M&A Navigator: Deal pipeline – 16 July

The following is a list a of deals covered in detail by M&A Navigator this week:

- ABB SAYS NO PLANS TO RAISE OFFER FOR INDIAN UNIT

Swiss-Swedish engineering group ABB (VTX:ABBN, STO:ABB) said it would stick to its current offer of INR900 (USD19.14/EUR14.83) per share aimed at raising the company's stake in its Indian subsidiary.

Status: Bidding

- DUTCH GAMMA HOLDING MULLS OVER SELLING VLISCO UNIT

Dutch textile company Gamma Holding (AMS:GAMMA) said it was exploring the potential sale of its Vlisco Group unit, which produces colourful dyed and printed African fabrics.

Status: Talks

- BLACK LION RESOURCES EXTENDS OFFER FOR RICHMOND OIL & GAS, OWNS 36%

UK oil and gas investor Black Lion Resources extended until 30 July 2010 its offer to buy Richmond Oil & Gas, after having secured 36.09% in the company by 9 July.

Status: Bidding

- ELECTRONIC ARTS TO EXIT UBISOFT

US video games developer Electronic Arts (NASDAQ:ERTS) is disposing of its interest in French competitor Ubisoft (EPA:UBI).

Status: Agreed

- SAS BUYS INTELLIGENCE SOLUTIONS FIRM VSTI

US business analytics software specialist SAS said it had purchased Vision Systems & Technology Inc (VSTI), a provider of advanced analytic solutions to the US intelligence community, for an undisclosed sum, to expand into the intelligence market.

Status: Closed

- US ENDO PHARMA WRAPS UP HEALTHTRONICS TAKEOVER

US drug developer Endo Pharmaceuticals (NASDAQ:ENDP) announced the completion of the acquisition of Austin-based urology company HealthTronics (NASDAQ:HTRN) for USD223m (EUR171.9m) in cash.

Status: Closed

- CISCO SYSTEMS FINALISES BUY OF COREOPTICS

US networking group Cisco Systems (NASDAQ:CSCO) said it had closed the purchase of CoreOptics, a designer of digital signal processing (DSP) solutions for high-speed networking, in a move to grow in Europe.

Status: Closed

- US STEPAN TAKES OVER POLISH ALFA SYSTEMS

US chemicals company Stepan (NYSE:SCL) said it had bought Alfa Systems in Poland through its fully-owned unit Stepan Europe from owners Chemitex Holding Limited and Chemovil Holdings Limited, to step into central Europe.

Status: Closed

- AUSTRIAN PALFINGER BUYS 75% OF DUTCH NED-DECK MARINE

Austrian crane maker Palfinger (WBAG:PAL) said it had agreed to take 75% of Dutch Ned-Deck Marine (NDM), a manufacturer of rescue boat davits, a special application of marine cranes.

Status: Closed

- RUSSIAN MTS BUYS MULTIREGION FOR USD123.5M

Russian mobile operator Mobile TeleSystems (NYSE:MBT), or MTS, said it had taken full control of broadband and cable TV provider Multiregion for USD123.5m (EUR95.2m), and assumption of USD94.4m of debt.

Status: Closed

- US EXCENTUS ANNOUNCES METROSPLASH SYSTEMS BUY

US Excentus, a provider of fuel-based marketing programmes, technology, and integration services, said it had bought local Metrosplash Systems through its fully-owned unit Centego II, for an undisclosed amount.

Status: Closed

- UK BURBERRY IN DEAL TO BUY CHINESE STORES FROM KWOK HANG HOLDINGS

UK luxury goods company Burberry (LON:BRBY) said it had agreed to buy the 50 stores in China operated by its Hong Kong-based franchise partner Kwok Hang Holdings for some GBP70m (USD108m/EUR83.3m) in cash, subject to closing adjustments.

Status: Agreed

- AKER SEAFOODS BUYS OUT SPANISH PESQUERA ANCORA FOR EUR7M

Norwegian seafood company Aker Seafoods (OSL:AKS) said it had taken full control of Spanish harvesting company Pesquera Ancora, after having exercised its option to buy the remaining 40% in it for EUR7m (USD9.04m).

