M&A Navigator: Deal pipeline – 30 July

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

- GREEK GOVT AGAINST EU PROPOSAL TO SELL PPC ASSETS

The Greek government will not sell parts of power utility PPC, despite the proposal by the European Union (EU), as it expects such a move to generate legal and technical problems, the country's energy and environment ministry general secretary said.

Status: Denied

- CANADIAN REDKNEE TO TAKE OVER SPANISH NIMBUS SYSTEMS FOR EUR11.25M

Canadian infrastructure software specialist Redknee Solutions (TSX:RKN) said it was buying Spanish Nimbus Systems, a provider of analysis, control and management solutions and services, for EUR11.25m (USD15m) in cash and stock.

Status: Agreed

- SAP CLOSES BUY OF US BUSINESS SOFTWARE FIRM SYBASE

German enterprise software developer SAP (ETR:SAP) said it has completed the acquisition of US sector player Sybase (NYSE:SY) through its subsidiary Sheffield Acquisition Corp.

Status: Closed

- CROATIAN REGULATOR RULES IN FAVOUR OF RUSSIAN LUKOIL BUYING INA'S CROBENZ

Croatia's competition regulator AZTN confirmed it had cleared Russian oil and gas group Lukoil (MCX:LKOH) to buy fuel retailer Crobenz from Croatian oil and gas company INA (ZSE:INA-R-A).

Status: Agreed

- US STANLEY BLACK & DECKER ACQUIRES CRC-EVANS FOR USD445M

US provider of hand and power tools Stanley Black & Decker (NYSE:SWK), or B&D, said it has acquired construction equipment firm CRC-Evans to enhance its infrastructure solutions platform.

Status: Closed

- PM SAYS POLAND MAY REDUCE TO 25% STAKES IN STRATEGIC LISTED FIRMS

Donald Tusk, Poland's prime minister, said that Poland may cut to 25% its stakes in strategic listed companies, including bank PKO BK (WAR:PKO) and insurer PZU (WAR:PZU), enough to protect its interest in them. The Treasury, the ministry in charge of state assets, controls 40.99% in PKO BP and 45.2% in PZU.

Status: Auction

- BELGIAN CNP, FRENCH FSI FUND IN TALKS TO TAKE 30% IN CMA CG

Belgian investment holding CNP (EBR:NAT) and French fund FSI are in exclusive negotiations to buy combined 30% in French marine transportation company CMA CGM.

Status: Speculation

- US WRIGHT EXPRESS TO BUY RED AUSTRALIA FOR AUD353M

US payment processing and information management services provider Wright Express (NYSE:WXS) announced a definitive deal to buy UK Retail Decisions's assets in Australia for some AUD353m (USD317.3m/EUR244m) in cash.

Status: Agreed

- BOARD CLEARS VEB'S OPTION TO UNLOAD 10% IN ROSTELECOM TO SVYAZINVEST

The supervisory board of Russian lender Vnesheconombank (VEB) has approved an option to shed some 10% in telecom Rostelecom (MCX:RTKM) to state-run telecom holding Svyazinvest, VEB's chairman Vladimir Dmitriyev said.

Status: Exclusivity

- US SILVER LAKE, WARBURG PINCUS FINALISE INTERACTIVE DATA CORP BUY

US financial market data provider Interactive Data Corporation (NYSE:IDC) announced the closure of its USD3.4bn (EUR2.6bn) acquisition by private equity firms Silver Lake and Warburg Pincus.

Status: Closed

- QUEST SOFTWARE TO ACQUIRE SURGIENT

US Quest Software (NASDAQ:QSFT) said it has agreed to buy cloud automation software firm Surgient to meet growing demand for private cloud computing solutions.

Status: Agreed

- ARTHUR J. GALLAGHER BUYS OUT SPECIALISED BROKING ASSOCIATES

US insurance brokerage firm Arthur J. Gallagher & Co (NYSE:AJG) has purchased the residual 60% of Australian risk manager and insurer Specialised Broking Associates Pty Ltd for an undisclosed sum.

Status: Closed

- US MCAFEE TO BUY MOBILE SECURITY FIRM TENCUBE

US security software provider McAfee (NYSE:MFE) has agreed to acquire Singapore mobile security service provider tenCube to create a mobile security platform, McAfee said without revealing the deal size.

