Proxy advisor recommends shareholders oppose Restaurant Group’s Wagamama takeover on the eve of the vote November 27, 2018 An influential shareholder group has recommended investors oppose the Restaurant Group’s £600m takeover of Asian fusion chain Wagamama on the eve of the vote. Pensions and Investment Research Consultants (Pirc) said the “risks and adverse implications for shareholders appear too great to overlook”. The proxy advisor's recommendation comes as investors prepare to cast their votes [...]
Investors show mixed appetite for Wagamama takeover as vote draws near November 25, 2018 A shareholder showdown looms over The Restaurant Group’s £559m planned takeover of Wagamama this week, with a number of major investors gearing up to oppose the deal. The Frankie and Benny’s owner could suffer a shareholder rebellion on Wednesday after several top investors signalled their intentions to vote against the proposed acquisition. Columbia Threadneedle Investments – [...]
Schroders plans to support the Restaurant Group’s proposed £600m Wagamama deal November 23, 2018 Schroders, a top 10 shareholder in the Restaurant Group, has come out in support of the Frankie and Bennies owner’s acquisition of Wagamama. It comes as several major investors announced they would oppose the deal at a meeting next week, saying the £600m price tag is too steep. Schroders fund manager Andy Brough said: “The [...]
Second major shareholder plans to vote down the Restaurant Group’s Wagamama deal November 22, 2018 A second major investor will oppose the Restaurant Group’s (TRG) £600m acquisition of Wagamama on the grounds of price. The investor – which declined to be named – told City A.M. that the multi-million pound price tag is too expensive. It comes after top 10 shareholder Columbia Threadneedle, which owns 7.7 per cent of TRG, [...]
Should other countries take a leaf out of Trump’s economic playbook? November 20, 2018 | City Talk Global growth in 2017 was characterised by synchronised expansion by the world’s major economies. This was largely because robust global trade growth created a rising tide that lifted all boats. Since global trade has waned in 2018, economic growth has become less coordinated. While China, Europe and Japan have all seen their growth rates cool, [...]
Restaurant Group shareholders voice anger over £600m Wagamama price tag November 20, 2018 Nervous investors have raised concerns over the price of the Restaurant Group’s (TRG) proposed £600m acquisition of Wagamama as a major shareholder announced its intention to vote against the deal. Columbia Threadneedle, which owns 7.7 per cent of TRG, will oppose the proposal at a shareholder vote next week, it announced today. Frankie and Benny’s owner [...]
Shareholder slams Johnston Press rescue plan as pensions put at risk November 18, 2018 A deal to buy publishing company Johnston Press out of administration puts jobs and pensions at risk, according to the publisher’s largest shareholder. Custos Group chief executive Christen Ager-Hanssen criticised a pre-packaged sale that sees ownership transferred to JPI Media, a newly-formed company owned by the bondholders of Johnston Press, including American hedge fund Goldentree [...]
Former London Stock Exchange chief Xavier Rolet close to City return with hedge fund CQS November 17, 2018 Former London Stock Exchange (LSE) chief executive Xavier Rolet is in advanced talks to become a co-chief executive at leading hedge fund manager CQS. The Frenchman left his job at the LSE Group in contentious circumstances last year, after being asked to step down by the board a year earlier than planned in a bid to end [...]
Asset managers back Big Four audit firms in competition watchdog consultation November 15, 2018 Investment management firms have called on the competition watchdog to ensure the quality of audit is not affected as it probes the dominance of the so-called Big Four firms. In a response to the Competition and Markets Authority Standard Life said the division of the dominant audit firms – PwC, Deloitte, KPMG and EY – [...]
US midterm elections: Is gridlock good? November 14, 2018 | City Talk Further tax cuts unlikely but will Trump strike a deal on trade? Keith Wade, Chief Economist, says: “The midterm elections restored some faith in opinion polls with the Democrats taking the House of Representatives and the Republicans holding the Senate. Conventional wisdom has it that a gridlocked Congress is good for markets as it prevents [...]