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M&A Navigator: Deal Pipeline -- 26 Oct 2009(M&A Navigator Via Acquire Media NewsEdge) The following is a list of deals covered in detail by M&A Navigator this week: - G4S TAKES OVER ARGENTINE SECURITY CO British security solutions provider G4S (LON:GFS) said it has acquired an 83% stake in Argentine peer Control Systems Argentina from Daniel Padro and Hernan Fernandez for an undisclosed sum. Status: Closed - WIND HELLAS SHORTLISTS WEATHER INVESTMENTS, NOTEHOLDERS Greek mobile operator Wind Hellas said it has shortlisted two bidders for its Hellas II assets, namely its current owner Weather Investments, owned by Egyptian tycoon Naguib Sawiris, and a group of bondholders. Status: Auction - CYPRUS-BASED ARPANET BUYS 33.6% IN UKRAINIAN ELEKTROPRYLAD Cyprus-based Arpanet Holdings has purchased a 33.65% interest in Ukrainian precision instruments and household appliances maker Elektroprylad OJSC from another Cyprus-based company, Olgane Ltd. Status: Closed - ANTICHI PELLETTIERI BUYS OUT CMC, ENRICO MANDELLI Italian leather specialist Antichi Pellettieri (BIT:AP) said it has bought out local CMC, the owner of the Mario Cerutti brand, and a 27% stake in clothing maker Enrico Mandelli. Status: Closed - ENBW SAYS MANY POTENTIAL BUYERS INTERESTED IN GESO German energy group EnBW (ETR:EBK) has attracted numerous bidders for its eastern German utility Geso. Status: Auction - RATIOPHARM SEEKING TO ATTRACT BUYERS WITH AMBITIOUS TARGETS German drug maker Ratiopharm has set an ambitious profit outlook hoping to attract potential buyers as the deadline for bids is expiring in early November. Status: Auction - TELECOM ITALIA SAYS NO PLANS TO BUY TELEKOM AUSTRIA Italy's telecomms major Telecom Italia (BIT:TIT) ruled out press reports saying the company was planning to bid for the acquisition of Telekom Austria (WBAG:TKA). Status: Denied - BARCLAYS INKS DEAL TO BUY STANDARD LIFE BANK British bank Barclays (LON:BARC) said it has struck a deal to buy the home loans and savings business of insurer Standard Life (LON:SL) for GBP226m (USD369m/EUR245m) in cash, payable upon completion. Status: Agreed - BLACK STONE MINERALS BOOSTS BID FOR EAGLE ROCK'S MINERAL BUSINESS Houston-based mineral group Black Stone Minerals said it has raised its offer to acquire the minerals business of US midstream company Eagle Rock Energy Partners without disclosing the new price of its bid. Status: Bidding - GEOX INCORPORATES MANUFACTURING SUBSIDIARY Italy's footwear maker Geox (BIT:GEO) said its board has cleared the incorporation of its subsidiary Geox Manufacturing Italia Srl as part of its strategy to reshuffle production and corporate structure. Status: Agreed - SPAREBANK 1 NORD-NORGE OFFLOADS STAKE IN HELGELAND SPAREBANK Norwegian savings bank SpareBank 1 Nord-Norge (OSL:NONG) sold 435,280 equity certificates in regional bank Helgeland Sparebank (OSL:HELG) at an average price of NOK116.10 (USD20.93/EUR13.92) apiece. Status: Closed - CENTENE CORP SAYS NEW JERSEY SALE PROCEEDS US healthcare group Centene Corp (NYSE:CNC) announced that its New Jersey subsidiary, University Health Plans (UHP), has agreed to proceed with the sale of certain assets to the local unit of rival Amerigroup Corp (NYSE:AGP). Status: Agreed - THALASSA HOLDINGS TAKES STAKE IN SHELL CO BELLA MEDIA Virgin Islands-based holding company Thalassa Holdings (LON:THAL) said its subsidiary, Thalassa Private Investments, has acquired a 27% stake in UK's shell firm Bella Media through the subscription of GBP150,000 (USD244,000/EUR162,000) in new shares. Status: Closed - AECOM TAKES OVER ARCHITECTURE FIRM ELLERBE BECKET US AECOM Technology Corp (NYSE:ACM), a provider of professional technical and management support services, said it has acquired Minneapolis-based architecture and engineering firm Ellerbe Becket for an undisclosed sum. Status: Closed - ING TO SEPARATE INSURANCE AND BANKING OPS Dutch financial group ING (AMS:INGA) said it would separate its banking operations from its insurance and investment management activities over the next three years as part of a reshuffle filed for approval with the European