M&A Navigator: Deal pipeline – 23 April

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

- AXA PE ACQUIRES USD1.9BN PRIVATE EQUITY FUNDS FROM BOFA

AXA Private Equity, part of French insurer Axa (EPA:CS), said it has acquired a portfolio of private equity funds, valued at USD1.9bn (EUR1.4bn), from US financial group Bank of America (NYSE:BAC).

Status: Agreed

- US UNITRIN CANCELS TALKS ON RESERVE NATIONAL SALE

US diversified insurance holding company Unitrin (NYSE:UTR) announced the termination of the planned sale of its unit, Reserve National Insurance Company, to Physicians Mutual Insurance Company due to a failed definitive agreement on the deal.

Status: Terminated

- MEDQUIST WRAPS UP SPHERIS ACQUISITION

US medical transcription software provider MedQuist (NASDAQ:MEDQ) announced the completion of the acquisition of the domestic operations of bankrupt medical transcription company Spheris, without providing financial details.

Status: Closed

- DUTCH FORNIX SAYS MORE CLEARNESS ON ALLERGY DIVISION SALE WITHIN SEVERAL WEEKS

Dutch drug maker Fornix Biosciences (AMS:FORBI) expects to have more clarity on a potential bid for its allergy division within a few weeks, CEO Cees Bergman said.

Status: Auction

- US ROCKET SOFTWARE WRAPS UP COMPUTER CORPORATION OF AMERICA BUY

US enterprise infrastructure software developer Rocket Software said it has finalised the previously announced acquisition of Computer Corporation of America.

Status: Closed

- EASTMAN CHEMICAL STUDIES DISPOSAL OF PLASTIC PACKAGING BUSINESS

US-based Eastman Chemical (NYSE:EMN) said it was considering a potential sale of its struggling North American plastic packaging business hit by an oversupplied market and a changing consumer demand.

Status: Auction

- TECHNIS INTERNATIONAL BUYS MAJORITY IN PROFESSIONAL IT

UK applications developer Technis International (Plus Markets:TECP) has bought a 51% stake in local software maker Professional IT for GBP331,500 (USD507,921/EUR382,168), Technis said in a statement.

Status: Closed

- RHEINMETALL BUYS MAJORITY OF VERSEIDAG BALLISTIC PROTECTION

Germany-based automotive and defence company Rheinmetall (ETR:RHM) said it has bought a majority holding in home Verseidag Ballistic Protection without revealing the financial terms of the deal.

Status: Agreed

- US SEARS BUYS STAKE IN SEARS CANADA

US Sears Holdings Corporation (NASDAQ:SHLD) announced an agreement to buy an additional 17.3% stake in Sears Canada (TSX:SCC) for USD560m (EUR418.3m).

Status: Agreed

- TWITTER BUYS CLOUDHOPPING

US social networking and microblogging service Twitter announced the acquisition of Seattle-based text messaging infrastructure company Cloudhopping, without providing financial details.

Status: Closed

- TRITON MAY BID FOR KARSTADT

Private equity firm Triton is seen as potential bidder for insolvent German department store operator Karstadt.

Status: Speculation; Bidding

- SWISS MCH BUYS 86% IN BEAULIEU EXPLOITATION

Swiss marketing holding company MCH Group (SWF:MCHN) has acquired a 86% interest in local exhibition and congress centre operator Beaulieu Exploitation for CHF190 (USD176/EUR132) per share, MCH said in a press release.

Status: Agreed

- UK RANDALL & QUILTER FINALISES FRENCH LA LICORNE BUY

UK holding investment firm Randall & Quilter Investment Holdings (LON:RQIH) said it has completed the acquisition of French reinsurer La Licorne Compagnie de Reassurances from Maaf Assurances SA for EUR3.2m (USD4.2m) in cash.

Status: Closed

- KARDEX ACQUIRES MLOG LOGISTICS FOR EUR30M

Swiss storage technology holding firm Kardex (SWF:KARN) has agreed to buy German warehouses and material handling systems supplier Mlog Logistics for some EUR30m (USD39.8m) in a debt-funded deal, Kardex said in a statement.

Status: Agreed

- UK BOPARAN HOLDINGS' 2 SISTERS TO TAKE OVER DUTCH STORTEBOOM GROUP TO GROW IN EUROPE

2 Sisters, a unit of UK poultry processing company Boparan Holdings, announced plans to buy Dutch-based peer Storteboom Group, to expand in the European food industry.

