It immediately rejected the offer as hostile, and vowed to retain the firm's independence.

ECONOMIST: Attempts to form a new drugs giant in Germany

"A bid came in and it was immediately rejected, " said a Blackburn statement.

BBC: Man City fail in Santa Cruz bid

The next day he said he would step down at the end of year but the opposition immediately rejected that offer.

ECONOMIST: But who will replace the president?

After the Cypriot parliament immediately and overwhelmingly rejected the bank-deposit tax, its government started looking at a hodge-podge of options to secure EU support, including a possible buy-in from Russian energy giant Gazprom.

FORBES: Cyprus: Welcome To The Roach Motel

The approach was rejected immediately.

BBC: Owls rebuff Burnley bid for Laws

The interviewer rejected him immediately, Mr. Schmidt says.

WSJ: How to Turn Bad Stress Into Good

Mr. DERSHOWITZ: Just about this time, the United States Senate rejected the Versailles Treaty and Germany immediately announced that it was freed from its obligation to turn over war criminals.

NPR: Listening In On the Nuremberg Trials

Although the Israeli High Court has rejected a demand from the Jewish settlers that the Bedouin village and the school be destroyed immediately, a military demolition order still hangs over the school.

BBC: Israeli threat to Bedouin villages

Hearts had claims for a penalty rejected when David Templeton was challenged on the edge of the box by Emilio Izaguirre and Suso immediately forced Forster to push clear following the winger's powerful 16-yard drive.

BBC: Celtic 3-0 Hearts