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M&A Navigator: Deal Pipeline -- 29 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: - FRAPORT, D&S GEO INNOGY IN GEOTHERMAL POWER JV German airport operator Fraport (ETR:FRA) has inked a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with D&S Geo Innogy to form a joint venture to explore and develop the Walldorf geothermal field in southwestern Germany. Status: Exclusivity - TCW ENERGY TO BUY 50% IN CENTRICA'S WIND FARMS US asset manager TCW Group has agreed to buy 50% in UK wind farm operator GLID Wind Farms Topco, a unit of British energy group Centrica (LON:CNA) for nearly GBP84.4m (USD138.5m/EUR94.1m). Status: Agreed - CELL BIOSCIENCES CLOSES ALPHA INNOTECH ACQUISITION US life sciences company Cell Biosciences has closed the acquisition of analytical laboratory instruments maker Alpha Innotech Corp (OTCBB:APNO) for USD1.50 (EUR1.02) per share in cash or a total USD17.9m. Status: Closed - BERNARD KRIEF BUYS STAKE IN WOMEN'S APPAREL MAKER MFG France-based strategic consultancy firm Bernard Krief Consulting (BKC) has acquired a 26% stake in struggling women's apparel maker Montaigne Fashion Group (EPA:MFG), or MFG, which is under receivership, for EUR3.4m (USD5m). Status: Closed - EVOLUTION SOLAR IN TALKS TO BUY OUT SUBSIDIARY US solar products maker Evolution Solar Corp (PINK:EVSO) is in talks over the acquisition of a 45% stake in its Shanghai-based subsidiary Synergy Design and Development. Status: Talks - SOCIETE GENERALE LIKELY TO MERGE RUSSIAN UNITS French banking group Societe Generale (EPA:GLE) is planning to merge its Russian units. Status: Speculation - INDONESIA'S BUMI RESOURCES BIDDING FOR BHP'S MARUWAI COAL PROJECT Indonesian coal miner and oil explorer Bumi Resources ( JAK:BUMI) is among the potential buyers of the Maruwai coal project of BHP Billiton (LON:BLT) in Indonesia. Status: Bidding, Speculation - AXA TO SHED STAKE IN CHINESE INSURER TAIKANG LIFE French insurer AXA (EPA:AXA) is planning to offload its 15.6% stake in Chinese life insurer Taikang Life Insurance Co. Status: Auction - REALTY VAILOG, INDUSTRIA E INNOVAZIONE BOARDS CLEAR TIE-UP The boards of Italian real estate developer Realty Vailog (BIT:RLT) and renewable energy company Industria e Innovazione gave a nod to the takeover of Realty Vailog by Industria e Innovazione announced last month. Status: Agreed - MEDIASET SAYS TALKS WITH PRISA BREAK DOWN Italian broadcaster Mediaset (BIT:MS) said that its talks with Spanish Prisa (MCE:PRS) over a possible merger of their audio-visual operations have been put on hold. Status: Terminated - DEUTSCHE BANK TO PAY EUR1.3BN FOR SAL. OPPENHEIM Germany's flagship lender Deutsche Bank (ETR:DBK) has entered into a framework agreement to acquire Luxembourg-based private bank Sal. Oppenheim for EUR1.3bn (USD1.9bn). Status: Agreed - SPAREBANK 1 NORD-NORGE GETS GREEN LIGHT TO BUY AGROKREDBANK Norway's ministry of finance gave the go-ahead to savings bank SpareBank 1 Nord-Norge (OSL:NONG) to buy 75% of Russian ZAO Agrokredbank for up to NOK30m (USD5.3m/EUR3.6m). Status: Agreed - L&L INTERNATIONAL TO BUY HON SHEN COKING OPS US coal miner L & L International Holdings (OTCBB:LLFH) said it would acquire 93% of the coking facilities of Chinese Hon Shen Coal Co and 28% of its coal-washing facilities for USD8.18m (EUR5.5m) in cash and stock. Status: Agreed - BAXI GROUP TAKEOVER BY DE DIETRICH TO CLOSE ON 30 OCT British heating products maker Heating Finance said that the planned takeover of indebted boiler producer Baxi Group by smaller Dutch rival De Dietrich Remeha is expected to close on 30 October 2009. Status: Agreed - SPRINT NEXTEL STARTS TENDER OFFER FOR IPCS US wireless network operator Sprint Nextel (NYSE:S) has commenced its tender offer to buy out iPCS (NASDAQ:IPCS) for USD24 (EUR16) per share in cash until 25 November. Status: Bidding - CONOCOPHILLIPS PLANS TO SHED SYNCRUDE STAKE US oil and gas giant ConocoPhillips (NYSE:COP) said it might shed its 9% stake in the Syncrude Canada Ltd's oil-sands project in line with its USD10bn (EUR6.8bn) asset sale programme triggered by the global recession. Status: Auction - P&G EXPLORES DIVESTMENT, ACQUISITION OPTIONS Declining sales have pushed Robert McDonald, the new chief executive of US consumer goods giant Procter & Gamble (NYSE:PG), to look for acquisitions and divestments. Status: Speculation - GREENHILL TO SPIN OFF PRIVATE EQUITY UNIT US investment banking firm Greenhill & Co (NYSE:GHL) is spinning off its private equity arm Greenhill Capital Partners to focus on the client advisory business. Status: Agreed - POLAND NOT TO SELL TPSA STAKE AT CURRENT PRICE Poland's treasury ministry said the current market price of telecomms operator Telekomunikacja Polska(WAR:TPS), or TPSA, is not high enough to trigger the sale of its 4% stake. Status: Delayed - BMW SEALS CARBON FIBRE JV WITH SGL German carbon products maker SGL Carbon (ETR:SGL) has struck a joint venture deal with carmaker BMW (ETR:BMW) to produce carbon fibres and fabrics for the automotive industry. Status: Agreed - FREENET IN TALKS WITH DEUTSCHE TELEKOM, UNITED INTERNET OVER STRATO SALE German telecomms services provider Freenet (ETR:FNTN) is negotiating with home telecomms firm Deutsche Telekom (ETR:DTE) and Internet provider United Internet (ETR:UTD), which are interested to buy its Strato unit. Status: Talks, Speculation - SPANISH NUTREXPA READY FOR NEW ACQUISITIONS Spanish food group Nutrexpa SA is prepared to make new buys after the acquisition of biscuit unit Cuetara from local rival Sos Corporacion Alimentaria sealed at the end of 2008. Status: Auction, Speculation - UK MATALAN SALE ATTRACTS PRIVATE EQUITY FIRMS A number of private equity firms are interested in being shortlisted as potential buyers for the UK value-fashion retailer Matalan, which could be valued at GBP1.5bn (USD2.5bn/EUR1.7bn). Status: Talks, Speculation - IRISH PAC SELLS SCOTTISH PUBLISHING UNIT TO MANAGEMENT FOR GBP2.5M Irish media and telecomms investor Prime Active Capital (ISE:PACC) has agreed to sell Bell & Bain, its Scottish books and journals printing unit, to NewCo, an investment vehicle owned by the unit's management. Status: Agreed - RUSSIAN FGC IN NO NEED TO DISPOSE OF ASSETS TO FUND INVESTMENTS Russian state-owned power transmission company Federal Grid Company, or FGC, is in no need to dispose of assets or seek partnership deals in order to finance its investment projects. Status: Denied - CEMIG AGREES TO BUY TBE STAKE FROM MDU RESOURCES LUXEMBOURG Brazilian state-owned power utility Companhia Energetica de Minas Gerais (SAO:CMIG4), or Cemig, has agreed to buy the stake in home power transmission group TBE owned by natural resources firm MDU Resources Luxembourg II LLC. Status: Agreed - HUNGARY GOVT LOOKING TO TAKE MALEV STAKE TO RESCUE OPS The Hungarian finance ministry said the government is prepared to take a stake in troubled national airline Malev, or supply financing to rescue its operations. Status: Bidding, Talks - MAGNA, OPEL EXECUTIVES CONFIDENT ON DEAL Top executives from Canadian automotive supplier Magna (TSE:MG.A) and German carmaker Opel said they believed that US General Motors' (GM) board will decide to sell Opel unit to Magna. Status: Agreed - SWEDISH JAKOB CONSORTIUM TO BID FOR VOLVO Swedish Konsortium Jakob, set up to take over home carmaker Volvo, announced that it will remain in the race for Volvo after US Ford (NYSE:F) selected Chinese Geely (HKG:0175) as its preferred bidder. Status: Bidding, Speculation - BASHNEFT'S SHAREHOLDERS TO VOTE ON BUY OF AFK STAKES