WS Atkins, the support services group, has rejected a £160m buyout approach. The approach was backed by CVC, the private equity group, and involved Michael Jeffries, Atkins' executive chiarman. Non-ex... [more]

Laxey Partners is seeking to break up British Land. Laxey has suggested that a full break up of the UK's second largest property company could yield shareholders up to 728p per share. ... [more]

Bell Group has acquired Maas Systems, which includes hi-tech security operations in London and the Netherlands, from Maas International Europe for £1.3m.... [more]

Eyretel, the call centre software company, is to be acquired by Witness Systems of the US for £37m.... [more]

Novar has acquired Alterton Technologies, the US supplier of electronic building controls, for £38m, and has also announced plans to shed 500 jobs in its building materials business in 2003.... [more]

Geest is to acquire Genevieve Langlais, the French supplier of prepared salads, for £11m.... [more]

RH Group of Nottingham has acquired the business of Enterprise European Roadfreight out of administration, including sites in West Thurrock, Bristol and Milton Keynes.... [more]

Fitzhardinge is to acquire Gooch Webster, the London-based property consultancy with 240 staff, for £8.1m, and Fisher Wilson, the Scottish retail property specialist with 14 staff, for £2.5m.... [more]

Tussauds Group, the owner of the waxwork museum chain and Alton Towers, is to be put up for sale by Charterhouse Development Capital, its venture capital owner, on the back of record results. The com... [more]

Arterial Motors, the Derby-based transport firm with 28 buses and 30 staff, has been acquired by TransLinc of Lincoln for undisclosed terms.... [more]

THB Group is to acquire BEIB Equestrian Holdings, the specialist insurance broker covering the equestrian market, for an initial £2.3m.... [more]

Abbey Vale Bakery of Devon has been bought out of administration by Averda, and the 75-strong workforce is expected to increase as Averda develops new ideas for the food-to-go market.... [more]

Corus, the Anglo-Dutch steelmaker, risks being broken up if it cannot soon convince its banks that it has a viable future. The group must convince its lenders to refinance a £1.2bn syndicated loan af... [more]

Finsbury Food Group is to acquire Nicholas & Harris for up to £5m, and will transfer N&H's cake manufacture from Basingstoke to Cardiff and concentrate all speciality bread production at the N&H site ... [more]

Talbot & Muir has merged with Southall Asset Management, creating an enlarged Nottingham-based financial services group with 20 staff.... [more]

TGenus, the cattle breeding company, has acquired RAB Australia for £3.6m, and has also announced plans to sell or close its market research division.... [more]

Cordiant, the advertising and marketing group, which includes the Bates Worldwide advertising network, is to be broken up under plans being prepared by the board. The break up plan is to pare Cordian... [more]

Associated British Foods is preparing a bid for Aviagen, the world's leading chicken breeding business which has been put up for sale by its venture capital owners, BC Partners, for about £300m. The ... [more]

Cosalt has acquired Sea Dog Life Saving Appliances, the supplier of marine life saving and fire protection equipment from sites in Aberdeen and Edinburgh, for £2.5m.... [more]

Team Valley Brush Company, the Tyneside-based paint brush manufacturer with 100 staff, has been acquired by Delbanco Meyer of London for undisclosed terms.... [more]