AFX NEWS BRIEFING: Mergers and acquisitions highlights to 15:50 BST.

(From AFX UK (Focus))

2006-10-11 15:47:27 Corporate governance body urges vote against restating News Corp's poison pill

LONDON (AFX) - Pensions and Investment Research Consultants (Pirc), the corporate governance adviser, has advised shareholders to vote against News Corp's proposed plans to restate its "poison pill" defence at its annual general meeting on Oct 20. 2006-10-11 15:38:45 Portec Rail buys Vulcan Chain line

PITTSBURGH (AFX) - Portec Rail Products Inc., which provides track maintenance, management and load securing services to the railroad industry, on Wednesday said it plans to buy the railroad product line of Vulcan Chain Corp. 2006-10-11 15:34:32 Roger Parry says no intention to make an offer for ITV

LONDON (AFX) - Roger Parry, the chairman of Johnson Press, announced that following recent press speculation, he has no intention to make an offer for ITV PLC. 2006-10-11 15:22:23 Mitchells & Butlers completes sale of 102 pubs to Trust Inns

LONDON (AFX) - Mitchells & Butlers PLC, the pubs and restaurant company, said it has completed a sale of 102 small community pubs to Trust Inns LTD for 101 mln stg. 2006-10-11 15:15:46 Credit Agricole to fund Italian retail banking deal with 4 bln eur capital hike

PARIS (AFX) - Credit Agricole SA said it plans to launch a 4 bln eur capital increase in the first half of next year to finance its purchase of 654 retail banking branches in Italy from Banca Intesa SpA, which is selling the branches as part of its merger with SanPaolo IMI SpA. 2006-10-11 15:14:36 Visa to go public in restructuring move

NEW YORK (AFX) -

Following the lead of MasterCard Inc., competitor Visa announced Wednesday that it plans to restructure its organization to create a new company and then sell shares in an initial public offering. 2006-10-11 15:08:14 Formation of Natixis approved by Cecei banking regulator

PARIS (AFX) - …