Status: Agreed

- ALFA LAVAL BUYS 65% IN SI FANG IN CHINA

Swedish engineering company Alfa Laval (STO:ALFA) said it has bought a 65% stake in Chinese steel products maker Si Fang Stainless Steel Products for an undisclosed price.

Status: Closed

- ITLAY'S MEDIOBANCA RULES OUT MEDIA REPORT ON LOWERING GENERALI STAKE

Italian investment bank Mediobanca (BIT:MB), controlling 13.5% of home insurer Generali (BIT:G), dismissed a report by local paper La Repubblica saying that the central bank asked it to reduce its stake in the insurer to 10% within two years.

Status: Denied

- US TECHRADIUM BUYS CRIMEWEB NETWORK TO BOOST PORTFOLIO

US high-speed communication services firm TechRadium said it had bought home CrimeWeb Network, for an undisclosed sum, to expand into the situational tracking area.

Status: Closed

- GERMAN AXEL SPRINGER TO SELL 8.9% STAKE TO INSTITUTIONAL INVESTORS

German newspaper and magazine publisher Axel Springer (ETR:SPR) announced plans to sell up to 2.93 million own stock, or some 8.9%, to institutional investors.

Status: Auction

- CHINESE LENOVO MAY BID FOR US PALM

Chinese IT products and services company Lenovo (HKG:0992) may place a bid to acquire US mobile phone maker Palm (NASDAQ:PALM), after other Asian potential suitors approached by Palm have turned it down.

Status: Bidding; Speculation

- SWEDISH ASSA ABLOY TAKES OVER CANADIAN HUNTER TO GROW IN N AMERICA

Swedish door opening solution specialist Assa Abloy (TO:ASSA B) said it had bought Canadian door automation firm Hunter Automatics, for an undisclosed sum, to expand distribution business in North America.

Status: Closed

- DUTCH DIM VASTGOED APPLIES FOR STOCK DELISTING

Dutch real estate company Dim Vastgoed (AMS:DIMVA) said it has filed a request with the NYSE Euronext Amsterdam stock exchange to delist all of its outstanding ordinary shares following the company's acquisition by US real-estate investment trust Equity One (NYSE:EQY).

Status: Closed

- US EPIC BUYS HOME RETAIL INSURANCE BROKER JSIS TO GROW

US insurance broker Edgewood Partners Insurance Center, or EPIC, announced it had bought home Jeffrey Stephens Insurance Services, or JSIS, a retail insurance broker, for an undisclosed sum, in line with its growth strategy.

Status: Closed

- US BRINK'S BUYS MAJORITY IN RUSSIAN CASH PROCESSING FIRM

US-based The Brink's Company (NYSE:BCO), a provider of secure transportation and cash logistics services, announced the acquisition of a majority stake in a Russian cash processing firm, without revealing financial details.

Status: Closed

- US ODYSSEY LOGISTICS & TECHNOLOGY BUYS INTERNATIONAL FORWARDERS

US Odyssey Logistics & Technology Corporation said it has bought Charleston-based export freight forwarder International Forwarders in a move to strengthen its export forwarding activities.

Status: Closed

- US PRICE LEGACY CORP COMPLETES MERGER WITH PRICE LEGACY HOLDINGS

US real estate investment trust Price Legacy Corporation (OTC:PLREP) said it had closed the merger with and into Price Legacy Holdings, a fully-owned unit of US real estate investment trust Kimco Realty Corporation (NYSE:KIM).

Status: Closed

- US COLORCON BUYS FRENCH NP PHARM

US speciality chemicals company Colorcon said it has bought French pharmaceutical excipients manufacturer NP Pharm, part of drug delivery company Ethypharm, in a move to boost its global excipient product range in the pharmaceutical and nutritional industries.

Status: Closed

- NCC TAKES OVER SDLC TESTING SPECIALIST FOR GBP15M TO GROW SECURITY ASSURANCE OPS

UK IT assurance services firm NCC Group (LON:NCC) said it had bought home SDLC Solutions, a testing solutions specialist, for up to GBP15m (USD23m/EUR17.4m) in cash, to boost its security assurance business.