Status: Agreed

- GT SOLAR BUYS SAPPHIRE PRODUCER CRYSTAL SYSTEMS

US photovoltaic manufacturing services provider GT Solar International (NASDAQ:SOLR) announced it has acquired privately-held Crystal Systems, a producer of sapphire substrates used in the LED, defence, medical and aerospace industries.

Status: Closed

- UK UNITED UTILITIES EXITS METER FIT FOR GBP119M

UK water utility United Utilities (LON:UU) said it had agreed to dispose of its 50% in gas and power meter ownership joint venture Meter Fit to partner Marlin Acquisitions for a total of GBP119m (USD186m/EUR143m).

Status: Agreed

- THOMAS H. LEE TO BUY OUT INTERMEDIX CORP

US private equity firm Thomas H. Lee Partners has agreed to acquire healthcare IT solutions provider Intermedix Corp from Parthenon Capital Partners for an undisclosed sum, Intermedix said.

Status: Agreed

- IBM TO TAKE OVER REAL-TIME COMPRESSION FIRM STORWIZE

US IT giant IBM (NYSE:IBM) said it had agreed on to buy local real-time data compression technology specialist Storwize for an undisclosed sum.

Status: Agreed

- HONG KONG-BASED CKI IN TALKS OVER BUYS IN CANADA, AUSTRALIA

Hong Kong-based infrastructure group Cheung Kong Infrastructure (HKG:1038), or CKI, is talking with companies in Canada and Australia over potential acquisitions, deputy chairman Edmond Ip said.

Status: Talks; Bidding

- DIMENSIONAL ASSOCIATES FINALISES THE ORCHARD BUYOUT

The Orchard (NASDAQ:ORCD), an US-based global music and video distributor, said its buyout by majority owner, private equity firm Dimensional Associates, has been concluded.

Status: Closed

- NORTHBRIDGE INDUSTRY SERVICES WRAPS UP TASMAN OIL TOOLS BUY

UK industrial services and rental company Northbridge Industrial Services (LON:NBI) said it has closed the acquisition of Australia-based Tasman Oil Tools Pty Ltd.

Status: Closed

- VECTOR CAPITAL WRAPS UP USD145M TAKEOVER OF TRAFFICMASTER

Private equity company Vector Capital said it had closed the USD145m (EUR111m) takeover of UK-based Trafficmaster Limited, a provider of intelligent vehicle services.

Status: Closed

- US CABOT TAKES OVER OXONICA MATERIALS

US specialty chemicals group Cabot Corporation (NYSE:CBT) said it had taken over nanomaterials-based solutions developer Oxonica Materials Inc, part of UK Oxonica plc, in a move to expand its security technology offerings.

Status: Closed

- GLENCORE INTL SAYS NOT TO COMMENT RUMOURS ON PACORINI DEAL

Swiss commodities trader Glencore International said it would not comment on market rumours that it was negotiating to acquire Italian metals warehouse operator Pacorini Group.

Status: Speculation

- RUSSIA NOT LIKELY TO PRIVATISE MAJOR COMPANIES THIS YEAR

Russia's government is not planning to offload stakes in large state-owned companies in 2010, the country's economic development minister Elvira Nabiullina said.

Status: Denied

- TOGNUM IN ENGINE JV DEAL WITH RUSSIAN RAILWAYS

German diesel and gas engine maker Tognum (ETR:TGM) said it has inked a preliminary agreement to form a joint venture with Russia's state-owned Russian Railways.

Status: Agreed

- GOLDMAN SACHS REPORTEDLY SEEKS TO BUY SLOVENIAN NLB

US investment bank Goldman Sachs (NYSE:GS) is willing to buy Slovenia's top bank Nova Ljubljanska Banka (NLB).

Status: Speculation; Bidding

- RUSSIAN RAILWAYS EXPECTS TO POCKET USD3.7BN FROM UNITS DISPOSAL

Russian Railways hopes to fetch RUB112bn (USD3.7bn/EUR2.8bn) from the sale of some of its units, a document by the company showed.

