Wellcome investment in M&S

Wellcome Trust has taken a 2.5 per cent stake in Marks and Spencer worth an estimated £100 million. Shares fell after the announcement, prompting speculation that a potential bidder is looking at the beleaguered retailer.

Other Done Deals

  • Estonian infotechnology company MicroLink has bought 82.9 per cent stock of IT Koolituskeskus in a deal worth 22 million kroons (£975,000)
  • International education and information company Pearson has acquired an additional 22 per cent stake in Nigerian education publisher Longman Nigeria, which takes its ownership to a controlling 51 per cent
  • The Riverside Company has completed its 19th acquisition of 2008, with the buying of queue products company Tensator Group for an undisclosed sum
  • Catapult Venture Managers has completed a £600,000 investment as part of a £1.25 million funding round in Coventry-based DigePrint
  • Quinlan Private, a private equity property investment group, has announced that the Sultanate of Oman has bought half of Quinlan-owned Jurys Inns hotels for an estimated €200 million (£157 million)
  • Cardiff-based estate agency Thomas H Wood has acquired rival firm Michael Traynor Estate Agents for an undisclosed sum
  • Ardeshir Naghshineh, an Iranian property tycoon, has raised his stake in troubled retailer Woolworths to 10.2 per cent, sparking rumours that he will mount a bid for the business

Deals in the pipeline

  • Energy company E.ON has agreed to acquire MVV Energie’s Polish operations that focus on heat production, distribution and energy consulting for an undisclosed sum
  • Flying Brands, a British mail order company, has received a “very preliminary” takeover approach from West Coast Capital
  • Acambis, a vaccines company is currently being advised on a £276 million recommended cash offer by Sanofi Pasteur Holding

Marc Barber

Marc Barber

Marc was editor of GrowthBusiness from 2006 to 2010. He specialised in writing about entrepreneurs, private equity and venture capital, mid-market M&A, small caps and high-growth businesses.

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