Status: Closed

- JWI CAPITAL CLOSES WH SMITH BUY

Cleveland-based investment firm JWI Capital unveiled the completion of the previously announced acquisition of Parkersburg-based The WH Smith Hardware Company, without providing financial details.

Status: Closed

- SPANISH BANKS CAJA ESPANA, DUERO INK LABOUR AGREEMENT, UGT UNION AGAINST THE DEAL

The management of Spanish savings banks Caja Espana and Duero signed a labour agreement with three unions representing 58% of their employees, while UGT, the main union representing 42% of the staff, opposed to the deal.

Status: Agreed

- ITALY'S FRANCESCO GAETANO CALTAGIRONE BOOSTS STAKE IN UTILITY ACEA TO 10.058%

Italian businessman Francesco Gaetano Caltagirone raised his stake in local utility Acea (BIT:ACE) to 10.058%, from 8.945%, stock market regulator Consob said.

Status: Closed

- DUTCH FORNIX IN ADVANCED TALKS TO SELL ALLERGY UNIT

Dutch biotechnology company Fornix BioSciences (AMS:FORBI) said in a statement it was in advanced negotiations to sell its allergy unit, as a court rejected in February its appeal against the Dutch authorities' decision not to register its grass pollen drug Oralgen.

Status: Talks

- UK'S MORSE CONFIRMS TALKS ON GBP0.51 P/S TAKEOVER APPROACH

UK IT services company Morse (LON:MOR) confirmed it was in advanced negotiations with an unnamed buyer which made an GBP0.51 (USD0.8/EUR0.6) per share approach.

Status: Talks

- UNITED AIRLINES, CONTINENTAL PLAN NO-PREMIUM TIE-UP

Continental Airlines (NYSE:CAL) and United Airlines, wholly-owned by UAL Corporation (NASDAQ:UAUA), are negotiating an all-stock merger with no premium.

Status: Talks; Speculation

- AUSTRALIAN MACARTHUR OPENS BOOKS TO US PEABODY

Australian coal miner Macarthur Coal (ASX:MCC) said US sector player Peabody Energy (NYSE:BTU) would start a due diligence review at the company as part of its proposed acquisition.

Status: Bidding

- BOARD OF RUSSIAN ROSTELECOM CLEARS ACQUISTION OF 25% IN NVISION GROUP

The board of Russian long-distance operator Rostelecom (MCX:RTKM) has approved the acquisition of 25% in home system integrator NVision Group.

Status: Bidding

- SPAIN'S ENDESA SEEKS BUYER FOR 80% OF GAS NETWORK

Spanish utility Endesa (MCE:ELE) is looking to sell up to 80% of its gas distribution network and has hired investment banks to study the interest of some 50 potential buyers.

Status: Auction

- SPYKER CEO SAYS NO CONCRETE PLANS TO SELL CO

Dutch Spyker Cars' (AMS: SPYKR) CEO Victor Muller does not have concrete plans to sell the Spyker brand to third parties, despite the fact that the luxury carmaker is still sustaining losses, Muller told the annual general shareholders' meeting.

Status: Auction

- HEINEKEN SHAREHOLDERS OKAY FEMSA ACQUISITION

Dutch brewer Heineken's (AMS:HEIA) shareholders approved the proposed acquisition of the beer activities of Mexican brewer Femsa, Heineken CEO Jean-Francois van Boxmeer said.

Status: Agreed

- US UNIVERSAL FOREST TO BUY SHEPHERD DISTRIBUTION CO TO BOOST DISTRIBUTION OPS

US Universal Forest Products (NASDAQ:UFPI), a supplier of wood and wood-alternative products to DIY retailers, said it was buying home Shepherd Distribution Co, a distributor of manufactured housing and recreational vehicles (RV), for an undisclosed sum, to expand its distribution business.

Status: Agreed

- FIRST AMERICAN TO BUY OUT REAL ESTATE JV

US title insurer First American Corp (NYSE:FAF) said it has agreed to acquire the 20% stake of UK information services company Experian (LON:EXPN) in their First American Real Estate Solutions joint venture for USD313.8m (EUR237.1m).

Status: Agreed

- AMPIO PHARMACEUTICALS INTENDS TO BUY DMI BIOSCIENCES

US drug maker Ampio Pharmaceuticals (OTC:AMPE) has signed a letter of intent (LOI) to buy sector player DMI Biosciences for an undisclosed amount in an all-stock deal.

