“Riskier” European M&A market may mean sellers have to lower prices and heighten risk appetites this year March 23, 2016 Sellers may have to lower their prices and heighten risk appetites in this year's European mergers and acquisitions (M&A) market, according to a new report. Law firm CMS's eighth annual M&A Study found 2015 was a record year for European activity, as was the case across the globe, with more than $5 trillion of deals tracked. But 2016 is “already [...]
MPs call for London Stock Exchange executives to face parliamentary scrutiny over Deutsche Boerse merger: “Are we handing over control to the Germans?” March 23, 2016 MPs have called for London Stock Exchange executives to be called before parliament to answer questions about its proposed merger with Deutsche Boerse. Details of the “merger of equals” were announced last week by the companies. If it goes through, LSE shareholders will own 45.6 per cent of the new company. Shareholders of the Frankfurt-based exchange Deutsche Boerse will [...]
Chinese and Silicon Valley deals set to keep M&A activity high in fintech, e-commerce and other tech industries March 23, 2016 A mergers and acquisitions (M&A) advisory firm has predicted a bright future for activity in the fintech, automotive technology and e-commerce industries. In a series of reports, Hampleton Partners has found M&A activity in these areas has been “growing substantially” over the last 30 months. And movement from China and Silicon Valley is predicted to keep [...]
Apple rules out Imagination Technologies takeover “at this time” after holding talks with UK chip design company March 22, 2016 Apple has decided not to go ahead with an offer for Imagination Technologies after holding talks with the company over a potential takeover. The US technology giant said in a statement: "From time to time, Apple talks with companies about potential acquisitions. "We had some discussions with Imagination, but we do not plan to make [...]
Micro Focus share price rises after UK company announces $540m deal to acquire US firm Serena Software March 22, 2016 UK software company Micro Focus has announced a $540m (£379m) deal to acquire US firm Serena Software. Privately-owned Serena Software is headquartered in California, but is managed from Hillsboro, Oregon, and St Albans in the UK. It also operates in 10 other countries. Serena reported revenues of $176.2m in the year to 31 January 2015 and adjusted [...]
UK M&A activity experiencing a “major pause” due to looming EU referendum, market volatility and weakening pound March 22, 2016 The looming EU referendum, market volatility and the weakening of the pound have contributed to a fall in UK M&A activity, new research has found. Foreign spending on British acquisitions has dipped by nearly a third so far this year, according to Deloitte. Between 1 January and 8 March foreign buyers spent $24.4bn (£17.1bn) on acquiring British [...]
Marriott International and Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide sign off amended merger agreement, with Starwood shareholders now standing to gain a better cash deal March 21, 2016 Hospitality giants Marriott International and Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide today revealed that they had signed off on an amendment to their merger agreement. The new deal revises the value of Starwood shares to $13.6bn (£9.5bn) in total, which is $79.53 per share or $85.36 per share after consideration from separate transaction involving Interval Leisure Group is taken into [...]
Markit and IHS in $13bn merger to create “global information powerhouse” March 21, 2016 UK based analytics and market data firm Markit has agreed to a merge with US rival IHS in an all share deal to create a $13bn heavyweight. The new company will be called IHS Markit and will be headquartered in London. IHS shareholders will own 57 per cent of the company while Markit’s will hold 43 [...]
Law firms BLP and Greenberg Traurig end merger talks with parties unable to find “common ground” March 17, 2016 A proposed merger between City law firm Berwin Leighton Paisner (BLP) and US company Greenberg Traurig has been called off. The law firms confirmed they were in talks over a merger last month. But BLP has now said the two firms "could not find enough common ground". Read more: Law firm mergers drop as partners focus on growth-driven takeovers Lisa Mayhew, [...]
China Merchants Group makes informal bid for London’s Baltic Exchange, according to sources March 16, 2016 China Merchants Group has made an informal bid for London’s Baltic Exchange, according to sources. It emerged in February that the Baltic Exchange, a financial maritime hub located in the heart of the City of London, was being eyed by several companies, including the Singapore Exchange, CME Group, Intercontinental Exchange (ICE), and Platts. And now [...]