mergers

Panic about house prices, asset bubbles and China caught our readers' attention this year, with the views of leading hedgies and controversial industry figures featuring in our list of the 20 most read stories of 2012.

Quilter has signed an agreement with Cheviot Asset Management that will see the two businesses merge by the end of the year.

Quilter & Co and Cheviot Asset Management are in talks to combine their businesses via a private-equity facilitated merger.

Glencore has revised the terms of its proposed merger with Xstrata again, following a backlash from shareholders on Friday over the terms of the deal.

Saracen Fund Managers has acquired the mandate to run the Bloxham Global Equity Income fund, as part of a plan to merge it with their own Global Income and Growth fund at the end of the year.

Glencore has been hit by falling commodity prices, reporting a drop in pre-tax earnings of a quarter in the first half of the year, but will forge ahead with Xstrata merger plans despite a challenging backdrop.

Henderson is to close its Japan Absolute Return fund and merge away two other vehicles in the latest phase of its fund rationalisation process.

Old Mutual is preparing to cut 30 jobs as it merges Skandia Investment Group and Old Mutual Asset Managers into a single division.

Pfizer deal becomes third largest

Mining company Xstrata has formally announced its intention to merge with Glencore, the world's largest commodities trader, creating a commodities 'powerhouse'.