Commission (EC). Status: Auction - CACEIS TO BUY HSBC FRANCE CUSTODY, FUND DEPOSITARY OPS French investor services group Caceis said it has agreed to acquire the fund depositary and custodial activities of HSBC France for an undisclosed sum. Status: Agreed - GOLDSHIELD MANAGEMENT BOOSTS BID TO GBP4.85 P/S Midas Bidco said Sunday it has raised its cash offer for British generic drug maker Goldshield Group (LON:GSD) to GBP4.85 (USD7.90/EUR5.25) per share, valuing the company at about GBP179m. Status: Bidding - NOVERA ENERGY URGES SHAREHOLDERS TO REJECT INFINIS BID The board of UK renewable energy group Novera Energy (LON:NVE) has advised shareholders to reject the GBP0.62 (USD1.01/EUR0.67) hostile takeover bid of home rival Infinis Energy saying it "substantially undervalues the company". Status: Bidding - CREDIT AGRICOLE MULLS OVER TIE-UP WITH SG, GROUPAMA French bank Credit Agricole (EPA:ACA) is studying a three-way merger with local rival Societe Generale (EPA:GLE) and insurer Groupama. Status: Speculation - ENEL GREEN POWER ACQUIRES TWO GREEK WIND FARM OPERATORS Enel Green Power, the renewable energy unit of Italy's energy giant Enel (BIT:ENEL), has agreed to acquire two Greek sector players, to boost its installed capacity in the country to over 133 MW. Status: Agreed - SYNIVERSE CLOSES VERISIGN'S MESSAGING BUSINESS BUYOUT US wireless voice and data services provider Syniverse Technologies (NYSE:SVR) said it has closed the acquisition of the messaging unit of Internet security firm VeriSign (NASDAQ:VRSN) for USD175m (EUR116m) in cash. Status: Closed - GERMAN RUPAG IN TALKS TO SELL BKN BIOSTROM STAKE German private equity firm Rupag Grundbesitz & Beteiligungen is looking to dispose of its 44% stake in home biogas plants developer BKN biostrom (ETR:B9K) this year. Status: Talks, Speculation - POLYMETAL BUYS FULL CONTROL OF GOLTSOVOYE PROJECT, SOPKA KVARTSEVAYA DEPOSITS Russian gold and silver miner Polymetal (MCX:PMTL; LON:PMTL) said it has taken over the Goltsovoye silver project, the Sopka Kvartsevaya and the Dalny gold and silver deposits in exchange for own shares. Status: Closed - UK CENTRICA TO SELL HALF ITS STAKE IN WIND FARM FOR GBP400M UK utility Centrica (LON:CNA) plans to sell half of its holding in the Lynn and Inner Dowsing wind farm, the largest facility of its kind in the world, as part of a divestment programme launched in July. Status: Talks, Speculation - STAGECOACH NEAR TO FORMAL OFFER FOR NATIONAL EXPRESS UK international passenger transport company Stagecoach (LON:SCG) is working on the last financing details as it prepares to place a takeover bid for troubled home sector player National Express (LON:NEX). Status: Bidding - CREDIT AGRICOLE DENIES TALKS ON SG, GROUPAMA MERGER A spokeswoman for French bank Credit Agricole (EPA:ACA) denied talks on a merger with rival Societe Generale (EPA:GLE) and insurer Groupama, rejecting today's report by local paper Le Monde. Status: Denied - CZECH GOVT REJECTS SOLE BID FOR CSA AIRLINES, ABANDONS SALE The Czech government gave up plans to sell troubled flag carrier Czech Airlines (CSA), after rejecting the sole offer for the airline. Status: Terminated - HEINEKEN WANTS FEMSA'S BEER OPS TO EXPAND TO LATIN AMERICA Dutch brewer Heineken (AMS:HEIA) is negotiating the acquisition of the brewing business of Mexican beverages group Femsa (MXK:FEMSAUBD) in an effort to set foot in Latin America. Status: Talks, Speculation - LLOYDS'S PRIVATE EQUITY ARM EYES CPA GLOBAL FOR GBP400M UK Lloyds Banking Group (LON:LLOY) is in talks to buy patent and legal services group CPA Global for GBP400m (USD652m/EUR434m) through its private equity arm. Status: Bidding, Speculation - SCOTLAND'S RANGERS FC REJECTS SPECULATION ON DAVE KING TAKEOVER BID Scottish football club Rangers denied last night speculation by a radio station that South African businessman Dave King was preparing to make a takeover bid for it this week. Status: Denied, Speculation - UK WEST AFRICAN DIAMONDS CLOSE TO COMPLETE MERGER WITH AFRICAN MINER UK-based diamond miner West African Diamonds (LON:WAD) is nearing a deal to merge with an unnamed privately owned peer in western