takeover bid strategy - a very interesting read...

Should you chase the takeover targets?
In 2004 it seemed that every second high-profile firm around the world was either taking a firm over or being taken over itself. In the US, Cingular bought AT&T Wireless, for example, and, in the UK, Banco Santander bought Abbey National, and the on-off saga of Marks & Spencer (M&S) occupied column inches for weeks on end. But according to the investment bankers, we havent seen anything yet. Theres no reason to doubt their prediction. As John Plender points out in the FT, they know at first hand what is in the merger and acquisition (M&A) pipeline. And if they are right, its excellent news for investors: share prices tend to soar when bids are announced.

Take the case of Aggregate Industries. Three months ago, Sandy Cross of Williams de Broe tipped the building materials firm in MoneyWeek at 95p, saying that it looked a manageable size for a predator. He was right. This week, Switzerlands Holcim said it intends to bid $1.78bn or 138p a share for Aggregate Industries. Today, the shares are trading at around 145p - anyone who bought in November is sitting on a 53% gain.

So if this really is the start of the year of the deal, wheres the best place for investors to place their bets? There is scope for consolidation in all sorts of sectors, from telecoms equipment to travel, all over Europe, but in the UK it is the retail sector that is getting all the attention. Analysts have long been warning that British retailers were going to have a nasty end to 2004 and a worse beginning to 2005, and Christmas seems to have been every bit as poor as the pessimists feared, says Chris Brown-Humes, also in the FT. Higher interest rates, a weak housing market, record levels of personal debt, higher utility bills and increased public transport costs are all squeezing the ability and desire of households to keep spending. The result? A lot of our retailers are suffering and that could make them easy pickings for predators. Indeed, one of the only things supporting retailers share prices right now is the prospect of takeover activity.
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Venture capitalists are still on the prowl, as is the Icelandic retailer Baugur, and Tesco and Asda might make a move on a rival. All of which leaves investors simply having to guess who the targets will be.

Betting on who they might be has become the latest City investment craze, says Simon Nixon on www.Breakingviews.com. But it isnt hard. M&S and JJB Sports saw their share prices rise even as they announced rubbish numbers as investors calculated this increased the likelihood of a takeover. Perhaps Philip Green will comes back and have another go at M&S.

Other possible targets include J Sainsbury, N Brown, MFI, Matalan and French Connection. But is betting on these firms wise? Debt is now cheap and plentiful, so potential bidders are awash with cash, but if the spending downturn gathers pace, that will change and takeovers will suddenly be harder to finance. And not all the dogs of the retail sector will be rescued by a bid. Some will just go bust instead. As Simon Watkins points out in The Mail on Sunday, some already have. Since Christmas, Scottish carpet maker Stoddard International has gone into administration because of tough trading at its key customer Allied Carpets, and fashion chain Pilot went into receivership as sales fell. These were both private companies, but the lesson is clear. If you are chasing takeover targets, make sure you go for firms that will survive even if they are forced to go it alone.

Woolworths is every inch a major takeover and worth following, a great opportunity if it materialises, the time is ripe once again -58p was recent target price.
remember Doing your research reaps rewards.

Thanks hyleo was planning to go today won't bother now.

The shelves are being stripped bare with people buying anything they can lay their hands on it seems! Paignton store had to close the doors yesterday as it had too many shoppers jammed in--it only let people in as some came out. Why couldn't the previous managers achieve sales like this ???

Retailer Iceland is interested in buying stores from the administrator of collapsed retail chain Woolworths
Not having to paint the fronts red was a big consideration.

Haystackdo you chalk a route when you leave home.

Woolworth is just the first high street chain to go under - M&S will be one of the next in 2009. Hopefully Green will buy them and turn them into a proper business.

Haystacknow you know I am not a betting manbut even I will take you up on that bit of nonsense.Green is a spiv.
Despite being a prominent figure in UK retail and business Philip Green has chosen to avoid paying tax in the UK. It is estimated that he and his family saved 300m in 20042005 by living partly in Monaco where residents do not have to pay income tax.Whilst some may see this as the prerogative of a successful and wealthy businessman others have questioned the morals behind this decision saying it is motivated by greed making money from the people of Britain whilst refusing to contributebut go on haystack have him own M&SI hear Woolworths have still got some compasses at half price.could be a good investment for you?

I see no moral problem with living in Monaco and paying no tax. I see Green's contribtion to Britain as running successful businesses which do pay tax and providing jobs for people.

Thats one way of looking at it haystackIt is rather a good job we dont all look at it that wayI would like to point you in the right directionbut I fear It would be wastedcan I askare you Jewish?

i am though and fail to see the connection of same in your previous post

LOL
No! Lapsed Catholic.

Woolworths is now so officially dead...Rest In Peace.