It has been speculated that the P&O group may be aiming to become a ports-only company. This could mean the sale of its logistics subsidiary and its container and bulk shipping joint ventures. It may ... [more]

Global Crossing, the bankrupt telecoms carrier, has passed the deadline set for bids. Bids are expected to come from venture capital groups such as those run by Tom and Alex Gore in Los Angeles. If th... [more]

Ardana Bioscience has acquired Europeptides, the French pharmaceuticals research company, for up to £18m,and is also in discussions with several US companies about the possibility of marketing their d... [more]

National Australia Bank is said to be considering making a bid for Abbey National. Goldman Sachs is believed to be advising on the bid.... [more]

Allied Steel and Wire has called in the receivers, KPMG, who are now seeking a buyer. The company employs 1,300 and had a turnover of £270m last year.... [more]

Ricardo has acquired Gemini Transmissions, the Brackley-based motorsport company with 40 staff, for £3.4m.... [more]

Chance & Hunt, the Runcorn-based chemicals distribution company with 48 staff, has been acquired by Luxembourg-based holding company Azelis for about £10m.... [more]

Rathbones, the Liverpool-based fund management company, has acquired five London-based companies for a total £11m - Alphabay, Artcrown, Cedarpower, Meronbrook and Skychart.... [more]

Leaf Technologies, the developer of electronic hearing devices, has been bought out of administration by SenseSonic of Macclesfield for £1m, saving 170 jobs.... [more]

P&O Nedlloyd has acquired a majority stake in Gilbert Companies, the US logistics company, for undisclosed terms.... [more]

Elan, the troubled Irish drugs company, is aiming to raise $1bn from assets sales to stem a cash crunch. Garo Armen, the new chairman, said the sale of "financial assets, some portfolio assets, and ... [more]

Royal Bank of Scotland is selling 50% of its NatWest Stockbrokers division to TD Waterhouse for about £30m, and the joint venture will then outsource its operations to TDW.... [more]

Precoat International is to sell its CSI steel processing subsidiary in Canada to Color Steels Holding Corporation for £6.2m.... [more]

BBA Group has acquired three aviation services companies in the US and Canada for a total £23m, and has also announced plans to invest £5m expanding hangar facilities at Luton Airport.... [more]

Chemring is to acquire ICS Electronics,the Arundel-based manufacturer of ship and radio coast station systems, for £1.5m.... [more]

Lionweld Kennedy,the Middlesbrough-based manufacturer of engineering-based products, has undergone a £7.5m management buy-out from Australian parent Pacifica.... [more]

Deutsche Telekom is considering the sale of its IT services arm, which has been valued at 4-6bn Euros.... [more]

AWG has sold Repairline to Build Assured for undisclosed terms, while its 85% stake in Kaldnes Miljoteknologi of Norway has been sold to Anox AB for £5.7m.... [more]

Connaught has acquired Bluu International, the London-based interior design and project management company, for an initial £1m.... [more]

Intelliplus has acquired Swwwoosh and its Freecom.net internet service provider subsidiary in the West Midlands for £3.8m.... [more]