PRESS: Aviva prepares to raise bid for Direct Line - Bloomberg

(Alliance News) - Aviva PLC has increased its offer for Direct Line Insurance Group PLC to around ...

Alliance News 5 December, 2024 | 4:09PM
Email Form Facebook Twitter LinkedIn RSS

(Alliance News) - Aviva PLC has increased its offer for Direct Line Insurance Group PLC to around GBP3.4 billion, Bloomberg reported.

Bloomberg sources that London-based Aviva has made a fresh bid of about 261 pence per share as it seeks to secure the backing of Direct Line’s board.

The new proposal is about 4% higher than Aviva’s initial cash and stock proposal of 250p per share last week, or GBP3.26 billion, which was rejected by Direct Line.

Under the plan Direct Line shareholders would be entitled to receive 112.5 pence per share in cash and 0.282 of a new Aviva share for each Direct Line share.

Shares in Direct Line initially rose more than 7% on the news before settling 0.5% higher at 238.00p in London. Aviva was 1.2% higher at 486.19p.

Last week Aviva said it was a "highly attractive" and "compelling" offer with "high execution certainty".

But Direct Line dismissed it as "highly opportunistic" and said it "substantially undervalued the company".

Direct Line has undertaken a strategic revamp under the stewardship of Chief Executive Adam Winslow, who the firm poached from potential suitor Aviva. Winslow had been CEO of UK & Ireland General Insurance for Aviva.

By Jeremy Cutler, Alliance News reporter

Comments and questions to newsroom@alliancenews.com

Copyright 2024 Alliance News Ltd. All Rights Reserved.

Email Form Facebook Twitter LinkedIn RSS

Securities Mentioned in Article

Security Name Price Change (%) Morningstar
Rating
Aviva PLC 460.70 GBX 0.77
Direct Line Insurance Group PLC 250.03 GBX 2.81

About Author

Alliance News

Alliance News provides Morningstar with continuously updating coverage of news affecting listed companies.

© Copyright 2024 Morningstar, Inc. All rights reserved.

Terms of Use        Privacy Policy        Modern Slavery Statement        Cookie Settings        Disclosures