Hill Samuel Group and Union Bank of...

Hill Samuel Group and Union Bank of Switzerland ended talks about a possible takeover of the British merchant bank by the Swiss bank. The companies said there was “no acceptable basis” for an offer and that the talks ended by mutual agreement. Lawrence Adler, chairman of FAI Insurances Ltd., which owns 14% of Hill Samuel, said a number of other companies are interested in acquiring the bank, which some consider too small to compete with London’s biggest investment banking houses.