Matalan founder looking to refinance the company
John Hargreaves, the founder of discount clothing store Matalan, is rumoured to be looking at a potential refinancing of the company which could see him pocket a £250 million special dividend. The company has been for sale for some time although potential buyers refused to match the £1.5 billion price tag and the sale was pulled some weeks ago. However it is believed that the company is looking towards a potential £500 million plus refinancing which would refinance existing debt and also allow the company to pay a special dividend to John Hargreaves.
Discussions regarding the potential refinancing appear to be at a very early stage and there is some concern that demand for so-called "junk bond" issues such as the Manchester United refinancing has weakened over the last few weeks. This refinancing is likely to be over a six year period with many people believing the company will be sold sooner rather than later, once the economy improves, investor appetite returns and buyers are prepared to meet the £1.5 billion asking price.
John Hargreaves has proven very adept at going against the trend in investment markets and indeed either way he will pocket a very significant return on his investment when he took Matalan private a few years ago.
Share this..
Related stories
Don't be too open on Facebook!
As the insurance sector, always looking to cut costs and reduce liabilities, tackles the issue of Facebook and other social networking sites it appears that many customers could see their premiums increase and their payouts decrease. It seems that too many people are being far too open on their social networking pages, discussing holidays, posting pictures of their homes and releasing other confid...
Read MoreLife Insurance
Conservative Party's national insurance claims thrown into doubt
A report by economists working for the shadow Chancellor George Osborne in 2007 has cast doubt on Conservative Party accusations regarding an increase in national insurance and the impact this would have on the employment market. The Conservatives are claiming that a 1% increase in national insurance would lead to 57,000 job losses in the UK although using the formula from the 2007 report this cou...
Read MoreLloyds bank set to disinvest stake in esure
Lloyds bank has today revealed plans to sell off its 70% stake in esure at a price which is believed to be in excess of the current book value of £185 million. It is believed that Peter Woods, co-founder and chairman of esure, is to acquire the stake via a new holding company. Those who follow the insurance market may be aware that Peter Woods, originally famed because of his Direct Line insuranc...
Read MoreEU Gender Directive: Have you heard about it?
What is the EU Gender Directive? The EU Gender Directive relates to a ruling across the EU for equal treatment between men and women, which means that providers will no longer be able to price insurance and annuities on the basis of gender. When does the EU Gender Directive come into place? The EU Gender Directive comes into force as of Friday 21st December 2012, from there onwards provid...
Read MoreFinancial Advice Tools