Status: Closed

- UK CANDOVER INVESTMENTS ENDS TAKEOVER TALKS

The board of directors of UK private equity investor Candover Investments (LON:CDI) said it had cancelled talks with a potential buyer, after the unnamed party decided against making an offer for the company.

Status: Terminated

- TELE2 TAKES OVER DUTCH BBNED FROM TELECOM ITALIA FOR SEK475M

Swedish telecommunications operator Tele2 (STO:TEL2 B) said it had agreed to buy Dutch fixed-line and broadband operator BBNed from Telecom Italia (BIT:TIT) for some SEK475m (USD65.09m/EUR50.4m) in cash.

Status: Agreed

- TELEKOM AUSTRIA INTERESTED IN SLOVENIAN T-2

Telekom Austria (WBAG:TKA) is interested in the takeover of Slovenian telecommunications and TV company T-2.

Status: Bidding

- ITALIAN MEDIOLANUM SAYS NO LONGER LOOKING TO BUY BANCA SARA

Italian financial group Mediolanum (BIT:MED) said its board had decided to drop plans to buy local bank Banca Sara through its banking arm Banca Mediolanum SpA.

Status: Terminated

- UK ECI PARTNERS, MOBILE INTERACTIVE APPROACH WIN WITH GBP1.50 P/S OFFER

UK private equity firm ECI Partners and mobile and digital communication group Mobile Interactive Group (MIG) said they have contacted mobile media services provider WIN (LON:WNN) with a potential GBP1.50 (USD2.32/EUR1.8) per share cash offer for the company.

Status: Bidding

- FRENCH SPERIAN SAYS HONEYWELL EUR117 P/S BID CLEARED IN US

French personal protective equipment specialist Sperian Protection (EPA:SPR) said US industrial group Honeywell (NYSE:HON) has been cleared by the US regulator to buy the company for EUR117 (USD151.2) per share in cash.

Status: Bidding

- BRAZILIAN ROMI DROPS TAKEOVER ATTEMPT FOR US HARDINGE

Brazilian machine tools producer Industrias Romi SA (SAO:ROMI3) said that its offer for US sector company Hardinge Inc (NASDAQ:HDNG) had expired not leading to a takeover.

Status: Terminated

- US DALRADA FINANCIAL BUYS ADMINISTRATIVE SERVICES PROVIDER

US personnel management firm Dalrada Financial (PINK:DFCO) said it had purchased New Jersey-based HR Connect Payroll, a provider of administrative services to employees, without disclosing the price.

Status: Closed

- FRIENDFINDER MAKES PROPOSAL FOR PLAYBOY, OUTBIDS HEFNER

US FriendFinder Networks Inc, the owner of Penthouse magazine, said it had filed an offer to take over rival adult entertainment group Playboy Enterprises Inc (NYSE:PLA) for USD210m (EUR161.9m).

Status: Bidding

- DUTCH IMTECH TO BUY AUSTRIAN ICT SPECIALIST SAPPHIR

Dutch engineering group Imtech NV (AMS:IM) announced an agreement to buy Austrian ICT firm Sapphir, without revealing the financial terms of the deal.

Status: Agreed

- DUTCH QURIUS TO BUY GERMAN EVIDANZA'S CONSULTANCY BUSINESS

Dutch software developer Qurius (AMS:QRIUS) said it has agreed to buy the business intelligence consultancy activities of German peer Evidanza.

Status: Agreed

- DUTCH CTAC UNIT MULLS OVER BUYING SOFTWARE FIRM SUPERP

Dutch ICT services provider Ctac (AMS:CTAC) said its unit IFS Probity is exploring a potential acquisition of SUPERP, a specialist in single assessment process (SAP) software.

Status: Bidding

- US CARDINAL HEALTH CLOSES HEALTHCARE SOLUTIONS HOLDING BUY

US healthcare company Cardinal Health Inc (NYSE:CAH) said it had wrapped up the buy of Healthcare Solutions Holding LLC for an undisclosed sum.

Status: Closed

- US JOYENT TAKES OVER CANADIAN LAYERBOOM SYSTEMS

US cloud computing solutions provider Joyent said it had taken over Canadian Layerboom Systems, a specialist in the field of software virtual server management tools, for an undisclosed sum.