Africa, which would boost its annual production rate by 400%. Status: Talks, Speculation - UK MATALAN'S FOUNDER HIRES PWC TO ADVISE ON POTENTIAL SALE UK value-fashion retailer Matalan's founder John Hargreaves has mandated US advisor PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC) to manage a potential sale of the company valued at GBP1.5bn (USD2.44bn/EUR1.63bn). Status: Talks, Speculation - EBRD TO TAKE MORE THAN 12% OF CENTRAVIS PRODUCTION UKRAINE The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) wants to buy more than 12% in Ukrainian stainless-steel pipe plant Centravis Production Ukraine, part of the Centravis holding. Status: Agreed - US CONTINUCARE BUYS SLEEP DIAGNOSTIC CENTERS US primary care physician service provider Continucare Corporation (AMEX:CNU) said its subsidiary Seredor Corporation has bought the assets of full service operator of sleep diagnostic centers Sleep Disorder Solutions. Status: Closed - GERMAN BIOTEST TO SELL MEDICAL DIAGNOSTICS UNIT German biotechnology group Biotest (ETR:BIO3) said it had inked an agreement to sell its medical diagnostics unit in a drive to concentrate on developing innovative pharmaceutical and biotherapeutic drugs in immunology and haematology. Status: Agreed - CZECH CEZ MAKES OFFER TO BUY ENBW'S GESO IN GERMANY Czech power utility CEZ (PRG:BAACEZ) has launched a bid to acquire 100% of German sector player GESO, currently part of Energie Baden-Wuerttemberg (EnBW) (ETR:EBK). Status: Bidding - PENSOESGERE ACQUIRES 3.39% IN SONAECOM FOR EUR25.5M The pension fund of Portuguese commercial bank Millennium (ELI:BCP), Pensoesgere, acquired 3.39% in Sonaecom (ELI:SNC) for EUR25.5m (USD38.4m). Status: Closed - REYAL URBIS EYES SALE OF ASSETS FOR UP TO EUR300M Spanish real estate company Reyal Urbis (MCE:REY) plans to sell assets for between EUR200m (USD300.8m) and EUR300m in November, in line with its debt refinancing plan. Status: Auction, Speculation - FRENCH GDF SUEZ NOT KEEN TO BUY EDF'S UK DISTRIBUTION NETWORK French utility GDF Suez (EPA:GSZ) is not interested in buying the UK electricity distribution network of peer Electricite de France (EPA:EDF). Status: Denied - US ALLEGHENY TECHNOLOGIES CLOSES BUY OF TWO CRUCIBLE UNITS FOR USD40.95M US diversified specialty metals producer Allegheny Technologies (NYSE:ATI) said it had finalised the buy of Crucible Compaction Metals and Crucible Research for USD40.95m (EUR27.2m), both part of bankrupt Crucible Materials. Status: Closed - URS TAKES OVER FORERUNNER US engineering, construction and technical service provider URS Corporation (NYSE:URS) said it had bought engineering and construction management firm ForeRunner Corporation. Status: Closed - US DDI MAKES USD0.19 P/S BID FOR CANADIAN CORETEC US printed circuit board (PCB) engineering and manufacturing service provider DDi (NASDAQ:DDIC) said it has launched a CAD0.20 (USD0.19/EUR0.13) apiece bid to buy Canadian PCB designer and producer Coretec (TSE:CYY). Status: Bidding - VOLKSWAGEN IN DISCUSSIONS TO ACQUIRE BANKRUPT KARMANN German carmaker Volkswagen (ETR:VOW) is in negotiations to buy bankrupt contract carmaker Karmann. Status: Talks, Speculation - SPANISH BANCO URQUIJO EYES BUY OF INDEPENDENT FIRM Spanish Banco Urquijo, a subsidiary of commercial bank Sabadell (MCE:SAB), is exploring opportunities to buy an independent company as part of its growth strategy. Status: Bidding - UK STANDARD LIFE PLANS NO SALE OF CANADIAN OPS UK insurance company Standard Life (LON:SL) does not plan to offload its underperforming operations in Canada. Status: Denied, Speculation - PORTER BANCORP STARTS EXCHANGE OFFER FOR CITIZENS FIRST CORP US bank holding company Porter Bancorp (NASDAQ:PBIB) said it has initiated an exchange offer to buy all the shares of peer Citizens First Corporation (NASDAQ:CZFC) for USD9 (EUR5.99) per share. Status: Bidding - ARCANDOR'S INSOLVENCY ADMIN NEGOTIATES SALE OF PRIMONDO PARTS The insolvency administrator of German retailer Arcandor (ETR:ARO), Klaus Hubert Goerg, yesterday initiated talks to divest parts of the company's unit Primondo to home mail-order firm Otto. Status: Auction - NEWS CORP COMES OUT AS LEAD BIDDER