Laird is to acquire Thermagon, the US-based thermal management products company, for up to £25m... [more]

BAE Systems says it is reviewing the possible sale of its UK naval shipbuilding operations, in a move that could speed a trans-Atlantic merger. A BAE spokesman told Reuters over the weekend that U.S. ... [more]

A break-up of BT is one of many options up for discussion, the new telecoms regulator Ofcom has said as it carries out a sweeping review of the market. Ofcom has said breaking up the former monopoly i... [more]

The board of Cazenove, the Royal stockbroker, have been unable to decide whether to float or to enter talks with trade buyers. The group, which is valued at around £750m, says that it has received a ... [more]

GE Sontay, the Kent-based manufacturer of machines that measure temperature and humidity with 35 staff, has been acquired by Owner Venture Managers for more than £1m... [more]

Gem International, the Leicester-based manufacturer of tissues and cling film has undergone a management buy-out, securing the future of 65 jobs... [more]

WH Smith has sold its ASPAC Retail operations in Australia, New Zealand and Hong Kong to Pacific Equity Partners... [more]

Incisive Media has acquired Initiative Europe Holdings, the business publisher, for £16m... [more]

Dawnfresh Seafoods has acquired Silver Trout, the Hampshire-based trout producer, for undisclosed terms... [more]

Staffware, the Maidenhead-based developer of automation software, is to be acquired by Tibco Software of the US for £123m... [more]

Permira, the venture capital firm lining up a £950m offer for WH Smith, will try to sell the company's newspaper and magazine distribution arm if its takeover succeeds. The turnover of the business is... [more]

Supporta is to acquire SDMS & Co, the provider of payroll services, for up to £0.35m... [more]

Elementis is to acquire Sasol Servo, the Dutch surfactants manufacturer with sites in the US, Mexico and Italy, for £32m... [more]

Centrica is to acquire Bastrop Energy Partners, the owner of the Bastrop Energy Center power station in Texas, from US-based FPL Energy for £80m... [more]

Ethel Austin, the UK discount clothing store, could fetch as much as £150m. The 270-shop chain, based in Knowsley, Liverpool, put itself up for sale last month and has set Friday as the deadline for i... [more]

Diageo, maker of Guinness, Ireland's iconic stout drink, said it plans to close its London brewery by the summer of 2005 and consolidate production at its historic St James’s Gate brewery in Dublin. T... [more]

Ascent Group has acquired B&G Software Consultancy, the Monmouth-based IT outsourcing and software development company, for £2.2m, and up to ten new jobs will be created... [more]

S&P Coil Products of Leicester has undergone a management buy-out from parent company Halma, in a £2.9m deal backed by Northern Venture Managers... [more]

GW Padley is in talks to sell most of its Lincolnshire-based poultry business to OSI Group of the US... [more]

Mason Cash, the pottery manufacturer with 170 staff, has been bought out of receivership by The Table Top Company of Kirkby in Ashfield... [more]