Billionaire Weston family buys Boots for $9bn Retail The billionaire Weston family has struck a deal to buy Boots for nearly $9bn, scuppering hopes that the high street giant could return to the London Stock Exchange. Wittington Investments, the holding company for the Westons’ Canadian operations, said on Wednesday it will buy Boots from its private equity owners, Sycamore Partners. The deal brings [...]
Stages of tax grief: Is it time for bankers to bargain? Banking Banks are in the firing line at the Budget and in a meeting with bosses on Tuesday chancellor John Healey played coy on any increased rates. In this week’s column Samuel Norman looks at what trade-off could be made. Also on the cards, fresh data shows fintechs are lurching ahead of the incumbents on customer [...]
Informa snaps up Clarion Events in £2.2bn deal with Blackstone Media Digital services giant Informa has snapped up the world’s largest privately owned event and exhibition organiser in a multi-billion pound deal with private equity firm Blackstone. The FTSE 100 group revealed on Tuesday it had acquired London-headquartered Clarion Events for £2.2bn from Blackstone. The deal brings over 100 business-to-business live event brands under the Informa [...]
Government intervenes as BT inks deal to rescue embattled Talktalk October 5, 2026 Broadband giant BT has agreed to snap up embattled telecommunications firm Talktalk in a move that has prompted the government to weigh in. The FTSE 100 group said on Monday it had acquired Talktalk and its wholesale arm PlatformX Communications (PXC) out of administration on a debt-free basis. The deal, for an undisclosed sum, is [...]
Billionaire Weston family closes in on £7bn Boots takeover October 1, 2026 The Canada arm of the billionaire family behind Primark is inching towards another deal, as it closes in on a £7bn takeover of Boots from its private equity owners. The Westons are in advanced talks to buy the UK pharmacy chain from Sycamore Partners, ending hopes of a potential London IPO. Discussions are ongoing, a [...]
Revolut and Nubank want to make neobanking their world September 30, 2026 Nubank’s takeover talks with Monzo shocked the City. In this week’s column, Samuel Norman takes a look at how and why a deal might emerge and the battle that lies ahead with Revolut. Around a decade ago, a handful of colourful plastic cards found their way into Brits’ wallets. Monzo was one of the first, [...]
Poundland suitors tussle to buy £30m discount retailer September 25, 2026 Several bidders will table offers for Poundland on Friday, as the owners of the discount retailer seek £30m for the company they bought for just £1. Multiple suitors are expected to hand their bids to Gordon Brothers, which owns Poundland, as early as Friday, as the US investment firm rushes to complete a deal before [...]
Private equity firm Pollen Street weighs sale September 23, 2026 Private equity firm Pollen Street is weighing a sale and has begun talks with potential suitors, the company confirmed today, in what could be the latest of a wave of takeovers to hit the London Stock Exchange this year. The London-listed investment house, which counts lenders Shawbrook and Bunq among its portfolio, said its board [...]
Accel-KKR swoops on AIM construction software firm for £208m September 10, 2026 Private equity giant Accel-KKR has struck a deal to buy an AIM-listed construction software company in the latest of a wave of takeovers on the London Stock Exchange this year. The group has snapped up Eleco for £207.6m in a deal backed by the company’s board. Shareholders are in line for a 235p per share [...]
Spire Healthcare overhauls board amid £1bn private takeover September 6, 2026 The chief executive and chair of Spire Healthcare have stepped away amid a £1bn takeover of the London-listed private hospital group. Veteran boss Justin Ash has said he will retire from the group as it “enters a new phase with strong foundations” under its new ownership by a consortium of investors. Spire’s board have agreed [...]