M&A

2 November, 2009

UPDATE 3-Deals of the day -- mergers and acquisitions

** The UK government will unveil plans this week to spend 30 billion pounds ($49.3 billion) buying further shares of rescued banks Royal Bank of Scotland (RBS.L) and Lloyds (LLOY.L), The Daily Telegraph newspaper reported. [ID:nSP1641]

** Daiwa Securities (8601.T), Japan's second-largest brokerage, is seeking an acquisition or a tie-up to help it grab more investment banking deals in Asia, its chief executive said. [ID:nTKG006563]

** Business communications service provider Alternative Networks (ALTAN.L) said it bought software firm Aurora Kendrick James Group for a maximum of 5.5 million pounds ($9.04 million) to boost its customer service portal. [ID:nBNG448818]

** Royal Bank of Scotland (RBS.L) is close to agreeing more flexible terms on a government insurance scheme for bad debts, in a deal that will include asset sales to appease EU antitrust concerns, sources close to the deal said. [ID:nLV80446]

** AngloGold Ashanti (ANGJ.J) and Ranggold said they had entered into an agreement with Congo's state owned OKIMO to buy a stake in Moto Goldmines for $113.6 million. [ID:nLV103241]

** German retailer Metro (MEOG.DE) is increasingly losing interest in acquiring the stores of Karstadt, the department store unit of insolvent Arcandor (AROG.DE), a German newspaper said on Sunday, citing sources. [ID:nL0185680]

** Fertilizer maker CF Industries Holdings Inc (CF.N) edged up its hostile offer for smaller rival Terra Industries (TRA.N), removing what has been seen as a major obstacle for the bid by boosting the cash portion. [ID:nN01407402]

** Air China (601111.SS) (0753.HK) will hold 51 percent of a cargo venture with Cathay Pacific (0293.HK) which it hopes to finalise in the first half of next year, a Chinese airline executive said. [ID:nSHA115625]

** Partner Communications (PTNR.O), Israel's second largest mobile phone operator, said it might be interested in buying 012 Smile's (SMLC.O) operations following the Internet service provider's acquisition of Bezeq Israel Telecom (BEZQ.TA). [ID:nL1175784] (Compiled by Tina Kwan in Singapore and Shobhana Chadha and Fareha Khan in Bangalore)

Source: http://www.reuters.com