Deutsche Boerse wins 89 per cent shareholder acceptance for London Stock Exchange deal August 17, 2016 The final acceptance ratio from Deutsche Boerse shareholders for its merger with the London Stock Exchange (LSE) was 89.04 per cent, the company has revealed. The German exchange was forced to lower the acceptance ratio to 60 per cent and extend the deadline for investors wishing to tender their shares in support of the deal [...]
Bayer-Monsanto: Biggest deal of 2016 expected to turn hostile if no agreement is found August 16, 2016 German chemicals company Bayer is expected to turn its Monsanto takeover attempt hostile if its latest offer comes to nothing. US GM seeds firm Monsanto has already rejected two bids from Bayer, the first at $122 per share, equal to around $62bn, and the second at $125. Read more: How shareholders feel about Bayer's "determined" [...]
Competition watchdog threatens Intercontinental Exchange’s Trayport takeover August 16, 2016 The Competition watchdog has thrown into doubt Intercontinental Exchange's takeover of commodities trading software company Trayport. The Competition and Markets Authority said today that the $650m deal could result in less competition for wholesale European utilities trades. It issued a list of possible remedies, which includes a forced sale. The CMA is worried about higher fees for [...]
UK publisher snaps up shopping comparison business from Down Under August 16, 2016 Magazine publisher Future has announced the acquisition of an Australian and south east Asian digital shopping comparison business. The UK company behind Tech Radar and PC Gamer has completed a deal for Next Commerce. The acquisition comes shortly after Future announced a £14.2m takeover deal for fellow UK publisher Imagine. Read more: Magazine publisher imagines bright future with £14.2m [...]
Disney interest? Third parties? Bidding wars? Here’s what analysts think will happen to Peppa Pig owner Entertainment One August 15, 2016 Analysts have named Walt Disney, Vivendi, Lionsgate and Studio Canal as possible suitors for Peppa Pig owner Entertainment One. EOne’s share price was trading at 251p on Monday – up more than 25 per cent from below 200p at the beginning of last week. [stockChart code="ETO" date="2016-08-15 16:40"] This rise has come after the board [...]
Competition emerges for ITV in pursuit of Peppa Pig owner EOne August 14, 2016 Private equity giant KKR is said to be considering a bid for Peppa Pig owner Entertainment One. News of the interest comes after ITV had a £1bn bid for EOne rejected last week. Read more: Peppa Pig maker turns down £1bn takeover offer KKR held talks with EOne’s main shareholder, Canadian pension fund CPPIB, before ITV’s [...]
Microsoft splashes cash on video game streaming startup Beam August 11, 2016 Microsoft is getting in on the live games streaming action with its latest acquisition. The tech giant – fresh from snapping up LinkedIn in a $26bn (£20.1bn) deal – has acquired Beam, a Seattle-based startup which live streams video games. Read more: YouTube has launched its own live gaming service It will be rolled into Microsoft's Xbox operations, and [...]
Deutsche Boerse turns attention to regulation after cementing shareholder support for London Stock Exchange merger August 10, 2016 Deutsche Boerse has announced a “major milestone” in its quest to complete a merger with the London Stock Exchange. The German exchange said more than 75 per cent of shares have now been tendered in support of the deal. The firm had already received the 60 per cent support necessary. Read more: More European opposition, this [...]
Ministry of Sound investment: Sony Music acquires London Grammar label August 10, 2016 Sony Music UK has announced the acquisition of label Ministry of Sound Recordings. Founded in 1993 as an extension to the South London nightclub Ministry of Sound, the label boasts a roster including London Grammar, DJ Fresh, Sigala, Jodie Abacus, Louis Berry, MIAMIGO and Moss Kena. Read more: Imogen Heap believes blockchain technology could save [...]
More M&A experts think Brexit vote could spark overseas interest in UK firms August 8, 2016 Nearly a quarter of mergers and acquisitions (M&A) partners and dealmakers at Deloitte believe the Brexit vote could boost UK inbound activity. When Japan’s SoftBank announced a £24.3bn deal for UK chip maker Arm, some M&A experts suggested that British companies could become attractive takeover targets post-Brexit vote, with the pound’s value falling against the dollar. [...]