Status: Exclusivity

- WEINSTEINS, INVESTOR BURKLE STILL IN EXCLUSIVE TALKS ON DISNEY'S MIRAMAX

Movie producers Bob and Harvey Weinstein and billionaire investor Ron Burkle are still exclusively negotiating the acquisition of Miramax, the film unit of Walt Disney Co (NYSE:DIS).

<p>Status: Exclusivity

- ITALIAN UNICREDIT EXPECTED TO BID EUR450M FOR SEB UNITS IN GERMANY

Italian bank UniCredit (BIT:UCG) is expected to place a EUR450m (USD607m) offer for Swedish SEB's 170 branches in Germany.

Status: Bidding; Speculation

- ROMANIA TO REDUCE ITS PETROM STAKE TO 8%

The Romanian economy ministry, controlling 20.64% of oil and gas group Petrom (BSE:SNP), plans to sell part of its stake and retain a minimum of 8% for safety reasons.

Status: Auction

- UK CANDOVER MOOTS SPANISH PARQUES REUNIDOS SALE

UK investor Candover Investments (LON:CDI) is reviewing strategic options for Spanish theme park operator Parques Reunidos, including a sale or listing.

Status: Auction; Speculation

- DIVERSIFIED OPPORTUNITIES PLANS TO ACQUIRE COMMERCETEL

US shell company Diversified Opportunities (OTC:DVOP) has signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) to buy privately-owned mobile software developer Commercetel.

Status: Exclusivity

- BLACKSTONE SAID TO JOIN BIDDING FOR US EXTENDED STAY

Investor Blackstone (NYSE:BX) is said to be entering one of the consortia bidding for US hotel chain Extended Stay.

Status: Speculation; Bidding

-SCHLUMBERGER SEEKS TO OFFLOAD SATELLITE DISH UNIT

US technology solutions supplier Schlumberger (NYSE:SLB) is said to be planning to divest from Schlumberger Global Connectivity Services (GCS), a unit producing satellite dishes for difficult-to-reach sites.

Status: Speculation; Auction

- LIONS GATE'S BOARD REBUFFS ICAHN'S RAISED BID

The board of movie production studio Lions Gate Entertainment Corp (NYSE:LGF) rejected the improved takeover bid by The Icahn Group, owned by activist shareholder Carl Icahn, saying it continues to be low.

Status: Bidding

- UK SPICE CONFIRMS TALKS ON TALECOM UNIT SALE

UK utility support services provider Spice (LON:SPI) confirmed it was negotiating the sale of its telecoms operations to an unnamed buyer.

Status: Talks

- HINDUJA SAID TO BE THE PREFERED BIDDER FOR KBC'S PRIVATE BANKING UNIT

Indian financial group Hinduja leads the bidding for Belgian financial services group KBC's (EBR:KBC) private banking arm, KBL European Private Bankers.

Status: Bidding

- GULFSANDS ASK UK TAKEOVER PANEL TO ISSUE DEADLINE ON BID BY INDIAN SUITORS

London-listed oil and gas company Gulfsands Petroleum (LON:GPX) has filed a request with the UK Takeover Panel to set a deadline for a formal offer by Indian Oil Corporation (BOM:530965) and Oil India (BOM:533106).

Status: Bidding

- UK MOTIVE TV CONFIRMS TALKS ON SALE OF BEB UNIT TO SHINE GROUP

UK television producer Motive Television (LON:MTV) confirmed advanced talks to sell its trading unit Brown Eyed Boy, or BEB, to home peer Shine Group.

Status: Talks

- FRENCH EDF MAY BUY STAKE IN RUSSIAN INTER RAO

French utility EDF (EPA:EDF) is considering buying a stake in Russian state-owned power producer and trader Inter RAO (MCX:IRAO).

Status: Bidding

- GOLDMAN SACHS SAID TO MULL OVER BID FOR TROUBLED GERMAN KARSTADT

US investment bank Goldman Sachs (NYSE:GS) plans to buy the remaining parts of bankrupt German department store chain Karstadt if no other interested parties submit bids.

Status: Bidding, Speculation

- GOOGLE REPORTEDLY IN TALKS TO BUY ITA SOFTWARE

US Internet search engine Google (NASDAQ:GOOG) is said to be leading discussions to take over US travel software company ITA Software Inc.

