Market Chatter-Corporate finance press digest (updated)

CARE Ratings

24/02/2014 06:01

(Adds item on Darden Restaurants) Feb 24 (Reuters) - The following corporate finance-related stories were reported by media:  * Private equity firm Cinven Ltd  CINV.UL  has agreed to acquire pharmaceutical contract research organization Medpace Inc from buyout firm CCMP Capital Advisors LLC for a little over $900 million, two people familiar with the matter said on Sunday.  ID:nL1N0LS0FM  * U.S. grocery store operator Safeway Inc  SWY.N  is in advanced talks with private equity firm Cerberus Capital Management LP  CBS.UL  over a leveraged buyout deal that may come within the next few weeks, according to people familiar with the matter.  ID:nL2N0LP2UJ  * Hedge fund Blue Harbor has taken a 2.5 percent stake in Tribune  TRBAA.PK  and is discussing with its management moves to boost the media company's shares, the Wall Street Journal reported, citing people familiar with the matter. (http://link.reuters.com/mab27v) * Activist hedge fund Starboard Value LP wants to put to shareholder vote Darden Restaurants Inc's  DRI.N  plan to spin off its Red Lobster chain, the Wall Street Journal reported, citing a letter Starboard plans to send to shareholders on Monday.  ID:nL3N0LT1A3  * Deutsche Bank  DBKGn.DE  has laid out plans to reduce its U.S. balance sheet as the U.S. Federal Reserve adopts new rules to shield the country's taxpayers from costly bailouts, the Financial Times reported on Sunday.  ID:nL3N0LS0TC  * The European Commission is expected to report a formal complaint against Telefonica's  TEF.MC  takeover bid of 8.6 billion euros ($11.82 billion) for KPN's German mobile division E-Plus, the Financial Times reported, citing people familiar with the talks. (http://link.reuters.com/tez96v) * Ally Financial  ALLY_pb.N  is hoping for an initial public offering of as much as $4.5 billion next month, sources familiar with the matter said, in a deal that would allow the U.S. government to make a profit on its crisis-era bailout of the auto lender.  ID:nL2N0LP2P6  * U.S. television start-up Roku is aiming to launch an initial public offering this year, Bloomberg reported on Friday, citing people with knowledge of the matter.  ID:nL3N0LR00H  * Indian telecom tower company Viom Networks, a joint venture of the Tata Group and Kolkata-based Srei Group, has appointed Credit Suisse and Citigroup to advise it on raising about Rs 15 billion ($241.64 million) of growth capital through listing on a foreign bourse, the Business Standard reported, citing unidentified sources. (http://r.reuters.com/xyz96v) * John Malone-backed Discovery Communications Inc  DISCA.O  is in talks with British Sky Broadcasting Group Plc  BSY.L  over a joint bid for Britain's free-to-air Channel 5, the Financial Times reported on Friday.  ID:nL3N0LR01C  * Baring Private Equity Partners Asia has emerged as the sole bidder to acquire a controlling stake in India's Credit Analysis and Research Ltd  CREI.NS , a leading credit ratings firm, the Economic Times reported, citing two sources aware of the matter. (http://r.reuters.com/ryz96v) For the deals of the day click on  DEALS/  For the Morning News Call-EMEA newsletter click on EMEA/MNC  ($1 = 0.7275 euros) ($1 = 62.0750 Indian rupees) (Compiled by Aastha Agnihotri in Bangalore) ((aastha.agnihotri@thomsonreuters.com)(within UK +44 20 7542 1810)(outside UK +91 806 749 7920)(Reuters Messaging: aastha.agnihotri.thomsonreuters.com@reuters.net)) Keywords: MARKET CHATTER/