Domestos detergent to Dove soap consumer goods giant Unilever is ready to fire the starting gun on the sale of its Italian frozen food arm, it was reported today.

THE Eircom takeover bid from Singapore Technologies Telemedia is the only game in town, according to union representing the majority of workers in the former state monopoly.

The FTSE 100 Index was stuck in the red today as investor nerves continued to weigh on sentiment.

London’s blue-chips were mired in the red today as the looming bankruptcy of car giant General Motors dealt a blow to market sentiment.

Buy-out firms are circling Britain’s biggest housebuilder Taylor Wimpey, it was reported today.

The maker of Branston pickle and Hovis bread today said it was looking at ways to speed up the reduction of its £1.8bn (€2.3bn) debt mountain.

Budget hotel chain Travelodge continued its expansion today by announcing the addition of seven new sites to its portfolio in a £70m (€88.4m) investment.

SPECULATION is mounting that Dublin-listed CRH, one of the world’s leading builders suppliers, is the front-runner to buy Xella, the building materials company being sold by German conglomerate Haniel.

Italian designer Valentino, whose signature flaming red couture gowns have graced royalty, Hollywood stars and the international jet set for 45 years, announced today he was stepping down as head designer of the Valentino fashion house.

The sale of New Look looked to have collapsed today after reports that the last remaining bidders had refused to meet the £1.8bn (€2.7bn) price-tag for the high street retailer.

Private equity chiefs in the UK will face fresh scrutiny by the British parliament today amid reports they are making large gains from firms which pay almost no corporation tax.

Saga and the AA unveiled surprise plans for a £6.2bn (€9.2bn) merger today, creating one of the UK's largest private equity-owned companies.

Saga and the AA announced surprise merger plans today in a move creating a motoring and insurance giant worth £6bn (€8.9bn).

The Little Chef roadside restaurant chain could be bought by Italy’s wealthy Benetton family, it was reported today.

The London market staged a rally in afternoon trading today, recouping some of its losses from earlier in the session following falls in China overnight.

London’s blue-chips were down more than 1% today as concerns over the Chinese stock market sparked a sell-off.

BIDS for fashion retailer New Look, which employs about 300 people in Ireland, have reportedly been received from two of the world’s largest buy-out groups.

Union leaders in the UK will today meet a top private equity manager in the latest chapter of a growing controversy over the industry’s treatment of staff in companies it takes over.

Music and books retailer HMV today said it had paid the price for failing to react quickly enough to changing consumer demands as it issued its second profits warning since the start of the year.

Beleaguered music and books retailer HMV will today outline details of a recovery plan in the UK as the group struggles amid increasing competition from supermarkets and online retailers.

The storm over the power of private equity funds is set to reignite with the news of a possible takeover of high street chain Boots.

The owners of Little Chef were today said to be in talks to sell part of the company to Israeli property group Arazim Investments.

FTSE investors suffered a bleak session today as heavyweight mining stocks and drug maker AstraZeneca dragged the London market into the red.

Strong gains by the mining sector and British Airways pushed the FTSE 100 Index through the 6200 mark today.

A £1.2bn (€1.8bn) takeover of RHM by Premier Foods caused shares in the food sector to surge today.

The AA could be set for new ownership after it was reported today that preparations were taking place for a £3bn (€4.4bn) sale or flotation.

Hogg Robinson shares started on the front foot today after the corporate travel business joined the stock market at the second time of asking.

Internet gambling stocks dragged the London market into the red today in the wake of anti-gaming legislation passed in the US.

The value of internet gambling shares plummeted today as the sector’s worst fears about legislation in the United States came true.

Robinsons-to-Tango drinks company Britvic yesterday looked set to receive a £600m (€886m) takeover bid from private equity giant Permira.

Plans by corporate travel specialist Hogg Robinson to raise an estimated £190m (€283.7m) from a stock market listing were put on ice today.

KERRY Group has lost out in a €1.7 billion battle to buy Birds Eye frozen foods from Unilever.

Unilever looked set to end its 63-year association with Birds Eye today after agreeing to sell most of its European frozen foods business for £1.16bn (€1.7bn).

Private equity group Permira was today said to be poised to make a bid for the frozen foods arm of Unilever which includes Birds Eye.

Shares in London drifted into the red today despite enthusiasm over a potential £1 billion takeover battle in the housebuilding sector.

The UK’s biggest builder of retirement homes backed a takeover offer worth more than £1bn (€1.4bn) today.

Richard Branson was today said to be planning to merge gym chain Holmes Place with his own health club, Virgin Active.

Music store and bookshop owner HMV became the latest retailer to count the cost of the World Cup as it reported plummeting sales today.

The FTSE 100 Index held firm today in a lacklustre session for shares in London as markets in the United States closed for the Independence Day holiday.

The London market continued its recent recovery today, despite a disappointing session for shares in aerospace and defence group BAE Systems.

The London market began the month in positive mood today despite heavy losses for BAE Systems after it emerged that the defence and aerospace giant will get less than expected for its 20% stake in Airbus.

Shares in BAE Systems tumbled today after it emerged the defence and aerospace giant will get less than expected for its 20% stake in Airbus.

The FTSE 100 Index hit its highest level since mid-May today as interest rate worries which have blighted global stock markets for more than a month showed signs of easing.

Interest rate worries showed signs of easing today after the FTSE 100 Index jumped 70 points and investors prepared for a strong start on Wall Street.