IN OIL COS ON 1 DEC Russian oil and gas group Bashneft (RTC:BANE) said its shareholders will meet on 1 December to vote on a plan to buy stakes in five oil firms from its parent, Russian conglomerate AFK Sistema (MCX:AFKC). Status: Agreed - NATIONAL EXPRESS ABANDONS MERGER TALKS WITH STAGECOACH The board of UK transport group National Express (LON:NEX) has decided last night to drop merger talks with home rival Stagecoach (LON:SCG) over worries that a deal is not likely to be closed before the end of 2009. Status: Terminated - LLOYDS CLOSE TO AGREEMENT WITH EC OVER ASSET DIVESTMENT UK Lloyds Banking Group (LON:LLOY) is nearing an agreement with the European Commission (EC) to sell some of its banking and financial assets. Status: Auction, Speculation - US EQUIFAX WRAPS UP BUY OF IXI CORP US business solutions specialist Equifax (NYSE:EFX) said it had closed the buy of consumer wealth and asset data provider IXI Corporation. Status: Closed - ITALIAN GRUPPO COIN IN NEGOTIATIONS TO BUY UPIM Italian fashion retail chain Gruppo Coin (BIT:GCN) said it is in discussions to acquire retailer Upim, part of sector player La Rinascente. Status: Talks - US ARTFEST BUYS LUXOR INTERNATIONAL FOR USD5M US Artfest International (OTC:ARTI), a specialty retailer of fine art reproductions and celebrity collectibles, said it had wrapped up the buy of the assets of privately held Luxor International for USD5m (EUR3.4m), in cash and stock. Status: Closed - US GREEN BRIDGE INDUSTRIES BUYS SHOT SPIRITS CORPORATION US cleaning products maker Green Bridge Industries (PINK:GRBG) has bought a controlling stake in Shot Spirits Corporation (PINK:SSPT), a distiller and innovator of cocktails and straight spirits. Status: Closed - BUDIMEX GAINS FULL CONTROL OF BUDIMEX NIERUCHOMOSCI AFTER BUYING FERROVIAL'S 50% STAKE Polish construction group Budimex (WAR:BDX) has raised its stake in real estate firm Budimex Nieruchomosci to 100%, after buying the 50% stake of Spanish construction and services group Ferrovial (MCE:FER). Status: Closed, Speculation - NIMIN ENERGY SIGNS LOI TO BUY OIL, GAS ASSETS FOR USD27M Canadian oil and gas group NiMin Energy (TSE:NNN) said its US subsidiary Legacy Energy has inked a letter of intent (LOI) to buy certain oil and gas interests in the US Rocky Mountain region from an unnamed US firm for USD27m (EUR18.4m). Status: Agreed - US FORTIS PLASTICS BUYS NYPRO'S OPERATING ASSETS IN CHIHUAHUA US injection molded and extruded plastic parts producer Fortis Plastics said its subsidiary FPG Mexico has bought the operating assets of Nypro Chihuahua, a plastics molding and assembly facility in Chihuahua, Mexico. Status: Closed - CANADIAN WIND WORKS POWER TO BUY US ZERO EMISSION PEOPLE Canadian wind energy company Wind Works Power (OTC:WWPW) said it had inked a final agreement to buy US privately-held sector player Zero Emission People. Status: Agreed - BENETTON FAMILY TO OFFLOAD STAKE IN TELECOM ITALIA The Italian Benetton family plans to divest from its stake in telecomms major Telecom Italia (BIT:TIT). Status: Speculation - FLEXERA SOFTWARE TAKES OVER HONICO SOFTWARE US Flexera Software, formerly known as Acresso Software, said it had bought HONICO Software GmbH in Germany and Switzerland for an undisclosed price. Status: Closed - SPANISH REPSOL, EVE TO ESTABLISH 50/50 BATTERY RECHARGING JV Spanish oil and gas company Repsol (MCE:REP) will establish a 50/50 joint venture for battery recharging for electric vehicles together with the Basque Energy Board (EVE). Status: Agreed - US CALLON PETROLEUM CLOSES BUY OF ASSETS IN TEXAS FROM AMBROSE ENERGY US oil and gas company Callon Petroleum (NYSE:CPE) has closed the purchase of interests in Wolfberry production and development properties in western Texas from Ambrose Energy, a subsidiary of sector