Status: Talks; Speculation

- TTE INKS LOI TO BUY MAJORITY IN CHINESE KINGTEC

US Turbine Truck Engines Inc (OTC:TTEG), or TTE, said it has inked a letter of intent to acquire a majority stake in Chinese engine parts supplier GuangDong Kingtec Electrical Co Ltd in a share-swap deal.

Status: Exclusivity

- US TRILANTIC TALKING TO BANKS OVER POTENTIAL SALE OF UK MW BRANDS

US private equity firm Trilantic Capital Partners is in early negotiations with banks over the possibility of selling UK seafood processing company MW Brands.

Status: Talks; Speculation

- M LINE HOLDINGS DELAYS TAKEOVER OF US MONEY LINE CAPITAL

US holding company M Line Holdings Inc (OTC:MLHC) said the planned acquisition of US business financing firm Money Line Capital (MLC), which was to be closed at the end of the month, will be postponed.

Status: Delayed

- US NATIONAL CLEAN FUELS TO TAKE OVER ALL TECHNOLOGY ASSETS OF BIOTRICITY

US green energy specialist National Clean Fuels (PINK:NACF) said it had inked a letter of intent to take over all the technology assets of US biofuels solution developer Biotricity by paying USD500,000 (EUR370,865) in stock per year or 10% of the profits, depending on which is the bigger in the next ten years.

Status: Exclusivity

- DUTCH KAS BANK UNVEILS TAKEOVER TALKS

Dutch lender Kas Bank (AMS:KA) is in talks about a new, small acquisition in Germany.

Status: Talks

- US CALPINE SAID TO BUY PEPCO'S CONECTIV ENERGY UNIT

US independent power producer Calpine Corp (NYSE:CPN) will buy the Conectiv Energy unit of home diversified energy company Pepco Holdings (NYSE:POM) for over USD1.5bn (EUR1.1bn).

Status: Speculation

- RUSSIAN TECHNOLOGIES MAY BUY CONTROL OF KAMAZ

Russian state-owned corporation Russian Technologies may take a controlling stake in home vehicle and components maker Kamaz (RTC:KMAZ).

Status: Bidding

- DEUTSCHE BANK SAID TO SOON LAUNCH TAKEOVER BID FOR DEUTSCHE POSTBANK

Deutsche Bank (ETR:DBK), controlling 30% of home bank Deutsche Postbank (ETR:DPB), may soon launch an offer for the residual Postbank shares.

Status: Speculation

- US IA GLOBAL ENTERS LOI TO BUY JAPANESE CAR PLANNER

US business process outsourcing firm IA Global (OTC:IAGI) on said it had inked a letter of intent to take full control of Japanese JSK Fund Co, controlling 100% of Car Planner Co, from JSK Partners Inc, an affiliate of an IAGI shareholder.

Status: Exclusivity

- FIVE BIDDERS IN THE SECOND ROUND FOR RBS'S GLOBAL MERCHANT SERVICES UNIT

Royal Bank of Scotland (LON:RBS) has picked five bidders for the second round of bids for its Global Merchant Services unit valued at between GBP2.5bn (USD3.8bn/EUR2.9bn) and GBP3bn.

Status: Bidding

- SPANISH HC ENERGIA IN TALKS TO BUY OUT NATURGAS

Spanish power utility HC Energia is negotiating the purchase of the remaining 34.3% it does not already own in local gas distributor Naturgas Energia.

Status: Talks

- US ZALE SAID TO OFFLOAD MINORITY STAKE TO GOLDEN GATE

US jeweller Zale Corp (NYSE:ZLC) is set to sell a minority stake in the company to private-equity firm Golden Gate Capital.

Status: Exclusivity

- PRIVATE EQUITY FIRMS REPORTEDLY READY TO CONTINUE BIDDING FOR ISS

US Carlyle Group, UK Cinven, UK CVC Capital and US General Atlantic are said to be among the private equity companies getting ready to file binding offers for Inchcape Shipping Services (ISS).

Status: Speculation; Bidding

- CROATIAN ATLANTIC GRUPA SAYS BIDDING FOR SLOVENIAN DROGA KOLINSKA

Croatian consumer goods company Atlantic Grupa (ZSE:ATGR-R-A) said it has submitted a non-binding bid for Slovenian food group Droga Kolinska in an effort to enhance its position in southeastern Europe.

