Private equity finds soft takeover targets in London – yet again | Nils Pratley

Offer for DCC Energy leaves total of completed or agreed deals within FTSE 100 this year at five, but has Westminster noticed?

DCC, one of FTSE 100’s biggest energy firms, agrees £5.75bn takeover

And another one goes. Dublin-based DCC Energy is a lower-profile member of the FTSE 100, but they all count. We’re now at five completed or agreed takeovers within London’s leading index this year – and it’s still only July.

The subplot at DCC was vocal opposition from a few shareholders who thought the private equity groups KKR and Energy Capital Partners, a unit of Bridgepoint, should be paying more than the £5.75bn, or £65.25 a share, at which the board has rolled over. Fidelity International and Aviva Investors were to the fore, as well as DCC’s founder.
Continue reading...