Berlin will meet UniCredit directly over its Commerzbank takeover push. The September meeting marks Germany’s first formal engagement with chief executive Andrea Orcel during the two-year banking consolidation battle.

Basware has agreed to acquire payment-fraud specialist Trustpair this year. The deal extends invoice automation into supplier-account verification as generative AI increases the sophistication and scale of payment fraud.

Hardies has acquired Glasgow quantity surveying practice Storrier and Donaldson. The private deal adds an established cost management team and strengthens the surveying group’s capacity across Glasgow and western Scotland.

UK regulators are examining FirstCash’s planned acquisition of Ramsdens today. The CMA is gathering initial views but has not yet formally opened a Phase 1 merger investigation.

UK regulators have cleared Danone’s planned acquisition of Huel. The Phase 1 decision removes a major competition hurdle from the high-profile functional nutrition transaction.

CVC is preparing a potential bid for challenger bank Aldermore. The sale could allow separate offers for the lender’s banking operations and its MotoNovo motor-finance business.

EFG will sell Harris Allday client assets to Canaccord Wealth. The £3.1bn wealth-management operation will transfer as EFG concentrates its UK business on high-net-worth and ultra-high-net-worth clients.

Pinewood has agreed a £545m takeover backed by Ridgeview Partners. The £4.48-a-share offer would take the automotive software company private as investment requirements increase across AI, data, and international expansion.

Frasers has lifted its Hugo Boss stake towards 48% today. The increase deepens its exposure to the German fashion group while its €38-a-share takeover offer remains opposed by Hugo Boss management.

Ultimate Finance’s parent has agreed to acquire Time Finance outright. The £55.13m cash transaction would create a specialist SME lender with a combined net loan book approaching £650m.