Status: Auction

- EDF GETS EUR6.9BN BID FOR UK EDF ENERGY FROM HONG KONG CONSORTIUM

French power utility EDF (EPA:EDF) said it was in exclusive talks over an EUR6.9bn (USD8.98bn) offer for its UK power grid from a consortium led by infrastructure group Cheung Kong (HKG:1038), or CKI.

Status: Exclusivity; Bidding

- STERLING GROUP TAKES OVER US B&G CRANE SERVICES

US private equity investor The Sterling Group LP said it had closed the takeover of local crane and hauling services provider B&G Crane Services LLC for an undisclosed sum.

Status: Closed

- UK PROMETHEAN WORLD AGREES TO ACQUIRE US SYNAPTICMASH

UK interactive learning technology specialist Promethean World Plc (LSE:PRW) said it had entered a deal to purchase US SynapticMash Inc, an education formative assessment software developer, for USD10m (EUR7.7m) in cash.

Status: Agreed

- SWISS TYCO TO DISPOSE OF WATERWORKS EUROPE FOR USD245M

Swiss-based provider of industrial products Tyco International (FRA:LHN1; NYSE:TYC) said it has agreed to sell its European Waterworks operations to private equity company Triton for a price of USD245m (EUR187.5m).

Status: Agreed

- UK LEISURE & GAMING SHEDS BETSHOP ARM

UK online betting Leisure & Gaming (LON:LNG) said it had agreed to sell its main trading unit, Betshop Group (Europe) Limited, as wins from sports betting fell short of expectations, preventing significant injection of funds into the business.

Status: Agreed

- ATH RESOURCES WRAPS UP SALE OF REGEN ARM IN GBP17M MBO DEAL

UK coal miner ATH Resources (LON:ATH) said it had closed the sale of its coal recovery, land remediation and regeneration business ATH Regeneration, or Regen, to a management team backed by an investment fund, for up to GBP17m (USD27m/EUR20.3m).

Status: Closed

- US CARLSON FULLY TAKES OVER T.G.I. FRIDAY'S UK RESTAURANT CHAIN

US hotel and travel company Carlson said it had taken over the 60% it did not own in restaurant chain T.G.I. Friday's UK Holdings LTD from buyout company AAC Capital Partners for a price of USD50m (EUR38.3m).

Status: Closed

- POLISH TREASURY SAYS NOT TO SELL FURTHER PKO BK, PZU STAKES

The Polish treasury ministry denied plans to dispose of additional stakes in bank PKO BK (WAR:PKO) and insurer PZU (WAR:PZU) and triple its privatisation target for next year to PLN25bn (USD8.1bn/EUR6.2bn) as reported by local paper Rzeczpospolita.

Status: Denied

- TPG CAPITAL CLOSES USD1.4BN BUY OF US VERTAFORE

US provider of software to the insurance sector Vertafore said it has been bought by funds of US private equity firm TPG Capital for a total of USD1.4bn (EUR1.071bn).

Status: Closed

- US IPC TAKES OVER MICHIGAN-BASED ANN ARBOR INHOSPITAL

US physician group practice company IPC The Hospitalist Company Inc (NASDAQ:IPCM) said it has taken over Michigan-based practice Ann Arbor Inhospital Physicians PLLC.

Status: Closed

- RUSSIA'S WATCHDOG CLEARS AEROFLOT TO BUY TWO AIRLINES

The Russian antitrust regulator (FAS) gave the green light to Aeroflot Finance, a unit of Russia's flag carrier Aeroflot (MCX:AFLT), to acquire 51% of Saratov Airlines and 100% of Sakhalinskiye Aviatrassy, the body said.

Status: Agreed

- VYMPELKOM BUYS RUSSIAN FORATEK FOR USD46M

Russian mobile phone operator VympelKom (RTD:VIMP), part of telecom group Vimpelcom Ltd (NYSE:VIP), said it has bought fixed-line operator Foratek for RUB1.4bn (USD46m/EUR36m), including debt.

Status: Closed

- LONDON MINING SETS UP IRON ORE JV IN CHILE

British iron ore miner London Mining (OSL:LOND) said it has signed a joint venture agreement with a Chinese and a Chilean partner to develop iron ore projects in the Atacama region in Chile.