Status: Bidding

- UK SOVEREIGN GETS TAKEOVER APPROACH FROM GRAINGER, SAYS CONSIDERING ALL OPTIONS

UK equity release firm Sovereign Reversions (LON:SVN) announced it had received a takeover approach by local property developer and trader Grainger (LON:GRI), which however is not certain to result in a concrete offer.

Status: Bidding

- BRITISH CVC, CONSORTIUM BID FOR HSBC RAIL UNIT

British private equity firm CVC Capital Partners and a consortium including US Morgan Stanley Infrastructure, 3i Infrastructure (LON:3IN) and Star Capital have submitted bids for Evershot, the rail unit of British bank HSBC (LON:HSBA).

Status: Bidding; Speculation

- ENAGAS NEGOTIATES BUYOUT OF MURPHY OIL'S GAVIOTA UNIT

Spain-based gas distributor Enagas (MCE:ENG) is negotiating with Murphy Spain Oil Company to acquire its 18% interest in the La Gaviota natural gas storage unit, Enagas's chairman Antonio Llarden said.

Status: Talks

- UNILEVER REPORTEDLY TO DIVEST ITALIAN FROZEN FOOD OPS

Anglo-Dutch consumer goods group Unilever (AMS:UNA, LON:ULVR) is expected to put up for sale its frozen food business in Italy during the next week in a deal valued at above EUR600m (USD809m).

Status: Auction

- UNITED FREEZES TIE-UP TALKS WITH US AIRWAYS, BETS ON CONTINENTAL

Chicago-based United Airlines has frozen its tie-up negotiations with US Airways (NYSE:LCC) and focused on a potential merger with Continental Airlines (NYSE:CAL) instead.

Status: Talks

- FRENCH TOTAL MUST SELL LINDSEY REFINERY IN THE UK - CEO

Christophe de Margerie, chief of French oil and gas group Total (EPA:TOT), said that his company has to dispose of its UK refinery Lindsey.

Status: Auction

- SPAIN'S TELEFONICA LOOKING TO TIE UP FIXED-LINE, MOBILE OPS IN BRAZIL, TO BOOST MARKET POSITION

Spain's telecommunications operator Telefonica (MCE:TEF) is looking to combine Telesp (SAO:TLPP4), its fixed-line unit in Brazil, with local mobile operator Vivo (SAO:VIVO3), owned jointly with Portugal Telecom (ELI:PTCA), to boost its declining position in the market.

Status: Speculation

- UK TUI TRAVEL ANNOUNCES PLANS TO RAISE GBP500M TO FUND NEW BUYS

UK leisure travel group TUI Travel (LON:TT) announced plans to raise some GBP500m (USD769m/EUR570.3m) through a convertible bond issue and additional bank loans to finance new acquisitions.

Status: Bidding

- US HEARST CORP CLOSER TO BUY DIGITAL MARKETING CO ICROSSING

US newspaper and magazine publisher Hearst Corp is in final negotiations to buy home digital marketing company iCrossing, for some USD375m (EUR278.15m), and additional target-focused payments.

Status: Talks

- METRO NEGOTIATES KAUFHOF SALE WITH POTENTIAL BUYERS

German retailer Metro (ETR:MEO) is in preliminary talks with suitors over the sale of its department store chain Kaufhof, but no exclusivity has been granted to any of them.

Status: Talks

- BLACKSTONE KEEN ON BUYING GERMAN KAUFHOF

US private-equity firm Blackstone (NYSE:BX) is seeking to buy Cologne-based department-store chain Kaufhof, part of Metro (ETR:MEO).

Status: Talks

- ASTELLAS NOT TO BOOST BID FOR OSI DESPITE REGULATORY OKAY FOR TARCEVA

Japanese drug maker Astellas Pharma (TYO:4503) will not improve its offer for US biotech group OSI Pharmaceuticals (NASDAQ:OSIP) despite the green light from US regulators on the use of OSI's cancer pill Tarceva.

Status: Bidding

- BELGO-DUTCH ARSEUS UNVEILS TAKEOVER TALKS

Belgo-Dutch health products wholesaler Arseus (EBR:RCUS) is talking with various parties about potential acquisitions.

