Temenos rumoured to be eyed by Microsoft and SoftBank - report
20 DEC 2017
Temenos [SWX:TEMN], the Switzerland-headquartered banking software supplier, is said to be a potential takeover target for Redmond, Washington-based Microsoft [Nasdaq:MSFT] and SoftBank [TYO:9984] of Japan, the Financial Times reported. The FT’s market report cited unattributed rumours which suggested the two companies have recently been looking at Temenos.
The software sector in Europe has generally been lifted amid anticipation of consolidation deals, the report said.
Temenos has a CHF 9.04bn (USD 9.18bn) market cap.
Shire rumoured to be eyed for GBP 50-per-share-plus takeover - report
20 DEC 2017
Shares in Shire [LON:SHP], the international pharmaceuticals and biotech group, were given a lift yesterday, 19 December, by fresh takeover rumours, The Daily Telegraph reported. Market chatter in London suggested major pharma players from Europe and the US are considering bids of more than GBP 50 (USD 67) per share, the report said.
The Financial Times reported that Shire was rumoured to be a potential target for an unidentified biopharma based in the US.
Shire stock closed at GBP 39.20 yesterday. The Dublin-headquartered company has a market cap of GBP 34.3bn.
Link to original source (Daily Telegraph)
The Financial Times report appeared in print, page 27
Abertis bidder Atlantia considering options to unblock offer; Spanish PM gets involved - reports (translated)
Abertis [BME:ABE] bidder Atlantia [BIT:ATL] is exploring options with the Spanish market regulator CNMV to resolve the government’s block for its offer, Expansion reported, citing legal sources.
Atlantia is asking Abertis to seek authorisation for the transfer of its concessions and satellites unit Hispasat. Abertis is analysing Atlantia’s request, according to the report.
Atlantia has already forwarded a formal request to Abertis, the Spanish-language paper said, citing legal sources involved in the process.
Following the state’s request to the CNMV to cancel or revoke its authorisation for Atlantia’s offer, the regulator has until 7 January to make a decision, the report noted. Within this deadline, the CNMV has opened a 10-day period for submissions before responding to the government’s request. Abertis could express its willingness during this period and request the prior government authorization. This way it looks to contribute to pacifying a conflict and prevent any harm to shareholders' interest, Expansion noted. Since the government made the requirement on 7 December, Abertis stock has fallen 2.21% to EUR 18.5, it added.
Abertis' request would also serve the counter offer launched by ACS via Hochtief [ETR:HOT].
Elsewhere El Confidencial reported the Spanish Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy decided to get involved in the transaction. According to sources close to the talks, cited by the online Spanish-language report, Rajoy recently met with Isidre Fainé, chairman of Abertis’ main shareholder Criteria CaixaCorp, La Caixa's industrial and financial holding company, to ask him to consider the suitability of ACS’ EUR 18.6bn counter bid for Abertis.
Rajoy, advised by the ministers of Public Works and Energy, Íñigo de la Serna and Álvaro Nadal, respectively, is prepared to stand by the notion that Spain defends its domestic market leaders like other European countries, the report added. Some of the arguments are those used by Italy in the recent past. The Italian government has prevented, among other transactions, the takeover of Telecom Italia by Telefónica, the acquisition of Banca Nazionale del Lavoro by Spanish lender BBVA, and Atlantia itself (formerly Autostrade) by Abertis.
To date, CriteriaCaixa Corp has been on the Italian side, El Confidencial added.
The original article for Expansion appeared in print; Page 3
Gemalto/Thales not expecting antitrust headwinds – report (translated)
20 DEC 2017
Dutch digital security and services provider Gemalto [AMS:GTO] and French technology company Thales [EPA:HO] expect the proposed acquisition won’t lead to significant objections from competition authorities.
Dutch financial publication Mena.nl reported the comments are from chairmen of both companies, without eloborating further.
As reported, Thales will acquire Gemalto for about EUR 4.6bn, and the deal is expected to be finalized in the second half of next year.
The French information technology services company Atos [EPA:ATO] was also interested in acquiring Gemalto, as previously reported. Atos has now said that if the deal with Thales fails, the company is open to holding talks with Gemalto, the report noted.