Business Getty Images announces merger with rival content firm Shutterstock The union of the two major content firms comes as artificial intelligence is shaking up the image market. 08/01/2025
Markets US Steel and Nippon file lawsuit after Biden blocks merger deal The firms accuse the Biden administration of blocking the merger for "purely political reasons". 07/01/2025
Economy Banking mergers are hot - but cross-border deals still face hurdles High interest rates have allowed banks to build cash reserves for takeovers, although national concerns could be hindering pan-European deals. 24/12/2024
Business Nissan's shares soar on news of potential tie-up with Honda Japanese car makers Nissan and Honda have confirmed they are in discussion about closer collaboration but denied reports they are to merge. 18/12/2024
Business Germany’s Zalando to acquire rival fashion retailer About You Zalando says the deal will help it to build a pan-European e-commerce platform. 11/12/2024
Business Shares jump in Italy's Banco BPM after Credit Agricole raises stake The move from Crédit Agricole could complicate UniCredit's bid to take over the smaller Italian lender. 09/12/2024
Business UK insurers Aviva and Direct Line agree on sweetened takeover bid The UK insurance firm Aviva has improved on an earlier deal rejected by its smaller competitor Direct Line. 06/12/2024
Business UniCredit takeover could cost thousands of jobs, warns Banco BPM boss The smaller Italian lender had previously flagged "serious concerns" about the "employment and social impacts" of a potential merger. 27/11/2024
Business UniCredit makes surprise offer for Italian rival Banco BPM The €10bn offer, which would merge two of Italy’s largest lenders, comes while UniCredit is building up its stake in Germany’s Commerzbank. 25/11/2024
Business Lufthansa reaches deal to secure stake in Italy's ITA Airways The Italian Ministry of Economy and Finance has revealed that it has reached a deal with Germany's Lufthansa Group for a 49% stake in ITA Airways. 12/11/2024
Business CVC Capital Partners seeks cash injection for Italian pharma group The private equity business is reported to be looking for a buyer to take on its majority stake in Genetic Group, an Italian pharmaceutical contract manufacturing company. 11/11/2024
Business Rio Tinto takes big battery metal step with Arcadium Lithium purchase The purchase is seen as an attempt to boost its lithium portfolio and strengthen its position as the transition towards green energy continues. 09/10/2024
Europe News Seeking significant growth, Euronext hails EU merger softening The pan-European stock exchange hopes antitrust officials will cut it some slack as it chases global ambitions. 08/10/2024
Business Denmark's DSV raises €5bn in share sale to fund Schenker acquisition The Danish logistics company is raising funds to buy Schenker, the logistics unit of German state railway Deutsche Bahn. 04/10/2024
Business Commerzbank in larger payout pledge ahead of UniCredit talks The German lender is lifting profit targets and shareholder rewards as Italy's UniCredit contemplates a merger. 26/09/2024
Business Takeover target Commerzbank gets new CEO as UniCredit circles Bettina Orlopp is to replace Manfred Knof 'in the near future'. The news comes days after Italian bank UniCredit revealed it had increased its stake in Commerzbank from around 9% to 21%, subject to regulatory approval. 25/09/2024
Business UniCredit raises stake in Germany's Commerzbank to 21% If the deal wins approval, it will make the Italian bank Commerzbank's largest shareholder - to the dismay of the German government. 23/09/2024
Business Denmark's DSV secures Deutsche Bahn unit despite union resistance DSV will become the world's largest logistics company thanks to the acquisition. 13/09/2024
Business DSV in talks to buy Deutsche Bahn unit amid bidding war with CVC The €14bn deal still has to be approved by the supervisory board of Germany's state railway. 12/09/2024
Business Recovering firm Thomas Cook acquired by Polish travel group eSky Polish travel group eSky has agreed a deal to buy Thomas Cook, the world’s oldest travel brand, from its current Chinese owner, Fosun, just as it gets back on its feet. 06/09/2024