Christmas comes early: PayPoint swoops on savings club Appreciate in £83m ‘earnings enhancing’ deal February 28, 2023 PayPoint has completed its acquisition of Christmas vouchers firm Appreciate Group. The two companies agreed the £83m deal last November and the boards have now finalised the buy-out agreement. The deal with PayPoint, which allows Brits to pay bills at 28,000 convenience stores across the country, involves the incorporation of some of Appreciate Group’s board [...]
Ex-PwC partner denies leaking info to City banker to help Slater & Gordon’s £637m deal January 31, 2023 The former head of PwC’s restructuring business has denied leaking confidential information to a London investment banker that allegedly helped City law firm Slater & Gordon get a better price in a £637m acquisition, a London court heard today. Ex-PwC partner Ian Green is accused of disclosing commercially sensitive information about software developer Quindell’s financial [...]
Bank dealmaking slumped to a five year low in 2022 – will it rebound this year? January 26, 2023 Mergers and acquisitions involving Europe’s top lenders slumped to their lowest level in five years last year as aggressive moves by central banks spooked dealmakers, new research has revealed.
City law firms risk losing talent unless they reduce swelling workloads, research shows January 15, 2023 British law firms could struggle to retain talent if they do not ease workloads that are pushing burnout rates higher, new research reveals. Nearly two in three of UK legal professionals have experienced burnout as a result of their work despite the sector stepping mental health support, a new survey out earlier this week of [...]
EY builds £2bn war chest to fund M&A spree for newly-separated consulting arm January 8, 2023 EY is creating a $2.5bn war chest to finance acquisitions of consulting businesses as it pushes ahead with plans to spin off its advisory arm into an entirely separate firm. The Big Four accounting firm is setting aside a sum of $2.5bn (£2.07bn) to fund an M&A spree for its newly-separated consulting arm, with a [...]
Hogan Lovells and Shearman & Sterling in ‘merger’ rumours that would create world’s fifth largest law firm January 4, 2023 Law giants Hogan Lovells and Shearman & Sterling have hinted a potential merger could be on the table, after stating they are open to opportunities including “discussions with different firms”. The two law firms both acknowledged market rumours they are engaged in early stage talks for a merger that could see them create the fifth [...]
City of London dealmaking set to rebound as ‘dry powder’ fuels wave of takeovers, bankers say January 4, 2023 Dealmaking is set to rebound in the latter stages of this year as stored up “dry powder” and steadier markets fuel a wave of take-private deals, bankers have predicted.
Sport business predictions for 2023 with Deloitte’s Tim Bridge December 28, 2022 Deloitte’s Tim Bridge looks back on the last 12 months and makes his sport business predictions for 2023. The final whistle of the men’s football World Cup concluded an epic year for sport which included the Winter Olympics, the Commonwealth Games, the Women’s Euros, the Rugby League World Cup, as well as women’s World Cups [...]
Number of takeovers and mergers halved in 2022 but ‘bargain basement prices’ to turn tide in 2023 December 27, 2022 The number of big takeovers and mergers involving UK-listed companies nearly halved this year as investors were deterred by market volatility, political instability and recession fears. But the tide is set to turn in 2023, with buyers eyeing up quality British companies trading at “bargain prices”, experts said. There were 49 bids for London-listed firms [...]
Dealmaker’s Spotlight: Oakwell Sports Advisory December 21, 2022 | City Talk Datasite recently spoke with Alex Coral, VP, Oakwell Sports Advisory, to hear his thoughts and insights on why sport and its related assets remain a popular investment, even during a downturn. Oakwell is a dedicated corporate finance and strategic consultancy boutique that advises sports rights holders and investors on commercial strategy, financing options, and valuation. [...]