June 26 (Reuters) - The following are the top stories in the Financial Times. Reuters has not verified these stories and does not vouch for their accuracy.

Headlines

EasyJet in talks with Castlelake after rejecting £4.9 billion takeover offer

German group Merck to buy Bio-Techne in $11.3 billion deal

Andy Burnham planning new 'devolution department' in Manchester

Ryanair scraps family seating fees after regulator launches probe

Overview

EasyJet EZJ.L said it has entered talks with Castlelake after rejecting a fourth takeover bid from the U.S. private credit firm that valued the airline at about £4.9 billion ($6.46 billion).

German drugmaker Merck MRCG.DE has agreed to acquire U.S. life sciences tools maker Bio-Techne TECH.O for $11.3 billion in cash, marking its largest takeover in more than a decade.

British lawmaker Andy Burnham is planning to set up a new devolution department in Manchester to boost regional growth, as his team weighs broader reforms including a potential breakup of the Treasury.

Ryanair RYA.I said it will allow parents to sit with their children for free after the UK competition regulator launched a probe into potential breaches of consumer law.

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