IN BRIEF

The board of pharmaceutical giant Shire has recommended a £46billion takeover bid from Japan’s Takeda. It comes after Takeda tabled several offers that were rejected by the Irish-based firm.

Online fashion company Boohoo is laughing all the way to the bank after posting a 40% rise in profits. The Manchesterbased business made £43.2million in the year to February 28, as sales nearly doubled to £580m.