Taylor Nelson Sofres is planning to merge with GfK of Germany to create a combined London-based market research group with annual sales of £1.9bn.... [more]

CareTech is to acquire Beacon Care, the chain of 16 care homes in the South East, for £22m.... [more]

Merseytravel has acquired Livesmart, the Liverpool-based smart card provider, in order to improve passenger services.... [more]

InterCity Group, the Manchester-based cleaning contractor with 700 staff, has been acquired by LPM of London for an estimated £5m.... [more]

MITIE Group has acquired Catering Partnership Holdings, the Leicester-based corporate catering company with 430 staff, for undisclosed terms.... [more]

John Thompson & Sons of Belfast is to acquire AB Agri, the Lisburn-based animal feeds firm with 60 staff, for undisclosed terms.... [more]

Tesco is discussing a sale of its online property business. A chain of estate agents is due to purchase it.Tesco Property Market was established in June last year by the supermarket, with a £199 servi... [more]

Essentially is to acquire Sportseen, the Twickenham-based sports advertising company, for £9m.... [more]

Mars is to acquire Wrigley, the US chewing gum maker with 600 staff at a factory in Plymouth, for £11bn.... [more]

Elementis is to acquire Deuchem, the Taiwan-based supplier of additives and resins, for £40m.... [more]

Oxford Metrics has acquired the trade and assets of Mobile Video Services, the US provider of property data collection services with 42 staff, for £2m.... [more]

Denmans Facilities Maintenance has been bought out of administration by Project First Facilities Maintenance, securing the future of 180 jobs at its refrigeration, plumbing and electrical services bus... [more]

Marubeni Auto Investment has acquired Norton Way Motors, the operator of Honda, Peugeot and Mazda car dealerships in the South East, taking its total network to 21.... [more]

SME Insurance Services, the Leeds-based insurance broker with 60 staff, has undergone a management buy-out for undisclosed terms.... [more]

Stiller Group has acquired James Durrans Transport, the South Yorkshire-based bulk powder transport division of James Durrans & Sons.... [more]

Oran Waste UK, the Stirling-based waste recycling firm with 11 depots, has been acquired by Response Group of Ireland for undisclosed terms.... [more]

HBOS, the UK-listed banking group, might decide to make disposals to boost its capital. According to analysts non-core operations could be disposed of, which would enable the group to focus on its mor... [more]

A part-owner of James Hull Associates has hired sale advisers, according to reports. Private-equity house and 40% shareholder Hutton Collins have retained Hawkpoint to handle the disposal. The potenti... [more]

Independent Clinical Services (ICS), the nursing-staff supplier formerly called Thornbury, is under strategic review. Deloitte have been hired by Duke Street Capital and a sale is expected. Duke Str... [more]

Warrant Group, the Liverpool-based freight forwarding company has undergone a management buy-out supported by Royal Bank of Scotland. Warrant has 86 staff.... [more]