Dulux paint maker ICI is expected to confirm an £8.1bn (€12bn) takeover deal today, which could see one of the oldest names in British industry pass into foreign hands.

Dulux paint maker ICI has agreed to an €11.9bn takeover by Dutch chemicals group Akzo Nobel, it emerged today.

ICI bidder Akzo Nobel was today given more time by the UK takeover watchdog to table its formal £8bn (€12bn) offer for the Dulux paint maker.

Dulux paint maker and chemicals giant ICI is today reportedly set to give Dutch suitor Akzo Nobel more time to come up with a formal bid for the group.

Blue chips endured another choppy day on the London market today as high-profile takeover activity failed to lift stocks into positive territory.

Blue-chip takeover activity and a flurry of broker notes helped limit falls on London’s leading share index today.

The takeover of ICI moved a step closer today after the Dulux paint maker gave Dutch bidder Akzo Nobel “limited” access to its books.

ICI suitor Akzo Nobel is today said to have upped its proposed offer for the Dulux paint maker to just over £8bn (€11.8bn) in its latest attempt to secure the group.

The London market continued its rollercoaster ride today, closing deep in the red as hopes of a prolonged revival began to fade.

Better-than-expected results from HSBC and Pearson failed to lift confidence on the London market today following last week’s turmoil.

London’s blue-chips made tentative gains today after last week’s credit fears sent shockwaves through world markets.

Dulux paint maker ICI is set to reject a second higher takeover approach from Dutch suitor Akzo Nobel worth £7.7bn (€11.4bn), it was reported today.

Dulux paint maker ICI is set to reject a second higher takeover approach from Dutch suitor Akzo Nobel worth £7.7bn (€11.4bn), it was reported today.

The Dutch firm circling chemicals giant ICI was today under increasing pressure to clarify its takeover position on the iconic UK company.

Rising interest rates claimed a major casualty today after car dealership Pendragon warned its profits would be hit by a consumer spending slowdown.

Dulux paint maker ICI was today confirmed as a takeover target of Dutch chemicals firm Akzo Nobel, the owner of rival paints brand Crown.

SCHERING-PLOUGH has signed a deal to buy Akzo Nobel’s drugs unit, Organon, for $14.4 billion (€10.92bn) in cash.

Chemicals and paints giant ICI continued its stellar stock market performance today as further bid speculation surrounded the firm.

Dutch drugs and chemicals conglomerate Akzo Nobel today confirmed it would be cutting 350 jobs in response to falling demand at Diosynth, its pharmaceutical ingredients manufacturing unit.

Dutch chemical and drug maker Akzo Nobel said today that Paul Bremer, the new US civilian administrator in Iraq, had resigned from its supervisory board because of US rules on conflicts of interest.