Biotrace has acquired Ruskinn Technology, the supplier of microbiology products for the international healthcare market, for about £1m. ... [more]

Chloride has acquired Continuous Power International, the Bedford-based supplier of power protection equipment, for undisclosed terms... [more]

Inver House Distillers, the Airdrie-based whisky company with five distilleries and 130 staff, has been acquired by Pacific Spirits of Thailand for £56m... [more]

John Menzies is to acquire the Sheffield and Guildford news wholesaling operations of Turners News for a reported £15m... [more]

Highbury House Communications has acquired Property Mart Magazine, the publisher of magazines in the East London and West Essex areas, for up to £5m... [more]

Oxford Instruments has acquired CMI International, the US manufacturer of equipment to measure thin metallic coatings, for about £1.3m. ... [more]

Scapa has acquired Cable Components, the Blackburn-based supplier of cable wrapping tapes, for undisclosed terms... [more]

BD Kendle Engineering, the Yarmouth-based supplier of equipment to the oil and gas industry, has been acquired by Weatherford International of the US in a deal estimated at £10m... [more]

Liffe, the London International Financial Futures & Options Exchange, is to be acquired by Paris-based Euronext for £555m... [more]

HIT Entertainment is to expand its children's media rights business with the acquisition of the Pingu animated penguin for £16m... [more]

Berry Birch & Noble is planning a reverse takeover of the Berkeley independent financial advisory business, in a deal that values Berkeley at £70m... [more]

Wyevale Garden Centres has bought Fosters Nurseries, the operator of garden centres near Lichfield and Stafford, for £7.6m... [more]

One of the best surfing beaches in Britain, Croyde Bay in Devon, is on the market for around £30m. The holiday park and camping area on the site attracts 140,000 visitors a year and turns over nearly ... [more]

United Co-op has acquired the Willis chain of convenience stores, which includes 12 sites mainly in South Yorkshire... [more]

Birmingham City football club has been put up for sale by David Sullivan, its chairman and largest shareholder, who also owns Sport Newspapers. ... [more]

Computacenter is to acquire GE Capital IT Solutions' UK and French operations for £2m, while GECITS will acquire Computacenter's German business for £0.2m, as part of a new international alliance... [more]

Biggart Baillie has acquired Steedman Ramage, the law firm with 44 employees and offices in Glasgow and Edinburgh... [more]

Global Group is to acquire Paul Layzell Foods, the manufacturer of dumplings and pastry products, for £0.5m... [more]

Jentique, the furniture manufacturer, has been bought out of receivership by Deeside Furniture for undisclosed terms, saving more than 200 jobs... [more]

MBNA, the American credit card giant is believed to be the favourite to buy First National Retail Finance, the point-of-sale credit finance arm of Abbey National, worth around £250m. ... [more]