Vodafone Group, the world's largest mobile phone operator by revenue, has secured a four-year deal to provide Oracle Corp mobile services in its EMEA region.

The industrial gas company Air Products and Chemicals will today launch a hostile bid for its smaller rival, Airgas.  Air Products, the worldÔÇÖs largest hydrogen producer, is to offer $60 per share for Airgas, representing a 38 percent premium above ThursdayÔÇÖs closing share price of $43.53. Including the assumption of $2 billion of debt, the deal values Airgas at $7 billion.  A merger between the two companies would create the largest industrial gas maker in North America by revenue.

Abu Dhabi Investment Authority, the sovereign wealth fund, is preparing to take a stake of up to 15 per cent in LondonÔÇÖs Gatwick Airport.

Amazon has purchased flexible touch screen maker Touchco in an apparent attempt to better compete against Apple's new product, the iPad.  It is thought that Amazon plans to use the technology developed by Touchco to offer a touch-screen interface with its Kindle e-readers.

A new offshore crude oil field has been discovered in the emirate of Dubai, the government has announced.

Kraft Foods has won control of UK confectioner Cadbury after holders of almost 72 percent of the companyÔÇÖs shares accepted the $18.6 billion takeover.  The deal, which brings a five-month battle over the company to an end, will create the worldÔÇÖs biggest confectioner.  Once Kraft gains 75 percent of Cadbury's shares, it can delist them. At more than 90 percent, it can force remaining Cadbury shareholders to sell.  Kraft needed just 50 percent plus one share to take control of Cadbury.

Telecom Italia and SpainÔÇÖs Telef├│nica may be seeking to merge, it has been reported.

Factory sector activity in the US reported its best performance in over five years in January, boosting hopes of a growth in overall economic output.  The data, released by private research group the Institute for Supply Management (ISM), provides further evidence that the US economy is continuing to emerge from recession. The ISM said its index of manufacturing activity, also known as the purchasing managers index, moved to 58.4 in JanuaryÔÇöthe best reading since August 2004. The reading was 54.9 in December and 53.7 in November. Readings over 50 indicate growth.

Oil giant Royal Dutch Shell has signed an agreement with the Brazilian industrial group Cosan to form a new ethanol-producing joint venture.

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