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NatWest plans to sell pension provider Cushon after two years. The bank has engaged advisers for the sale and is in discussions with potential buyers. This move follows a strategic shift under CEO Paul Thwaite, focusing on large-scale acquisitions.
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Spire Healthcare considers strategic options amid shareholder pressure. The private hospital group is reviewing potential business strategies, including a sale, with Rothschild & Co advising. Rising demand for private healthcare due to NHS strain has increased interest in Spire.
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This week’s UK M&A activity spanned private equity, healthcare, banking, technology, and retail. From Apax Global’s £794 million delisting to Sainsbury’s collapsed Argos sale, the developments show how global capital is reshaping the UK’s investment landscape and pressing established players to adapt their strategies.
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Investec remains on track despite challenging economic conditions. The bank anticipates adjusted operating profit for the first half to align with last year’s figures, maintaining its strategy amidst market volatility and progressing with its £100m share buyback programme.
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Reeves faces £18bn shortfall if public sector gains fail. The Institute for Fiscal Studies has warned that the government’s budget strategy rests on historically ambitious assumptions for productivity growth, with potential consequences for spending, taxation, and public services if efficiencies do not materialise.
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Roche has agreed to acquire 89bio for up to $3.5bn. The deal gives the Swiss drugmaker access to 89bio’s late-stage FGF21 therapy pegozafermin, positioning Roche to expand in liver disease and cardiometabolic treatments. The agreement includes cash and contingent value rights tied to future milestones.
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Apax Global Alpha taken private in €916.5m deal. The London-listed trust has been acquired by Janus Bidco Limited, backed by Apax Partners and Ares Management, with shareholders to receive €1.90 per share in cash as the company delists from the London Stock Exchange.
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The Federal Reserve cut rates by a quarter point. The move, its first reduction since December 2024, reflects growing concern about a cooling labour market. Policymakers signalled at least two more cuts this year, while a dissent from Governor Stephen Miran underscored political tension within the central bank.
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The Bank of England is set to slow quantitative tightening. Policymakers are expected to cut gilt sales from £100 billion to £67.5 billion a year, leaving rates unchanged at 4 per cent as they balance inflation control with concerns over bond market volatility.
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Lloyds Banking Group has signed a new multi-year deal with Broadcom. The agreement expands its use of VMware Cloud Foundation and mainframe software to modernise private cloud and strengthen digital banking services for millions of customers.