The guardian of the Boots pension fund attacked the company today for backing a £11.1bn (€16.3bn) takeover before agreement had been reached on funding for future retirement benefits.

HeidelbergCement’s bid for Hanson is set to result in the last UK-owned major building materials firm falling into foreign hands.

Health and beauty giant Alliance Boots today backed a £10.6bn (€15.6bn) takeover by its deputy chairman Stefano Pessina and private equity group Kohlberg Kravis Roberts.

BILLIONAIRE Stefano Pessina looks poised for an early breakthrough in his surprise £9.7 billion (€14.3bn) attempt to take Alliance Boots private.

Glass maker Pilkington rejected a takeover approach today from its biggest shareholder on the grounds that it was too low.

Boots and Alliance UniChem were said today to be finalising the creation of a £7bn (€10.3bn) pharmacy giant as fears grew that a deal could result in job losses.

Banking giant Barclays unveiled a boardroom shake-up today that will see chief executive Matt Barrett take on the chairmanship four months early.

BARCLAY'S chief executive, Irishman Matt Barrett, is poised to become chairman of the banking giant earlier than expected, it was reported yesterday.

Barclays chief executive Matt Barrett is poised to become chairman of the banking giant earlier than expected, it was reported today.

British banking group Barclays today overcame attacks on its executive pay policy.

The FTSE 100 Index ended the session on an upbeat note today as investors took the first interest rate rise in almost four years in their stride.

The FTSE 100 Index moved into positive territory today as tensions ahead of the Bank of England’s interest rate announcement were released.

Boots has reported that its Irish stores have turned in a solid performance with strong growth in both Health and Beauty products.