Bentalls is to be acquired by Fenwick for £70m creating a combined chain of 14 department stores... [more]

Grampian Holdings is to sell its chain of 270 Edinburgh Woollen Millshops to Ever 1489 a new company formed by Rutland Trust for £49m... [more]

T Clarke has acquired JJ Cross the Preston-based electrical and mechanical contractor for £2m... [more]

Deltron Electronics has acquired Hawnt Electronics the distributor of electromechanical components for £6.8m... [more]

Penna Consulting has acquired James Black Partnership the human resources consultancy for up to £5.2m... [more]

Anite is to acquire Didgicom the developer of travel software for up to £1.8m... [more]

Newmarket Underwriting the Lloyd's managing agency with 35 staff has been acquired by Danish Re and has also decided to close its marine underwriting operation... [more]

British Industrial Graphics the Witney-based manufacturer of decorative metal trim for the motor industry has been bought out of receivership by GSM Group of Yorkshire saving 52 jobs... [more]

Serco has acquired Total IT the IT and project management consultancy for £1.2m... [more]

Horizon Technology has bought parts of eNet Systems out of receivership for £0.8m for its IT solutions business ... [more]

Marconi is to merge its Ipsaris telecoms network with Easynet Group in a £330m reverse takeover that will provide Easynet with access to a national broadband network... [more]

Tandem Group has acquired Dawes Cycles the bicycle manufacturer for an initial £0.2m and is now looking to acquire other sports and leisure equipment companies... [more]

WPP is to acquire QCi Assessment the customer relationship management consultancy with annual sales of £1.8m in order to expand its OgilvyOne division... [more]

Sopheon is to acquire the Technology and Information Services division of Aventis Research gaining access to the German market for the supply of software solutions to the life sciences sector... [more]

Towry Law is being acquired by AMP of Australia for £76m and AMP is planning to expand the business into the UK's largest financial adviser. ... [more]

Teamtalk has acquired Hampson Radio the provider of satellite-based in- store radio services for £1.5m... [more]

United Norwest Co-op has acquired Barrow Travel for undisclosed terms in order to expand its United Co-op Travel division into the cruise holiday market... [more]

IMI has sold six non-core industrial valves businesses including Bailey Birkett Amal and Marston Bursting Discs in the UK to Tyco of the US for £55m... [more]

Misys is to acquire Sunquest the US healthcare systems supplier for £287m in order to expand its Medic Computer Systems subsidiary... [more]

WPP has acquired VML the US marketing services company with 200 staff for undisclosed terms... [more]