A number of British Biotech's shareholders have threatened a break-up of the company following the decision to abandon merger negotiations with its German equivalent, MorphoSys. British Biotech has no... [more]

The deadline is looming for bids for Vivendi Universal' s US publishing business. Bidders must make an offer of $1.7bn or the process will be opened up to other potential buyers. Vivendi's non US publ... [more]

HVB Group has decided to restructure its DAB online broking subsidiary and is in talks with potential buyers for Self Trade, the Paris broking operation it acquired two years ago for $878.5m. Germany'... [more]

Emap, the media group, is in talks with Bertelsmann to buy its German trade magazines. The £170m magazines division is part of Bertelsmann Springer, the German multinational's scientific and business ... [more]

Cable & Wireless faces a tough decision on the future of C&W Global, the telecommunications group's loss-making data services business. It is believed that the company may also have to scale back its ... [more]

Heidelberger Druckmaschinen, the world's largest maker of printing machinery, has announced that it will shed nearly one tenth of its workforce as part of a programme aimed at saving $196m a year. The... [more]

Whitbread is considering selling off or closing underperforming Beefeater restaurants as it looks to revive the chain. The group recently announced an 11% profit rise. ... [more]

CB Print Finishers of Newcastle has been bought out of administration by a management buy-out, and will now be called Hay Binders.... [more]

Quantica has acquired Selection Training, the Manchester-based provider of work-based training, for an initial £0.2m.... [more]

Hansard Group has acquired Alan Bailey Studios, the public relations company trading as ABS Communications.... [more]

Headlam Group has bought GAAS Flooring of Watford and GAAS Flooring Distributors of Cambridge out of administration, and will relocate the operations to its distribution centre in Bedford.... [more]

MY Holdings has acquired Gallagher Printers of Waterford, in order to expand its healthcare cartons business in Ireland.... [more]

Howard Basford, the vehicle repair company, has undergone a management buy-out for undisclosed terms.... [more]

Co-operative Group has acquired the Alldays chain of 600 convenience stores for £131m, and will soon announce plans for a major refurbishment programme.... [more]

Aga Foodservice has acquired Bongard, the French bakery equipment manufacturer, from 3i for £34m.... [more]

Aberdeen Asset Management is to sell off at least one part of its business to reduce its debt. It is believed that the £4.8bn unit trust and OEIC portfolio may be put up for sale.... [more]

Britvic the soft-drinks manufacturer is to be put up for sale next year. The business has an estimated value of £500m and is currently owned by Six Continents, Whitbread, Allied Domecq and PepsiCo.... [more]

Safeway, the fourth largest supermarket chain, is understood to be generating interest from a number of bidders who wish to break up and sell off the stores to its rivals.... [more]

PricewaterhouseCoopers have been appointed as administrative receivers of Baldwins Industrial Services plc. Baldwins' problems stem from its unsuccessful US expansion. The receivers are hoping to sell... [more]

Pennon has acquired Parkwood Holdings, the Sheffield-based landfill, recycling and liquid waste treatment company, for £21m.... [more]