Breadmakers Hovis and Kingsmill in merger talks May 3, 2025 The owners of two of Britain’s biggest bread producers – Hovis and Kingsmill – are reportedly in discussions regarding a merger between the two firms as challenges deepen for the market. Associated British Foods (ABF), the owner of Kingsmill’s parent company Allied Bakeries, and investment firm Endless, which owns Hovis, are in talks about a [...]
Revealed: The private equity billionaire’s empire behind your favourite podcasts April 10, 2025 Conni Jonsson might not be a household name in the UK but this Swedish private equity billionaire is behind some of the most popular podcasts in the country. Jonsson is the founder of EQT AB, a Swedish global investment organisation set up in 1994. He also owns investment firm Qarlbo, which in turns holds 80 [...]
Arla Foods: Lurpak maker plans €19bn merger April 8, 2025 Arla Foods, the group behind brands such as Lurpak and Cravendale, has announced a merger which could create a €19bn giant. The Swedish-Danish diary co-operative, whose UK headquarters is in Leeds, has revealed plans to merge with Germany-headquartered DMK Group. If it goes ahead, the merger would bring together 12,000 farmers across Europe with the [...]
Kurt Geiger sold to New York’s Steve Madden for £289m February 13, 2025 Private equity firm Cinven has announced the sale of Kurt Geiger to shoe brand Steve Madden for £289m. Cinven bought the footwear and accessories brand in 2015 for £245m, and has since greatly expanded the business in the US. In America alone, sales surged by 58.7 per cent to over £110m from February to September [...]
Honda and Nissan merger talks collapse February 13, 2025 Japanese carmakers Honda, Nissan and Mitsubishi have said they are dropping their talks to integrate their businesses. They agreed to end their consideration of how to build a structure for the three brands to collaborate, their joint statement said. Honda Motor Co and Nissan Motor Corp announced in December they would hold talks to set up a [...]
National World: Yorkshire Post and The Scotsman owner agrees £65m takeover December 18, 2024 Shareholders in National World, the media group whose titles include Yorkshire Post and The Scotsman, are set for a bumper pay day as a takeover deal which values it at over £65m was agreed. Irish media group Media Concierge, which currently holds a 26 per cent stake in National World, first tabled an offer worth [...]
Honda and Nissan merger talks spark UK job fears December 18, 2024 Experts say the UK's unfavourable tax environment and declining automotive sector put it at greater risk as the industry consolidates.
Vodafone and Three: What £16.5bn merger actually means for customers and prices December 5, 2024 After an almost 18-month battle the UK’s largest ever telecoms deal – which will see Vodafone and Three complete a £16.5bn merger – has been given the green light. Described by Vodafone as a “once-in-a-generation opportunity to transform the UK’s digital infrastructure”, the deal has now satisfied the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) enough for [...]
Spreadex ordered to sell Sporting Index after ‘creating monopoly’ November 22, 2024 Spreadex has been ordered to sell Sporting Index after it was ruled that the acquisition had created a monopoly. The Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) has told Spreadex to dispose of the ‘business-to-consumer’ firm after it snapped it up from Sporting Group last year. Spreadex and Sporting Index both provide sports fixed odds betting and sports [...]
Production firms backed by James Corden and LeBron James in major merger November 18, 2024 A production company backed by James Corden, which is behind plans for a £450m film studio in Sunderland, is to merged with a business founded by LeBron James. The merger between The SpringHill Company and Fulwell 73, which is expected to complete in the coming weeks, will be backed by Fenway Sports Group, RedBird Capital [...]