Greene King is to acquire Hardys & Hansons, the Nottingham-based brewer and chain of 260 pubs, for £270m. The company expects that the acquisition will meet its cost of capital within a year as well as boosting its earnings. Greene King now owns around 2,400 pubs across the UK after a series of deals in recent years. Hardys & Hansons has been an independent brewer for 174 years. Hardys shareholders will receive £10.59 per share, plus an interim dividend totalling £2m.