Astorg Partners leads the consortium that will purchase Canberra from Areva. Areva. the top nuclear reactor builder of France announced that it would be selling its nuclear radiation measurement subsidiary to a private equity group.

Vodafone shares tumble after Verizon denies takeover talk. Vodafone share values fell after Verizon Communications denied rumors of a takeover of its joint venture.

HighMark Funds, the mutual fund arm of UnionBanCal is being sold to Nationwide Financial and Reich & Tang.

Cammeby's International Group would be purchasing the Monterey for the sum of US$250 million. One of the largest apartment towers in Manhattan would be purchased by Rubin Schron, Related Cos is selling one of its assets to the part owner of the Woolworth Building.

Optimer Pharmaceuticals is subject to many possible offers from other drug companies. The antibiotics pharmaceutical maker Optimer Pharmaceuticals Inc has been the subject of interest from GlaxoSmithKline Plc and Astellas Pharma Inc of Japan.

New players in the Tele2 Russia saga show their hand. Russia's largest wireless carrier is now preparing the plan to fight the sale of Tele2 AB to VTB, state owned financial institution.

Elior buyout financing options are attracting buyout firms and more creative financing. Banks are being asked to provide its very first pure covenant lite debt package from Europe in order to support a buyout of Elior, the French catering firm.

In a Financial Times report, AT&T and Verizon are said to be joining forces to make a bid for Vodafone shares in Verizon Wireless.

Blackstone to pay off debts to recapitalize Multi Corp, the European real estate company. The real estate unit of Blackstone Group LP may wrest control of Multi Corp after its acquisitionof almost half of the corporate debt of the cash strapped shopping mall developer.

Carl Icahn, a man known for change in acquired companies, has taken a back seat in his latest shareholdings purchase, Nuance Communications.