Peacocks, the listed retailer under offer, may see a spin off of the Fragrance Shop after it is has completed its MBO. The company is been acquired by management and the consortium comprising Goldman ... [more]

Volantis, the private UK wireless software developer, is to grow aggressively before considering a trade sale, according to chief executive Matt Harris. With a sale the most likely exit scenario furth... [more]

Novell, the computer software firm, has hired Citigroup to help study the possibility of selling Celerant, its UK-based consultant unit. Celerant had USD 162m in 2004 sales. Novell is looking to cut e... [more]

WPP has acquired an 80% stake in Studiocom, the US-based digital marketing services agency with 55 staff, in order to expand its VML subsidiary.... [more]

BT has acquired CARA Group, the network services company with 134 staff in Ireland and Northern Ireland, in order to expand its BT Ireland subsidiary.... [more]

Aegis Group has acquired Planete Interactive and Webcontents, the French digital marketing agencies, for up to £6m.... [more]

Humberts, the nationwide firm of estate agents and chartered surveyors with 39 offices, is to be acquired by London-based Farley Group in a £1.8m reverse takeover.... [more]

Garden House Press, the London-based commercial printer, has undergone a management buy-in.... [more]

Chiron, the vaccines manufacturer with 600 staff in Speke, is to be acquired by Novartis, after the Swiss company offered $5bn for the remaining 58% stake.... [more]

Fidelity Systems has acquired Carr Cash Registers, the Northampton-based cash register company, for less than £0.2m.... [more]

Jelf Group has acquired Farndale Hammond (Healthwise), the Ringwood-based healthcare benefits consultancy, for undisclosed terms.... [more]

News International has acquired Propertyfinder, the online classified advertising business, for £14m.... [more]

Pentagon has acquired two Vauxhall car dealerships in Sheffield, increasing its total number of outlets to 13.... [more]

Telecity is to acquire Redbus Interhouse, the data centre operator, for about £59m.... [more]

White Young Green is to acquire Doy Webster, the London-based mechanical and electrical consultancy, for up to £2.5m.... [more]

P&O is to sell its cold logistics business, including storage and trucking operations in the US, Argentina, Australia and New Zealand, to Versacold of Canada for £183m.... [more]

Lafarge has acquired Port Land Cement, the Sittingbourne-based cement importer, for undisclosed terms.... [more]

Luminar, the listed UK leisure business, may have run into problems selling its entertainment arm. The nightclub and bar-owner had reportedly been in exclusive negotiations with Alchemy Partners, but,... [more]

Fiberweb, the non-woven materials arm of BBA, is to be sold or demerged. Analysts believe the Richmond-based business could be sold for around £700m. Fiberweb makes speciality materials for healthcare... [more]

Stagecoach, the rail and bus operator that runs Britain's largest train franchise, is to sell its New Zealand transport operations as part of its restructuring. The Perth-based company, which is heade... [more]