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** Persimmon (PSN.L: Quote, Profile , Research), Britain's largest housebuilder, andprivate equity firms are preparing to hijack the proposed 5.5billion pound merger of George Wimpey (WMPY.L: Quote, Profile , Research) and TaylorWoodrow (TWOD.L: Quote, Profile , Research), the Times said.

** Towergate, a lesser known private insurance firm, hasappointed HBOS (HBOS.L: Quote, Profile , Research) to lead fundraising for a 250 millionpound war chest with which the acquisitive firm will pursueconsolidation of the British market for independent financialadvisers, the Times said.

** Competition lawyers claim the Competition Commission'sinvestigation into Tesco's (TSCO.L: Quote, Profile , Research) purchase of a Co-op storeand its subsequent demolition could force the supermarket giantto sell one of its most profitable stores -- Tesco Extra inSlough -- to a rival, the Daily Telegraph said.

** Standard Life (SL.L: Quote, Profile , Research) still has 220,000 members that havefailed to claim shares worth 261 million pounds following thefirm's floatation last year, the Guardian said.

** Rentokil Initial (RTO.L: Quote, Profile , Research) is to secure a role in theBeijing Olympics by announcing that it is buying a majoritystake in one of China's leading pest control firms, the DailyTelegraph reported.

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