KPMG sells pensions arm in private equity-backed management buyout December 5, 2019 KPMG has sold its pensions arm in a management buyout backed by private equity firm Exponent. KPMG said today it had signed a conditional agreement to sell its pensions practice to Newco, which is backed by Exponent and KPMG’s 20 pensions partners. All 20 partners and 500 staff will transfer to the new business, which [...]
Brexit disruption ‘to spark activist investor interest’ in UK December 3, 2019 Disruption from Brexit could spark an increase in activist investors targeting public companies in the UK, a new report has warned. The UK, which is already Europe’s largest market for activists, is at risk of drawing more attention from investors looking to pile the pressure on management over the coming year. Read more: EU finance [...]
Spanish retail billionaire zeroes in on £600m London building deal December 2, 2019 A Spanish retail billionaire who owns fashion chain Zara is close to acquiring a West End office block for £600m. Amancia Ortega, via his real estate investment vehicle Pontegadea, is set to acquire The Post Building a 320,000 sq ft development in an ex-Royal Mail sorting office on Museum Street in Holborn. A deal is [...]
Cat Rock says Prosus will have to raise Just Eat bid to 925p per share December 2, 2019 Activist investor Cat Rock has said it will throw its weight behind Just Eat’s Takeaway.com merger unless Prosus raises its offer to 925p per share. The Dutch food delivery firm has had a £5bn bid accepted for Just Eat but tech group Prosus has come in with a rival 710p per share offer. Read more: [...]
Andrew Tinkler moves to block rivals from voting on Eddie Stobart rescue deal December 1, 2019 Advisers to former Eddie Stobart Logistics boss Andrew Tinkler are planning to submit an appeal to the City mergers watchdog tomorrow ahead of a vote on a controversial takeover bid for the distribution company The appeal to the Takeover Panel is an attempt to prevent Dbay Advisors from voting on 6 December, Sky News reported. [...]
Andrew Tinkler aims to offer rival resolution at crunch Eddie Stobart shareholder vote December 1, 2019 Former Stobart Group boss Andrew Tinkler is aiming to offer Eddie Stobart shareholders a rival funding package to vote on at the struggling trucking firm’s general meeting on Friday. Eddie Stobart’s board has recommended an offer from fund Dbay which would provide an emergency £55m high-interest loan to the haulier in exchange for a 51 [...]
Hedgies in High Court bid to force up Inmarsat takeover price December 1, 2019 The buyout group looking to take British satellite company Inmarsat private is facing a legal challenge from hedge funds that could scupper the deal at the 11th hour. At a hearing on Tuesday hedge funds led by Oaktree Capital will press the High Court to block the approval of the so-called scheme of arrangement, one [...]
Silver Lake pours $500m into Man City owner to break sports group valuation record November 27, 2019 Private equity giant Silver Lake has made a $500m (£389m) investment into Manchester City Football Club’s owners. The cash influx means Abu Dhabi’s City Football Group is now worth $4.8bn, the firms said today, breaking the valuation record for a sports organisation. Read more: Mourinho’s changes spark Spurs comeback to seal last 16 The deal [...]
Broker Finncap reports jump in first half turnover thanks to M&A boost November 25, 2019 Finncap has reported a jump in turnover for the first half amid “very testing market conditions”, with the broker boosted by strong performance of its M&A division. The figures The company reported a jump in turnover of just over 56 per cent in the six months to 30 September. Turnover hit £14.2m during the period, [...]
Ex-Stobart boss courts City heavyweights to back Eddie Stobart rescue bid November 18, 2019 Former Stobart boss Andrew Tinkler is reportedly lining up heavyweight City support for his proposed financing package for struggling haulier Eddie Stobart. Morning Wire revealed yesterday that Tinkler was putting together a £75m financing package for the ailing firm and had the backing of 11.8 per cent shareholder the Stobart Group. “Shareholders do take my [...]