BWD Securities the northern asset manager has received bids for its securities and fund administration businesses. Although unsolicited, the company is considering whether the approaches would maximi... [more]

Vivendi Environnement may be forced to sell Three Valleys, its water company in Surrey, valued at £430m, in order to complete its purchase of Southern Water.... [more]

Stagecoach, the troubled transport group, is selling parts of its US business. The charter tour and taxi services of Coach USA may be included in the disposals.... [more]

The sale of the Royal Mail's cash-handling business to Securicor has fallen through. Securicor offered £250m for the division.... [more]

Banks are attempting to prevent Drax, Britain's largest power station, from falling into administration as they have been unable to find a buyer. The plant was bought by US energy group AES in 1999 fo... [more]

Allders the department store group has been approached by a potential bidder. Several companies have shown interest in the business.... [more]

Millfield is planning to expand its financial advisory business with the acquisition of Sureline of Hertford and Contemporary Life of London.... [more]

Synigence has acquired HMG Worldwide, the provider of clinical and patient information to pharmaceutical companies, for £3.5m.... [more]

Itouch has acquired m4 Group, the provider of mobile phone distribution services, for an initial £1.6m.... [more]

GUS has acquired Homebase, the chain of 300 DIY stores, from Permira for £900m, and expects to make annual cost savings of £20m within three years.... [more]

Hays, the recruitment and logistics firm, may be broken up to improve focus. The conglomerate currently provides express mail delivery, document storage, goods distribution and staff recruitment and m... [more]

TXU Europe, the UK power supplier, has gone into administration. The company has debts of more than £3bn.... [more]

Canvas Holidays, the Dunfermline-based camping and mobile home tour operator, is to undergo a £25m management buy-out backed by 3i.... [more]

Brandon Hire has acquired Loadtite, the lifting gear business with 40 staff at depots in Avonmouth, Cardiff, Hayes and Barking, from the receivers of Baldwins Industrial Services.... [more]

Northern Precision Engineering has acquired Stevens Rowsell, the Hastings-based metal engineering company, for undisclosed terms.... [more]

Lind Automotive Group has expanded its East Anglian car dealership business with the acquisition of the Osborne Group, which includes Osborne Garages and Neep BMW in Colchester.... [more]

Bodycote International has announced the £8m acquisition of two Italian businesses - materials testing company Centro Triveneto Ricerche and heat treatment company Gamma.... [more]

Fitness First, the health and fitness chain, has put itself up for sale. Several potential bidders are interested in the business, valued at £156m.... [more]

Gordons Cranswick is to merge with Sugden Spencer of Bradford, creating a combined Yorkshire-based law firm with more than 200 staff.... [more]

William Sinclair Holdings has sold its SAHC pet products business to management for £6.2m, including 130 staff at sites in Gainsborough and Wickenby.... [more]