Cross-Border M&A

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On July 27, 2021, the Financial Conduct Authority (“FCA”) published a policy statement that includes final rules amending the UK Listing Rules, and new associated guidance, applicable to special purpose acquisition companies (“SPACs”).  The new rules and guidance came into force on August 10, 2021.

The final requirements are based on the FCA’s earlier consultation…

As we have covered previously, one of the most noticeable trends that has emerged in the current boom in UK public M&A activity[1] is the heightened level of target shareholder opposition to bids. This is manifesting itself in a number of ways, including through increased and novel “bumpitrage”[2] campaigns as well as through institutional investors becoming more vocal in expressing their discontent at proposed bids. There appears to be a general feeling among a number of the largest UK institutional investors that private equity are acquiring UK public companies “too cheaply”.
Continue Reading UK Bids: Take-Private Boom Sees Negotiating Power Shift from Target Boards to Shareholders

On June 18, 2021, the German Works Council Modernization Act (Betriebsrätemodernisierungsgesetz) entered into force.  This legislation aims at supporting and facilitating the establishment of new works councils in Germany.  In order to achieve this purpose, the new law improves, inter alia, protection against dismissal of employees who are initiating the establishment of a works council, and simplifies works council elections by expanding the possibilities for a simplified election procedure.
Continue Reading Germany Changes the Legal Framework to Increase the Number of Works Councils

Bumpitrage in UK bids being implemented by scheme of arrangement. So-called “bumpitrage” refers to the intervention of a shareholder activist in a public bid to attempt to force the bidder into improving the terms of the bid. Most public bids in the UK market are implemented by scheme of arrangement. When it becomes effective, a…

In the past week, two further potential bids were announced in relation to FTSE 250 companies – KKR’s potential bid for John Laing and Blackstone’s potential bid for St Modwen. This follows a number of recent bids for UK listed companies, many of which were launched following the announcement in November 2020 by Pfizer and…