Status: Agreed

- SKY DEUTSCHLAND TO TAKE MAJORITY OF PREMIUM MEDIA SOLUTIONS

German media group Sky Deutschland (ETR:SKYD) said it has agreed to acquire over 51.1% in Premium Media Solutions from CUTV GmbH for an undisclosed sum.

Status: Agreed

- DISNEY STRIKES DEAL TO SELL MIRAMAX TO INVESTORS FOR OVER USD660M

Walt Disney (NYSE:DIS) has agreed to sell Miramax Films to a group of investors, Filmyard Holdings LLC, for more than USD660m (EUR505m), the US entertainment giant said in a statement.

Status: Agreed

- DUTCH IMTECH BUYS FINNISH YSP

Dutch technical services provider Imtech (AMS:IM) said it has acquired Finnish high-tech traffic control specialist YSP for an undisclosed sum.

Status: Closed

- GEODIGM CLOSES ACQUISITION OF NATIONAL DENTEX

US dental laboratories operator National Dentex Corp (NASDAQ:NADX) said it has closed its takeover by GeoDigm, a portfolio company of US private equity firm Welsh, Carson, Anderson & Stowe, after its shareholders cleared the deal.

Status: Closed

- US UNIVERSAL BIOENERGY IN LOI TO BUY NORCOR TECHNOLOGIES

US alternative energy company Universal Bioenergy (PINK:UBRG) said it had entered into a letter of intent to take over Norcor Technologies Corp, a provider of biodiesel, transportation fuels, energy services and facility energy efficiency retrofits for various sectors.

Status: Exclusivity

- GREEK GOVT SELECTS ADVISORS ON ATEBANK, HELLENIC POSTBANK STAKES SALE

The Greek government will appoint Deutsche Bank (ETR:DBK), Credit Suisse (VTX:CSGN) and Morgan Stanley (NYSE:MS) to advise on the sale of stakes in ATEbank (ATH:ATE) and Hellenic Postbank (ATH:TT) to Piraeus Bank (ATH:TPEIR).

Status: Bidding

- TNK-BP SAYS STUDIES POTENTIAL BUY OF BP'S VENEZUELAN OPS

Russian oil group TNK-BP (RTB:TNBP), which is 50% owed by British oil and gas major BP (LON:BP), said it mulls over buying BP's business in Venezuela to boost its international operations and its presence in the South American country.

Status: Bidding

- CLAPHAM GETS BID APPROACH

UK restaurant chain Clapham House Group (LON:CPH) said it has received an offer approach, but declined to provide any further details which sent the company's shares up by 27%.

Status: Bidding

- US DAFOE SIGNS LOI TO TAKE OVER AGKHA INTELLI-TEC

US Dafoe Corp (OTC:DAFX), active in mineral property exploration, said it had inked a letter of intent to take 100% in Dubai-based Agkha Intelli-Tec, a provider of digital security solutions, in exchange for 59% of its own shares.

Status: Exclusivity

- US RPC UNIT TO BUY CHINESE PEER

US Radient Pharmaceuticals Corporation (AMEX:RPC) said its Chinese unit, Jade Pharmaceuticals (JPI), has inked a letter of intent to take over local Shanxi BaoTai Pharmaceutical via a merger of business assets.

Status: Exclusivity

- UK LEGION GROUP SAYS IN SALE TALKS TO PAY TAXES

UK security solutions provider Legion Group (LON:LGNG) said it was in talks to sell the company in a move to raise funds to pay outstanding state taxes.

Status: Talks

- US HAWAIIAN HOSPITALITY GROUP LOOKING FOR NICHE FIRMS ACQUISITIONS

US Hawaiian Hospitality Group Inc (PINK:HHGI) said yesterday it was looking for takeovers of niche service firms for expanding its event business.

Status: Bidding

- AUSTRIAN CONWERT GETS ANTITRUST APPROVAL TO BUY ECO BUSINESS

Austrian property firm Conwert Immobilien (WBAG:CWI) said it has won regulatory clearance in Austria and Germany to acquire peer Eco Business-Immobilien (WBAG:ECO) for EUR7.15 (USD9.30) per share in cash.

