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 [...]
Switzerland’s Six takes lead in race for LSE’s Borsa Italiana September 14, 2020 Switzerland’s Six exchange has put in the highest bid so far for London Stock Exchange’s Borsa Italiana, according to a report, putting it ahead of France’s Euronext and Deutsche Boerse. The bid valued Borsa Italiana – Italy’s only stock exchange – at around €3.5bn-€4bn (£3.2bn-£3.7bn), a source told Reuters. The London Stock Exchange (LSE) snapped [...]
Exclusive: Law firm mergers drop to nine-year low as Covid-19 turns consolidators cautious March 15, 2021 Law firm mergers have fallen to a nine-year low, as the economic downturn brought about by the Covid-19 pandemic has left consolidator firms wary of making acquisitions. Just 107 law firm mergers were completed in 2020, down 25 per cent on the 143 mergers that occurred in 2019 and less than half the 278 mergers [...]
Uber books $600m hit from UK drivers’ rights ruling May 6, 2021 Uber has booked a $600m (£431m) hit following a landmark court ruling that forced the ride-hailing giant to pay its drivers minimum wage and holiday pay. The San Francisco-based app last night said it had incurred the costs to settle historical claims relating to the classification of drivers as workers during the first quarter. In [...]
Vodafone aims to raise €2.8bn in masts stock market float March 9, 2021 Vodafone today said it is aiming to raise €2.8bn (£2.4bn) from an initial public offering of its mobile masts business later this month. The mobile network is set to float Vantage Towers in Frankfurt on or around 18 March as it looks to cash in on its lucrative infrastructure assets. It priced the listing at [...]
Goldman Sachs smashes profit expectations as global M&A and SPAC boom pushes fees higher April 14, 2021 Goldman Sachs smashes profit expectations on global M&A and SPAC boom
US dealmaking pushes global M&A to first-quarter high April 13, 2021 Global M&A is on course for a record-breaking year as pent up demand pushed deal-making to an all time high in the first quarter. The momentum seen in the latter half of 2020 has continued unabated with the M&A market surging in the first three months of the year. The number of deals is up [...]
Surge in bumper deals helps UK M&A regain its mojo December 18, 2020 After a slow start to the year UK M&A has bounced back after a surge in mega deals saw activity soar 80 per cent. M&A with UK involvement has totalled £429.8bn so far this year, 80 per cent more than the value recorded in 2019 according to research by data provider Refinitiv. A staggering 21 [...]
KKR sets up dedicated team for snapping up UK companies July 6, 2021 KKR will set up a team of dealmakers who will specifically target more UK takeover deals, as the private equity “raid” on British companies reaches record highs. The private equity giant has announced it will expand its global operations to include a new team of five British dealmakers who will focus on snapping up companies [...]
EU faces Franco-Dutch call for rules to stop ‘greenwashing’ December 15, 2020 By Huw Jones LONDON (Reuters) – French and Dutch securities regulators called on Tuesday for European Union rules to prevent “greenwashing” or inaccurate claims that investments are sustainable and climate-friendly. Several firms provide ratings on a company’s environmental, social and governance (ESG) risks that asset managers use to make “green” investment decisions. The European Commission [...]