A MINIMUM of seven international financial services companies have expressed an interest in acquiring AIB’s 70% stake in Polish player, Bank Zachodni, according to reports emanating from Poland.

American fashion label Tommy Hilfiger is to be bought by the owner of Calvin Klein in a deal worth €2.2bn, it was revealed today.

THE outlook for Anglo Irish Bank’s surviving as a standalone entity deteriorated further yesterday as its shares plunged about 28% for the second day in a row.

The UK’s biggest care home operator responded to takeover speculation today by revealing it had received “general enquiries” from a number of parties.

Weak demand for bumper Christmas issues today saw media group Emap reveal a fresh slump in magazine sales ahead of its planned break-up.

The break-up of the Emap media business looked set for completion today after the firm backed a £1bn (€1.4bn) offer for its trade magazines and exhibitions business.

The break-up of FHM and Heat publisher Emap remained on track today after the media group reported “good interest” in all of its assets.

FHM publisher Emap is today said to be in talks with banks to offer loans to bidders interested in buying its businesses.

Emap’s consumer magazine division has attracted interest from the US publisher of Maxim, it was reported today.

Richard Branson’s Virgin empire could go public as part of a new strategy that will see the group act as a consumer-focused private equity investment firm, a report revealed today.

FEMALE fashion retailer A-wear has been bought by its managers from Brown Thomas in a deal believed to be worth €100 million.

Alliance Boots, the retail and wholesale drug group being eyed for takeover by private equity bidders, announced a raft of changes today that will see hundreds of jobs cut and its pharmacies rebranded in a £65m (€95.6m) million makeover.

Trading screens were a sea of red today after negative factors from overseas acted as a drag on sentiment in the London market.

Shares in H Samuel owner Signet slumped today as the market reacted to the decision of two private equity firms to opt against a joint bid for the jeweller.

Entrepreneur Gerald Ratner’s interest in buying the Ernest Jones and H Samuel jewellery businesses was under pressure from a familiar quarter today.

Department store chain House of Fraser today looked set to join the Baugur portfolio after reportedly backing a £356m (€519.2m) takeover approach.

Icelandic group Baugur was today thought to be behind a bid for House of Fraser after the department store chain revealed it had received a “very preliminary” approach.

ITV today said it had rejected a new proposal from a consortium seeking to take control of the UK’s largest commercial broadcaster because it carried too much risk.

Directors of ITV were today reported to be considering a new proposal from a consortium seeking to take control of the UK’s largest commercial broadcaster.

The FTSE 100 Index struggled for direction today as shares lifted in Alliance & Leicester on fresh speculation it may fall to a foreign predator.

Buyers deserted the London market today on fears that its recent rally had run out of steam and nervousness over the future path of US interest rates.

The London market slipped into the red today despite bid activity surrounding broadcaster ITV and a number of mid-cap stocks.

THE private equity consortium stalking ITV could abandon its bid this week if a proposed cash sweetener fails to win over investors in Britain’s biggest commercial broadcaster, it was reported yesterday.

HOUSE of Fraser’s only Irish shop is performing well, yet the company has no plans for expansion in Ireland.

Department store chain House of Fraser posted a 4.6% hike in annual profits today and said sales since the end of January had not fallen as quickly as it feared.

The FTSE 100 Index closed above the 6000 mark tonight for the first time since March 2001 as the City digested Chancellor Gordon Brown’s 10th Budget.

Confirmation of bid interest in broadcaster ITV drove the London market higher today ahead of the Budget statement by Chancellor Gordon Brown.

ITV today said it had rejected an approach from a private equity consortium that would have loaded the broadcaster with large amounts of debt.

ITV was today said to have received an approach from a private equity consortium that would lead to a radical financial restructuring of the broadcaster.

Department stores chain House of Fraser was said today to be on the shopping list of private equity firm Apax Partners after revealing a bid approach last week.

Directors of Virgin Mobile have been told by institutional investors not to accept any takeover bid from cable giant NTL that is less than 400p a share, it was reported today.

Four months after it put itself up for sale, clothing company Tommy Hilfiger Corporation agreed to accept a $1.6bn (€1.3bn) or 16.80 dollars a share, cash bid from Apax Partners, a private investment company.

A takeover battle for Sci Entertainment was looming today after the computer games publisher found itself in the sights of a string of suitors.

One of the backers of a £1.1bn (€1.6bn) takeover of Somerfield today pledged to “throw a lot more money” at the chain as it looks to take on bigger rivals.

A bid worth £1.1bn (€1.6m) for supermarket chain Somerfield was backed by the company’s board today.

The prospect of a £1bn (€1.5bn) bid for British supermarket Somerfield was kept alive today by the last remaining bidder in the long-running takeover saga.

Retailer Boots led the FTSE 100 Index above the 5500 barrier today as investors cheered its proposed merger with Alliance UniChem.

The FTSE 100 Index was back above the 5500 threshold today due to the buzz created by a £7bn (€10.3bn) merger of Boots and Alliance UniChem.

The owner of Pepsi cola was today reported to have entered the battle for ownership of the European drinks arm of Cadbury Schweppes.

Potential takeover parties circling British supermarket chain Somerfield were today ordered to bid within a month or walk away.

Two groups vying for control of UK supermarket chain Somerfield have overcome a key hurdle as they prepare bids worth £1bn (€1.46bn) plus, it was reported today.

Takeover target Somerfield was today urged by shareholders to walk away from a bid rather than accept a cut-price offer.

The FTSE 100 Index ended today firmly in the red after a poor opening on Wall Street dragged banking stocks down.

Cable & Wireless ensured the Footsie made positive strides today as investors warmed to reports of merger talks with rival telecoms firm Energis.