Status: Bidding

- US DOLLAR THRIFTY GETS TAKEOVER OFFER FROM AVIS BUDGET

US car rental company Dollar Thrifty Automotive Group Inc (NYSE:DTG) said peer Avis Budget (NYSE:CAR) had made a takeover approach offering USD39.25 (EUR30.04) in cash and 0.6543 in shares per each share in Dollar Thrifty.

Status: Bidding

- AMERICAN SECURITIES IN TALKS ON CALIFORNIA PIZZA BUYOUT Private equity firm American Securities Capital Partners is negotiating to buy restaurant chain California Pizza Kitchen (NASDAQ:CPKI) for an undisclosed sum.

Status: Talks

- URALKALI HOLDER EYES CONTROL IN RUSSIAN SILVINIT, BELARUSIAN BELARUSKALI

Russian potash fertilizer producer Uralkali (LON:URKA) is negotiating the acquisition of majority interests in local rival Silvinit (PINK:SLVNF) and Belarusian sector company Belaruskali, in a drive to create the top global potash fertilizer company.

Status: Talks

- BP IN TALKS WITH RELIANCE, ESSAR TO SELL AFRICAN RETAIL BUSINESS

British oil and gas group BP (LON:BP) is negotiating with India's refiner Reliance Industries (BOM:500325) and industrial conglomerate Essar Group to divest from its African retail operations valued at up to USD500m (EUR384m).

Status: Talks

- ALLIED IRISH SAYS IN TALKS WITH FOUR BIDDERS FOR BZ WBK STAKE

Dublin-based Allied Irish Banks (ISE:ALBK) has held talks with four potential buyers of its 70% interest in Polish lender Bank Zachodni WBK (WAR:BZW).

Status: Talks

- PRIVATE EQUITY FIRMS SAID TO BE EYEING ITALIAN SNAI

Private equity firms Investindustrial and Clessidra are considering to make a joint bid for Italian gaming and betting company SNAI (BIT:SNA).

Status: Speculation

- BRIT INSURANCE GETS GBP10.75 P/S REVISED TAKEOVER PROPOSAL FROM APOLLO

UK insurer Brit Insurance (LON:BRE) said that US Apollo Management has made a higher GBP10.75 (USD16.8/EUR12.9) per share cash approach to buy the company, subject to pre-conditions, including satisfactory due diligence.

Status: Bidding

- DST SET TO DISPOSE OF NIGMA.RU STAKE

Russian investment fund Digital Sky Technologies (DST) is on track to exit the share capital of local search engine Nigma.ru.

Status: Talks

- GERMAN SCHAEFFLER, CONTINENTAL MAY START MERGER BY END-2011

German bearings manufacturer Schaeffler and car parts maker Continental (ETR:CON) could launch a tie-up process by the end of 2011.

Status: Talks

- US CLIFFS GETS 85% IN CANADIAN SPIDER, GOES ON WITH TAKEOVER

US miner Cliffs Natural Resources Inc (NYSE:CLF) has raised its shareholding in Canadian mineral exploration firm Spider Resources Inc (CVE:SPQ) to 85% with the takeover of additional 22.2m shares in the company.

Status: Bidding

- IRISH COVIDIEN CLOSES OFFER FOR SOMANETICS, GETS 80.2%

Irish-based healthcare products supplier Covidien (NYSE:COV) said it had closed its tender offer for US Somanetics Corporation (NASDAQ:SMTS) and had secured 80.2% in the cerebral and somatic oximetry specialist.

Status: Bidding

- MORDASHOV'S FIRM BIDS TO BUY OUT POWER MACHINES

Highstat Ltd, a firm of Russian mogul Alexei Mordashov, has offered to acquire the outstanding 2,607,597,428 shares in Russian power generating solutions maker Power Machines (RTC:SILM) for an undisclosed sum.

Status: Bidding

- UNITEDHEALTH REPORTEDLY NEGOTIATES USD1.5BN BUY OF EXECUTIVE HEALTH RESOURCES

US health and well-being company UnitedHealth Group (NYSE:UNH) is on track to sign a deal to take over medical services provider Executive Health Resources for USD1.5bn (EUR1.2bn).

Status: Talks

- BAWAG PUTS MKB BANK STAKE UP FOR SALE

Austrian lender BAWAG PSK, which is controlled by US private equity firm Cerberus Capital, said it is planning to offload its 10% interest in Hungarian MKB Bank in a bid to focus on its domestic business.