Status: Closed

- US VERENIUM TO DIVEST BIOFUELS BUSINESS TO BP

US enzyme development company Verenium Corporation (NASDAQ:VRNM) has agreed to sell its cellulosic biofuels business to BP Biofuels North America, part of BP (LON:BP), for USD98.3m (EUR76.1m).

Status: Agreed

- POLARIS INTL IN LOI TO BUY US TELECOM BUSINESS

Network services provider Polaris International Holdings said it had signed a letter of intent to take over a US telecommunication company with annual sales of USD12m (EUR9.3m).

- PROSIGHT STRIKES USD230M DEAL TO BUY NYMAGIC

US insurer Nymagic (NYSE:NYM) said it will be bought by Prosight Specialty Insurance Holdings in a cash deal worth some USD230m (EUR178m).

Status: Agreed

- GREENCORE TO OFFLOAD DUTCH BUSINESS

Irish food distributor Greencore Group (ISE:GNC) said it plans to sell its Dutch convenience food activities Greencore Continental to the unit of Parcom Buyout Fund, Convenience Foods Europe, in a bid to cut debt.

Status: Agreed

- SWEDISH SECO TOOLS ACQUIRES AOB IN FRANCE

Swedish metal cutting and processing tools maker Seco Tools (STO:SECO B) said it has bought French sector player AOB in a move to strengthen its position in the aerospace industry.

Status: Agreed

- SWISS ABB BUYS INTO US TRILLIANT FOR USD20M

Swiss power and automation technology provider ABB (VTX:ABBN, NYSE:ABB) has paid USD20m (EUR25.5m) for a stake in US electronics and communications firm Trilliant.

Status: Closed

- GERMAN SUED-CHEMIE, US ASHLAND UNVEIL JV

German speciality chemicals group Sued-Chemie (ETR:SUC) announced an agreement with US peer Ashland (NYSE:ASH) to create a joint venture that will combine the companies' activities in the foundry chemicals sector.

Status: Agreed

- FRENCH GEODIS GETS EU NOD TO BUY TRANSPORT FIRM GIRAUD

The European Commission (EC) cleared the proposed acquisition of French transport company Giraud by sector player Geodis, a unit of state-run railway operator SNCF.

Status: Agreed

- GREECE TO STUDY PIRAEUS BANK'S BID FOR ATEBANK, HELLENIC POSTBANK

Greece's government will scrutinise the offer by Piraeus Bank (ATH:TPEIR) to buy state-owned banks ATEbank (ATH:ATE) and Hellenic Postbank (ATH:TT).

Status: Bidding

- BLACKSTONE, CARLYLE EYE NUTRITIONAL SUPPLEMENTS MAKER NBTY

Private equity firms Blackstone (NYSE:BX) and Carlyle are considering to buy US nutritional supplements maker NBTY (NYSE:NTY).

Status: Bidding; Speculation

- CARLYLE SAID TO QUIT HEALTHSCOPE BID

Private equity firm Carlyle is set to withdraw from the race for Australian hospital operator Healthscope (ASX:HSP).

Status: Speculation; Bidding

- GREEK PIRAEUS BANK ANNOUNCES EUR701M BID FOR ATEBANK, HELLENIC POSTBANK

Greek Piraeus Bank (ATH:TPEIR) said it had offered to take 77.31% of ATEbank (ATH:ATE) and 33.04% of Hellenic PostBank (ATH:TT), both owned by the government, for a combined EUR701m (USD896.3m).

Status: Bidding

- UK CROMEX GETS GBP0.35 P/S PRELIMINARY APPROACH

UK Chromex Mining (LON:CHX), an investor and developer of chromite mining and processing facilities, said it had received a preliminary takeover bid of GBP0.35 (USD0.54/EUR0.42) per share, without naming the potential buyer.

Status: Bidding

- UK HORIZONTE MINERALS SAYS IN TALKS ON ACQUISITION

UK-based Horizonte Minerals (LON:HZM), focused on exploration and development of precious and base metals in Brazil and Peru, said it was in advanced talks on an acquisition, without giving further details.

Status: Talks

- SEADRILL SAYS OWNS 84% IN SCORPION

Oslo-listed offshore drilling contractor Seadrill (OSL:SDRL) said its NOK40.50 (USD6.5/EUR5.09) per share offer for Scorpion (OSL:SCORE) was accepted by shareholders owning 30.475m shares, bringing its total interest in the company to some 84%.

