SPAC phenomenon helps global M&A break $1 trillion barrier in first quarter April 1, 2021 It has been a flying start for global M&A this year with blank-cheque vehicles becoming one of the principal drivers of deal-making. Special acquisition companies – SPACs – have become the go-to option for firms looking to go public. For targets the vehicles are potentially an easier route to market than a traditional IPO. The [...]
Hurst Point completes acquisition of Hawksmoor Group March 2, 2021 Private equity firm Hurst Point Group has fully acquired Hawksmoor Group, completing the transaction on 1 March 2021. Investment management firm Hawksmoor will become a separate subsidiary of Hurst Point. Hawksmoor CEO Sarah Soar said: “Today marks a landmark in the history of Hawksmoor. Becoming part of the Hurst Point Group gives us support to [...]
G4S backs auction winner Allied Universal in £3.8bn takeover bid, as Gardaworld bows out February 23, 2021 Private security and outsourcing firm G4S this morning recommended shareholders to vote for Allied Universal's final offer valuing it at £3.8bn, a day after a rare auction battle with Canada's GardaWorld.
Why are UK mid caps in such an M&A sweetspot right now? February 22, 2021 | City Talk It would be difficult to miss the fact that UK mid cap companies are attracting a renewed level of bid interest at present. So much so that, every morning, when I log in to my virtual workplace, I am mentally preparing myself to see a new headline about the next one to be bid for. [...]
London bankers dominate top M&A deal rankings for Europe February 5, 2021 London bankers dominate top M&A deal rankings for Europe
Barclays CEO on the future of the City: ‘Forget Frankfurt and Paris’ February 5, 2021 Jes Staley, the CEO of Barclays, has said the UK financial services industry should focus on competing with the US and Asia, rather than the EU. Staley reportedly said that although jobs that would have been created in the Square Mile may have been moved to the EU, Brexit has given one of the UK’s [...]
Pub chain and Hobgoblin brewer Marston’s rejects £690m takeover offer from US private equity giant February 1, 2021 Pub chain and Hobgoblin brewer Marston's rejects £690m takeover offer from Platinum Equity Advisors
LSE chief executive says ‘blank cheque’ companies could boost post-Brexit London January 29, 2021 London Stock Exchange Chief Executive David Schwimmer said today: “Britain should replicate New York’s success in listing “blank cheque” companies to boost Canada’s attractiveness as a global financial centre after Brexit.” “SPACs clearly have taken off in the U.S. markets. There is increasing curiosity and potential interest in seeing more of them [...]
Rotherham steelworks owner Liberty Steel puts in new bid for Thyssenkrupp January 25, 2021 Liberty Steel has put in a fresh takeover offer for a unit of Thyssenkrupp
Financial services M&A dips as management shifts priorities January 12, 2021 M&A in the UK’s financial services industry dropped amid the pandemic as management’s priority shifted away from deals to the preservation of cash. The UK financial services industry announced just 136 deals in 2020 down from 211 in 2019, according to exclusive EY data. Deal activity came to a near standstill at the start of [...]