US restaurant group Yum Brands is in exclusive negotiations to sell its Pizza Hut business to private equity firm LongRange Capital, according to a report by Reuters citing an unnamed source familiar with the discussions.

Asian investment firm HSG has emerged as the frontrunner to acquire a stake in German luxury camera maker Leica Camera AG, in a deal that could value the business at around €1bn ($1.2bn), according to a report by Bloomberg citing unnamed people familiar with the process.

Private equity firm CVC Capital Partners has agreed to acquire the food ingredients division of International Flavors & Fragrances (IFF) in a transaction valued at around $4.3bn, as sponsor-led carve-outs of non-core corporate assets continue to gather pace, according to a report by the Financial Times.

UK budget carrier easyJet has said it has not entered into any discussions with investment firm Castlelake, following speculation that the US-based private investment firm is considering a possible takeover offer for the airline, according to a report by Bloomberg.

Blackstone Inc is committing as much as $1.3bn in structured financing to Apogee Therapeutics Inc, supporting the biotech’s efforts to advance a potential rival to the widely used eczema treatment Dupixent, according to a report by Bloomberg.

Apex Service Partners, which is backed by private equity firm Alpine Investors, is nearing a minority stake sale that could value the business at around $10bn including debt, according to a report by Reuters citing an unnamed person familiar with the matter.

Applied Aerospace & Defense is targeting a valuation of up to $3.59bn in its planned US initial public offering, as investor appetite for defence-related assets continues to strengthen amid rising geopolitical tensions, according to a report by Reuters.