Corporate Finance
Time to enter the game: UK’s Playtech acquires Italy’s Snaitech
On 29 April 2018 by BSICPlaytech PLC (LSE:PTEC) – market cap as of 27/04/2018: £2.50bn Snaitech SpA (BIT:SNA) – market cap as of 27/04/2018: €409.8m Introduction On April 12, the world’s largest online gaming software supplier announced it had agreed to acquire a 70.6% stake in Snaitech, the Italian gaming and betting market leader. Subject to completion of this €846m
Corporate Finance
Throwback to the 80s: the Melrose £8.1bn hostile takeover of GKN
On 15 April 2018 by BSICMelrose Industries plc [LON:MRO] – market cap as of 13/04/2018: £4.36bn GKN plc [LON:GKN] – market cap as of 13/04/2018 £7.76bn Introduction On March 29, 2018, “Project Golf” (as the bid was called internally) got pushed to the last hole, when the turnaround specialist Melrose received acceptance from the British engineering company GKN’s shareholders regarding
Corporate Finance
When “subject to regulatory approval” means troubles: forms of government intervention in M&A transactions
On 15 April 2018 by BSICIntroduction A persistent financial crisis, the rising of regional tensions, the concerns of a trade war and many other facts have recently been catching up with the M&A-friendly international environment. Protectionism seems now to pervade the new world order. Rising economic nationalism is threatening to impact M&A activity across all over the world, as governments
Corporate Finance
How Fast is Fast Enough? Advent International to acquire tech components manufacturer Laird for £1.2bn.
On 11 March 2018 by BSICLaird plc (LON: LRD) – market cap as of 09/03/18: £979.8 m Introduction On March 1, 2018, Advent International announced it will acquire the UK electronic components producer Laird plc for £1.2bn, or £2/share. The deal marks yet another conquest for private equity firms in search for viable targets to employ their record amounts of
Corporate Finance
When a sweet deal doesn’t sound sweet enough: Temenos to acquire Fidessa for £1.4bn in cash
On 25 February 2018 by BSICTemenos Group (SWX:TEMN) – market cap as of 23/02/2018: CHF7.60bn Fidessa Group (LON:FDSA) – market cap as of 23/02/2018: GBP1.47bn Introduction On February 21st, 2018, the boards of both Temenos and Fidessa have reached an agreement for the takeover of the former over the latter for £1.4 billion. The two European companies operate in two
Corporate Finance
FirstRand and Aldermore: a GBP 1.1bn merger across South Africa and UK
On 12 November 2017 by BSICFirstRand Ltd (FSR:SJ) – market cap as of 11/10/2017: ZAR295.3bn Aldermore Group Plc (ALD:LN) – market cap as of 11/10/2017: GBP1.07bn Introduction FirstRand and Aldermore, as of 6 November 2017, have agreed upon merging in a £1.1bn deal, at 313 pence per share in cash which implies a 22% premium on the last business day
Corporate Finance
The Final Mayday Call: Monarch Airlines Collapsed and Entered Administration
On 29 October 2017 by BSICAbout Monarch Airlines Monarch Airlines was a British low-cost airline that mainly operated in the Mediterranean. It was the UK’s fifth largest airline and the largest ever to collapse. In 1967 two British businessmen, backed by the financing provided by the Italian-Swiss Mantegazza family, founded Monarch to promote air travels to ordinary families rather than
Markets
Market Recap 07-05-2017
On 7 May 2017 by BSICUnited States The S&P 500 closed the week at $2,399.29, a record high and up 0.63% when compared with the close of the previous week. During the week several important announcements have been released; first of all the Federal Reserve decided to leave interest rate unchanged at 0.75%-1.00% following the slowdown in growth experienced by
Commodities . Currencies . Equity Indices . Markets
Market Recap 30-04-2017
On 30 April 2017 by BSICUnited States After the French election relief and solid first quarter earnings reports the US equities finished the week higher. Slightly more than half of the S&P 500 has reported, showing positive signs of improving economic growth, with best performers tech and industrial companies. The S&P 500 after the rally at the beginning of the
Markets
Market Recap 23-04-2017
On 23 April 2017 by BSICUnited States Amidst continued geopolitical uncertainty and mixed corporate earnings results, US equities experienced a week of sideways movement. Later in the week however, the major indices recovered some of their previous week´s losses as confidence in president Trump´s tax reforms strengthened again. US treasury secretary Steven Mnunich announced that a proposal for the tax
Commodities . Currencies . Equity Indices . Fixed Income . Markets
Market Recap 09-04-2017
On 9 April 2017 by BSICUnited States US stocks took a break after last week gains. The S&P 500 fell 0.3% closing the week at 2355.54, while large-caps were flat with the Dow Jones at last week’s levels. One of the major drivers of financial markets was the FED releasing the minutes of its mid-March meeting. The minutes highlighted the
Markets
Market Recap 02-04-2017
On 2 April 2017 by BSICUnited States The S&P 500 closed at $2,362.72, up 1.44% when compared with the beginning of the week, where opened at $2,329.11 following concerns about President Trump’s ability to secure the passage of the tax reform after failure of his healthcare reform. The other major U.S. equity indices, the Dow Jones Industrial Average and NASDAQ,
Commodities . Currencies . Equity Indices . Markets
Market Recap 12-03-2017
On 12 March 2017 by BSICUnited States The S&P 500 closed at $2,372.60, slightly depreciating when compared with the beginning of the week, where it was standing at $2,375.32, but still higher than the weeks’ low of $2,357.98. Similar was the fate of both the Dow Jones Industrial Average and the NASDAQ, as they closed at slightly lower levels than
Markets
Market Recap 05-03-2017
On 5 March 2017 by BSICMarket Recap 05-03-2017 United States Despite experiencing a downward correction towards the closing of the week, US equity indices reached new record levels. The Dow Jones Industrial Average reached a new record level by breaching the 21.000 mark. On Wednesday, it peaked at 21.115, to close the week at 21.005, its first loss in a
Markets
Market Recap 26-02-2017
On 26 February 2017 by BSICUnited States Last week was a particular good one for American equities. Indeed, the Dow Jones Index scored four record high closures in a row, up 0.96% from last week’s close. Smaller gains were scored also by the S&P 500 (+0.69%) and the Nasdaq Composite (+0.12%). It is worth noting how the last S&P 500