AFP German healthcare giant Fresenius said it will buy Spain’s largest private hospital group Quironsalud for 5.76 billion euros ($6.4 billion), adding more than 40 hospitals to its portfolio and expanding its European reach. Shares in Fresenius jumped nearly four percent on the news in early trading on the Frankfurt stock exchange on Tuesday. The deal marks the group’s …

  AFP The German pharmaceutical and chemicals group Bayer said it would sweeten its offer for US rival Monsanto. In a statement, Bayer said it would raise its offer for the US seed giant to $127.50 per share from $125. That would bring the deal’s total value to almost $66 billion including debt. Monsanto confirmed Bayer’s improved bid for a …

  AFP Swedish automaker Volvo Cars will form a joint venture with car safety world leader Autoliv to develop software for driverless vehicles, the two companies said on Tuesday. Volvo Cars said in a statement it was forming the joint venture with Autoliv, a Swedish pioneer of the safety belt in the 1950s, to “develop next generation autonomous driving software.” …