Buyout firm Bain Capital has made a £1.1bn ($1.39bn) bid to acquire UK defence contractor Chemring Group, with shares in the London-listed business surging by over 16% on the news, according to a report by Reuters.

Tikehau Capital, along with Amundi Private Equity Funds, investors from Credit Agricole group — including IDIA Capital Investissement — and Arkéa Capital, have entered into exclusive discussions with Loar Group over a deal for LMB Aerospace.

Hong Kong-based CK Infrastructure has made a £7bn ($8.86bn) bid for a majority stake in troubled UK utility company Thames Water, in excess of a $5bn offer tabled by private equity giant KKR for the water supplier, according to a report by the Financial Times.

Gene therapy maker bluebird bio has agreed to be taken private by private equity firm Carlyle Group and SK Capital Partners in a cut-rate deal, amid a prolonged cash crunch struggle stemming from a challenging market for its products, according to a report by Reuters.

Japan’s Seven & i Holdings, the operator of the 7-Eleven convenience store chain, has chosen Bain Capital as its preferred buyer for a stake in its non-core assets, according to a report by Reuters citing local media reports on Saturday.

Australia’s Perpetual has officially ended discussions with private equity firm KKR over the AUD2.2bn ($1.4bn) sale of its wealth management and corporate trust units in the company and is now planning a separate sale of its wealth management business, according to a report by Reuters.

US private equity giant KKR has submitted a preliminary £4bn bid to take a majority stake in Thames Water, positioning itself as a leading contender to acquire the embattled UK utility, according to a report by the Financial Times.

The San Francisco 49ers are reportedly considering selling up to a 10% stake in the franchise, with private equity firms expected to be among the parties interested in a deal that could value the business in excess of $9bn, according to multiple media reports.