National Grid is to acquire Niagara Mohawk the New York state electricity company for £2bn which will double the size of its US business... [more]

Abbey National is to acquire Scottish Provident the life assurer for £1.8bn but Scottish Provident's 38% stake in Aberdeen Asset Management will be sold off before the deal is completed... [more]

Standard Chartered has sold its Chartered Trust leasing and motor finance subsidiary to Lloyds TSB for £627m and has also announced the acquisition of Chase Manhattan's credit card business in Hong Ko... [more]

First Choice is acquiring Crown Holidays the operator of inland waterway holidays for £21m... [more]

Bilston & Battersea Enamels the ceramics company is to undergo a £3.5m management buy-out... [more]

StepStone is acquiring Job-Today the German recruitment company for £21m... [more]

Cinven is selling General Hospitals the private hospitals group to private equity firm BC Partners £1.2bn.... [more]

British Telecom has sold its aeronautical and maritime communications division to Stratos Global of Canada for £157m as part of a strategy to reduce debt by selling non-core operations... [more]

Great Universal Stores has acquired Jungle.com the online retailer for £37m which will enable it to sell a wide range of office products through a number of channels... [more]

Wickes has accepted a £289m takeover offer from Focus Do It All creating a combined group with a 10.7% market share in DIY retailing. ... [more]

ED&F Man is to acquire Glenwood Group the US fund management company for £76m... [more]