Marlboro maker takeover of Vectura raises public interest eyebrows in government July 29, 2021 The takeover of respiratory drug firm Vectura by tobacco company Philip Morris International has raised government eyebrows over public interest concerns, according to the business secretary. The deal, worth more than £1bn, will be ‘closely monitored’ by the government after a letter from Labour shadow ministers urged the government to consider blocking it. Under the [...]
Aon and Willis Towers Watson call off $30bn insurance mega-merger over monopoly concerns July 27, 2021 Insurance giant Aon and Willis Towers Watson have agreed to terminate their $30bn (£22.9bn) merger agreement in what would have created the world’s largest insurance broker, and have blamed U.S. regulators’ objections for unacceptable delays and uncertainty. Aon cited an “impasse” with the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) as the reason behind the decision to [...]
Admiral Taverns acquires NewRiver’s community pubs for £222m July 26, 2021 Retail and leisure property investor NewRiver is selling its Hawthorn Leisure community pub business to pub company Admiral Taverns for approximately £222.3m. Admiral boss Chris Jowsey said it was an “exciting” time for the pub brand, despite hospitality’s struggles during the Covid-19 pandemic. The portfolio comprises 674 leased, tenanted and operator-managed community pubs across England, [...]
Restore shares soar after shooting down Marlowe’s ‘unsolicited’ £743m bid July 22, 2021 Data management services firm Restore had its shares sent flying today after it rejected a £743m ‘unsolicited’ bid from business services and software company Marlowe. Restore rejected the offer almost immediately, adding that it is the second “unsolicited, highly conditional, non-binding” offer in just a few weeks. Shares in the data management firm rocketed 14.2 [...]
Ecotricity makes fourth takeover bid of Good Energy for £60m July 22, 2021 Ecotricity has made a new higher offer in its takeover pursuit of fellow green energy supplier Good Energy, after a series of rejected offers since June. The latest cash offer, announced this morning, is at 340 pence per share, valuing the Chippenham-based company at around £59.5m. It marks a rise on Ecotricity’s initial indicative offer [...]
Cognizant acquires data specialist TQS Integration July 21, 2021 Cognizant announced its acquisition of Irish data intelligence firm TQS Integration, the fifth deal of 2021 for the global consultancy as it boosts its industrial data arm. The deal, announced yesterday, is expected to close in the third quarter of 2021 and will see Cognizant further develop its presence in Ireland. It is the latest [...]
Cairngorm Capital acquires robo-adviser and wealth manager to launch new digital firm July 15, 2021 Private equity firm Cairngorm Capital has acquired wealth manager Whitefoord and robo-adviser Munnypot to launch a new digital firm combining financial advice with investment management. The new firm, called Verso Wealth Management, will combine online investment service Munnypot’s digital platform technology with Whitefoord’s investment management and financial advice services to create an automated advice platform. [...]
Philip Morris to buy British inhaler specialist Vectura for £1bn July 9, 2021 Cigarette maker Philip Morris International will buy Vectura Group, a British pharmaceutical company, in a £1.05bn deal as it expands beyond tobacco, and into inhalers. Vectura had already agreed to a £958m deal with Carlyle Group in May but said it had withdrawn its backing for the offer which would have given shareholders 136p per share, [...]
Hire offer needed: Europcar rebuffs Volkswagen bid valuing it at €2.2bn June 23, 2021 Car rental giant Europcar has rebuffed an offer from VW and Audi owner Volkswagen, according to reports, that values the hire firm at €2.2bn (£1.88bn).
UK remains an attractive M&A destination, climbing slightly despite Brexit June 17, 2021 Britain has remained an attractive destination for inbound investment despite leaving the European Union, according to the latest global rankings for M&A attractiveness. The UK climbed two places to the fifth most attractive place in the world for M&A activity in 2020, in the latest global Mergers and Acquisitions Attractiveness Index Score (MAAIS) by City [...]
