Abbey National has decided to sell its First National consumer credit business for an estimated £800m. The planned disposal represents a reversal of its strategy and shows how far the group's fortunes... [more]

The British Airways pension fund is selling its half share in Berkeley Square House, Britain's most valuable pieces of real estate, in Mayfair for at least £135m. ... [more]

The Royal Bank of Scotland has been tipped as favourite to buy AlliedIrish Bank’s troubled US subsidiary Allfirst, should the Dublin company put the business up for sale. ... [more]

Hovat has acquired Wydata, the Tilbury-based barcode, stationery and digital printer, in a £5m deal.... [more]

Vivendi Universal Entertainment (VUE) may opt for a partial demerger and initial public offering of the US studios, television and theme parks businesses as part of its restructuring programme. Vivend... [more]

Exploratory talks have been held between Asda, the UK's fourth largest supermarkets group, and Sainsbury's, about dividing the Safeway estate between the two groups to try to avert anti-trust obstacle... [more]

Herald Newspapers has been put up for sale by SMG. It is understood that 3i, Britain's largest venture capitalist has brought in the Royal Bank of Scotland to help finance the deal. SMG is hoping to r... [more]

Johnson Matthey is to buy Synetix, the Billingham-based catalyst manufacturer with 800 staff in several countries, from ICI for £260m.... [more]

SCA of Sweden has acquired two UK tissue manufacturers from Benedetti International for £9.4m - Birmingham-based Pendigo and Leeds-based KSS - and is now looking to consolidate its non-household opera... [more]

Bridgeport Machines, the Leicester-based engineering company, has been acquired by American Capital Strategies for £11m, as its former US parent has gone bankrupt.... [more]

Akzo Nobel has sold Rosemont Pharmaceuticals, the Leeds-based manufacturer of liquid pharmaceuticals with 120 staff, to Biotechnology General of the US for £64m.... [more]

Jessops, the camera retailer, is being bought by Amro Capital from Bridgepoint Capital for £116m, and plans to open 26 stores over the next two years.... [more]

Bayer, the German chemical and Pharmaceutical group, is understood to be in talks with a number of companies over the sale of its household insecticides division for 700m Euro. Bayer needs the procee... [more]

Cytomyx is to acquire Cambridge BioScience, the reseller of life science products and services, for an initial £1m.... [more]

Misys has acquired Eagleye Solutions, the supplier of compliance software to the asset management industry, for up to £15m.... [more]

Crysalis, the radio and media group, announced that it had beaten its forecasts for revenue with an increase of 9.5% to £47.7m. However, Crysalis could be a target for consolidation expected followin... [more]

CSS Stellar has acquired JR Financial Services of London, in order to establish a new business supplying specialist financial services to high net worth individuals.... [more]

Granada Learning has acquired The Skills Factory, the Lancashire-based educational software company, for £1.6m.... [more]

Alexander Forbes is to acquire Schroder Pensions Group, the provider of pension administration services, for up to £22m, in partnership with Lane Clark & Peacock.... [more]

CapitaLand is putting Raffles Holdings on the market. It owns a 60% stake of the business which includes the famous Raffles Hotel in Singapore. Raffles Holdings is valued at around £315m and owns 38 h... [more]