German minister: It is “crystal clear” London Stock Exchange-Deutsche Boerse HQ should be in Frankfurt February 3, 2017 The location of the legal headquarters of the merged London Stock Exchange-Deutsche Boerse company is in the spotlight again today after an influential German minister said the UK should lose out. Thomas Schaefer, finance minister in the state of Hesse, where Deutsche Boerse is based, said the reasons for the HQ being in Frankfurt are “crystal [...]
Little Chef roadside restaurant chain sold February 3, 2017 Little Chef's owner has announced the sale of the roadside restaurant business. Kout Food Group said today that it had sold its roadside portfolio to Euro Garages, a roadside retail company operating brands such as Starbucks, Subway and Greggs. Read more: Little Chef is being gobbled up City A.M. understands Euro Garages has bought all of [...]
Private equity houses trade audio mixing console maker used by Adele, Beyonce, Pharrell Williams and Justin Bieber February 3, 2017 A UK-listed private equity firm has announced the sale of an audio mixing console maker whose equipment is used by the likes of Beyonce, Adele, Pharrell Williams and Canadian popstar Justin Bieber. Epiris, the manager of Electra Private Equity, expects proceeds of £203m from the sale of Audiotonix to European firm Astorg. The £203m marks [...]
“You just have to get on with things”: UK dealmaking is off to its best start to a year since 2008 February 2, 2017 UK dealmakers have had a flying beginning to the year, with 2017 marking the best annual start for British mergers and acquisitions (M&A) activity since 2008. After Reckitt Benckiser’s offer for Mead Johnson Nutrition, the total value of deals involving UK parties so far this year has reached $34.9bn (£27.8bn), according to Thomson Reuters. Read [...]
German prosecutors searched office and home of Deutsche Boerse chief in insider trading probe February 2, 2017 Prosecutors in Germany have searched the home and office of Deutsche Boerse’s chief executive as part of its probe into alleged insider trading, it emerged today. The Public Prosecutor’s Office of Frankfurt is investigating a €4.5m (£3.8m) share purchase by Carsten Kengeter in December 2015, shortly before Deutsche Boerse agreed to the terms of a [...]
German prosecutors probe share purchase by Deutsche Boerse boss before London Stock Exchange merger deal February 2, 2017 German authorities are investigating a share purchase by Deutsche Boerse’s chief executive shortly before the company announced its plans to merge with the London Stock Exchange. The German exchange announced on Wednesday evening that the public prosecutor’s office of Frankfurt was investigating the share purchase by Carsten Kengeter, made on 14 December 2015. Shares in [...]
Durex owner Reckitt Benckiser is in talks to buy baby formula maker Mead Johnson for $16.7bn February 2, 2017 Reckitt Benckiser (RB), the company behind such household names as Durex, Cillit Bang and Nurofen, is in talks to buy a baby formula manufacturer for $16.7bn (£13.2bn). In a statement this morning, RB said it was in advanced talks with Mead Johnson to buy its shares at $90 each, valuing it at $16.7bn. The company [...]
Deadline for European competition probe into London Stock Exchange merger set to be extended February 1, 2017 The European competition probe into the London Stock Exchange’s merger with Deutsche Boerse is set to be extended. The European Commission currently has a deadline of 13 March to decide whether to give its backing to the £21bn deal. Read more: Deutsche Boerse boss wants merger to bring Anglo-Saxon spirit to Europe But this could be [...]
Owners of telephone mast giant Arqiva said to keep options open amid sale reports February 1, 2017 Telephone mast giant Arqiva could still be set for a stock market flotation, according to sources with knowledge of its situation. It emerged last night that Arqiva’s owners, including Australian investment bank Macquarie and the Canadian Pension Plan Investment Board, could be seeking to sell the company. Read more: Cheeky IPO? Nando's is considering a float [...]
Rocketing Chinese M&A at risk from new rules and global protectionism February 1, 2017 Chinese mergers and acquisitions (M&A) activity into North America grew by 412 per cent last year, according to figures out today. Outbound acquisitions overall were up 201 per cent in Europe, meanwhile, and globally 114 per cent to $208.6bn (£166bn) in value. Read more: China, Mexico, Japan: Who's afraid of Trump's protectionism? Law firm Clifford [...]