Mergers and Acquisitions

German pharmaceutical giant Bayer AG has agreed to the U.S. government's demand that it sell about $9 billion in agriculture businesses as condition for acquiring Monsanto Co., a U.S. seed and weed-killer maker.

The restaurant chain Pret A Manger is being acquired by the European investment firm that bought Panera Bread last year.

Alibaba receive newly issued shares in Ali Health, taking its economic interest in the firm to 56.2 percent.

Networking hardware company looks for complementary M&A, according to CEO Chuck Robbins.

Turnberry Solutions was hired last year for help in the $26 billion deal.

Canadian company Catalyst Paper Corp. is selling its U.S. operations including paper mills in Rumford, Maine, and Biron, Wisconsin, to a Chinese company.

Its second deal in as many weeks aimed at bolstering the supermarket chain's online business.

The Canadian government has blocked the proposed takeover of the Aecon Group Inc. construction company by a Chinese state-owned enterprise, citing reasons of national security.

Legislation awaiting final approval in the Senate would give veterans more freedom to see doctors outside the Department of Veterans Affairs' health system.

Disney in December offered stock then worth $52.4 billion to buy Fox's film, television and international businesses as it bids to beef up its offering against streaming rivals Netflix Inc and Amazon.com Inc.

Electronics and entertainment company Sony Corp. is investing 1 trillion yen ($9 billion) mostly in image sensors over the next three years.

The deal cements Sony's position as the leading music publisher.

Britain's government says it does not intend to refer U.S. media conglomerate Comcast's 22 billion pound ($30.7 billion) takeover offer for London-based Sky to competition authorities, saying the proposed merger doesn't raise concerns on public interest grounds.

The deal values LaSalle at $33.50 per share compared with Pebblebrook's offer price of $31.75 per share and represents a premium of 5 percent to LaSalle's closing price on Friday.

By joining forces with PayPal, which operates in 200 countries, iZettle will be able to accelerate its expansion, including into the United States, the companies said.

The merger agreement, which has been approved by both companies’ boards, is expected cut costs.