The prospect of an £8bn (€11.7bn) bidding war for the drinks arm of Cadbury Schweppes caused shares in the blue-chip company to surge ahead today.

The group set to buy health and beauty giant Alliance Boots is understood to be at loggerheads with the firm’s pension trustees after offering far less than the £400m (€587m) demanded upfront, according to a newspaper report today.

Yell lost £800m of its market value today after warning that its Yellow Book business in United States faced intense competition.

One of the private equity firms circling retailer Alliance Boots today improved its takeover offer price to just over £11bn (€16.2bn).

A surge in shares in Alliance Boots fuelled an advance for the London market today as investors jumped on the stock after a bidding war for the pharmacy and retail giant erupted in the City.

The private equity consortium circling Sainsbury's is said to have upped its offer for the group to more than £10bn (€14.67bn), in a move which could spark tensions between shareholders of the supermarket chain.

Supermarket giant Sainsbury’s was today mulling a £9.7bn (€14.25bn) indicative offer from its private equity suitors amid reports that major shareholders of the firm are holding out for a higher bid.

The London market has finished in positive territory despite downbeat US manufacturing figures giving blue-chips a jolt late in the session.

TERRA FIRMA is considering a bid for Alliance Boots, a source familiar with the matter said yesterday, confirming a report that the private equity firm had spoken to banks about an approach.

Healthcare retailer and pharmaceutical giant Alliance Boots is reportedly being eyed for a potential takeover by private equity firm Terra Firma in a move which could spark an all-out bidding war for the group, a report said today.

Private equity bidders circling British supermarket chain Sainsbury’s were today given until April 13 to declare whether they intend to make an offer.

Marks & Spencer’s admission of interest in a potential bid for Sainsbury’s could press the retailer’s private equity suitors into tabling a firm offer for the company, a leading retail analyst said today.

Supermarket giant Sainsbury is today said to be just days away from receiving an £11bn (€16.4bn) takeover offer from a private equity consortium.

Retail stocks soared today after three buy-out groups confirmed their interest in an offer for supermarket chain Sainsbury’s.

Shares in EMI rose 2% today following a report that the music group is expected to shun a private-equity bid worth £2.5bn (€3.7bn).

Takeover speculation involving music group EMI was reignited today after it said it had received an approach.

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.

A private-equity consortium interested in buying NTL is due to hold talks with senior executives of the cable operator today over a possible £10bn (€14.8bn) buyout, reports said today.

A CONSORTIUM of private equity firms was yesterday reported to be preparing a €1.4 billion bid for Unilever’s frozen foods arm which includes Birds Eye.

TWO private equity groups — Permira and Kohlberg Kravis Roberts — plan to make a revised offer of 490 cents a share for electrical goods retailer Kesa Electricals, the Business said yesterday.

Upbeat reports from the Federal Reserve and DuPont lifted US stocks for a second day in a row today, pushing the Standard & Poor’s 500 past 1,300 for the first time since May 2001.

Broadcaster BSkyB is to grab a slice of the rapidly growing broadband market through an acquisition worth up to £150m (€220m), it was reported today.

Tyre maker Bridgestone was said to be in pole position today in the race to land Kwik-Fit, the £1bn (€1.5bn)-rated car parts and repair specialist.

Private equity groups are lining up takeover bids for the owner of DIY chain B&Q, it emerged today.

ITV shares made further heavy gains today after reports said former BBC director general Greg Dyke may launch a £6bn (€8.6bn) takeover bid.

A trio of media heavyweights including former BBC director general Greg Dyke may launch an €8.5 billion takeover bid for ITV, it was reported yesterday.

The race to land the over-50s financial services-to-holidays group Saga is thought to have narrowed to five possible contenders.

Asda owner Wal-Mart was today reported to be lining up a £1bn (€1.5bn) takeover bid for discount clothing chain Matalan.

Shares in Marks & Spencer surged 4% today amid speculation that a £10bn (€15bn) bidding battle for the retailer was set to break out.

A statement issued tonight by M&S after an announcement by retail tycoon Philip Green that he plans to launch a bid for the chain read: “The Board of Marks and Spencer Group notes the announcement made by Revival Acquisitions Limited."

THE clock is ticking for hopeful bidders in Hollinger International’s £550 million-plus sale of the Daily Telegraph as a deadline looms this week.

Credit-default swaps for Marks & Spencer Group Plc were Europe’s worst performers last week on speculation that buyout companies such as Kohlberg Kravis Roberts & Co may fund a purchase of the retailer by taking on more debt.

Bhs billionaire Philip Green will make a cash bid of around £3.2bn for Safeway within the next 10 days, it was reported today.

Supermarket target Safeway’s six-way takeover tussle took another twist today when it dropped its recommendation of an original offer from Morrisons.

The UK’s largest supermarket chain Tesco muscled in on the takeover battle for Safeway today by revealing it was considering a bid for the business.

New York-based buyout specialist Kohlberg Kravis Roberts & Co has made an approach to buy supermarket chain Safeway.