Provident shares soar after NSF bid abandoned
Shares in Provident soared this morning following the withdrawal of rival sub-prime lender Non-Standard Finance’s hostile takeover bid.
Provident’s stock is up more than 10 per cent after the company released a statement slamming the “distraction, cost and impact of uncertainty” of NSF’s offer.
Read more: Non-Standard Finance abandons offer for Provident
The firm outlined its “standalone strategy” to expand its product range and distribution capabilities following the collapse of the offer.
Provident said this morning: “The Provident board believes this outcome to be in the best interests of Provident shareholders and greatly regrets the unnecessary distraction, cost and impact of the uncertainty on Provident’s customers and staff caused by NSF pursuing its extended hostile offer.”
NSF abandoned its offer last night after the Prudential Regulation Authority said the combined group would not have enough capitalisation at current levels of shareholder acceptance.
NSF said it could have won NSF approval if more shareholders had backed the deal.
However, several prominent shareholders including Aberdeen Standard and Coltrane Asset Management said they would reject the offer.
Read more: Aberdeen Standard opposes NSF hostile takeover of Provident
NSF chief executive John van Kuffeler said the deal had fallen through “despite our best efforts”.
“I am very disappointed … customers, employees and shareholders will not now benefit from our transformation plan,” he said.