Asda: Private equity firms race to buy majority stake March 1, 2020 Private equity firms are vying to buy a majority stake in Asda after its US owner Walmart decided to offload the supermarket following the competition watchdog’s decision to block its merger with Sainsbury’s. US buyout firm Lone Star has reportedly made an offer for a stake in the grocer, with private equity firms Apollo and [...]
London Stock Exchange’s $27bn Refinitiv deal under scrutiny in Brussels February 26, 2020 The London Stock Exchange Group’s $27bn purchase of Refinitiv has reportedly already come under intense scrutiny in Brussels, raising the prospect that EU regulators will initiate a much longer investigation into the deal than had been expected. The two companies are yet to formally notify competition regulators of the deal, which would trigger the review [...]
Countrywide and LSL confirm ‘ongoing’ merger talks February 24, 2020 Estate agent Countrywide has confirmed discussions over a reported £500m merger with rival LSL are “ongoing” after news of the possible tie-up leaked over the weekend. If Countrywide and LSL do tie the knot, they could create the UK’s biggest estate agent company with numerous brands under one umbrella. Countrywide made a brief announcement today [...]
Anglo American profit boosted as it circles Sirius Minerals February 20, 2020 Mining giant Anglo American has reported a strong set of results for 2019. The company saw a nine per cent increase in underlying EBITDA from $9.1bn (£7bn) in 2018 to $10bn at the end of 2019. Anglo American boss Mark Cutifani, said: “We continue building on the fundamental structural and operational improvements we have embedded [...]
Crispin Odey’s firm lashes out at Anglo American’s bid for Sirius February 19, 2020 Crispin Odey’s investment firm has said it will vote against any Anglo American offer for Sirius Minerals that is not designated as “final”. In an email to the management of Sirius and Anglo American, Odey Asset Management said it does not believe that Anglo’s current offer represents fair value for Sirius shareholders. It said it [...]
Struggling mining firm Sirius urged to accept takeover February 18, 2020 The boss of embattled miner Sirius minerals has told shareholders the offer from Anglo American is its only viable way forward. Chief executive Chris Fraser expressed support for the rescue despite Anglo American bidding 5.5p per share for Sirius. Each one being valued valued at 22.4p a year ago. “If the takeover does not go [...]
US private equity funds swoop on UK for cheap deals February 17, 2020 The acquisition of UK companies by US private equity funds jumped 53 per cent last year as the depressed value of UK businesses make them attractive to overseas buyers. The value of UK companies acquired by US funds hit £14.2bn last year, up from £9.3bn in 2018. Brexit and pre-election uncertainty meant UK shares went [...]
Jupiter nears deal to buy asset manager Merian February 16, 2020 Jupiter Fund Management is close to buying Merian Global Investors from private equity firm TA Associates, in a deal that would create a merged company with £67bn of assets under management. The company said that “discussions have been underway for some time”, adding that both parties are “confident that the combination would have the potential [...]
GCA Altium acquires Stella EOC in expansion into entertainment February 14, 2020 Investment bank GCA Altium has announced it will acquire Stella EOC, a technology and media investment banking boutique. The strategic acquisition will strengthen GCA’s technology practice and add to its expertise in the entertainment space. GCA have previously advised on some deals in the entertainment sector, such as the sale of 33 per cent of [...]
Domino’s Pizza sells Norwegian arm as it kick-starts sale of overseas operations February 13, 2020 Domino’s Pizza said today it has sold its Norwegian business to its existing minority shareholder as it moves to extricate itself from its loss-making European operations. The pizza chain said it will sell its 71 per cent shareholding in the Norway business in return for the buyers’ stake in its Swedish operation and a nominal [...]