Macfarlane is acquiring Western Foam Packaging Products of the US for GBP 5m, and has also announced the reorganisation of its 15 businesses into four divisions. ... [more]

Cranswick is to acquire Pethick & Co, the Hull-based ham manufacturer, for about GBP 15m. ... [more]

BT Cellnet is acquiring the mobile phone retailing business of Glasgow- based DX Communications for GBP 42m, which includes 140 stores throughout the country. ... [more]

Hoseasons, the supplier of boating and cottage holidays, has undergone a GBP 22m management buy-out, and is now expected to expand into continental Europe. ... [more]

Oriflame International, the cosmetics marketing company, has confirmed plans for a GBP 263m management buy-out. ... [more]

Granada Media has acquired Letts Educational, the textbook publisher, from BPP Holdings for GBP 28m. ... [more]

Interior Services Group has acquired Care Services, the facilities management company, for up to GBP 12m. 04-... [more]

Baldwins Industrial Services is to acquire Phillips Crane & Rigging of the US for GBP 7.8m. ... [more]

Go-Ahead is to acquire Metrobus, the Orpington-based bus operator, in a GBP 15m deal. ... [more]

ISA International is to sell its Heath commercial stationery business to Kaye Office Supplies for GBP 20m. ... [more]

Brockbank Group is to sell its two motor insurance operations - Admiral of South Wales and Zenith of West Sussex - to management buy-outs, in order to focus on areas such as marine and art insurance. ... [more]

CSL Group, the Leicester-based business machine supplier, has undergone a management buy-out and expects to create 15 new jobs. ... [more]

Whitecroft has sold Leaderflush & Shapland, the Nottingham-based safety doors business, to management for GBP 14m. ... [more]

Heywood Williams has acquired BCE Cellular Extrusions, the supplier of PVCu building products, from Rugby Group for GBP 11m. ... [more]

Coats Viyella has succeeded with its GBP 80m takeover bid for Hicking Pentecost, the industrial threads manufacturer, thus beating a rival offer from Ruddick of the US. ... [more]

Prudential-Bache International of the US has acquired Matheson Investment, the London-based stockbroking firm, from Jardine Matheson for undisclosed terms. ... [more]

Petroline WellSystems, the Aberdeen-based oilfield services company, has been acquired by Weatherford International of the US for GBP 104m.... [more]

Diploma is to sell its electronic component distribution business to Avnet for GBP 37m. ... [more]

James Halstead has sold its Driza-Done clothing division in Australia to Outback Consortium for GBP 2.1m, and the proceeds will be used to expand its floorcoverings business. ... [more]

Gaskell is to acquire Tomkinsons, the carpet company, for GBP 11m, and closures at the combined group's 10 plants have not been ruled out.... [more]