2008-06-09 15:44:19 PPR buys 23 percent stake in Swiss watch manufacturer Sowind

PARIS (Thomson Financial) - French luxury and general retailing group PPR has bought a 23 percent stake in Swiss watch manufacturer Sowind from its president Luigi Macaluso, who holds the remaining 77 percent.

2008-06-09 15:24:41 Metro chairman denies speculation Haniel aims to merge with Cash & Carry

FRANKFURT (Thomson Financial) - Metro AG.'s supervisory chairman denied that the Haniel Group, which holds about 34 percent of Metro, has plans to merge the retailer's Cash & Carry business with its own operations, according to an interview by Manager Magazin.

2008-06-09 15:05:30 Erste Bank says not interested in acquiring stake in BayernLB, dismisses rumours

VIENNA (Thomson Financial) - Erste Bank is not interested in acquiring a stake in German state bank BayernLB, a company spokesman told Austrian news agency APA, dismissing media reports.

2008-06-09 14:53:32 Expro shareholders approve revised 1,550p/share takeover offer from Candover

LONDON (Thomson Financial) - Expro International Group Plc. said its shareholders have approved the recommended revised offer of 1,550 pence per Expro share, regarding the takeover of Expro by a consortium led by European private equity firm Candover.

2008-06-09 14:48:31 Icahn: Yahoo board continues tomisstatements in response to criticism

NEW YORK (Thomson Financial) - Carl Icahn Monday released an open letter he's sent to Yahoo's board, saying the company keeps "repeating misstatements" in response to his recent criticism of a severance plan he says was put in place to thwart a deal with Microsoft Corp.

2008-06-09 14:31:05 JetBlue to buy Verizon's air-to-ground towers

NEW YORK (AP) - JetBlue will purchase the towers once used by Verizon Communications Inc. for its now defunct in-flight calling service, a JetBlue spokesman said Monday.

2008-06-09 14:11:50 Air Products sells units to Ashland for $92M

LEHIGH VALLEY, Pa. (AP) - Industrial gases and equipment supplier Air Products & Chemicals Inc. said Monday it sold its pressure-sensitive adhesive business and its atmospheric emulsions business to Ashland Inc. for $92 million.

2008-06-09 14:07:08 Air France-KLM says Alitalia is 'closed chapter', no contacts with govt

MILAN (Thomson Financial) - Air France-KLM's chairman and chief executive Jean Cyril Spinetta said the company's interest in a takeover of Alitalia SpA is a "closed chapter", Radiocor news agency reported from a conference in Paris.

2008-06-09 13:54:44 Allergan buys QLT acne gel Aczone for $150 million

IRVINE, Calif. (AP) - Allergan Inc. said Monday that it would acquire QLT Inc.'s acne gel Aczone for $150 million.

2008-06-09 13:42:00 Air France-KLM says Alitalia is 'closed chapter', no contacts with govt, company

MILAN (Thomson Financial) - Air France-KLM's chairman and chief executive Jean Cyril Spinetta said the company's interest in a takeover of Alitalia SpA is a "closed chapter", Radiocor news agency reported from a conference in Paris.

2008-06-09 13:35:01 Cost Plus board to meet to review and discuss Pier 1 buyout offer

NEW YORK (Thomson Financial) - Cost Plus Inc. Monday said its board would meet in due course to review and discuss an unsolicited buyout proposal from Pier 1 Imports.

2008-06-09 13:27:45 Whitney Holding to merge with Parish National in cash and stock deal

NEW YORK (Thomson Financial) - Whitney Holding Corp. Monday said it would merge with Parish National Corp. in a cash and stock transaction.