FOR THE TRAVEL CHANNEL Rupert Murdoch's media group News Corp (NASDAQ:NWSA) has emerged as the frontrunner for the acquisition of 65% in satellite and cable network Travel Channel from US sector player Cox Communications. Status: Bidding, Speculation - CEO SAYS PRISA SET TO DISPOSE OF PART OR ALL DIGITAL+ Spanish media group Promotora de Informaciones (MCE:PRS), or Prisa, is ready to offload part or the entire pay-TV unit Digital+. Status: Auction - AUSTRIAN CWT BOARD BACKS CANADIAN GLV'S TAKEOVER OFFER Austrian water treatment solutions provider Christ Water Technology AG (WBAG:CWT) said its management and supervisory board have advised shareholders to accept the takeover offer by Canadian technology group GLV (TSE:GLV.B). Status: Bidding - SLOVENIAN ABANKA SUPERVISORY BOARD CLEARS MERGER WITH GORENJSKA BANKA The supervisory board of Slovenian bank Abanka Vipa (LJE:ABKNT) gave the go-ahead to a project to merge with local peer Gorenjska Banka to create one of the country's top banks. Status: Talks - FINNISH RETAILER KESKO EYES RUSSIAN CARREFOUR UNITS Finnish retailer Kesko (HEL:KESBV) is looking to acquire Russian outlets of French rival Carrefour (EPA:CA). Status: Bidding, Speculation - ITALIAN SNAM RG MAKES BINDING OFFER FOR E.ON'S LOCAL GAS GRID Italian gas transportation and distribution firm Snam Rete Gas (BIT:SRG) has placed a binding bid for the local gas distribution grid of German utility E.ON (ETR:EOAN). Status: Bidding - SPAIN'S NUEVA RUMASA SEEKS MERGER WITH FOOD CO SOS Spanish holding company Nueva Rumasa said it plans a tie-up between its food business and home food group SOS Corporacion Alimentaria (MCE:SOS), in a bid to create one of the country's largest sector players. Status: Bidding - KEY CADBURY STOCKHOLDER SUPPORTS GBP8.20 BID FROM KRAFT One of UK confectionery firm Cadbury's (LON:CBRY) top ten shareholders is believed to have said he would contemplate a GBP8.20 (USD14/EUR9.08) per share offer from US Kraft (NYSE:KFT). Status: Bidding, Speculation - CAJA MADRID TO UNLOAD 2.9% STAKE IN BANKINTER Spanish savings bank Caja Madrid will offload a 2.9% stake in local commercial bank Bankinter SA (MCE:BKT) for an undisclosed price. Status: Auction - DANISH NORDIC TANKERS IN MERGER DISCUSSIONS WITH CLIPPER Danish shipping company Nordic Tankers A/S (CPH:NORDIC) is in negotiations with privately-held sector player Clipper Group A/S on a potential merger or partnership. Status: Talks - SPANISH SANTANDER MAY SELL ITS INFRASTRUCTURE FUND ASSETS Spanish commercial bank Santander (MCE:SAN) is looking for buyers for the assets of its infrastructure investment fund, Santander Infraestructuras. Status: Speculation, Auction - AUSTRIA'S CONSTANTIA PRIVATBANK IN TALKS WITH TWO BIDDERS Austrian Constantia Privatbank's owners are negotiating with two interested potential buyers, namely an Austrian group around former Bank Austria's CEO Willi Hemetsberger and a private bank from a neighbouring country. Status: Auction, Talks - PROXIMAGEN INKS LOI TO BUY CAMBRIDGE BIOTECHNOLOGY UK's brain treatment specialist Proximagen (LON:PRX) said it has signed a letter of intent (LoI) to buy Cambridge Biotechnology from Swedish bio-drug maker Biovitrum (STO:BVT), as part of its acquisition strategy. Status: Exclusivity - NATIONAL EXPRESS SAYS STUDYING STAGECOACH BID Uk public transport operator National Express (LON:NEX) said the company is still evaluating the preliminary all-stock takeover bid from its rival Stagecoach (LON:SGC). Status: Bidding - ANGLO AMERICAN SELLS ASSETS, RESTRUCTURES MANAGEMENT TO STREAMLINE OPS British miner Anglo American (LON:AAL) unveiled plans to shed more assets and reshuffle its management structure in an attempt to streamline its business and focus on core mining operations. Status: Auction - POLAND EXPECTS TO PRIVATISE ENEA IN Q1-Q2 '10 Poland hopes to finalise the sale of its 66% stake in energy group Enea (WAR:ENA) between the first and the second quarter of 2010, the country's treasury minister, Aleksander Grad said. Status: Auction - ITALY KERSELF, GREENVISION AMBIENTE MAY MERGE Italian renewable energy firms Kerself (BIT:KRS) and Greenvision Ambiente (BIT:VIS) may