Santander hits pause on €5bn buyback after US takeover Banking Santander has been forced to hit the pause button on its bumper buyback programme announced earlier this year to comply with US regulation. The Spanish-headquartered bank told markets on Thursday it would temporarily suspend the €5bn (£4.3bn) buyback launched in February to comply with US regulation around its takeover of Webster. The lender struck a [...]
FCA ‘concerned’ over number of takeovers leaked to press Markets The UK’s financial watchdog has expressed its concern after fresh figures found nearly two in five takeovers were reported in the press before being formally announced. The Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) warned the leaks, which can constitute a breach of market abuse rules, were triggering “price moves…caused by financial analysts or the media correctly predicting [...]
Bargain Britain: UK firms under siege by foreign takeovers Markets The London Stock Exchange has suffered a bruising week as private equity firms and foreign giants continue to snap up British bargains. Markets were hit with a double blow on Wednesday after Canadian consultancy giant acquired engineering firm Ricardo and KKR returned with a final bid for GP Landlord Assura. Assura has recommended a cash [...]
GKN owner Dowlais faces merger from US competitor January 29, 2025 GKN Automotive owner Dowlais Group has become the latest London-listed firm to receive a merger offer from a US competitor. In a stock exchange announcement, Dowlais said that Michigan-based American Axle & Manufacturing Holdings had offered £1.16bn for the firm. The merger offer represents a 25 per cent premium on Dowlais’ closing price last night and [...]