Status: Talks

- NAB SAYS TO STUDY AUSTRALIAN REGULATOR'S DECISION ON AXA BID

National Australia Bank (ASX:NAB) said it would examine the decision of Australia's competition regulator, which blocked its AUD-14-billion (USD12.9m/EUR9.6bn) takeover bid for AXA Asia Pacific Holdings (ASX:AXA), the Asian wealth management unit of French insurer AXA (EPA:AXA), over competition concerns.

Status: Bidding

- AAREAL BANK ALLEGEDLY BIDS FOR WESTIMMO

German real estate lender Aareal Bank (ETR:ARL) has submitted a binding takeover offer for rival Westdeutsche Immobilienbank, or Westimmo, a unit of German wholesale bank WestLB.

Status: Speculation; Bidding

- PIRELLI RE SAYS THERE ARE NO CONCRETE TALKS ON TIE-UPS

Italian Pirelli & C Real Estate SpA (BIT:PRS), the real estate unit of industrial conglomerate Pirelli & C (BIT:PC), said that several companies have expressed their interest in buying into it but still there are no concrete negotiations on any possible deal.

Status: Auction

- CREDIT AGRICOLE, CITIC SECURITIES TO FORM BROKERAGE JV

French bank Credit Agricole (EPA:ACA) and Chinese securities broker Citic Securities (SHA:600030) are planning to create a global brokerage joint venture.

Status: Talks

- ITALIAN EXOR, INDIA'S HINDUJA ONLY SURVIVORS FOR KBC PRIVATE BANKING ARMBelgian financial services group KBC (EBR:KBC) has shortlisted Italian investment firm Exor (BIT:EXO), controlled by the Agnelli family, and Indian financial group Hinduja, for its private banking arm, KBL European Private Bankers.

Status: Bidding

- DEUTSCHE BAHN KEEN ON BUYING UK ARRIVA FOR GBP1.6BN

German state-run transport group Deutsche Bahn is willing to make a GBP1.6bn (USD2.5bn/EUR1.8bn) takeover bid for UK train and bus operator Arriva (LON:ARI).

Status: Speculation; Bidding

- ALTERNET LOOKS FOR TAKEOVERS TO BOOST IMS BUSINESS

US-based Alternet Systems Inc (OTC:ALYI), a provider of mobile commerce solutions, said it was seeking acquisition possibilities to widen the business of its new subsidiary International Mobile Solutions (IMS).

Status: Bidding

- ELAN EXAMINES SPLITTING ITS BUSINESS IN TWO SEPARATE LISTED COS

Irish pharmaceuticals group Elan (ISE:3072950) said it was studying the possibility to spin off of its drug developing and manufacturing unit Elan Drug Technologies (EDT) from its BioNeurology biopharmaceuticals arm as well as listing the two businesses as separate firms.

Status: Auction

- AUSTRALIA'S REGULATOR RULES AGAINST NAB'S BID FOR AXA'S WEALTH MANAGER

Australia's competition regulator, ACCC, rejected the AUD 14bn (USD12.9bn/EUR9.6bn) bid by National Australia Bank (ASX:NAB) to take over French insurer AXA's (EPA:AXA) wealth manager Axa Asia Pacific (ASX:AXA).

Status: Bidding

- CONSTANTIA PACKAGING'S DUROPACK ANNOUNCES TAKEOVER BID FOR CROATIAN BELISCE

Duropack, a fully-owned unit of Austrian packaging specialist Constantia Packaging (WBAG:COV), announced a takeover offer for Croatia's paper packaging company Belisce (ZSE:BLSC-R-A) and its subsidiaries Bilokalnik-IPA and Unijapapir.

Status: Bidding

- SPAIN'S REPSOL WANTS TO SELL INTEREST IN RUSSIAN ALLIANCE OIL CO

Spanish oil and gas company Repsol (MCE:REP) wants to dispose of its stake in Russian Alliance Oil Co (STO:AOIL), which it values at EUR32m (USD43.14m), but which could fetch up to EUR70m on the market.

Status: Auction; Speculation

- US OWNERS HIRE BARCLAYS CAPITAL TO MANAGE THE SALE OF LIVERPOOL FC

The US owners of UK soccer club Liverpool, Thomas Hicks and George Gillett Jr, have hired the investment banking arm of UK Barclays (LON:BARC), Barclays Capital, to manage the sale process of the financially troubled club.

Status: Auction

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