-- Reed Business Information: Times says Reed Elsevier (NYSE: RUK) will offer a loan to suitors for its on-the-block RBI B2B publisher - an indication the financial markets are not in good shape. The paper fingers Advent, 3i, Candover, Cinven, Providence Equity, Permira and Apax Partners as likely bidders, but says Reed is having to sweeten the deal with a loan because “it could not persuade banks to provide enough financing that would be attractive to a private equity group”.

-- BSkyB: Sky is considering a €2.5 billion takeover of Spain’s Digital+ pay-TV network, FT.com claims. Grupo Prisa, which also owns the El Pais news publisher, is thought ready to auction the broadcaster. BSkyB (NYSE: BSY) parent News Corp (NYSE: NWS) recently strengthened its European TV operations by promoting Sky Italia head Tom Mockridge to head the continental business and buy more of Germany’s Premiere. FT.com suggested News Corp would continue with such deals while Sky could use its strong financial position to buy Digital+ itself.