Transactions UK

October 22, 2025
Princes Group Targets £1.25B Valuation In November IPO

Tinned food manufacturer Princes Group PLC said Wednesday that its planned initial public offering on the London Stock Exchange in early November values the company at up to £1.24 billion ($1.65 billion).
October 21, 2025
FTC's Holyoak Thinks US Enforcers Should Stick To US Law

Federal Trade Commission member Melissa Holyoak suggested Tuesday that the Republican-led agency is unlikely to nudge its international peers to block mergers on its behalf, as it was accused of doing previously.
October 21, 2025
Strand Hanson Seeks $85M In Pharma Merger Fee Dispute

Lawyers for financial adviser Strand Hanson told a London court Tuesday on the first day of an $85.79 million damages trial that Conduit Pharmaceuticals owed it a success fee from a merger after it advised the biotech company on an aborted takeover.
October 21, 2025
Riverstone Energy Sells Onyx Power For $49M In Wind-Down

Private equity firm Riverstone Energy Ltd. said Tuesday that it has agreed to sell electricity producer Onyx Power to Swiss-based ResInvest Group for $49 million as part of its managed wind-down process.
October 21, 2025
Simmons & Simmons Leads Investor On £250M Share Returns

Life sciences investor Syncona Ltd. said Tuesday that it plans to return £250 million ($334 million) to shareholders as it laid out proposals aimed at maximizing value for investors.
October 21, 2025
London & Associated To Exit LSE Amid Low Investor Interest

London & Associated Properties PLC said Tuesday that it has decided to remove its shares from the London Stock Exchange after more than 80 years, citing low interest among investors and the high costs of being on the exchange.
October 21, 2025
Shawbrook Eyes £2B Market Cap For November IPO

Shawbrook Group PLC priced its market value at between £1.8 billion ($2.4 billion) and £2 billion on Tuesday for the online lender's initial public offering, making the float London's biggest to date in 2025.
October 21, 2025
Hostelworld To Widen Biz With $12M Acquisition Of Events Co.

Hostelworld Group PLC said Tuesday it has agreed to buy U.S. event discovery platform OccasionGenius Inc. for $12 million, a move the online booking company said will broaden its operations.
October 21, 2025
KKR, Quadrantis Buy Minority Stake In Peak Re

U.S. private equity business KKR and Portuguese venture capitalists Quadrantis said Tuesday that they will take a 15% stake in Hong Kong reinsurer Peak Re to help its global growth.
October 21, 2025
US Gov't Shutdown Delaying Magnum Spinoff, Unilever Says

Consumer goods giant Unilever said Tuesday that it has to delay moves to spin off its ice cream business because of the U.S. government shutdown, which is entering its third week.
October 20, 2025
UK Steps Up Antitrust Probe Into Getty-Shutterstock Merger

The U.K. antitrust regulator escalated its investigation into Getty's proposed acquisition of Shutterstock, citing on Monday "realistic" risks that a combined $3.7 billion entity could harm competition.
October 20, 2025
British Biopharma Biz Raises £16M To Fund Research

British biopharmaceutical company Avacta said Monday that it has raised approximately £16 million ($21.5 million) through an equity offering to fund its research and development activities next year.
October 20, 2025
Broker JMG Group Buys Another UK Insurance Co.

JMG Group has bought Glasgow-headquartered broker Taveo Group Ltd. in another acquisition announced by the Yorkshire-based insurance broking group as it continues its U.K. expansion.
October 20, 2025
UK Clears $24.2B Global Payments Deal For Worldpay

Britain's antitrust authority said Monday that it has given the green light to Global Payments' planned acquisition of payments giant Worldpay for $24.25 billion after finding that it will not harm competition in any U.K. markets.
October 20, 2025
Aerospace Biz Can't See UK Gov't Appraisal Of Chinese Deal

A London court has blocked an aerospace company's request to see the U.K. government's security assessment of a Chinese financing deal amid its claim that its former chief executive tried to tank the deal.
October 20, 2025
Sirius Boosts Portfolio With €44M Munich Business Park Buy

Business parks owner Sirius said Monday that it has agreed to acquire a site on the outskirts of Munich in Germany for €43.7 million ($51 million) as it continues its 2025 shopping spree.
October 20, 2025
Linklaters-Led Holcim To Buy German Builder For €1.9B

Holcim said Monday it has agreed to acquire Xella Group, a German walling and insulation company, for €1.85 billion ($2 billion), as the Swiss building materials giant gravitates toward the more profitable construction sector.
October 20, 2025
FCA Flags Money Laundering Risks At Corporate Finance Cos.

One in 10 corporate finance companies has no documented business-wide risk assessment, the City watchdog said Monday, warning that many organizations might be falling short of money laundering standards.
October 20, 2025
BCLP-Led Gambling Biz Looks To Raise £40M In London IPO

Gambling and lottery operator Winvia said Monday that it plans to list on the junior Alternative Investment Market in London in November and raise approximately £40 million ($53.8 million) via a new share placing.
October 20, 2025
Investor RTW Raises Buyback By $15M Amid Deals Boost

RTW Biotech Opportunities Ltd. said Monday it plans to allocate an additional $15 million to share repurchases, as the investment company noted a number of successful mergers and acquisition deals involving its portfolio companies.
October 20, 2025
HSF Kramer Advises Petra Diamonds On £19M Share Issue

Petra Diamonds Ltd. has urged shareholders to back a revised financing plan and a proposed share sale to raise almost £19 million ($25 million), as the company deals with outstanding liabilities and industry challenges.
October 20, 2025
L'Oréal To Buy Kering's Beauty Division In €4B Deal

French cosmetics giant L'Oréal will buy the beauty division of luxury goods business Kering including perfumer House of Creed, in a €4 billion ($4.7 billion) deal, the companies have said, as Kering seeks to slash its debt and focus on its core fashion brands.
October 17, 2025
Prosus Nears 100% Just Eat Stake, Eyes November Delisting

Dutch investment group Prosus said Friday that it has managed to increase its ownership of Just Eat to 98.19% by the Thursday deadline of a post-closing period for its €4.1 billion ($4.8 billion) take-private offer.
October 17, 2025
UK Litigation Roundup: Here's What You Missed In London

This past week in London has seen Johnson & Johnson hit with a £1 billion ($1.34 billion) claim for allegedly selling contaminated baby powder, Carter-Ruck bring a claim against the Solicitors Regulation Authority, and Hewlett Packard file a probate claim against the estate of Mike Lynch.
October 20, 2025
CORRECTED: Football Club Owner Liable To Iconic Investors For $97M Stake

A London court ruled on Friday that the owner of a portfolio of professional football clubs was in breach of a deal to buy back an investment vehicle's stake in his company for $97 million.

Expert Analysis

What EU Changes To Dual Distribution Mean For Franchises

Following the European Commission’s adoption of the Vertical Block Exemption Regulation and accompanying vertical guidelines regarding dual distribution, which took effect this month, franchisors should examine their flow of information to and from franchisees to determine whether it must be restricted, say attorneys at Baker McKenzie.
How ESG Matters Are Influencing M&A Due Diligence Trends

With a proliferation of environmental, social and governance-related regulatory developments and a desire to comply with best practice, ESG matters have become an increasingly important area of focus for both clients and advisers in M&A transactions, say attorneys at Sullivan & Cromwell.
Changes To UK Competition Rules Will Extend CMA Powers

Recent amendments to U.K. competition and consumer law regimes introduce changes to merger control and antitrust investigations that will result in the speedier resolution of cases and greater autonomy for the Competition and Markets Authority, say Bill Batchelor and Aurora Luoma at Skadden.