Saturday Papers: Lloyds TSB takes second look at Northern Rock - bid news and gossip

Lloyds TSB takes second look at Northern Rock, Resolution asks Takeover Panel to firm deadline for offerors and RBS consortium on course to secure ABN.

* Lloyds TSB has been tempted into having a second look at Northern Rock after abandoning an earlier bid pitched at between 200p and 300p-a-share (Telegraph)
* Resolution asks Takeover Panel firm deadline for other offerors to make bid; confirms providing due diligence to other offerors
* Segro buys German industrial site for €18.79 million
* Consortium slashes value of Tote bid to £320 million
* RBS consortium on course to secure ABN Amro deal
* Lonrho raises £16.97 million via placing of 44.7 million shares at 38p
* Celtic Resources rejects Severstal offer
* HR Owen buys Inchcape's St Albans Ferrari and Maserati franchises for £320,000
* Lion Consortium no longer considering an offer for Asterand
* Sibir Energy of Russia is planning to move to the official list after more than doubling profits
* US activist investor Guy Wyser-Pratte has taken a 1% stake in TUI Travel
* Sports Direct raises stake in Umbro to 12.2%
* China's $2.2 billion deal for 3Com set to anger US protectionists
* Atorka of Iceland acquires 3.2% stake in RPC
* Brinkley Mining issues 6.5 million shares to Signet and Atomar reduces stake in company
* RMB Holdings raises stake in Emed Holdings to 5.2%
* Melrose unit Dynacast Canada buys Techmire for £2.5 million cash
* Cue Energy in talks for possible reverse takeover; shares suspended