2008-06-09 13:21:28 CORRECT: PARISH NATIONAL SHRHLDRS TO GET ABOUT $165M CASH AND/OR STOCK

NEW YORK (Thomson Financial) - Chuck Mikolajczak cm/cm

2008-06-09 13:17:53 W.W. Grainger unit acquires Excel Industriel

CHICAGO (AP) - Maintenance products distributor W.W. Grainger Inc. said Monday its Canadian unit has acquired the assets of Granby, Quebec-based Excel Industriel, a distributor of maintenance, repair and operating supplies.

2008-06-09 13:12:48 Icahn's big bet on Yahoo hinges on Microsoft sale

SAN FRANCISCO (AP) - Antagonistic investor Carl Icahn became a

billionaire by bullying already distressed companies, but his harassment of Yahoo Inc. could leave him with a black eye -- and a hole in his wallet -- if he's wrong about Microsoft Corp.'s desire to buy the Internet pioneer.

2008-06-09 13:10:37 Ashland to buy adhesive, polymer assets from Air Products & Chemicals for $92M

BOSTON (Thomson Financial) - Ashland Inc. Monday said it has agreed to purchase Air Products and Chemicals Inc.'s pressure-sensitive adhesive business and its atmospheric emulsions business for $92 million.

2008-06-09 12:47:53 Cognizant buys Strategic Vision assets

TEANECK, N.J. (AP) - Information technology company Cognizant Technology Solutions Corp. said Monday it bought substantially all the assets of media and entertainment technology consulting firm Strategic Vision Consulting Inc.

2008-06-09 12:43:57 EU inquiry deadline for Danfoss buy for sole control of Sauer-Danfoss July 10

BRUSSELS (Thomson Financial) - The European Commission said the deadline for its inquiry into Danish manufacturing group Danfoss AS.' acquisition of sole control of Sauer-Danfoss Inc. is set for July 10.

2008-06-09 12:39:31 Honeywell sells support unit to BE Aerospace

NEW YORK (AP) - Honeywell says it will sell a unit that makes aerospace fasteners and provides logistical services to B/E Aerospace for $1.05 billion, including at least $800 million in cash and the rest in B/E common stock.

2008-06-09 12:36:11 Macrovision Solutions upgraded to buy at Piper Jaffray; target boosted to $20

BOSTON (Thomson Financial) - Macrovision Solutions Corp. was upgraded Monday to buy from neutral at Piper Jaffray, which said investors will return to the stock based on achievable 2008 and 2009 estimates for the company after recently closing its acquisition of Gemstar-TV Guide.

2008-06-09 12:15:34 Qatar Telecom expects to close Indosat purchase by end-month

JAKARTA (Thomson Financial) - Qatar Telecom expects to close the purchase of a 40.08 percent stake in Indonesia's second-biggest telephone operator PT Indosat Tbk at the end of this month, Jeremy Sale, head of business development at Qtel group, said on Monday.

2008-06-09 12:13:24 Allergan to acquire QLT's Aczone Gel 5% for $150M

BOSTON (Thomson Financial) - Allergan Inc. Monday agreed to acquire QLT Inc.'s Aczone Gel 5% product for about $150 million.

2008-06-09 12:12:47 Honeywell sells consumables unit to BE Aerospace

NEW YORK (AP) - Honeywell says it will sell its consumables business to B/E Aerospace for $1.05 billion, including at least $800 million in cash and the rest in B/E common stock.

2008-06-09 12:10:09 Agora and Germany's Cornelsen seeking stake in Polish publisher WSiP

WARSAW (Thomson Financial) - Polish blue-chip media group Agora and German educational publisher Cornelsen are in talks to buy a majority stake in Poland's leading schoolbook publisher WSiP, state newswire PAP reported on Monday, citing unnamed market sources.

2008-06-09 12:07:03 Pier 1 Imports proposes acquisition of Cost Plus for $4 a share

NEW YORK (Thomson Financial) - Pier 1 Imports Inc. Monday proposed to buy Cost Plus Inc. in a stock-for-stock transaction.

