Contributed by Martin Mitchell of the Corporate Training Group

In case you were too busy to have kept up with all the news, contributor Martin Mitchell has gathered some important market events from last week to help you start this week well informed:     

Mergers and Acquisitions

• The world’s second biggest cement maker, Holcim purchased the Australian operations of Mexico’s Cemex for A$2bn (US$1.6bn) in cash. Holcim will launch a SFr2bn (US$1.8bn) rights issue to finance the deal.
• Anheuser-Busch InBev is looking to divest its central European operations to reduce its debt after the $52bn purchase of Anheuser-Busch. Private equity houses CVC Capital Partners, Kohlberg Kravis Roberts and TPG are among those expressing an interest in the assets that include 11 breweries.  The sale is expected to raise €1bn to €1.5bn.
• Troubled carmaker General Motors signed a memorandum of understanding to sell Saab to Swedish company Koenigsegg Automotive. Details of the price have yet to be revealed, however the Swedish government will guarantee some $600m of funding from the European Investment Bank.
• Islamic investment group Arcapita sold Church’s Chicken, the world’s third biggest chain of fast food restaurants to Friedman, Fleischer and Lowe, a San Francisco private equity group for around $390m. The deal will see Arcapita double its investment after purchasing Church’s Chicken in 2004. Read more