Barclays, Barratt, Acambis, Informa: U.K., Irish Equity Preview

By Howard Mustoe

July 28 (Bloomberg) -- The following is a list of companies whose shares may have unusual price changes in U.K. and Irish markets today. Stock symbols are in parentheses and prices are from the last market close.

The benchmark FTSE 100 Index declined 9.7, or 0.2 percent, to 5,352.60. The FTSE All-Share Index fell 0.4 percent and Ireland's ISEQ Index decreased 1.6 percent.

U.K. Companies:

Acambis Plc (ACM LN): Sanofi-Aventis SA, France's largest drugmaker, agreed to buy U.K. partner Acambis for 276 million pounds ($549 million) in cash to gain a smallpox vaccine ordered by the U.S. government for use during a terrorist attack. Acambis advanced 1 pence, or 0.9 percent, to 116 pence.

AT Communications Group Plc (ATCG LN): The management of AT Communications Group will offer to buy out the U.K. technology company this week, the Independent on Sunday reported, without saying where it got the information. AT Communications rose 0.5 pence, or 2.3 percent, to 22.5 pence.

BAE Systems Plc (BA/ LN): BAE may announce today its acquisition of Detica Group Plc (DCA LN), the Financial Times reported, and BAE may have offered more than 400 pence a share for the software maker, valuing it at about 500 million pounds ($1 billion). BAE shares fell 1.75 pence, or 0.4 percent, to 445.25 pence. Detica fell 7.75 pence, or 2 percent, to 372.25 pence.

Barclays Plc (BARC LN): Swiss Reinsurance Co., Switzerland's largest reinsurer, is considering buying Barclays's life assurance arm, which has more than 7 billion pounds ($13.9 billion) under management, the Sunday Times reported, without citing anyone. Barclays advanced 8.5 pence, or 2.4 percent, to 356.5 pence.

Barratt Developments Plc (BDEV LN): Barratt Developments is in talks with U.K. banks including HBOS Plc about possible joint ventures in real estate, the Daily Telegraph reported, citing a report in the Estates Gazette magazine. Barratt declined 3.5 pence, or 3.4 percent, to 98.75 pence.

British Airways Plc (BAY LN): Four current and former British Airways executives will be charged with price fixing by the U.K.'s Office of Fair Trading, the Financial Times reported, without citing anyone. British Airways advanced 4.75 pence, or 2 percent, to 246.75 pence.

British Energy Group Plc (BGY LN): British Energy Group and Electricite de France SA have reached an agreement in principle on the terms of an offer for the U.K.'s biggest power producer, the Guardian newspaper reported. The offer of about 775 pence a share would value the company in which the U.K. government has a 35 percent stake at about 12.4 billion pounds, the report said, without saying where it got the information. British Energy fell 2 pence, or 0.3 percent, to 726.5 pence.

Compass Group Plc (CPG LN): The world's largest supplier of meals to governments, schools and hospitals releases a trading statement. Compass declined 10 pence, or 2.8 percent, to 345 pence.

Elementis Plc (ELM LN): The world's largest chromium chemicals maker, said first-half business levels beat company targets after making efficiency improvements and demand increased in markets outside of North America. Elementis rose 1.75 pence, or 2.1 percent, to 83 pence.

Informa Plc (INF LN): The U.K. publisher of the Lloyd's List maritime newspaper releases earnings. Informa rose 4.75 pence, or 1.1 percent, to 417.25 pence.

Keller Group Plc (KLR LN): The U.K. ground engineer that built the base for Palm Island in Dubai release earnings. Keller fell 21 pence, or 3.1 percent, to 648 pence.

Land Securities Group Plc (LAND LN): The company has short- listed a group of Middle East investors and the William Pears Group as final bidders for its Trillium property-management unit, which is valued at 1.4 billion pounds, the Financial Times said, without saying where it got the information. Land Securities declined 27 pence, or 2.1 percent, to 1252 pence.

Lloyds TSB Group Plc (LLOY LN): Lloyds TSB Group has put its autolease unit, the U.K.'s second-biggest car-leasing company, up for sale, which could see the bank gaining potentially ``hundreds of millions'' of pounds, the Financial Mail reported, without saying where it got the information. Lloyds TSB declined 6.75 pence, or 2 percent, to 331.25 pence.

Marston's Plc (MARS LN): The pub owner and Brewer releases a trading statement. Marston's fell 8.5 pence, or 4.3 percent, to 188.25 pence.

Northern Foods Plc (NFDS LN): The U.K.'s largest prepared- meals maker releases a trading statement. Northern Foods fell 2.25 pence, or 3.7 percent, to 59 pence.

Pace Plc (PIC LN): The company that supplies digital TV technology for BSkyB releases earnings. Pace rose 2.75 pence, or 3.2 percent, to 87.5 pence.

Pearson Plc (PSON LN): The owner of the Financial Times newspaper and Penguin Group Inc. releases earnings. Pearson was unchanged on July 25.

Reckitt Benckiser Group Plc (RB/ LN): The world's largest maker of household cleaners releases earnings. Reckitt Benckiser advanced 46 pence, or 1.9 percent, to 2536 pence.

Royal Bank of Scotland Group Plc (RBS LN): Royal Bank of Scotland Group Plc may abandon the sale of its U.K. insurance division because of waning interest from buyers, the Financial Mail said, without saying where it got the information. The Royal Bank declined 4.25 pence, or 1.9 percent, to 215 pence.

Wilmington Group Plc (WIL LN): HgCapital, a London-based buyout company, is considering a takeover of Wilmington Group Plc, the U.K. publisher of the Press Gazette, the Sunday Telegraph reported without citing anyone. Wilmington declined 2.5 pence, or 1.5 percent, to 165 pence.

WSP Group Plc (WSH LN): The engineer that helped design New York's Freedom Tower publishes earnings. WSP climbed 4.5 pence, or 0.9 percent, to 515.5 pence.

Irish Companies:

Ryanair Holdings Plc (RYA ID): Europe's biggest discount airline, may say fiscal first-quarter profit declined 63 percent because of higher fuel expenses. Ryanair declined 0.62 euros, or 1.9 percent, to 3.228 euros.

To contact the reporter on this story: Howard Mustoe in London at hmustoe@bloomberg.net