Insurance giant Aviva plc has increased its offer for Direct Line Insurance Group PLC (LSE:DLG) to £3.4 billion, according to a Bloomberg report citing “people with knowledge of the matter”. The reported 261p-per-share offer comes a week after Direct Line rejected an initial offer from Aviva valuing the business at £3.3 billion.
Insurance company Aviva has sweetened its bid for UK's Direct Line to about 3.4 billion pounds ($4.33 billion), or 261 pence per share, Bloomberg News reported on Thursday, citing people familiar with the matter.
Analysts at Berenberg reckon the saga surrounding a possible Direct Line Insurance Group PLC (LSE:DLG) takeover has a few more chapters left. The motor and home insurer confirmed last week that it had turned down a bid tabled by Aviva, saying it was "highly opportunistic and substantially undervalued the company".
Insurance company Aviva has contacted investors in bid target Direct Line , a move that could pave the way for a hostile takeover of the smaller rival, the Financial Times reported on Thursday.
A potential acquisition of Direct Line Insurance Group PLC (LSE:DLG) by Aviva PLC (LSE:AV.) could significantly accelerate the latter's move toward capital-light earnings, according to UBS.
Direct Line's shares surged as investor's hoped the rejection might pave the way for a second takeover bid from the U.K.'s largest insurance company
After Aviva PLC's (LSE:AV.) £3.3 billion takeover bid for Direct Line Insurance Group PLC (LSE:DLG) was rejected, another bid is a "distinct possibility", according to analysts.
Shares in UK insurer Direct Line Insurance soared over 36% in early trade on Thursday after it rejected a 3.28 billion pound ($4.16 billion) takeover offer from bigger rival Aviva , saying it "substantially undervalued" the company.
Aviva PLC (LSE:AV.) has confirmed that it proposed a takeover of motor and home insurer Direct Line Insurance Group PLC (LSE:DLG), which revealed today it has rejected as "highly opportunistic and substantially undervalued the company".
British insurer Aviva said on Wednesday smaller rival Direct Line Insurance had rejected a 3.28-billion-pound ($4.16 billion) takeover offer from the company.
Aviva PLC's (LSE:AV.) fund management division is reportedly moving to place three incinerator power plants into administration, after writing off over £350 million on the investment already.
Bulk annuity deal volumes could hit £60 billion by 2025 according to Canadian bank RBC after talking with leading market participants including Aviva and Just Group. On the downside, RBC says the market is getting more competitive affecting margins while there is uncertainty over new regulatory requirements designed to test buyers' financial strength to protect pensioners.