METAL BUY: Metals processing firm Bodycote International has bought Swedish firm Celsius Materials Karlskoga, a subsidiary of Saab.

NEW TERMS: Telecoms regulator Oftel has outlined the terms and conditions of contracts between BT and operators for local loop unbundling, the process where rival operators take space in BT ex-changes to bring high-speed internet access to a wider public.

HIGH STAKE: Newspaper distribution and cargo handling group John Menzies has bought a 49 per cent stake in Italian handling firm Aeroporti di Roma Handling from ground services group Ogden Corporation.

BRIT CHOICE: Brit Insurance Holdings, the specialist insurance and reinsurance firm based in London, has increased its stake in telesales firm People's Choice from 27 per cent to 82 per cent.