1. Direct Line rockets after rejecting £3.3bn Aviva takeover bid
The motor and home insurer confirmed on Wednesday evening that it had turned down the bid as it was "highly opportunistic and substantially undervalued the company".
2. Dr Martens delivers double-digit sales decline and jumbo pre-tax loss
The iconic footwear group saw £29 million in losses before tax compared to last year’s £26 million profit.
3. Loungers accepts takeover offer from US private equity firm
The cash offer, which represents a 30% premium to yesterday’s closing price, values the AIM-listed company’s shares at £338 million and the enterprise at £350.5 million.
4. FTSE 100 Live
Spirax leads gains.
5. THG climbs from 2yr low after detailing Ingenuity demerger plan
Shares in the MyProtein owner, having sunk to a two-year low last week, surged 5.5% to 45.69p after the update, which delved into plans promising to create a more profitable business comprising of THG’s beauty and nutrition wings.