be considering an alliance. Status: Speculation - GVT HIRES CREDIT SUISSE, GOLDMAN SACHS TO ADVISE ON RIVAL TAKEOVER BIDS Brazilian telecoms company GVT (SAO:GVTT3) said it has picked the local units of Swiss lender Credit Suisse (VTX:CSGN) and US bank Goldman Sachs (NYSE:GS) to advise it on rival offerings from two global players. Status: Bidding - BOARDS OF SPANISH CAJA ESPANA, DUERO, BURGOS TO REVIEW MERGER IN TWO WEEKS The presidents of Spanish savings banks Caja Espana, Caja Duero, and Caja Burgos decided to submit their merger project simultaneously to their boards in the next 15 days. Status: Talks - NESTLE MAY DISPOSE OF ALCON STAKE Swiss food giant Nestle (VTX:NESN) may dispose of its 52% in Swiss eye care specialist Alcon (BER:AKR) in a move to raise fresh funds. Status: Speculation - ALTANA'S MAJORITY OWNER OFFERS EUR14 P/S FOR RESIDUAL STAKE German holding company SKion, controlled by Susanne Klatten, proposed to buyout a minority shareholding in domestic specialty chemicals group Altana (ETR:ALT) at EUR14 (USD20.9) per share. Status: Bidding - ORANGE'S SWISS UNIT, SUNRISE NEGOTIATING NETWORK OPS TIE-UP Mobile operators Orange Switzerland and Sunrise have confirmed they have been in talks since early 2009 on a possible tie-up of their mobile network operations. Status: Talks, Speculation - IRISH LIFE & PERMANENT SHOULD INJECT EUR500M IN PERMANENT TBS BEFORE MERGER Irish Life & Permanent (ISE:IPM) may have to inject up to EUR500m (USD750m) in its Permanent TSB building society to get it ready for a merger with two home peers. Status: Auction - EC SAYS ORACLE STILL HAS TO ALLAY COMPETITION CONCERNS ON SUN DEAL Europe's competition chief has informed the president of US Oracle (NASDAQ:ORCL) that the company has not given enough guarantees to ease competition worries over its planned acquisition of Sun Microsystems (NASDAQ:JAVA). Status: Delayed - P&G IN TALKS TO BUY PARTS OF SARA LEE HOUSEHOLD PRODUCTS UNIT US consumer products group Procter & Gamble (NYSE:PG) is negotiating the acquisition of parts of US consumer products group Sara Lee's (NYSE:SLE) global household products unit. Status: Talks, Speculation - UK CENTRICA EYES MORE NORTH SEA GAS ASSETS UK utility Centrica (LON:CNA) is looking to respond to client demand and buy more gas assets in the North Sea, after recently closing the purchase of oil and gas firm Venture Production. Status: Bidding - AXA IN TALKS TO OFFLOAD STAKE IN CHINESE TAIKANG French insurance company AXA SA (EPA:AXA) is in discussions to dispose of its 15% stake in Chinese Taikang Life Insurance Company. Status: Talks, Speculation - GREEK NEORION IN NEGOTIATIONS TO BUY HELLENIC SHIPYARDS FROM THYSSENKRUPP Greek shipyard Neorion (ATH:NEORS) is in exploratory discussions to buy Hellenic Shipyards, the Greek unit of German engineering group ThyssenKrupp (ETR:TKA). Status: Talks - E-REWARDS OFFERS TO BUY RESEARCH NOW FOR GBP0.430 P/S British fieldwork and panel specialist Research Now (LON:RNOW) said it has received a bid from US online research firm e-Rewards at a price of no less than GBP0.430 (USD0.71/EUR0.47) per share in cash. Status: Bidding - TELE2 EYEING ACQUISITIONS IN CIS, EASTERN EUROPE Swedish telecomms group Tele2 (STO:TEL2 B) is exploring acquisition options in the former Soviet Union, Russia and eastern Europe, the company's chief executive Harri Koponen said. Status: Bidding - TURKEY GETS 29 BIDS FOR THREE POWER GRIDS PRIVATISATION The Turkish privatisation agency OIB said it has received a total 29 bids for the privatisation of three power grids. Status: Auction - GAS NATURAL TO DIVEST ASSETS FOR EUR1.5BN BY END-2009 Spain utility Gas Natural (MCE:GAS) is planning to sell assets for EUR1.5bn (USD2.24bn) by the end of the year, CEO Rafael Villaseca said. Status: Auction - MORGAN STANLEY MAY HAND OVER CRESCENT REAL ESTATE TO BARCLAYS CAPITAL US investment bank Morgan Stanley (NYSE:MS) could offload its property management arm Crescent Real Estate Equities Co to Barclays Capital in exchange for the USD2bn (EUR1.3bn) loan it got from the UK bank which is due on 2 November. Status: Speculation, Talks - BANCO POPOLARE NEGOTIATES EFIBANCA