Shares of Hyundai Merchant Marine jumped the most among shares of Hyundai Group companies following the conglomerate's announcement that it will sell assets to raise $3.1 billion to repay bonds due in two years.

Activist investor Starboard Value has acquired a 5.6% stake in Darden Restaurants for $374 million. Starboard will become the second activist investor within months to push for a strategy change in the struggling restaurant operator.

There are no sellers even as Scandinavian phone companies believe that mergers would benefit not only the region but corporate earnings as wel.

Property lender Aareal Bank this weekend announced that it would takeover German rival Corealcredit Bank for €342 million. Corealcredit will be bought from American private equity firm Lone Star Funds.

Oracle has agreed to purchase Responsys for $1.5 billion but not including debt or a 38% premium on the the company's closing price on Thursday, December 20, The New York Times The Dealbook reported.

Nine West, Anne Klein and Easy Spirit owner Jones Group have accepted the buyout offer from private equity company Sycamore Partners, The Dealbook reported.

US food startups like Goldbely and Mouth have made gourmet and speciality food available to consumers across the country this Christmas, the Financial Times reported.

The following are mergers under review by the European Commission and a brief guide to the EU merger process.

Investors have received billions of euros from European companies so cautious about the economic outlook they could find nothing better to do with spare cash, but many now want boards to snap up rivals instead - and are rewarding them when they do.

Two foreign investments in Chinese financial institutions this month suggest China will not turn away cash from countries it has taken diplomatic or trade measures against after blaming them for interference in its domestic affairs.