IN BRIEF

■ British bookie William Hill is betting on a Swedish-based gaming company to boost sales. It has offered £242million to buy online firm Mr Green & Co as it looks to grow into other European markets because of stricter regulations here.

■ Shopping centre giant intu has given a consortium of potential bidders until November 15 to make a firm offer or walk away. Intu, which has about 20 malls across the UK and Spain, including Manchester’s Trafford Centre and Lakeside in Essex, said it sought an extension from the takeover panel.

■ Banking giant Santander saw profits at its UK arm tumble 13% to £1.4billion in the first nine months of this year. The lender blamed “competitive income pressures”.