player ExL Petroleum. Status: Closed - UK E-TRADER ACQUIRES E-TAILER KOODOS UK software company E-trader has bought discount fashion e-tailer Koodos, as part of its strategy to become the leading e-commerce firm in the UK, with focus on the clearance and overstock market. Status: Closed - EC OKS NORTHERN ROCK SPLIT-UP The European Commission has cleared UK bank Northern Rock's splitting into two entities, under a restructuring plan. Status: Agreed - MGPA IN FINAL TALKS TO TAKE OVER LAND IMPROVEMENT HOLDINGS Bermuda-based private equity firm MGPA is in final discussions to acquire UK residential land firm Land Improvement Holdings, owned by insurer Clerical Medical. Status: Exclusivity - SWEDISH EQT TO BUY BULGARIAN EUROCOM, CABLETEL FOR OVER EUR200M Swedish private equity fund EQT V has agreed to buy Bulgarian cable TV operators Eurocom and CableTel for a total enterprise value of more than EUR200m (USD295m). Status: Agreed - PORTUGUESE ZON IN TALKS TO ACQUIRE ONI Portuguese media company ZON Multimedia (ELI:ZON) is in discussions to buy a controlling stake in national telecoms company Oni Communications. Status: Speculation, Talks - GBR RAISES HOLDING IN BRAIN FORCE TO 16.07% German investors association Erste Private Investmentclub Boersebius Zentral (GbR) has increased its stake in Austrian software developer Brain Force Holding (ETR:BFC) to 16.07%. Status: Closed - COMROD COMMUNICATION TO RAISE EUR3.6M TO BUY TELESCOPIC MAST PRODUCER Norway-based antenna manufacturer Comrod Communication (OSL:COMROD) said it would raise NOK30m (USD5.3m/EUR3.6m) through a private placement to finance its planned acquisition of a telescopic mast producer. Status: Talks - BINANI CEMENT DISCUSSING TURKISH CO ACQUISITION Indian cement maker Binani Cement (BOM:532849) is negotiating to buy a sector company in Turkey for INR10bn (USD212m/EUR143m) in a move to boost its production capacity within two years. Status: Speculation, Talks - DEUTSCHE BOERSE EMERGES AS FRONTRUNNER FOR WARSAW EXCHANGE German stock exchange operator Deutsche Boerse (ETR:DB1) is emerging as the lead bidder for Polish state-run Warsaw Stock Exchange. Status: Bidding - ARSENAL FC'S LARGEST STOCKHOLDER SEEN TO EYE HARRISON'S STAKE US businessman Stan Kroenke is expected to boost his stake in UK football club Arsenal to reach the 29.9% threshold which would require him to make a takeover bid for the club. Status: Speculation - JAPANESE DOCOMO EXTENDS TO 9 NOV ACCEPTANCE PERIOD FOR NET MOBILE BUY Japanese mobile telecomms services provider NTT Docomo (TYO:9437) extended until 9 November the acceptance period for its tender offer for the purchase of German mobile content distributor Net Mobile (ETR:N1M). Status: Bidding - RUSSIAN ROSNEFT MAY BUY REFINERY IN EUROPE Russia's oil major Rosneft (MCX:ROSN) is looking to buy a refinery in Europe. Status: Bidding - FORD PICKS GEELY AS VOLVO PREFERRED BUYER US carmaker Ford Motor Co (NYSE:F) said it has selected a group headed by Chinese Geely Automobile Holdings Ltd (HKG:0175) as the preferred bidder in the ongoing talks for the sale of Swedish carmaker Volvo. Status: Bidding, Talks, Exclusivity - FRANCE TELEVISIONS GETS SIX TAKEOVER BIDS FOR AD UNIT FTP French state-run broadcaster France Televisions has received six takeover bids for its advertising unit France Televisions Publicite (FTP). Status: Bidding - VOLKSWAGEN TO MAKE DECISION ON KARMANN ACQUISITION IN TWO WEEKS German carmaker Volkswagen (ETR:VOW) will decide whether to buy a stake in bankrupt contract carmaker Karmann within two weeks. Status: Talks - PORTUGUESE BANIF PLANS SALE OF BROKERAGE UNIT IN BRAZIL FOR EUR58.3M Portuguese banking group Banif (ELI:BNF) is studying the divestment of its Brazilian brokerage unit for some BRL150m (USD86.4m/EUR58.3m). Status: Speculation, Denied - BELGIAN AVH, ELECTRABEL CONSIDER ESTABLISHMENT OF RENEWABLE ENERGY FIRM Belgian diversified services company Ackermans & van Haaren NV (EBR:ACKB), or AvH, and power utility Electrabel are mulling over the setting up of a renewable energy firm. Status: Talks, Speculation - X5 GETS NOD TO BUY STAKE IN PATERSON Russian grocery store operator X5 Retail Group (LON:FIVE) got the thumbs-up by the country's antitrust regulator to buy a stake in smaller rival Paterson. Status: Bidding - EBRO PULEVA LIKELY TO BID FOR SOS' EUROPEAN RICE BUSINESS Spanish food group Ebro Puleva (MCE:EVA) is keen on buying the European rice business of rival SOS Corporacion Alimentaria (MCE:SOS). Status: Speculation, Bidding - BUDIMEX TO BUY 50% IN REAL ESTATE UNIT FOR EUR92M Polish construction group Budimex (WAR:BDX) said in a market filing it would acquire 50% of its real estate arm, Budimex Nieruchomosci, from its current partner Grimaldi Investments for PLN385m (USD137m/EUR92m). Status: Exclusivity - UNITED TECHNOLOGIES EMERGES AS FRONTRUNNER FOR GE SECURITY BUSINESS US industrial group United Technologies Corp (NYSE:UTX) seems to be the lead bidder for the fire alarm and surveillance systems division of diversified group General Electric Co (NYSE:GE). Status: Speculation, Bidding - BARCLAYS SWEETENS BID FOR ITALIAN BANCA MONTE DEI PASCHI BRANCHES UK banking group Barclays (LON:BARC) has raised to EUR540m (USD804.08m) its bid for the 135 branches put up for sale by Italy's Banca Monte dei Paschi di Siena SpA (BIT:BMPS). Status: Bidding, Speculation - CEZ MAKES OFFER FOR 21.3% OF GERMAN UTILITY ENSO Czech power utility CEZ (PRG:BAACEZ) has made an offer for the acquisition of 21.3% of German utility Enso, controlled by Swedish state-owned sector player Vattenfall. Status: Bidding - PRISA SEEKING FURTHER SPANISH-LANGUAGE MEDIA DEALS IN THE US Spanish media group Prisa (MCE:PRS) is chasing "the best partners and the best assets" in the radio sector in the US targeting Hispanic audience. Status: Bidding - MORGAN STANLEY CONSIDERS SALE OF SONY CENTER IN BERLIN US Morgan Stanley Real Estate Funds (MSREF), a subsidiary of financial service group Morgan Stanley (NYSE:MS), is mulling over the sale of its Sony Center property in Berlin. Status: Auction, Speculation - DUTCH ING MAY DIVEST FROM ROMANIAN INSURANCE UNIT Dutch financial company ING Groep (AMS:INGA) may offload its Romanian life insurance unit, ING Asigurari de Viata, as part of its intentions to divest its insurance operations. Status: Auction - GERMAN ESCADA RECEIVES SEVERAL OFFERS FROM POTENTIAL BUYERS Bankrupt German fashion house Escada (ETR:ESC) has received several binding offers from potential buyers, following due diligence procedures. Status: Bidding, Talks - KARSTADT'S AUCTION LURES GERMAN, FOREIGN INVESTORS Karstadt, the department store unit of insolvent German retailer Arcandor (ETR:ARO), has drawn the attention of German and foreign potential buyers. Status: Auction - 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 - 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 - 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 - 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 - GOLDSHIELD MANAGEMENT BOOSTS BID TO GBP4.85 P/S Midas Bidco said 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 - 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 - 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 - 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 - 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 - 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 - 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 - 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 ((Comments on this story may be sent to [email protected])) (c) 2009 M2 COMMUNICATIONS |