BAYER SELLS $7 BILLION BOND

Bayer has sold $7 billion worth of bonds to help finance its acquisition of Merck's over-the-counter medicine business.

SAUDI'S NCB TO LAUNCH $6 BILLION IPO

National Commercial Bank plans to raise $6 billion in an initial public offering this month in what is likely to be one of the biggest share sales globally this year.

ROCKET INTERNET SHARES FALL BELOW ISSUE PRICE AT DEBUT

Shares of Rocket Internet fell below their issue price at debut on the Frankfurt stock exchange, in a disappointing start for the Berlin-based investor in online businesses.

VIRGIN MONEY CONFIRMS LONDON IPO

U.K. lender Virgin Money said it plans to raise up to $242.8 million by floating on the London Stock Exchange this month.

EXPEDIA'S BID FOR WOTIF.COM CLEARED

Australia's competition regulator cleared the way for Expedia's $615 million takeover of Wotif.com Holdings, one of Australia's largest online travel agencies.