Government set to wave through international takeover of National Grid gas network December 20, 2016 The government is set to wave through the sale of the National Grid’s gas network to an international consortium, City A.M. has learned. CIC Capital, a subsidiary of China’s sovereign wealth fund, the Qatar Investment Authority (QIA) and Australian investment bank Macquarie were among the successful bidders for a 61 per cent stake in the [...]
Good chemistry: Germany’s Linde and US firm Praxair agree terms of $65bn merger December 20, 2016 Two chemical giants are nearing a $65bn (£53bn) mega-merger. Germany’s Linde today said it had agreed a “non-binding term sheet” with US firm Praxair. Under the deal, a new holding company bearing Linde’s name would be created. But the firms said the deal would represent a “merger of equals”. It marks the second German-US mega-deal of [...]
London Stock Exchange enters into exclusive talks with Euronext over sale of French clearing business December 20, 2016 The London Stock Exchange Group has entered into exclusive discussions with rival Euronext over the sale of its French clearing business. And the deal for LCH SA, which could be crucial to the success of the London Stock Exchange’s mega-merger with Deutsche Boerse, could still be agreed this side of Christmas, City A.M. understands. The London Stock [...]
After subdued 2016, contrained by Brexit and Trump, these bankers are predicting a 2017 bounceback for UK M&A December 19, 2016 Despite mega-deals involving the London Stock Exchange, Arm Holdings, Sky and a big takeover approach from British American Tobacco (BAT), even the most optimistic M&A banker would concede it’s been a somewhat subdued year for UK deals. After a record 2015, a year in which Megabrew was finally agreed and Anglo-Dutch oil major Shell tied [...]
British American Tobacco could puff up cash offer for Reynolds American December 18, 2016 British American Tobacco (BAT) is preparing to puff up its takeover bid for US rival Reynolds, according to reports. The FTSE 100 cigarette company announced a $56.50-per-share bid for the 58 per cent of Reynolds American it does not already own in October. This bid valued Reynolds at around $47bn. Taking full control of Reynolds [...]
Another miss for London’s IPO market? Parkdean Resorts sold to Canadian private equity house December 18, 2016 A Canadian private equity house this weekend announced the acquisition of a UK caravan holiday parks operator, in a deal that could be seen as another loss for London’s flotation market. Toronto-based Onex Corporation has agreed a £1.35bn deal for Parkdean Resorts, which is currently owned by Epiris, formerly known as Electra, and Alchemy. The [...]
UK private equity activity dropped to financial crisis levels this year December 16, 2016 UK private equity activity fell to its lowest level since 2009 this year, a new study out today shows. Across Europe, deal activity is down 38 per cent from €89.7bn (£75bn) in 2015 to €55.7bn. Read more: Vroom vroom: Private equity house announces second acquisition in two days And the decline is even more extreme [...]
Yahoo hack puts Verizon deal and Marissa Mayer under pressure December 15, 2016 Yahoo shares have dived more than four per cent in early trading in New York after disclosing a second major hack attack, twice the size of the previous one it revealed earlier this year, and which experts are calling the biggest hack in history. The revelations that user accounts were compromised come at a crucial time for [...]
Murdoch swoops: 21st Century Fox agrees Sky takeover deal December 15, 2016 Rupert Murdoch's 21st Century Fox today agreed a takeover deal for UK broadcaster Sky. Fox, which already owns 39 per cent of Sky, has made a £10.75-per-share offer, worth £11.7bn. The approach values the whole of the UK media giant at £18.5bn. Fox said it would be using a scheme of arrangement, meaning it would need 75 [...]
Liontrust assets to swell by £2.3bn after buying Alliance Trust Investments December 15, 2016 Fund manager Liontrust has agreed to swallow-up Alliance Trust Investments (ATI) in a deal that will swell its assets under management by over a third. The takeover, expected to be completed in 2017, means Liontrust's portfolios will increase from £5.6bn to over £8.0bn. ATI is one arm of three parts of the wider Alliance financial group – the other two [...]