Status: Bidding

- TURKISH HALKBANK STILL IN TALKS TO BUY BANK IN THE BALKANS

Turkish bank Halkbank (IST:HALKB) said in a statement to the Istanbul stock exchange that negotiations on its acquisition of a bank in the Balkans are progressing.

Status: Talks

- CROATIAN AGROKOR IN TALKS TO BUY SALFORD CAPITAL'S STAKE IN SERBIAN IMLEK

Croatian food and beverage conglomerate Agrokor is negotiating the acquisition of Salford Capital Partners' 80.5% stake in Serbian dairy firm Imlek (BEL:IMLK).

Status: Talks

- EDP NEARS DEAL TO BUY MORE OF SPANISH UTILITY NATURGAS

Portuguese power and gas utility Energias de Portugal (ELI:EDPAE) , or EDP, is closing in on a deal to buy a further 25% stake in Spanish gas utility Naturgas from the Basque government.

Status: Exclusivity

- NATTOPHARMA LOOKING FOR BUYER, REJECTS NOK2.86 P/S BID

Norwegian biotechnology company Nattopharma (OSL:NATTO) said it was still seeking a buyer for a stake or for the entire company for the right price, after having rejected a low NOK2.86 (USD0.46/EUR0.36) per share bid from an unnamed party.

Status: Auction

- BELGIAN THOMAS & PIRON SEEKS BUYER

Belgian construction group Thomas & Piron is looking for a buyer.

Status: Auction

- US BENIHANA LOOKING AT OPTIONS, INCLUDING SALE

US Benihana (NASDAQ:BNHNA), operating Japanese-stylerestaurants, said its board will review strategic options for the company, including a sale, in a move to boost shareholder value.

Status: Auction

- GOLDMAN SACHS MULLS OVER SELLING JAPANESE TEIBOW STAKE

US investment bank Goldman Sachs (NYSE:GS) is considering to dispose of its 86% interest in Japanese felt pen nibs maker Teibow Co.

Status: Auction

- NOKIASIEMENS EYES MOTOROLA TELECOM EQUIPMENT BUSINESS

German-Finnish Nokia Siemens Networks is negotiating the acquisition of the telecom equipment unit of US handset maker Motorola (NYSE:MOT).

Status: Talks

- BELGIAN DELHAIZE KEEN TO BUY SERBIAN SUPERMARKET CHAINS

Belgian food retailer Delhaize (EBR:DELB) is in talks with Serbian diversified holding Delta about a partial acquisition of its supermarket division Delta Maxi.

Status: Talks; Speculation

- UK ARK THERAPEUTICS SAYS IN TALKS TO SELL UNITS

UK healthcare specialist Ark Therapeutics (LON:AKT) said it was talking to a number of parties interested in buying its Woundcare and Manufacturing units, as part of its efforts to boost shareholder value.

Status: Talks

- COUCHE-TARD PROLONGS OFFER FOR US CASEY'S TO AUGUST

Canadian convenience store operator Alimentation Couche-Tard Inc said it had extended its cash offer to take over US Casey's General Stores Inc (NASDAQ:CASY) for USD36 (EUR28.65) per share until 6 August 2010.

Status: Bidding

- HEFNER OFFERS USD5.50 PER PLAYBOY SHARE, WANTS TO TAKE COMPANY PRIVATE

US adult entertainment group Playboy Enterprises Inc (NYSE:PLA) said Hugh Hefner has filed a proposal to buy all the outstanding shares he currently does not own in the company for USD5.50 (EUR4.38) apiece, or some USD122.5m, in cash.

Status: Bidding

- RUSSIAN MTS ANNOUNCES BID FOR 9% OF COMSTAR

Russian fixed-line operator Comstar (LON:CMST) said that mobile operator Mobile TeleSystems (NYSE:MBT), or MTS, had launched a voluntary tender offer to buy up to 9% of Comstar stock for RUB220 (USD7.10/EUR5.70) apiece.

Status: Bidding

- BIOMAGNETICS DIAGNOSTICS SEALS LOI TO TAKE OVER CHINESE PVA FILM PRODUCER

US diagnostics system developer Biomagnetics Diagnostics Corp (PINK:BMGP) said it had inked a letter of intent (LOI) to buy Chinese PVA film producer Lanzhou Sanhuan New Technology Development Ltd.