Status: Auction

- INDIAN DLF NEGOTIATES CUTTING STAKE IN JV WITH PRUDENTIAL

Indian property firm DLF (BOM:532868) is negotiating to sell part of its 74% holding in its joint venture with British insurer Prudential (LON:PRU).

Status: Talks

- PHARMSTANDARD'S CEO SAYS TO TAKE OVER VINDEXPHARM BEFORE YEAR-END

Russian drug maker and distributor Pharmstandard (LON:PHST) is set to purchase local pharmaceutical company Vindexpharm before the end of this year, Pharmstandard's chief executive said.

Status: Bidding

- TURKISH AIRLINES INTERESTED IN CROATIA AIRLINES

Turkish Airlines (IST:THYAO) is interested in buying Croatia's flag carrier Croatia Airlines (ZSE:CRAL-R-A).

Status: Bidding

- PHILIPS LIKELY TO DISPOSE OF REMAINING STAKE IN NXP

Dutch electronics giant Philips (AMS:PHIA) might shed its residual 20% stake in chip-maker NXP Semiconductors.

Status: Auction

- FRANCISCO PARTNERS MAKES BINDING OFFER FOR TECHNICOLOR'S GRASS VALLEY BROADCAST UNIT

French broadcasting technologies provider Technicolor (EPA:TCH) said it had received a binding bid from US investor Francisco Partners to buy its Grass Valley Broadcast operations, valuing the business at USD100m (EUR77m).

Status: Exclusivity

- UK CARPATHIAN ANNOUNCES TWO POTENTIAL DIVESTMENTS IN POLAND

UK property investor and developer Carpathian (LON:CPT) said it was working on the sale of its Blue Knight Portfolio of provincial shopping centres in Poland and the Promenada shopping centre asset in Warsaw.

Status: Talks

- BELGIAN BUSINESSMAN ALBERT FRERE EYES STAKE IN FRENCH CMA CGM

Belgian billionaire Albert Frere is interested in investing in French marine transportation company CMA CGM, currently seeking capital for its restructuring.

Status: Speculation

- RUSSIAN BASIC ELEMENT EYES CONTROL OF SKY EXPRESS AIRLINE

Russian investor Basic Element is looking to acquire between 51% and 75% in local low-cost air carrier Sky Express.

Status: Speculation

- RUSSIAN GOVT MAY LOOK INTO PRIVATISATION PLANS ON THURSDAY

The Russian government may discuss at its meeting on Thursday a project to dispose of assets valued at USD29bn (EUR22.4bn) to cover budget deficit.

Status: Speculation

- UNIONS AGAINST MERGER OF SPANISH SAVINGS BANKS CAI, CAJA CIRCULO, BADAJOZ

The trade unions representing the employees at Spanish savings banks Caja Inmaculada (CAI), Caja Circulo de Burgos and Caja Badajoz rejected the proposed merger of the three banks, arguing that the merger model will put an end to the savings banks' social and cultural activities.

Status: Talks

- BES TO ACQUIRE 25.1% IN MOZA BANCO

Portugal-based lender Banco Espirito Santo (ELI:BES) said in a regulatory filing that its unit, BES Africa, has inked a memorandum of understanding (MoU) to buy a 25.1% stake in Mozambique's Moza Banco.

Status: Exclusivity

- PINSKDREV SEEKS TO CREATE MDF PRODUCTION JV

Belarus-based furniture manufacturer Pinskdrev plans to form a joint venture in the country to produce medium density fiberboard (MDF), the company's spokesman Dmitry Kirikovich said.

Status: Talks

- BARCLAY BROS REPORTEDLY SHED STAKE IN IHG

The Barclay brothers have disposed of their 10% interest in British hotel chain operator InterContinental Hotels Group (LON:IHG).

Status: Speculation

<p>- BRIDGEPOINT PURSUES ACQUISITION OF FRENCH JEWELLERY DISTRIBUTORS

UK private equity firm Bridgepoint Capital is willing to acquire French jewellery distributors Histoire d'Or and Marc Orian.

Status: Talks

- ELETROBRAS CONSIDERS BUY INTO US GENERATION, TRANSMISSION FIRM

Brazil's state-owned utility Centrais Eletricas Brasileiras (SAO:ELET6), or Eletrobras, is planning to acquire a minority interest in a US generation and transmission company, the utility's head of international operations.

