CADBURY

Kraft Foods agrees a deal to buy Cadbury on Tuesday for around 11.9 billion pounds ($19.55 billion) by increasing its overall bid and offering more cash in an offer that was recommended by Cadbury's board.

U.S. stock index futures slipped on Tuesday as Kraft Foods Inc reached a deal to acquire Cadbury and earnings season picked up steam.

U.S. stock index futures slipped on Tuesday as Kraft Foods Inc reached a deal to acquire Cadbury and earnings season picked up steam.

Kraft Foods was close to announcing a recommended deal to buy Cadbury for around 11.7 billion pounds ($19.2 billion) after it offered more cash in late-night talks to break a four-month impasse over price.

U.S.-based Kraft Foods Inc and Britain's Cadbury Plc are close to sealing a friendly deal to create the world's largest confectionery group for up to 11.7 billion pounds ($19 billion), sources familiar with the matter said on Monday.

U.S.-based Kraft Foods Inc and Britain's Cadbury Plc are holding talks about a potential friendly deal to create the world's largest confectionery group for up to 11.7 billion pounds ($19 billion), sources familiar with the matter said on Monday.

U.S.-based Kraft Foods Inc and Britain's Cadbury Plc are holding talks about a potential friendly deal to create the world's largest confectionery group, sources familiar with the matter said on Monday.

Cadbury shares edged upwards on Monday in anticipation of a higher bid from Kraft Foods, while one major shareholder, Standard Life, said Kraft needed to bid over 900 pence to get its support.

Cadbury shares edged upwards on Monday in anticipation of a higher bid from Kraft Foods, while one major shareholder, Standard Life, said Kraft needed to bid over 900 pence to get its support.

Shares in Cadbury Plc pushed higher on Monday in anticipation of a higher bid from Kraft Foods , which is expected to sweeten its original takeover offer before the January 19 deadline.

Cadbury Chief Executive Todd Stitzer said the British confectioner could be worth more than 10 pounds a share by 2013, in an interview published in the Daily Telegraph's Monday edition.

Some of Cadbury's biggest shareholders, led by Legal & General, continued to reject Kraft Foods' 10.5 billion pound ($17.2 billion) bid and will look for an increased offer over the next four days.

Cadbury fired the final salvo in its defence on Thursday, branding Kraft Foods' bid as more unattractive than a month ago, as Cadbury shares rose on hopes of a rival bid from Hershey.

U.S. chocolate maker Hershey Co is still working on a bid for Cadbury Plc that would top Kraft's hostile $17 billion takeover offer, a source familiar with the matter said on Wednesday.

U.S. chocolate maker Hershey Co is preparing a bid for Cadbury Plc that would top Kraft's hostile $17 billion takeover offer, the Financial Times reported on Wednesday.

U.S. stocks rose on Wednesday as investors bought financial and technology shares ahead of earnings from bellwethers Intel Corp and JPMorgan Chase & Co later this week.

Kraft Foods Inc CEO Irene Rosenfeld was going door-to-door in London on Wednesday, visiting Cadbury's largest shareholders at their offices to win support for a $17 billion takeover bid.

Britain's business secretary Peter Mandelson is expected to add his weight to union calls for Cadbury shareholders to resist Kraft Foods' bid, which got a boost from the withdrawal of a possible rival.

Kraft Foods raised its 2009 profit forecast on Tuesday and said it was well-positioned to deliver sustainable top-tier performance, with or without Cadbury.

Italy's Ferrero has decided not to bid for Cadbury Plc

Bid-target Cadbury Plc said on Tuesday it had good support from its shareholders in repelling the hostile bid from Kraft Foods and should be able to deliver on its financial targets for 2010.