Status: Exclusivity

- DUTCH MAXEDA SAID TO SELL FIRST V&D CHAIN

Dutch retailer Maxeda BV will set a priority on finding a buyer for its V&D department stores and La Place restaurants in the planned sale of its apparel unit.

Status: Auction; Speculation

- SERBIAN IMLEK TO BID FOR BOSNIAN MLJEKARSKA INDUSTRIJA BANJA LUKA Serbian dairy producer Imlek BEL:IMLK) said it will soon submit a takeover bid for loss-making Bosnian sector player Mljekarska Industrija Banja Luka, without disclosing the value of the bid.

Status: Bidding

- AVIS SAID TO OUTBID HERTZ IN DOLLAR THRIFTY RACE

US car and truck rental company Avis Budget (NYSE:CAR) will submit a higher bid for its peer Dollar Thrifty Automotive Group (NYSE:DTG) in a move to outbid rival Hertz's (NYSE:HTZ) current offer of USD1.2bn (EUR953m).

Status: Bidding; Speculation

- LUKOIL HIGHEST BIDDER FOR CROATIAN CROBENZ, MAY INK DEAL BY WEEKEND

Russian oil and gas group Lukoil (MCX:LKOH) placed the highest bid for the acquisition of Croatian fuel retailer Crobenz, offered for sale by local oil and gas company INA (ZSE:INA-R-A), and may strike a deal by the weekend.

Status: Bidding; Talks

- US AXIA IN TALKS TO BUY COLLAGENNA SKIN CARE UNIT OF HTDS

US holding company Axia Group Inc (PINK:AGIJ) said it had started talks with US Hard to Treat Diseases Inc (PINK:HTDS) for the acquisition of its Collagenna Skin Care division.

Status: Talks

- US EGPI FIRECREEK IN TALKS TO TAKE OVER CADDO INTL

US oil and gas company EGPI Firecreek Inc (OTC:EFIR) said it was in talks for the acquisition of oil services firm Caddo International for an undisclosed sum.

Status: Talks

- GERMAN ELRINGKLINGER IN TALKS TO BUY FREUDENBERG'S STATIC METAL GASKET UNIT

German car parts maker ElringKlinger (ETR:ZIL2) said it was in advanced negotiations to take over the static metal gasket business of Freudenberg & Co KG.

Status: Talks

- IDEAL SHOPPING DIRECT WILL STUDY OPTIONS, INCLUDING SALE

The board of UK television and Internet shopping company Ideal Shopping Direct (LON:IDS) said in response to media speculation that it planned to look at options for the company, including a sale.

Status: Auction

- RUSSIAN MEGAFON IN TALKS OVER AKADO ACQUISITION - CEO

Russian mobile operator Megafon is negotiating the acquisition of broadband and cable TV provider Akado.

Status: Talks

- RUSSIAN MTS MAY BUY MULTIREGION SOON

Russian mobile operator Mobile TeleSystems (NYSE:MBT), or MTS, could strike a deal in the next two weeks to take over broadband and cable TV operator Multiregion.

Status: Talks

- RUSSIAN METROCOM UP FOR SALE FOR RUB2BN

The property fund of Russian St. Petersburg region said that telecommunications operator Metrocom will be sold in an auction at a starting price of RUB2bn (USD65m/EUR52m), without disclosing the deadline for the offers.

Status: Auction

- AUSTRIAN S&T CEO CONSIDERS REDUCING STAKE IN COMPANY

Thomas Streimelweger, CEO and founder of Austrian S&T System Integration & Technology Distribution (WBAG:SNT), is said to be considering the divestment of part of his 28% stake in the company.

Status: Auction

- DEUTSCHE BANK TO PUT BHF BANK UP FOR SALE

Deutsche Bank (ETR:DBK) plans to start preparations for the sale of its BHF Bank unit by the end of this month.

Status: Auction

- BROADCOM EXTENDS OFFER FOR UK INNOVISION

US chip maker Broadcom Corporation (NASDAQ:BRCM) said it had prolonged the takeover offer for UK Innovision Research & Technology (LON:INN), a specialist in near-field communication, to 16 July.