Status: Bidding

- PT TO ACQUIRE 30%-40% OF BRAZILIAN OI

Portugal Telecom (ELI:PTCA), or PT, is willing to acquire a stake of between 30% and 40% in Brazilian sector player Oi.

Status: Speculation

- RUSSIAN NETBYNET CLOSE TO BUYING BROADBAND OPERATOR INETERA

Moscow-based Internet services company NetByNet is nearing a deal to acquire Inetera, a provider of broadband services in the Central Federal District.

Status: Exclusivity

- UK INTEC SAYS IN EARLY TALKS WITH POTENTIAL BUYER

The board of UK billing company Intec (LON:ITL) said it was in early negotiations with an unnamed party interested in taking over the company.

Status: Talks

- SKY DEUTSCHLAND TO REPURCHASE PREMIUM MEDIA SOLUTIONS

German media group Sky Deutschland (ETR:SKYD) is to buy back advertising firm Premium Media Solutions, which was previously owned by the group.

Status: Speculation

- GMR INFRASTRUCTURE PUTS INTERGEN STAKE UP FOR SALE

Indian infrastructure and engineering group GMR Infrastructure (BOM:532754) is seeking potential buyers for its 50% holding in US-based power generation company InterGen.

Status: Auction

- LION CAPITAL PLACES BID FOR FRENCH PICARD

UK investor Lion Capital submitted a pre-emptive offer this weekend to acquire French food company Picard Surgeles from BC Partners, valuing the company at EUR1.5bn (USD1.9bn).

Status: Bidding

- RAIFFEISEN CEO SAYS BANK MULLS ACQUISITIONS IN POLAND

Austrian lender Raiffeisen International (WBAG:RIBH) is considering potential acquisitions in Poland.

Status: Bidding

- TELEDYNE OWNS 93.36% OF UK INTELEK, OFFER WHOLLY UNCONDITIONAL

US electronic components and subsystems provider Teledyne (NYSE:TDY) said it owned 93.36% of Intelek (LON:ITK) by 23 July 2010, and its recommended cash offer for the UK electronic systems maker was now wholly unconditional.

Status: Bidding

- TSAI FAMILY CONSIDERS BUYING KBRO

Daniel Tsai, chairman of Taiwanese financial holding company Fubon Financial (TPE:2881), told reporters that the company's major shareholder, the Tsai family, is considering the acquisition of local cable TV operator Kbro.

Status: Talks

- FRAPORT TO BUY INTO CHINESE AIRPORT

German airport operator Fraport (ETR:FRA) is negotiating to buy a stake in a Chinese sector player.

Status: Talks

- VODAFONE LIKELY TO SHED STAKE IN BHARTI AIRTEL

British mobile operator Vodafone (LON:VOD) could offload its 4.39% interest in Indian sector player Bharti Airtel (BOM:532454) valued at INR52bn (USD1.1bn/EUR859m) at market prices.

Status: Auction

- ADVENT INTL, BAIN CAPITAL IN EXCLUSIVE TALKS TO BUY RBS' WORLDPAY

UK's Royal Bank of Scotland (LON:RBS) has entered into exclusive talks with US private equity firms Advent International and Bain Capital over the divestment of its payment-processing unit, known as WorldPay.

Status: Exclusivity

- FRANCE TELECOM, VIVENDI IN TALKS TO COMBINE CINEMA CHANNELS

Orange, the mobile unit of France Telecom (EPA:FTE), and Canal Plus, part of entertainment group Vivendi (EPA:VIV), are discussing a potential merger of their cinema pay-TV channels.

Status: Talks

- GLAXO CEO SAYS PURSUING SMALL BUYS

British pharmaceutical giant GlaxoSmithKline (LON:GSK) is on the hunt for small acquisitions.

Status: Bidding

- SANOFI APPROACHES US GENZYME OVER POSSIBLE TAKEOVER

French drug maker Sanofi-Aventis (EPA:SAN) has made an informal takeover approach to US biotech firm Genzyme Corp (NASDAQ:GENZ), but talks are still at an early stage.

Status: Talks

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