker Blue Oar Securities was looking at WH Ireland, although it was unclear if they had made an approach yet."

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/money/main.jhtml?xml=/money/2008/04/22/cxmktrep122.xml

FKI

2008-04-22T05:53:00.000+01:00

"Engineering group FKI ended flat at 77¾p although market sources said that it was about to agree to be taken over by buy-out group Melrose in a cash-and-shares deal equivalent to around 84p a share. Melrose ticked up 3¼ to 149p."

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/money/main.jhtml?xml=/money/2008/04/22/cxmktrep122.xml

BGY

2008-04-22T05:52:00.001+01:00

"British Energy put on 17 to 740p as France's EDF and Suez were once more linked to a possible bid for the nuclear power group."

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/money/main.jhtml?xml=/money/2008/04/22/cxmktrep122.xml

DSGI

2008-04-22T05:52:00.000+01:00

"DSG International rose 4.6 per cent to 68p on hopes that it could be a takeover target for Metro. Germany’s leading retailer is considering a partial spin-off of its consumer electronics operations, a move that would give it the freedom to make acquisitions."

http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/15094f82-0f6d-11dd-8871-0000779fd2ac.html

ITV

2008-04-22T05:51:00.001+01:00

"ITV received a welcome boost yesterday. Britain's biggest commercial broadcaster led the FTSE 100 risers after it emerged that BSkyB has received expressions of interest from potential buyers of its controversial 17.9% stake."

http://www.guardian.co.uk/business/2008/apr/22/mediabusiness.itvbusiness

CPW

2008-04-22T05:51:00.000+01:00

"Carphone Warehouse was the focus of yet more bid speculation yesterday. Market rumours again mooted the prospect of a 400p-per-share offer from Best Buy, the American consumer electronics retailer, which has been cast as a suitor before."

http://www.independent.co.uk/news/business/sharewatch/market-report-best-buy-bid-banter-buoys-carphone-and-dsg-813416.html

FKI

2008-04-22T05:50:00.001+01:00

"Engineering group Melrose is poised to seal its £500m takeover of industrial conglomerate FKI."

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/money/main.jhtml?xml=/money/2008/04/22/cnfki122.xml

EXR

2008-04-22T05:50:00.000+01:00

"Private equity group Candover is this weekend considering whether to raise its £1.8bn bid for oil services group Expro International in response to a higher offer from US oilfield contractor Halliburton."

http://www.thisismoney.co.uk/investing-and-markets/article.html?in_article_id=440630&in_page_id=3&ito=1565

DEB

2008-04-22T05:49:00.001+01:00

"Mr Jagtiani, the head of the retailing giant Landmark Group, says not. His 9 per cent stake in Debenhams is, he says, strategic rather than a prelude to a full-blown bid, although he does not quite rule that out, should circumstances change. "

http://business.timesonline.co.uk/tol/business/industry_sectors/retailing/article3785014.ece