SALE WITH BARCLAYS Italian Banco Popolare (BIT:BP) is in exclusive talks with UK's banking giant Barclays (LON:BARC) over the sale of its merchant unit Efibanca, Banco Popolare's top executive Pier Francesco Saviotti said. Status: Exclusivity - F2I TO BUY 49% IN TELECOM ITALIA'S SPARKLE Lawyers for Telecom Italia (BIT:TIT) and infrastructure fund F2i will meet today to sign a letter of intent (LoI) for F2i to acquire 49% in Sparkle, a unit of the telecomms major. Status: Speculation, Exclusivity - INDIAN INFOSYS EYES ACQUISITIONS IN FRANCE, GERMANY Indian IT solutions provider Infosys Technologies (BOM:500209) is seeking alternatives for acquisitions in France and Germany to boost presence in Europe, a senior executive said. Status: Talks - SPAIN'S CAJA ESPANA, DUERO EXPECT CAJA BURGOS TO EXIT MERGER PROJECT Spanish savings banks Caja Espana and Caja Duero suspect that peer Caja Burgos will leave their planned alliance which it entered in the last minute. Status: Talks - CEO SAYS SALE OF INTESA SANPAOLO'S DEPOSITARY UNIT LIKELY IN 2010 Corrado Passera, chief executive of Italian banking group Intesa Sanpaolo (BIT:ISP), said the bank's negotiations on the sale of its depositary bank may drag on beyond 2009. Status: Talks - RUSSIAN SISTEMA MAY MERGE INDIAN OPS WITH MTS Russian conglomerate AFK Sistema (MCX:AFKC) could combine its Indian telecomms business Sistema Shyam TeleServices with Russia's major cell phone operator MTS (RTD:MTSS), its main asset. Status: Auction - SPAIN'S COSMEN FAMILY SUPPORTS STAGECOACH'S BID FOR NATIONAL EXPRESS Spain's Cosmen family, controlling 19% of UK passenger transport firm National Express (LON:NEX), decided to support a takeover bid by home rival Stagecoach (LON:SCG). Status: Bidding - US BANCORP INTERESTED IN FBOP CORP US Bancorp (NYSE:USB) is looking to buy US FBOP Corp, owner of eight banks which may be offered for sale by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corp (FDIC). Status: Bidding, Speculation - EX-CEO SAYS AER LINGUS SHOULD LOOK AT MERGER WITH PEERS TO SECURE FUTURE Willie Walsh, the former chief executive of Irish airline Aer Lingus (ISE:AERL) advised the airline to look at a merger with one or more peers, as its future as a stand-alone company may not be secure. Status: Auction - FORD, GEELY TALKS ON VOLVO DEAL MAY STALL OVER INTELECTUAL RIGHTS DISPUTE Talks between US carmaker Ford Motor Co (NYSE:F) and Chinese Geely Automobile Holdings Ltd (HKG:0175) on the sale of Volvo to the Chinese company may be obstructed by disagreements over property rights. Status: Talks, Speculation - KRAFT SEEN TO SWEETEN BID AS CADBURY UPS 2009 SALES FORECAST US food giant Kraft (NYSE:KFT) will have to raise its takeover bid for UK confectionery firm Cadbury (LON:CBRY), as the latter upgraded its 2009 sales forecast to 5% from 4% after its sales rose by 7% in the third quarter. Status: Bidding - UKRAINE'S VOLYN COUNCIL TO SELL CONTROL OF LUTSK AVIATION ENTERPRISE ON 24 NOV Ukraine's Volyn regional council will sell 2.427 million shares, or 50% plus one share, in the Lutsk Aviation Enterprise for UAH0.25 (USD0.03/EUR0.02) apiece. Status: Auction - ITALY MARKET WATCHDOG OKAYS MODENA CAPITALE'S SWEETENED BID FOR M&C Italy's stock market regulator Consob has allowed local firm Modena Capitale to raise the price of its buyout offer for turnaround investment fund Management & Capitali (BIT:MEC), or M&C. Status: Bidding - US CENTURY CASINOS KEEN TO FULLY ACQUIRE POLISH PEER US casino operator Century Casinos (NASDAQ:CNTY) intends to fully acquire Casinos Poland Ltd through buying the remaining 66% in the company for some EUR14m (USD20.9m). Status: Bidding, Speculation - KPN EXTENDS TENDER OFFER FOR IBASIS UNTIL 20 NOV Dutch telecomms and ICT group KPN (AMS:KPN) has extended its tender offer for US calling services provider iBasis (NASDAQ:IBAS) until 20 November from 23 October. Status: Bidding - KIRK KERKORIAN SEEKING OPTIONS TO CUT STAKE IN MGM MIRAGE US Tracinda Corp, the investment vehicle of billionaire Kirk Kerkorian, said it is studying options to reduce its shareholding in struggling casino and hotel operator MGM Mirage (NYSE:MGM). Status: