BBA Group has acquired Air Kaman, the US aircraft servicing company based at Jacksonville International Airport, for £11m.... [more]

Zen Research, the developer of computer compact disc technology, is planning to undergo a £13m buy-out.... [more]

Country & Metropolitan is to acquire NorthCountry Homes, the regional housebuilder, for up to £14m.... [more]

Ryland Group, the car retailer that received a takeover offer from Guiness Peat has received a higher offer from another company. Ryland operates 40 car dealerships mainly in the West Midlands, North... [more]

Associated British Foods, which owns Ryvita and Twinings tea, is considering the sale of its retail arm. Consisting of more than 100 budget clothing stores, it trades as Primark in the UK and Penneys ... [more]

Rank, which owns Hard Rock cafes and Mecca casinos has made a bid of £800m for the betting chain Coral. The company has a number of interested parties, but Rank is the frontrunner.... [more]

Abbey National is contemplating the sale of its portfolio of private-equity investments, worth £850m.... [more]

Smiths Group has sold its Fans & Spares distribution business, which includes 18 branches throughout the country, to R&S Cartwright (Manchester) Engineers for £6.5m.... [more]

BAe Systems is to sell its Electronic Warfare Passive Expendables Division in the US to Esterline Technologies for $67m.... [more]

Hill & Smith has acquired Brifen, the Mansfield-based manufacturer of wire rope safety fences, for £1.4m.... [more]

Pennon has expanded its Viridor Waste Management subsidiary with the acquisition of Roseland Plant, the Cornish waste management and plant hire company, for £9.5m.... [more]

GUS Home Shopping has sold Family Hampers, the Leeds-based gift and hamper supplier with 110 staff, to management for undisclosed terms.... [more]

Botany Bay, the Chorley-based shopping and leisure complex, has been bought out of receivership by newly-formed property company USL Trading, saving 100 jobs.... [more]

Kensington Group is to acquire The Mortgage Lender, the Southampton-based mortgage intermediary with 139 staff, for £15m.... [more]

Esporta, the health club operator, is to be acquired by private equity firm Duke Street Capital for £145m.... [more]

Experian is planning to acquire Business Strategies, the economic consultancy with 40 staff.... [more]

Inter-Alliance is planning to acquire HST, the financial services company, for £5.5m.... [more]

Marconi has sold its Applied Technologies electronics business to venture capital firm 3i for £57m.... [more]

Lawson Software has bought the software assets of Armature out of receivership for £5m, which will involve the transfer of 55 staff.... [more]

Le Riche has merged with Ann Street and CI Traders to create a combined Channel Island-based retailing operation with 41 food stores and various other businesses.... [more]