| Bidding war for La Tasca
A multi-million pound bidding war has broken out for La Tasca, the Bolton-based Spanish themed restaurant chain. After yesterday's announcement that the board of La Tasca had recommended an offer of 185p per share from the Tragus Group, owner of the Cafe Rouge and Bella Italia restaurant chains, Kaupthing, the Icelandic bank working in tandem with Robert Tchenguiz's R20 investment vehicle, has announced that it is to offer 188p a share for the company. The new offer values La Tasca at £98.6 million. .
Bayside YMCA is bidding good-bye to 'a big kid'
BARRINGTON - Peter Duffy has been a league commissioner, a champion of women's athletics and a concert promoter. He's also been a moral advocate for young people, an event coordinator, a ticket hawk, and if your men's league basketball team is a player short, he has likely filled in at the point guard position. On Friday, however, the long-time YMCA employee who's handled numerous tasks will retire from all previously held positions and instead focus on another role: Grandfather. Pete, or "Coach," as he is known by fellow employees and Bayside YMCA members alike, said he will spend retirement playing with his six grandchildren. "It's going to be great," he said on Friday, "but I'm going to miss the kids here." Pete's retirement was anticipated by Bayside YMCA staff, but according to those who work with Pete, like operations manager Regina Raffa, his departure will leave a significant hole.
AstraZeneca agrees to buy MedImmune: source
LONDON (Reuters) - Britain's AstraZeneca Plc (AZN.L) has agreed to buying U.S. biotechnology company MedImmune Inc. (MEDI.O) in the biggest transaction since its creation in 1999, a person familiar with the situation said on Monday. The acquisition is the boldest move yet by Chief Executive David Brennan, who has been seeking to bolster the company's drug pipeline and portfolio following a series of product setbacks. AstraZeneca declined to comment on the pending acquisition, which was first reported by the Wall Street Journal. The paper said on its Web site the deal could be worth more than $13 billion. .
Toll spin-off Asciano to look overseas
Toll Holdings Ltd's proposed infrastructure spin-off, Asciano Ltd, will be seeking opportunities overseas, the new managing director of Asciano, Mark Rowsthorn, said. Mr Rowsthorn said Asciano was already part of a consortium bidding for a rail concession in the Middle East. He would not specify the country or give details. Mr Rowsthorn told reporters that there was scope for Asciano to expand in the transport of bulk commodities via rail in Australia, and there were also opportunities on the wharves given considerable activity in the expansion of ports. "We'll be participating in those," Mr Rowsthorn said. "As time marches on, we've already identified a number of international acquisitions that we'll participate in as well. "There is one particular one which isn't an acquisition - it's really part of a consortium bidding for a concession, a rail concession, in the Middle East.
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