Auction - SAL. OPPENHEIM, MACQUARIE NEARING DEAL Luxembourg-based private bank Sal. Oppenheim is close to striking a deal to divest from its investment banking unit to Australian sector player Macquarie (ASX:MQG). Status: Talks, Speculation - SOUND OIL CONFIRMS TALKS ON POTENTIAL ACQUISITION UK's oil and gas explorer Sound Oil (LON:SOU) has confirmed it is in talks over the potential acquisition of a private company with oil assets offshore West Africa. Status: Talks - QATAR HOLDING TO SHED 379M BARCLAYS SHARES Qatar's sovereign wealth fund Qatar Holding said it would sell 379.2 million shares in UK bank Barclays (LON:BARC) through an accelerated bookbuild at an exercise price of 197.775 pence apiece. Status: Auction - TOTAL TO SELL 50% IN ZAMBIA REFINERY BY END-2009 French oil giant Total (EPA:FP) is planning to offload its 50% stake in Zambia's oil refinery Indeni Petroleum Refinery to the Zambian government by the end of the year. Status: Talks - INTESA SANPAOLO RESUMES TALKS WITH STATE STREET Italy's banking giant Intesa Sanpaolo (BIT:ISP) has resumed negotiations with US financial group State Street Corp (NYSE:STT) over the sale of its depositary banking service. Status: Speculation - CCM CONFIRMS SUITORS INTEREST IN TIE-UP Spanish savings bank Caja Castilla La Mancha (CCM) has confirmed that it has attracted several possible bidders, including local savings banks, interested in a potential tie-up. Status: Auction - TRADERS SAY BHP BILLITON KEEN TO BUY K+S Traders have speculated that Anglo-Australian mineral processing group BHP Billiton (LON:BLT; ASX:BHP) is interested in buying German chemicals maker K+S (ETR:SDF). Status: Speculation - FERROVIAL EXPECTS TO FINALISE GATWICK DIVESTMENT IN FEW WEEKS Spanish transport infrastructure group Ferrovial (MCE:FER) is negotiating with more than one suitor for London's Gatwick airport and expects to close the deal within few weeks. Status: Auction, Talks - US PAPA BELLO IN LOI TO ACQUIRE PASTORE'S OF ROSEDALE US restaurant chain Papa Bello Enterprises (PINK:PAPA) has inked a letter of intent (LoI) for the acquisition of local peer Pastore's of Rosedale. Status: Exclusivity - US AMERAMEX INTL IN LOI TO TIE UP WITH CROMER EQUIPMENT Ameramex International, a US provider of heavy equipment for infrastructure construction, has inked a letter of intent (LoI) to merge with local sector firm Cromer Equipment. Status: Exclusivity - US KIMBERLY-CLARK TO LAUNCH TENDER OFFER FOR I-FLOW'S BUYOUT US health and hygiene group Kimberly-Clark (NYSE:KMB) will initiate today a cash tender bid for the acquisition of all outstanding shares in local pain relief products manufacturer I-Flow (NASDAQ:IFLO). Status: Bidding - US PLAYNETWORK CONSIDERS BUYING SECTOR PLAYER CHANNEL M US integrated media services provider PlayNetwork has unveiled its plans to take over local in-store TV network developer Channel M. Status: Bidding - ITALIAN IKF SEEKS TIE-UP WITH AMBROMOBILIARE, NATALI&PARTNERS Italian investment company IKF (BIT:IKF) is considering the acquisition of local bank Ambromobiliare and consultancy Natali&Partners Srl in a drive to unite the three businesses into a single entity. Status: Bidding - AVENUE CAPITAL SAID TO BE IN FINAL TALKS FOR CHINESE LANDWIND MEDICAL Avenue Capital is nearing a deal to acquire Landwind Medical for over USD100m (EUR66.8m), after private equity firms including Bain Capital have quit bidding for the Chinese medical equipment company. Status: Speculation, Talks - TITAN CEMENT MULLS OVER SELLING STAKE IN EGYPTIAN ARM Greek cement producer Titan Cement (ATH:TITK) is studying an option to sell a minority stake in its Egyptian unit to an investor, seeking to add value to the business. Status: Auction - GDF SUEZ SAYS CHINESE SOVEREIGN FUND WILLING TO BUY STAKE French utility GDF Suez (EPA:GSZ) has been approached by a Chinese sovereign wealth fund willing to buy a minority stake in the company. Status: Bidding - MTS SAYS NO DECISION ON COMSTAR BUYOUT Russian mobile operator Mobile TeleSystems (RTD:MTSS), or MTS, said submitting a buyout bid for fixed-line operator Comstar UTS (LON:CMST) is still uncertain and depends on the company's