The silence is deafening from Cadbury
As we covered yesterday, American food giant Kraft Foods would appear to be the only potential bidder for UK chocolate manufacture Cadbury at this moment in time. Amid rumours that the company is looking to launch a £10.5 billion offer for Cadbury the silence has been deafening from other potential bidders and Cadbury management themselves. So what is going on?
Up until now it was never 100% certain that Kraft Foods would actually make an offer, and indeed there are still some doubts in the marketplace, but it looks highly likely that an offer will be made in due course. Even though there have been rumours of Unilever and other third parties possibly entering the fray at some point, there is no "meat on the bone" as yet and many people believe there is every chance that no other bidder will emerge. This would then leave the door open for Kraft Foods to offer a "competitive" takeover price rather than a "knockout price" which many people had been hoping for and expecting.
Whatever happens we are certain to see some movement over the next 10 days as we head towards the deadline set by the panel on takeovers and mergers, at which point
Kraft Foods will either be forced to "put up or shut up".
Share this..
Related stories
Is Alistair Darling the next Cabinet Minister to go?
It is common knowledge in political circles that the relationship between Gordon Brown and his Chancellor Alistair Darling has dropped to record lows of late. Amid suggestions that Gordon Brown is trying to dictate the policy and direction of the Treasury, Alistair Darling has recently hit back suggesting that yet more debt, bearing in mind the current situation in the UK, would be the wrong move....
Read MoreNew charges 'hit vulnerable hardest'
New charges levied against customers who do not pay their bills electronically are likely to hit vulnerable groups hardest, a charity has warned.Credit Action cautioned that with a number of major companies introducing these charges, the elderly and the poor would be the ones to lose out.Traditionally, customers have been offered a discount for paying phone, gas or other bills by direct debit.But...
Read MoreLloyds bank looks to slim down HBOS acquisition
It has been revealed that Lloyds bank is looking to dispose of up to 60 separate share stakes acquired by HBOS over the years. While these investments have done fairly well for HBOS in recent times, the enlarged group is looking to focus on more traditional banking and trying to alleviate any significant risk in other areas. There is also the issue of liquidity and financial strength which has bee...
Read MoreWho will be next after Cadbury?
While it is not yet certain that Cadbury will be taken-over, either by Kraft Foods or another party, the odds on the company staying independent are lengthening by the day. Nestlé would appear to have given up hope of a potential bid for the company and other potential partners are falling by the wayside. This potentially leaves Kraft Foods with a clear road if it is willing to increase its ini...
Read MoreLandlords raise rents six months in a row
With high demand for rented accommodation, as house prices remain unaffordable for many, landlords have been able to charge more rent for the sixth month in a row.Since November last year, when an average rented property would cost £9,665, landlords are charging an average £1,307 more to tenants wishing to let accommodation.In May this year rents reached £10,702, which is one per cent higher th...
Read More