The market is not sentimental. Aviva's takeover of Direct Line could be done by Christmas
The Guardian|November 29, 2024
Prepare for the dance. Aviva is a big grown-up FTSE 100 insurer with a respected chief executive who doesn't launch takeover offers on a whim; Amanda Blanc will have a strategy to go the distance.
Nils Pratley
The market is not sentimental. Aviva's takeover of Direct Line could be done by Christmas

Direct Line, on the other hand, is a troubled FTSE 250 insurer with a new-ish chief executive, Adam Winslow, whose turnaround plan has not been applauded wildly by the stock market.

Aviva's 250p-a-share, or £3.3bn, offer for Direct Line therefore looks to be the opening shot in a negotiation. The target's board spouted the standard form of words - a "substantial" undervaluation - but will also know there will be a price at which it will be obliged by its own shareholders to talk terms. This tussle looks to be about where that price lies. Within a 270-290p range, one suspects. Aviva starts as a heavy favourite to prevail.

هذه القصة مأخوذة من طبعة November 29, 2024 من The Guardian.

ابدأ النسخة التجريبية المجانية من Magzter GOLD لمدة 7 أيام للوصول إلى آلاف القصص المتميزة المنسقة وأكثر من 9,000 مجلة وصحيفة.

هذه القصة مأخوذة من طبعة November 29, 2024 من The Guardian.

ابدأ النسخة التجريبية المجانية من Magzter GOLD لمدة 7 أيام للوصول إلى آلاف القصص المتميزة المنسقة وأكثر من 9,000 مجلة وصحيفة.

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