Investors think UK will remain attractive as an investment destination post-Brexit September 19, 2018 Investors think the UK will remain as attractive as an investment destination post-Brexit as it was before the referendum on EU membership. Eighty eight per cent of respondents to a survey of business executives said the UK remains at least as attractive as it was in spring 2016, while 32 per cent say it is [...]
Marsh & McLennan buys insurer Jardine Lloyd Thompson for £4.3bn September 18, 2018 New York-headquartered Marsh & McLennan has agreed to buy UK insurance broker Jardine Lloyd Thompson (JLT) today in a £4.3bn deal. Shares in FTSE 250 listed JLT soared by more than 30 per cent following the announcement this morning. Marsh has offered £19.15 in cash for each JLT share, valuing the business at £4.9bn. Read [...]
Marsh & McLennan buys insurer Jardine Lloyd Thompson for £4.3bn September 18, 2018 New York-headquartered Marsh & McLennan has agreed to buy UK insurance broker Jardine Lloyd Thompson (JLT) today in a £4.3bn deal. Shares in FTSE 250 listed JLT soared by more than 30 per cent following the announcement this morning. Marsh has offered £19.15 in cash for each JLT share, valuing the business at £4.9bn. Read [...]
Corporate advisory firm Moorgate Capital in court battle with private equity fund HIG European Capital Partners September 16, 2018 Corporate advisory firm Moorgate Capital and private equity fund HIG European Capital Partners are locked in a court battle over an alleged unpaid £1m fee. Moorgate alleges that HIG had promised to pay Moorgate £1m in the event it acquired printing firm Bezier, which HIG did in 2011. Read more: Lloyds Bank private equity arm [...]
Corporate advisory firm Moorgate Capital in court battle with private equity fund HIG European Capital Partners September 16, 2018 Corporate advisory firm Moorgate Capital and private equity fund HIG European Capital Partners are locked in a court battle over an alleged unpaid £1m fee. Moorgate alleges that HIG had promised to pay Moorgate £1m in the event it acquired printing firm Bezier, which HIG did in 2011. Read more: Lloyds Bank private equity arm [...]
Competition watchdog launches inquiry into CME takeover of Nex Group September 13, 2018 US exchange operator CME's planned $5.5bn (£4.89bn) acquisition of London's Nex Group will be investigated by the UK's competition watchdog. The deal, which was announced in March and is expected to be completed by the end of this year, will either be approved or referred for a more in-depth investigation by 8 November, the Competition and Markets Authority said. [...]
Competition watchdog launches inquiry into CME takeover of Nex Group September 13, 2018 US exchange operator CME's planned $5.5bn (£4.89bn) acquisition of London's Nex Group will be investigated by the UK's competition watchdog. The deal, which was announced in March and is expected to be completed by the end of this year, will either be approved or referred for a more in-depth investigation by 8 November, the Competition and Markets Authority said. [...]
Waterstones acquires Foyles bookshops as it squares up to Amazon September 7, 2018 Waterstones has announced the acquisition of the Foyles bookshops, saying the combined business will be stronger in the face of Amazon's "siren call". The 115-year old Foyles has seven shops including four in London, one of which is its large flagship on Charing Cross Road. Waterstones managing director James Daunt said he looked forward to "joining forces" [...]
Melrose hires bankers to sell GKN unit September 5, 2018 Melrose has hired bankers to sell off a unit of GKN, the British engineering stalwart it paid £8bn to takeover earlier this year. According to Sky News, Melrose has appointed investment bank RW Baird to explore a sale for off-highway powertrain, a business that makes gearboxes and driveshafts for vehicles in the mining and agriculture [...]
Why Coca-Cola’s acquisition of Costa makes sense from a consumer perspective September 5, 2018 News of Costa’s sale to Coca-Cola dominated consumer headlines last week, as the fizzy drinks megabrand purchased the UK-based coffee chain for £3.9bn. Whitbread’s shares jumped more than 16 per cent following the news. Alison Brittain, the chief executive of Whitbread – Costa Coffee’s parent company – said the price paid by Coca-Cola was far [...]