M&AMacroPUBLISHED
Big Yellow Warning Sign for London Market as Foreign Buyers Emerge
Acquirer
Foreign buyers
Target
London market assets
Activists are raising concerns about a potential flood of sales to foreign buyers in the London market, signaling a warning sign for its future. A trickle of such transactions could escalate into a more significant trend.
✦ Meridian Analysis
Activists have flagged a potential flood of sales to foreign buyers in the London market, but the specific transactions remain undisclosed. Lenders and other financiers have not been named, and no details on the financing mechanics have been released.
Meridian reported earlier this month that private‑equity interest was already jeopardising the London float of a former DSSmith business. Similarly, Permira’s contemplation of a €3.1 bn sale of Octo to the London Stock Exchange Group.
Stakeholders will be watching for concrete deal terms. Neither the identity of advisers nor the timetable for regulatory clearance has been disclosed, and the extent of lender participation remains unclear.
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