How M&A buyers are taking a “watch and wait” approach to UK acquisitions ahead of EU referendum May 17, 2016 Another day, another M&A report, another conclusion relating to the EU referendum. Buyers are taking a “watch and wait” approach to UK acquisitions before the EU referendum next month, according to Deloitte. Global M&A activity has slumped so far in 2016 following a record-breaking 2015, in which more than $5 trillion worth of deals were announced. [...]
Pfizer drowns Allergan merger collapse sorrows with new $5.2bn acquisition May 16, 2016 Shares in US pharma minnow Anacor shot up more than 50 per cent in pre-market trading in the US, after Pfizer unveiled plans to buy it for $5.2bn (£3.6bn). Under the merger agreement, Pfizer will acquire Anacor, which makes an antifungal treatment, for $99.25 per share in cash. Both companies’ boards have unanimously agreed the deal. Anacor’s share price soared [...]
Why M&A activity leaves companies vulnerable to cyber criminals May 12, 2016 Global merger and acquisitions (M&A) activity reached record-breaking deal values in 2015 at over $5 trillion. Whilst these vast sums excite shareholders, they also attract cyber criminals who sense an opportunity via inherent weaknesses in the M&A process. In much the same way that insider trading can (if undetected) yield huge returns for the perpetrator, cyber criminals [...]
Seed company’s shares grow after news of $43bn takeover interest May 12, 2016 Shares in US company Monsanto grew by more than eight per cent today after it was reported to be the subject of takeover interest from Germany. It is thought the deal would create the world’s largest seed and farm chemicals provider. Read more: Syngenta agrees to takeover by ChemChina worth over $43bn German company Bayer has [...]
Private equity firms reportedly circling O2 after Three merger blocked May 12, 2016 Top private equity firms are circling O2 after Brussels yesterday blocked a billion pound takeover of the mobile network by Three owner Hutchison, according to reports. Apax Partners, CVC Capital and KKR are among firms to have held preliminary talks exploring a potential bid for Telefonica's O2, Sky reports. They join Liberty Global, the owner of Virgin Media [...]
Was the European Commission right to block the Three-O2 merger? May 12, 2016 Jacques Lafitte, chief executive of Avisa Partners in Brussels and a former senior EU Commission official, says Yes. The Commission was right to block this merger. The decision appears to be based on robust legal and economic grounds. These are tricky decisions. The Commission vetoes on average one merger a year, and this decision is the [...]
UK investor relations firm expands with US acquisition to target “more global and more outspoken and demanding” shareholders May 11, 2016 London-based investor relations firm Sodali has announced the acquisition of a US counterpart, Morrow. The merged entity, Morrow Sodali Global, is now better positioned to target "more global and more outspoken and demanding" shareholders. The company said its deal would create the "largest independent corporate governance, proxy solicitation, investor relations, capital markets and shareholder services firm in [...]
Why George Osborne does not believe the London Stock Exchange-Deutsche Boerse merger is “1944 by stealth” May 11, 2016 Chancellor George Osborne has shown his support for the proposed merger of the London Stock Exchange and Deutsche Boerse. The £21bn "merger of equals" deal between the UK and German stock exchanges was agreed in March and the companies hope for completion by the end of this year or in the first quarter of 2017. [...]
China outbound M&A climbs to record highs May 10, 2016 Outbound merger and acquisition (M&A) activity in China has rocketed so far in 2016. The country has become the world leader in cross-border acquisitions, overtaking the US and Canada for the first time on record, according to data from Dealogic. M&A activity has hit $110.8bn (£76.7bn) so far this year, surpassing the 2015 full-year record [...]
Japanese and European investment banks agree merger to create global M&A advisory May 9, 2016 A Japanese investment bank has agreed a merger with a European peer to create one of the world's largest listed M&A advisories. The combination of Japan's GCA Savvian and Altium creates a new international investment bank operating across ten countries, in cities such as London, Manchester, Tokyo, San Francisco, New York, Mumbai, Frankfurt and Tel Aviv. Read more: These two [...]