financial planning for 2010. Status: Bidding - VIVENDI'S BOARD CLEARS BID FOR BRAZILIAN GVT The board of directors of French media and telecomms group Vivendi (EPA:VIV) gave a nod to the company to continue with the proposed acquisition of Brazilian peer GVT (SAO:GVTT3). Status: Bidding - KENTOR TO BUY AURUM MINING'S INTEREST IN ANDASH PROJECT British miner investor Aurum Mining (LON:AUR) said that Australian gold explorer Kentor Gold (ASX:KGL) was planning to exercise its option to buy Aurum's stake in the Andash project for USD15m (EUR10m). Status: Exclusivity - EAGLE ROCK ENERGY GETS APPROACH FOR MINERALS BUSINESS US midstream company Eagle Rock Energy Partners has received a non-binding offer from Black Stone Minerals to acquire its minerals business for USD157.5m (EUR105.5m). Status: Bidding - SOUTH KOREAN ARIGENE STARTS TENDER OFFER FOR US TRIMERIS South Korean entertainment group Arigene Co (KDQ:067850) has initiated a cash tender offer to buy out Delaware-based biopharmaceuticals company Trimeris (NASDAQ:TRMS) through its wholly owned RTM Acquisition Company. Status: Bidding - NATIONAL EXPRESS GETS PRELIMINARY ALL-STOCK OFFER FROM STAGECOACH British transport company National Express (LON:NEX) confirmed it had received a preliminary all-stock takeover bid from its rival Stagecoach (LON:SGC) following the withdrawal of another bidder last week. Status: Bidding - GE IN TALKS TO BUY VIVENDI'S STAKE IN NBC UNIVERSAL US manufacturing giant General Electric (NYSE:GE) and French media and telecomms group Vivendi (EPA:VIV) are currently in talks over Vivendi's minority holding in entertainment company NBC Universal. Status: Talks, Speculation - STAGECOACH APPROACHES NATIONAL EXPRESS WITH MERGER OFFER UK international passenger transport company Stagecoach (LON:SCG) confirmed it has contacted home sector player National Express (LON:NEX) about the terms of a potential merger. Status: Talks - CME NEGOTIATES CBOE TAKEOVER US derivatives exchange CME Group (NASDAQ:CME) is negotiating the acquisition of Chicago Board Options Exchange in a deal valuing the US options market at up to USD5bn (EUR3.4bn). Status: Talks, Speculation - SPANISH REGULATOR TO DISPOSE OF AGRUPACIO MUTUA'S REAL ESTATE OPS, BANK STAKE Spain's security and insurance regulator Direccion General de Seguros (DGS), which took over troubled insurer Agrupacio Mutua on Friday, will liquidate its real estate arm Amci Habitat and dispose of its 25.13% in local bank Bankpyme. Status: Auction - SIEMENS, NOKIA NOT LIKELY TO GET FINANCIAL INTEREST FOR NSN VENTURE German engineering group Siemens (ETR:SIE) and Finnish mobile devices manufacturer Nokia (HEL:NOK1V) are not likely to find financial investors interested to buy their troubled telecomms gear making venture NSN, which they are looking to sell. Status: Auction, Speculation - P&G CALLS ON STOCKHOLDERS TO REJECT TRC CAPITAL'S BID US consumer products firm Procter & Gamble (NYSE:PG) has advised its shareholders not to tender their shares to an unsolicited offer by Canadian M&A advisors TRC Capital Corp. Status: Bidding - UKRAINIAN TYCOON CLOSE TO ACQUISITION OF INSURER ROSSIYA Ukrainian billionaire Viktor Pinchuk is nearing a deal to acquire Russian insurer Rossiya. Status: Bidding, Speculation - GERMAN W & W KEEN TO BUY COMMERZBANK'S BUILDING SOCIETY UNIT German insurer Wuestenrot & Wuerttembergische (ETR:WUW), or W & W, has launched negotiations with local Commerzbank (ETR:CBK) to take over its building society arm Allianz Dresdner Bauspar (ADB). Status: Talks, Speculation - BRAZILIAN GVT TO MAKE DECISION ON TELEFONICA TAKEOVER BID ON 3 NOV The board of directors of Brazilian telecomms operator GVT (SAO:GVTT3) will probably make a decision on the takeover bid of Spanish peer Telefonica (MCE:TEF) at its extraordinary meeting on 3 November. Status: Bidding - GERMAN SIEMENS PLANS TO SELL BUILDING COMPONENTS UNIT German engineering group Siemens (ETR:SIE) has intentions to sell the building components unit of its industry solutions division, to focus on its strengths and competencies. Status: ((Comments on this story may be sent to [email protected])) (c) 2009 M2 COMMUNICATIONS |