Allegion to pay €210m in offer for SimonsVoss June 29, 2015 Private equity house HgCapital Trust has agreed to sell its European locking systems business, SimonsVoss, to security products specialist Allegion, in a deal valued at €210m (£150m). SimonsVoss was founded in 1995, and generated sales of €52m in 2014. It employs around 275 people. Allegion employs almost 8,500 people and its products are sold in [...]
Regulators list problems with Poundland’s £55m 99p Stores merger June 25, 2015 Britain’s competition watchdog unveiled a list of issues it is exploring around Poundland’s £55m merger with 99p Stores after the discount chain agreed to push ahead with an in-depth probe last month. Poundland, which floated on the stock market last year, announced in February that it was going to buy 99p Stores. However, the Competition [...]
Analysts warn that Ladbrokes – Gala Coral mega merger odds on for competition issues June 23, 2015 Analysts are warning that Ladbrokes' multi-million pound merger with Gala Coral could have to jump serious competition hurdles. The combined company would command 4000 retail shops – about 45 per cent of the UK market – and give the group much better odds in the online gaming space too. The retail position in [...]
Ladbrokes share price jumps 16 per cent on merger talks with Gala Coral June 23, 2015 Shares in Ladbrokes shot up 16 per cent to 141.68p per share this afternoon, after it confirmed reports that it was in merger talks with rival gambling company Gala Coral. Ladbrokes said it was interested in merging its business with Coral Retail, Eurobet Retail, as well as Gala Coral's online businesses. It would give the two [...]
Ladbrokes in takeover talks with rival Gala Coral June 22, 2015 Ladbrokes last night confirmed it was in merger talks with rival bookie Gala Coral in a deal to create the UK’s largest gambling company. The FTSE-250 listed firm, which has 2,150 betting shops across the UK, said it was weighing plans to buy Gala Coral’s 1,800 Coral betting shops, its online business and Italian brand [...]
Private equity firm Agilitas snaps up Danish firm MH Group June 22, 2015 Private equity firm Agilitas has added to its portfolio of recycling companies by backing a management buyout of Danish firm MH Group. The UK-headquartered firm will back current MH boss Christian Rindbol by acquiring the financial interests of Michael Henriksen Holdings. MH was founded by Michael Henriksen in 1997, but he died last year. MH [...]
Popped corks as Greene King-Spirit pub partnership gets green light June 22, 2015 Pub operator Greene King yesterday toasted the competition watchdog’s approval of its £774m takeover of Spirit. The Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) said it was satisfied the proposed sale of 16 pubs by the combined group would fix concerns raised by the company’s acquisition of Spirit Pub Company, and would not be referring the [...]
Virgin Active to bulk up in size in Asia and Africa June 22, 2015 Virgin Active, one of the world’s largest gym chains, said yesterday it will step up growth in Asia and Africa, and embark on a complete overhaul of its online platform this year following, its acquisition by South African billionaire Christo Wiese. The fitness group was on course for a listing on the Johannesburg stock market [...]
Thorntons share price soars 43 per cent after Ferrero spoils it in £112m takeover deal June 22, 2015 Thorntons shareholders clearly think Ferrero is spoiling them – the British chocolate business' share price has soared more than 43 per cent this morning on the back of a £112m deal. Ferrero's parent company Ferholding has confirmed it has bought 29.9 per cent of the troubled chocolatier for 145p per share – a 43 [...]
Borealis Infrastructure putting together new Severn Trent bid June 21, 2015 Canada’s Borealis Infrastructure is in the early stages of launching a takeover bid for British utility firm Severn Trent. The investment vehicle previously bid for the FTSE 100 water company in May 2013, as part of the LongRiver Partners consortium which also included the Kuwait Investment Office and UK pension fund the Universities Superannuation Scheme. [...]