Status: Bidding

- BANCO SANTANDER SEEKS ACQUISITIONS IN COLOMBIA, PERU

Spanish banking group Santander (MCE:SAN) is considering potential acquisitions in Colombia and Peru in a move to expand in Latin America.

Status: Bidding

- ROSTELECOM LIKELY TO SELL SVYAZINVEST STAKE

Russian telecom group Rostelecom (MCX:RTKM) could shed a 25% plus one share stake in its parent, state-owned telecom holding Svyazinvest, to Vnesheconombank (VEB) or the Depositary Insurance Agency (DIA), following the holding's restructuring.

Status: Speculation

- GE LOOKING TO SELL GARANTI BANK STAKE IN PARTS

General Electric (NYSE:GE) may dispose of its 20.85% in Turkish Garanti Bank (IST:GARAN) in parts after it had failed to attract buyers for the entire stake.

Status: Auction

- HSBC DETERMINED TO GROW IN AFRICA-CEO

UK-based global bank HSBC (LON:HSBA) is set to boost its presence in Africa in line with its strategy to have global coverage, chief executive Michael Geoghegan said.

Status: Bidding

- MLM INFORMATION SERVICES REPORTEDLY TO BE SOLD

US software firm MLM Information Services is up for sale.

Status: Speculation; Auction

- ENEL REPORTEDLY TO SELL MARITSA EAST STAKE TO RUSSIAN INTER RAO

Italian power group Enel (BIT:ENEL) is to offload its 73% stake in Bulgarian Maritsa East 3 thermal power plant to Russian electricity trader Inter RAO (MCX:IRAO) for EUR800m (USD1bn).

Status: Speculation

- DUTCH PENSION FUNDS PGGM, APG TO SELL ALPINVEST PARTNERS

Dutch pension funds PGGM and APG are selling each their 50% stakes in Europe's largest private equity firm Alpinvest Partners.

Status: Speculation; Auction

- AIR PRODUCTS SWEETENS AIRGAS OFFER

Air Products & Chemicals (NYSE:APD) revised up its hostile takeover bid for US industrial gas supplier Airgas (NYSE:ARG) to USD5.3bn (EUR4.2bn).

Status: Bidding

- RUSSIAN FETISOV'S USD350M FUND LOOKING FOR TELECOM BUYS

MDC, an investment company owned by Russian businessman Gleb Fetisov, plans to buy telecoms assets in Russia and other CIS countries through its newly created USD350m (EUR276.4m) fund, MDC's executive Alexei Semyonov said.

Status: Bidding

- BC PARTNERS, SILVER LAKE EYE USD3.1BN DEAL TO BUY US MULTIPLAN

Private equity firms BC Partners and Silver Lake intend to acquire US healthcare services provider Multiplan for USD3.1bn (EUR2.45bn).

Status: Bidding; Speculation

- EU COURT RULES AGAINST PORTUGAL'S VETO RIGHTS AT PT

The European Court of Justice rejected Portugal's request to keep its veto rights at Portugal Telecom (ELI:PTCA), or PT, a decision which may facilitate the bid by Spanish Telefonica (MCE:TEF) for PT's stake in Brazilian mobile operator Vivo (SAO:VIVO3).

Status: Bidding

- UNICAJA, CAJASOL SAY WILL PLACE SEPARATE BIDS FOR CAJASUR

Spanish savings banks Unicaja and Cajasol said their boards of directors decided to place separate bids for struggling peer CajaSur.

Status: Bidding

- HSBC SAID TO MULL OVER BID FOR S AFRICAN NEDBANK

British banking group HSBC Holdings (LON:HSBA) is studying a potential bid for South African lender Nedbank (JNB:NED).

Status: Speculation; Bidding

- PORTUGAL TELECOM SAYS READY TO RESUME TALKS WITH TELEFONICA ON VIVO DEAL

Portugal Telecom (ELI:PTCA), or PT, said in a statement to stock market regulator CMVN that it was willing to resume negotiations with Spanish Telefonica (MCE:TEF) over its bid for Brazilian mobile operator Vivo (SAO:VIVO3).

Status: Bidding; Talks

- SWISS PRIME SITE AUCTIONS JELMOLI'S HOTEL BUSINESS

Property firm Swiss Prime Site (SWF:SPSN), or SPS, has put the Geneva-based hotel business of its subsidiary Jelmoli (SWF:JELN) up for sale.

