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M&A Navigator: Deal pipeline - 29 July(M&A Navigator Via Acquire Media NewsEdge) The following is a list a of deals covered in detail by M&A Navigator this week: - AIR LIQUIDE BUYS US LION COPOLYMER GEISMAR TO BOOST LOCAL BUSINESS Air Liquide Large Industries US, a unit of French industrial gases supplier Air Liquide (EPA:AI), said it had bought US utilities provider Lion Copolymer Geismar Services (LCGS), to prop up its business in the Geismar basin in Louisiana. Status: Closed - DCK WORLDWIDE BUYS CONTRACTOR OAKVIEW CONSTRUCTION US-based global builder dck worldwide announced it had bought general contractor Oakview Construction to form Oakview dck LLC, as part of its expansion plans. Status: Closed - COALITION AMERICA WRAPS UP OPN EHEALTH SERVICES BUY US-based Coalition America, a provider of healthcare cost management solutions, said it has finalised the takeover of OPN eHealth Services, formerly Ohio Provider Network (OPN). Status: Closed - LUFTHANSA NOT TO SELL BMIBABY Germany's flag carrier Lufthansa (ETR:LHA) is not planning to shed its British low-cost arm bmibaby. Status: Denied - US BCO HYDROCARBON CLOSES SAUER ENERGY BUY US natural resource exploration company BCO Hydrocarbon (OTC:BCOZ) said it had wrapped up the purchase of Sauer Energy (SEI), a specialist in small wind turbine systems, for an undisclosed sum. Status: Closed - US STANDEX INTL TAKES OVER INDIAN MELCO US multi-industry manufacturer Standex International (NYSE:SXI) said it had bought Indian mold textures specialist Melco Engraving India Private Limited (MEIPL), for an undisclosed sum. 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 - US GENESIS ENERGY TO BUY OUT DG MARINE FOR USD25.5M US midstream energy partnership Genesis Energy (AMEX:GEL) said it had agreed to buy the rest 51% in DG Marine Transportation, doing business as Grifco, for USD25.5m (EUR19.5m) in cash. Status: Agreed - 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 - AIR LIQUIDE ACQUIRES CRYOGAS DE CENTROAMERICA TO STEP IN PANAMA French industrial gases supplier Air Liquide (EPA:AI) said it has acquired Panamanian sector player Cryogas de Centroamerica to gain access to the local market. Status: Closed - RIO TINTO, CHALCO FORM JV ON GUINEA IRON ORE MINE PROJECT Anglo-Australian mining company Rio Tinto (LON:RIO) has agreed to form a joint venture with Chinese sector firm Chalco (SHA:601600) to operate the Simandou iron ore mine in Guinea. Status: Agreed - French Cegedim acquires Pulse Systems to enter US market Cegedim (EPA:CGM), a French healthcare technology and services provider, said it has bought US healthcare software firm Pulse Systems to expand in the US and gain global market reach. Status: Closed - WYNNCHURCH CAPITAL, PRO-FAB MANAGEMENT ACQUIRE FIRM US private equity firm Wynnchurch Capital announced that it has teamed up with the management of Canadian modular homes producer Pro Fab to acquire the company. Status: Agreed - EVOLUTION BENEFITS SAYS ACQUIRED BY GENSTAR CAPITAL US card payment services provider Evolution Benefits said it has been acquired by San Francisco-based private equity firm Genstar Capital for an undisclosed sum. Status: Closed - BWIN TO MERGE WITH PARTYGAMING Austrian gaming group bwin (WBAG:BWIN) and UK peer PartyGaming (LON:PRTY) said they have agreed to merge "to create the world's largest listed online gaming business" with pro-forma 2009 net gaming revenue of EUR682m (USD892.9m). Status: Agreed - INDIA ASHOK LEYLAND TO TAKE 26% IN BRITISH OPTARE UK-based bus maker Optare (LON:OPE) said it has inked a deal to sell a 26% interest to Indian competitor Ashok Leyland (BOM:500477) for GBP5m (USD7.8m/EUR5.9m). Status: Agreed - 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 - N AMERICAN BANCARD TAKES OVER CDI TECHNOLOGY US payment solutions provider North American Bancard LLC said it had purchased point-of-sale systems supplier CDI Technology from investor Quantum Ventures of Michigan LLC for an undisclosed sum. Status: Closed - NOBLE WRAPS UP FRONTIER'S USD2.16BN TAKEOVER Offshore drilling contractor Noble Corp (NYSE:NE) said it had completed the takeover of US-based drilling company FDR Holdings (Frontier) for USD2.16bn (EUR1.66bn). Status: Closed - US WABTEC CLOSES USD35M BUY OF G&B SPECIALTIES US provider of railway technology Wabtec Corporation (NYSE:WAB) said it had closed the USD35m (EUR26.9m) takeover of US G&B Specialties Inc from Canada-based Global Railway Industries Ltd (TSE:GBI). Status: Closed - 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 - LUKOIL TO BUY 7.6% OF ITS SHARES FROM CONOCOPHILLIPS Russian oil and gas company Lukoil (MCX:LKOH) said it has inked an agreement to buy back 7.6% of its shares from US sector player ConocoPhillips (NYSE:COP) for USD53.25 apiece, or a total USD3.442bn (EUR2.6bn). Status: Agreed - 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 - US MBIA BUYS REMAINING 83% IN CHANNEL RE FOR USD40M US financial services holding MBIA (NYSE:MBI) said it had taken full control of financial guarantee reinsurers Channel Re Holdings Ltd and Channel Reinsurance Ltd (together Channel Re) after buying the remaining 83% in them for USD40m (EUR31m). Status: Closed - NOVARTIS CLEARED IN AUSTRALIA TO BUY OUT ALCON Australian competition regulator ACCC said it had approved the proposed buyout of global pharmaceutical company Alcon Laboratories (NYSE:ACL) by Swiss rival Novartis (VTX:NOVN), after Novartis pledged to sell one Alcon product to eye care firm Bausch & Lomb in Australia. Status: Agreed - US IMG WORLDWIDE TO BUY COLLEGE MEDIA RIGHTS FIRM ISP US sports and media company IMG Worldwide Inc has entered into an agreement to take over local college media rights management firm ISP Sports for an undisclosed sum. Status: Agreed - 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 - DIRECTOR INVESTS FURTHER GBP25,000 IN UK FEONIC UK smart material products specialist Feonic (LON:FEO) said that non-executive director Justin Urquhart Stewart has bought additional 1.25m ordinary Feonic shares for GBP25,000 (USD39,000/EUR30,000). Status: Closed - SPANISH VILLAR MIR BUYS LOCAL CENTRICA UNIT Spanish diversified group Villar Mir has bought utility Centrica Energia from UK-based Centrica (LON:CNA) in a deal worth EUR120m (USD157m). Status: Agreed - 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 - MITCHELL COMMUNICATION AGREES TO BE TAKEN OVER BY AEGIS FOR USD325M Australian media and marketing firm Mitchell Communication Group (ASX:MCU) said it has decided to accept the AUD363m (USD325m/EUR250m) takeover bid of UK sector player Aegis (LON:AGS). Status: Agreed - THAI UNION FROZEN PRODUCTS TAKES OVER FRENCH PEER FOR USD884M Thailand-based frozen and canned seafood producer Thai Union Frozen Products (BAK:TUF) said it has agreed to buy French sector company MW Brands Holdings SAS for USD884m (EUR679m). Status: Agreed - SIEMENS SELLS SEAS UNIT TO HONG KONG-BASED ASM PACIFIC German electronics giant Siemens (ETR:SIE) has signed an agreement to offload its Siemens Electronic Assembly Systems (SEAS) division to Hong Kong-based chip equipment maker ASM Pacific Technology (HKG:0522) as part of its non-core assets divestment strategy. Status: Agreed - 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 - PORTUGUESE EDP TO TAKE FURTHER 29.43% IN SPANISH NATURGAS FOR EUR617M Portuguese energy group EDP (ELI:EDPAE) said it had agreed to buy an additional 29.43% in Spanish gas utility Naturgas for EUR617m (USD803m) from the Basque energy board Ente Vasco De La Energia (EVE). Status: Agreed - BELGIAN KBC TO DISPOSE OF UK KBC PEEL HUNT FOR GBP74M Belgian financial group KBC (EBR:KBC) said it had agreed to sell its UK brokerage KBC Peel Hunt to the unit's staff backed by outside investors for GBP74m (USD116m/EUR89m). Status: Agreed - AMN HEALTHCARE TO ACQUIRE SECTOR PLAYER MEDFINDERS US healthcare staffing services provider AMN Healthcare Services (NYSE:AHS) said it has struck a deal to buy smaller competitor Medfinders for USD88m (EUR68m) in stock to enhance its position. Status: Agreed - RUSSIAN VEB DISMISSES PLANS TO BUY STAKE IN NORILSK Russia's state-owned lender VEB is not seeking to buy a stake in nickel producer Norilsk Nickel (LON:MNOD). Status: Denied - 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 - PLASTIC OMNIUM SIGNS DEFINITIVE DEAL TO BUY OUT INERGY AUTOMOTIVE French plastic processing group Compagnie Plastic Omnium (EPA:POM) said it has agreed to buy the 50% stake of Belgian chemicals giant Solvay (EBR:SOLB) in fuel systems maker Inergy Automotive Systems for EUR270m (USD351m) and thus gain full control of the company. Status: Agreed - CEGEDIM BUYS SWISS CRM AND DIRECT MARKETING UNIT OF IMS HEALTH French medical software provider Cegedim (EPA:CGM) said it has acquired the Swiss customer relationship management (CRM) and direct marketing unit of US IMS Health (NYSE:RX) in a bid to enhance its Swiss business. Status: Closed - PIERRE FOODS, ADVANCE FOOD COMPANY, ADVANCE BRANDS TO TIE UP US Pierre Foods, Advance Food Company and Advance Brands jointly announced they have agreed to merge into a bigger company and gain a broader market reach. Status: Agreed - 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 - LLOYDS SHELVES PLANS TO SELL MAJORITY STAKE IN ST. JAMES'S PLACE British wealth manager St. James's Place (LON:STJ) said that its major shareholder Lloyds Banking Group (LON:LLOY) has dropped plans to sell its majority stake in the firm. Status: Terminated - 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 - THORATEC ABANDONS PLANS TO SELL ITC UNIT TO DANAHER US mechanical circulatory support products maker Thoratec Corp (NASDAQ:THOR) said it has scrapped plans to sell its International Technidyne Corp (ITC) unit to medical equipment maker Danaher Corp (NYSE:DHR) as the two parties have failed to agree on certain aspects of the deal. Status: Terminated - 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 - MARFIN POPULAR BANK DENIES KNOWLEDGE OF ING OFFER Cyprus-based bank Marfin Popular (CSE:CPB) has not been informed about a proposal by Dutch financial group ING (NYSE:ISF) to buy the bank, an unnamed spokesman for Marfin Popular said. Status: Denied - 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 - 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 ((Comments on this story may be sent to [email protected])) (c) 2010 M2 COMMUNICATIONS |