2008-06-09 12:06:18 Hologic to buy Third Wave Technologies for $580 million

NEW YORK (Thomson Financial) - Hologic Inc. Monday said it would buy Third Wave Technologies Inc. for $580 million, or $11.25 a share.

2008-06-09 11:51:38 Honeywell to sell Consumables Solutions unit to B/E Aerospace for 1.05 bln usd

LONDON (Thomson Financial) - Honeywell Aerospace announced today that it has agreement to sell its Consumables Solutions business to B/E Aerospace for 1.05 bln usd, consisting of at least 800 mln usd in cash and the remainder in shares of B/E common stock.

2008-06-09 11:39:35 RWE acquires Spanish wind energy provider Urvasco Energia for undisclosed sum

ESSEN, Germany (Thomson Financial) - RWE AG. said it fully acquired Spanish wind energy provider Urvasco Energia through its renewables unit RWE Innogy for an undisclosed sum.

2008-06-09 11:30:27 IFIL's Juventus to receive 4.5 mln euros from Siena in player deals

MILAN (Thomson Financial) - IFIL SpA's quoted unit Juventus Football Club SpA said it will receive 4.5 million euros from the AC Siena football club for sporting rights to two players, both currently on loan to Siena.

2008-06-09 11:16:47 Fresh Del Monte acquires Costa Rican fruit business for $403 mln

LONDON (Thomson Financial) - Fresh Del Monte Produce Inc. said it has acquired three Costa Rican fruit businesses for a total of $403 million.

2008-06-09 11:08:32 Intesa Sanpaolo declines to comment on reported Neos sale plans

MILAN (Thomson Financial) - Intesa Sanpaolo SpA has declined to comment on a report it has put up for sale its Neos consumer credit unit, a company spokeswoman said.

2008-06-09 10:55:30 Atlantia CEO sees economic slowdown affecting motorway traffic

MILAN (Thomson Financial) - Atlantia SpA CEO Giovanni Castellucci said the economic slowdown in Italy is having an impact on traffic on the company's motorway network.

2008-06-09 10:36:15 EU inquiry deadline for REWE buy of Plus Discount extended to July 3

BRUSSELS (Thomson Financial) - The European Commission said it has extended the deadline for its inquiry into German retailer REWE AG.'s proposed acquisition of the Plus Discount chain to July 3.

2008-06-09 10:29:47 A2A aims to strengthen position in Edison - MD

MILAN (Thomson Financial) - A2A SpA Managing Director Renato Ravanelli said the group intends to strengthen its position in Edison SpA.

2008-06-09 10:25:11 EU inquiry deadline for BAT buy of STK's tobacco ops extended to June 27

BRUSSELS (Thomson Financial) - The European Commission said it has extended the deadline for its inquiry into British American Tobacco PLC.'s (BAT) proposed acquisition of Skandinavisk Tobakskompagni AS.' (STK) cigarette business, certain snus and roll-your-own tobacco operations to June 27.

2008-06-09 10:08:00 Hiestand/IAWS merged group Aryzta aims to double profit over next 5 years

ZURICH (Thomson Financial) - Hiestand Holding AG and IAWS Group PLC management see great growth potential for the combined group Aryzta AG.

2008-06-09 10:00:40 Telecom Italia interested in Germany market; nothing concrete yet

MILAN (Thomson Financial) - Telecom Italia SpA reiterated that it is interested in taking part in the consolidation of the German telecommunications markets but added that there is no concrete project yet.

2008-06-09 09:48:15 Babcock & Brown raises stake in Forth Ports to 22.2 percent

LONDON (Thomson Financial) - Babcock & Brown Ltd.'s European Infrastructure Fund has increased its stake in Forth Ports Plc. to 22.2 percent, according to a filing to the stock exchange.

2008-06-09 09:28:59 Aegon UK sells most of its stake in Forth Ports

LONDON (Thomson Financial) - Aegon UK has sold most of its stake in Forth Ports Plc., according to a filing to the stock exchange.