This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-39022692
The article has changed 8 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 2 | Version 3 |
|---|---|
| Kraft Heinz drops Unilever takeover bid | Kraft Heinz drops Unilever takeover bid |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| Kraft Heinz has said it has dropped its plan to buy Anglo-Dutch rival Unilever. | Kraft Heinz has said it has dropped its plan to buy Anglo-Dutch rival Unilever. |
| Marmite-maker Unilever rejected the US food giant's bid on Friday, saying it saw "no merit, either financial or strategic" in Kraft's offer, worth about $143bn (£115bn). | Marmite-maker Unilever rejected the US food giant's bid on Friday, saying it saw "no merit, either financial or strategic" in Kraft's offer, worth about $143bn (£115bn). |
| "Unilever and Kraft Heinz hold each other in high regard," the companies said in a joint statement. | "Unilever and Kraft Heinz hold each other in high regard," the companies said in a joint statement. |
| The deal would have been one of the biggest in corporate history, combining dozens of household names. | The deal would have been one of the biggest in corporate history, combining dozens of household names. |
| Unilever owns Ben & Jerry's ice cream, Dove soap, and Hellmann's mayonnaise, while Kraft's range includes Philadelphia cheese and Heinz baked beans. | Unilever owns Ben & Jerry's ice cream, Dove soap, and Hellmann's mayonnaise, while Kraft's range includes Philadelphia cheese and Heinz baked beans. |
| "It would appear that Kraft Heinz have underestimated both the intrinsic value of Unilever and the challenge of acquiring control of a Dutch company whose stakeholders would have opposed such a move vociferously," said Martin Deboo, a consumer goods analyst at Jefferies International. | "It would appear that Kraft Heinz have underestimated both the intrinsic value of Unilever and the challenge of acquiring control of a Dutch company whose stakeholders would have opposed such a move vociferously," said Martin Deboo, a consumer goods analyst at Jefferies International. |
| More than half of the company's shares are in the Dutch-listed entity, he told the BBC. | More than half of the company's shares are in the Dutch-listed entity, he told the BBC. |
| Michael Mullen, a spokesman for the company, said by email: "Kraft Heinz's interest was made public at an extremely early stage," | Michael Mullen, a spokesman for the company, said by email: "Kraft Heinz's interest was made public at an extremely early stage," |
| "Our intention was to proceed on a friendly basis, but it was made clear Unilever did not wish to pursue a transaction. It is best to step away early so both companies can focus on their own independent plans to generate value." | "Our intention was to proceed on a friendly basis, but it was made clear Unilever did not wish to pursue a transaction. It is best to step away early so both companies can focus on their own independent plans to generate value." |
| Analysis | Analysis |
| By Joe Lynam, business correspondent | By Joe Lynam, business correspondent |
| Kraft Heinz is jointly controlled by the billionaire investor Warren Buffett and the Brazilian private equity group 3G. The latter has a deserved reputation for taking a scythe to costs - irrespective of how that might impact jobs and factories. | |
| Unilever, on the other hand, has a reputation for doing the right thing in terms of corporate social responsibility and the environment - even if that eats into the bottom line. | Unilever, on the other hand, has a reputation for doing the right thing in terms of corporate social responsibility and the environment - even if that eats into the bottom line. |
| I understand that Kraft Heinz was shocked with the vehemence with which its 'friendly' merger offer was rebuffed. | I understand that Kraft Heinz was shocked with the vehemence with which its 'friendly' merger offer was rebuffed. |
| The bosses of both consumer giants spoke over the weekend and it was clear that if Kraft really wanted Unilever it would have to launch a hostile takeover bid which could have ended up being very expensive. | The bosses of both consumer giants spoke over the weekend and it was clear that if Kraft really wanted Unilever it would have to launch a hostile takeover bid which could have ended up being very expensive. |
| The higher the price, the less worthwhile the deal. So the bid was withdrawn within 55 hours of it being announced. | The higher the price, the less worthwhile the deal. So the bid was withdrawn within 55 hours of it being announced. |
| Shares in both companies rose sharply on Friday, as investors welcomed the news. A merger often aims to combine sales while cutting costs, flattering profits. | Shares in both companies rose sharply on Friday, as investors welcomed the news. A merger often aims to combine sales while cutting costs, flattering profits. |
| The combined group may have had more power to raise prices through a bigger share of the branded food market. | The combined group may have had more power to raise prices through a bigger share of the branded food market. |
| Unilever clashed with UK supermarket Tesco in October over its attempts to raise prices to compensate for the steep drop in the value of the pound. | Unilever clashed with UK supermarket Tesco in October over its attempts to raise prices to compensate for the steep drop in the value of the pound. |
| The consumer goods giant has over a dozen sites across the UK, including three major plants in Liverpool, Norwich and Gloucester. | The consumer goods giant has over a dozen sites across the UK, including three major plants in Liverpool, Norwich and Gloucester. |
| If the deal had proceeded, it would be the second biggest ever, behind Vodafone's $183bn takeover of Germany's Mannesmann in 2000, according to Dealogic. | If the deal had proceeded, it would be the second biggest ever, behind Vodafone's $183bn takeover of Germany's Mannesmann in 2000, according to Dealogic. |
| Kraft's offer was at an 18% premium to Unilever's closing share price on Thursday, Unilever said. Unilever shares, however, rose just shy of that, by 13%. Kraft shares rose 11% on Wall Street. | Kraft's offer was at an 18% premium to Unilever's closing share price on Thursday, Unilever said. Unilever shares, however, rose just shy of that, by 13%. Kraft shares rose 11% on Wall Street. |
| "Unilever shares might be rough going tomorrow," said Neil Wilson, senior market analyst at ETX Capital. The chance of other bidders emerging may be slim because of Unilever's size, he added. | "Unilever shares might be rough going tomorrow," said Neil Wilson, senior market analyst at ETX Capital. The chance of other bidders emerging may be slim because of Unilever's size, he added. |
| "For the government there must be a lot riding on defending British jobs and that's going to make the hurdle for future foreign acquisitions all the higher, even if the pound's weakness makes some companies appealing," he added. | "For the government there must be a lot riding on defending British jobs and that's going to make the hurdle for future foreign acquisitions all the higher, even if the pound's weakness makes some companies appealing," he added. |