Status: Auction

- UK PEARSON HOLDS 99.3% OF MELORIO, ANNOUNCES COMPULSORY BID

UK media company Pearson (LON:PSON) said it will launch a compulsory bid for the residual stock of training and assessment services provider Melorio (LON:MLO), after having secured 99.3% of its shares by 6 July.

Status: Bidding

- DUTCH WESSANEN EYES ACQUISITIONS TO BOOST MARKET SHARE

Dutch food group Wessanen (AMS:WES) is exploring potential acquisitions in a move to gain a bigger market share in organic food.

Status: Bidding

- INVESTEC TO STUDY SALE OF RENSBURG FUND MANAGEMENT

British financial group Investec (LON:INVP) said it could offload the fund management business of Rensburg Sheppards (LON:RBG), which it recently acquired, as it has received expressions of interest from potential buyers.

Status: Auction

- DEEPDALE OWNS 81.15% OF PRESTON NORTH END, EXTENDS OFFER

Preston North End (LON:PNE), managing UK football club Preson North End FC, said that Deepdale received acceptance for 187,803 of the company shares by 6 July and owns now 81.15% in the company.

Status: Bidding

- AUSTRIAN UNIQA CONSIDERS DIVESTING ROMANIAN ASTRA STAKE

Austrian insurer Uniqa (WBAG:UQA) considers to sell its 27% stake in Romanian sector company Astra to major shareholder Dan Adamescu.

Status: Auction

- SPANISH CAJA DE CATALUNYA, TARRAGONA Y MANRESA COULD JOIN BUYOUT BID FOR ABERTIS

Spanish savings bank Caja de Catalunya, Tarragona y Manresa may take part in the takeover of infrastructure manager Abertis (MCE:ABE), led by Abertis' main holders.

Status: Bidding

- SWISS FEDERAL RAILWAYS, DEUTSCHE BAHN PLAN CROSSBORDER JV

The Swiss Federal Railways (SBB) and its German peer Deutsche Bahn unveiled plans to establish a joint venture in a move to boost railway transportation between Switzerland and Germany.

Status: Talks

- MUTUA MADRILENA TO SELL 4% IN SPANISH BUILDER SYV

Spanish insurer Mutua Madrilena will sell 4% of its 5% interest in builder Sacyr Vallehermoso (MCE:SYV), or SyV.

Status: Auction

- US WORLDVEST IN LOI TO BUY CHILE INVERSIONES DE MINERALES

US WorldVest (OTC:WOVT), doing business as WorldVest Hurricane Resources, said it had entered into a letter of intent to take over Chile Inversiones de Minerales (CIM), a mineral investor and miner in Chile.

Status: Exclusivity

- US CLIFFS NATURAL RESOURCES HOLDS 52.1% IN SPIDER, EXTENDS OFFER

US miner Cliffs Natural Resources (NYSE:CLF) said it had secured 52.1% in Canadian mineral explorer Spider Resources (CVE:SPQ) under its cash CAD0.19 (USD0.2/EUR0.14) per-share offer and extended its acceptance period until 16 July.

Status: Bidding

- RUSSIAN TVEL TO SELL ITS 51% IN CHEMICAL AND METALLURGICAL PLANT ON 23 AUG FOR RUB475.6M

Russian nuclear fuel company TVEL said it will sell its 51% in the Chemical and Metallurgical Plant (RTB:HMTZP) at an auction on 23 August 2010 for a starting price of RUB475.619m (USD15.3m/EUR12.14m).

Status: Auction

- BOSCH ALLEGEDLY PLANS TO MAKE BID FOR CENTROSOLAR

German industrial group Robert Bosch is reportedly planning to make a takeover bid for solar energy systems maker Centrosolar (ETR:C3O), traders speculated pushing the company's shares up by over 12% to EUR4.99.

Status: Speculation

- PURESPECTRUM IN MERGER TALKS WITH ULTRA-TECH LIGHTING

US lighting technology maker PureSpectrum (OTCBB:PSRU) and New Jersey-based sector player Ultra-Tech Lighting announced on they were in talks over a potential combination of the two companies.

