Watson Wyatt, the Surrey-based financial services consultancy, is to be acquired by US sister company Watson Wyatt & Company for £243m.... [more]

Cookson Group, the listed manufacturer of semiconductor-related equipment in London, may dispose of some businesses over the next two years, according to reports. The businesses are beleived to be "no... [more]

WestLB is said to be planning to sell the Boxclever TV rental business to Fortress Investor Group and Cerberus Capital for an estimated £140m.... [more]

Andrew Lloyd Webber, the theatre owner and composer, is considering the £500m sale of his Really Useful Theatre Group. The consideration of a sale follows an unrequested offer from Ingenious Media, th... [more]

ING, the listed Dutch financial services group, is understood to have engaged talks with UK group Barclays regarding the sale of its private banking operations in France it has been reported that Barc... [more]

Lord Hollick is understood to be considering a £250m sale of the market research business NOP World before he steps down as owner of United Business Media in April. NOP is among the world's top 10 mar... [more]

Lets Drive, the Billingham-based driver training company with 55 staff, has been bought out of administration by LVG of Brighton for undisclosed terms.... [more]

Business Direct Group has acquired Concord Couriers, Concord Logistics and Concord Welwyn Garden City for up to £2m, including two call centres and four delivery depots.... [more]

APL Technologies has acquired Auto Effects out of administration, safeguarding about 40 jobs, and the Bicester automotive painting operation may relocate to a larger site.... [more]

John Cheatle Group has acquired the Rawcliffes chain of 19 schoolwear shops for undisclosed terms, taking its total network to 70.... [more]

Dawson International is to acquire Dorma, the bed linen manufacturer with two plants in the north west, from Coats for £10m.... [more]

Vislink is planning to acquire Link Research, the supplier of wireless camera systems for broadcasting, for up to £11m.... [more]

Close Brothers has acquired the commercial asset finance operations of Cattles for £70m.... [more]

Caterham Cars, the sports car company, has been acquired by private equity firm Corven Ventures for undisclosed terms.... [more]

Gabriel Contractors, the Enfield-based civil engineering firm, has merged with Volker Wessels-owned highways contractor Crowley.... [more]

Inmedia has acquired the Cast media transmission facility in London, including equipment, premises and 22 staff.... [more]

United Business Media (UBM), the UK-listed publishing group, is planning to sell NOP World, its market research company, with an anticipated GBP 250m (EUR 357m) price tag. Potential bidders are WPP, t... [more]

Stepquick has acquired Lithgow Nelson, the accountancy practice with offices in Southport and Preston, for £0.6m.... [more]

Consort Homes has acquired Helmsdale Homes, in order to expand its housebuilding business into the west coast of Scotland.... [more]

YBR Group, the pan-European directories business, has said it is considering a sale of the company or initial public offering estimated to be worth $2.3bn+. The company was formed less than a year ago... [more]