Fyffes timeline: A short history of the banana giant

From humble Scottish beginnings to €750 million Japanese takeover

Brazilian billionaire Joseph Safra to buy London’s Gherkin building

Price agreed for landmark tower is said to be about £726 million (€924 million)

Chiquita and Cultrale-Safra announce merger agreement

Dublin-headquartered banana distributor Fyffes will receive ‘break fee’ of at least €18.5m

Chiquita board rejects offer from Cutrale-Safra

Group’s board continues to recommend a tie-up with Irish rival Fyffes

Brazilian group sweeten offer to buy Chiquita

Cutrale and Safra raise offer but analysts say Fyffes deal will still go ahead

Stocks slump and bonds rally as global fears mount

Iseq down 2.59%, wiping some €4bn off the value of quoted Irish companies

Strong results expected from Aryzta

Fyffes shareholders to vote on Chiquita merger this week

Fyffes and Chiquita set to secure EU approval for tie-up

The merged company will have a 14 per cent share of the $7 billion global banana market

Merger momentum kept up on deal between Fyffes and Chiquita

Investor presentation highlight merits of proposed $526m all-stock deal

Brazilians appeal to Chiquita shareholders to stymie merger

Lobbying campaign by Cutrale and Safra goes over heads of Chiquita board

Fyffes banana merger expected to face second bid threat

Chiquita rejects $611m offer from Cutrale Group

US banana producer remains committed to completing its acquisition of Fyffes.

Ukraine and Middle East conflicts shape performance in global markets

Indicator on German investor sentiment reports drops to lowest level since 2012

Optimism on Ukraine lifts markets

Iseq dominated by news that Fyffes’ merger with Chiquita likely to dissolve