Mergers & Acquisitions

BRIEF-NCC acquires U.S. security testing firm

LONDON, Aug 20 - NCC Group PLC : * Acquisition of US mobile security testing specialist for £7.1m

BRIEF-United Drug to buy Bilcare GCS for $61 mln

DUBLIN, Aug 20 - United Drug PLC : * To acquire UK and US clinical services businesses Bilcare GCS for $61 million

Market Chatter - Corporate finance press digest

Aug 20 - The following corporate finance-related stories were reported by media on Monday:

UPDATE 1-Ferrovial sells BAA stake to fund Latin America push

MADRID, Aug 17 - Spanish infrastructure firm Ferrovial said on Friday it had sold part of its stake in British airport operator BAA Ltd to Qatar to finance its bid to push further into faster growing markets such as Latin America.

UPDATE 1-RLPC-UK hotel chain Travelodge agrees debt restructuring

LONDON, Aug 17 - UK budget hotel chain Travelodge agreed a 635 million pound ($999.6 million) debt restructuring that will give lenders control of the business but confirms a significant loss for its Dubai owners who bought the company in 2006.

UPDATE 1-Petroceltic adds Black Sea assets with Melrose Resources buy

* Melrose shareholders to be paid special div of 4.7 pence

CORRECTED-RLPC-Distressed investors pile into Biffa loans

LONDON, Aug 15 - Distressed investors are buying into loans of UK waste management firm Biffa as they attempt to take control of the company, which is restructuring its 1.1 billion pounds ($1.7 billion) of debt, banking sources said.

China National Gold considers big push into Africa

Petroceltic to buy Melrose Resources for $260 mln

Aug 17 - Irish oil and gas company Petroceltic International Plc will buy Melrose Resources Plc for 165 million pounds ($259.74 million) to strengthen its operations in North Africa, the Mediterranean and Black Sea.