Status: Talks; Exclusivity

- ABERTIS BUYOUT TO REPORTEDLY COST EUR10BN

A possible takeover of Spanish infrastructure manager Abertis (MCE:ABE) by its core owners, Criteria CaixaCorp (MCE:CRI) and builder ACS (MCE:ACS), may need EUR10bn (USD12.6bn) in financing.

Status: Talks

- GERMANY TO START HYPO REAL PRIVATISATION IN 2013-14

Germany will kick off the privatisation of property lender Hypo Real Estate Bank (HRE) in 2013 or 2014.

Status: Auction

- RAIFFEISEN CAPITAL MANAGEMENT SAID INTERESTED IN SIEMENS' INNOVEST

Raiffeisen Capital Management (RCM) is said to be interested in the takeover of Innovest, the asset management subsidiary of Siemens Austria, part of German Siemens AG (ETR:SIE).

Status: Bidding

- PARTYGAMING SEEKS ACQUISITION DEALS - CEO

UK online gaming company PartyGaming (LON:PRTY) is looking for takeover opportunities as it wants to play an active role in the consolidation of the sector, chief executive Jim Ryan said.

Status: Talks; Bidding

- UNIT4 MANAGES TO WOO TETA SHAREHOLDERS WITH RAISED BID

Dutch software firm Unit4 (AMS:U4AGR) said over 90% of the shares in Polish sector firm Teta SA (WAR:TET) had been tendered under Unit4's sweetened takeover bid of PLN14 (USD4.26/EUR3.4) apiece.

Status: Bidding

- UK SPICE SAYS REVISED APPROACH BY CINVEN STILL TOO LOW

The board of UK utility services provider Spice (LON:SPI) said the new higher conditional proposal of between GBP0.62 (USD0.94/EUR0.75) and GBP0.65 per share received from investor Cinven still undervalues the company.

Status: Bidding

- PUBLICIS CEO SAYS SEEKS ACQUISITIONS IN DIGITAL AD SECTOR

French advertising group Publicis (EPA:PUB) is eyeing acquisitions in the digital advertising sector, the company's chief executive, Maurice Levy said.

Status: Bidding

- IT HOLDING EXTENDS DEADLINE FOR BIDS FOR FERRE UNTIL 2 AUG

The administrators of Italian luxury goods group IT Holding (BIT:ITH) said they have extended the deadline for collecting bids for IT Holding's fashion house Gianfranco Ferre until 2 August.

Status: Auction

- CARREFOUR SAID TO SELL ASIAN UNITS

French retailer Carrefour (EPA:CA) has put up for sale its units in Malaysia, Singapore and Thailand.

Status: Speculation; Auction

- TPG, GOLDMAN SACHS NEGOTIATE ONTEX BUYOUT

US private equity firm TPG and the private equity arm of investment bank Goldman Sachs (NYSE:GS) are in talks to acquire Belgium-based diaper maker Ontex from UK investment firm Candover (LON:CDI) for over EUR1.2bn (USD1.5bn).

Status: Talks

- RUSSIAN VTB IN TALKS TO BUY TRANSCREDITBANK

Russian lender VTB (MCX:VTBR) is negotiating to buy local competitor TransCreditBank (MCX:TCBN), the banking arm of state-run railway monopoly Russian Railways.

Status: Talks

- CAIXANOVA TO SHED HOLDING IN BANCO GALLEGO

Spain-based savings bank Caixanova will be forced to offload its 50% stake in local Banco Gallego following its merger with peer Caixa Galicia.

Status: Auction

- US ENDO PHARMA SECURES 93% IN HEALTHTRONICS

US Endo Pharmaceuticals (NASDAQ:ENDP) said it had completed its takeover offer for local urology company HealthTronics Inc (NASDAQ:HTRN) securing 93.38% in the company's stock by the expiry of the initial deadline.

Status: Bidding

- UK NCC GROUP WANTS TO MAKE FURTHER BUYS IN THE US, UK

UK IT assurance services provider NCC Group (LON:NCC) is looking to make more buys in the US and the UK in the next 12 months.

Status: Bidding

- LA CAIXA, ACS LOOKING TO TAKE FULL CONTROL OF ABERTIS

Spanish bank La Caixa and builder ACS (MCE:ACS), holding together nearly 55% of infrastructure manager Abertis (MCE:ABE), are working on a deal to take the residual Abertis stock.

Status: Talks

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