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Olympic Games Power Provider Agrees to $3.2 Billion Takeover

Aggreko Agrees to $3.2 Billion Takeover by TDR, I Squared

Aggreko Plc, one of the world’s biggest suppliers of portable power generators, accepted a 2.3 billion-pound ($3.2 billion) bid from a private equity consortium.

TDR Capital and I Squared Capital agreed to buy the business for 880 pence per share in cash, London-listed Aggreko said in a statement. The price represents a 39% premium to Aggreko’s closing price on Feb. 4, the day before their interest was first reported. The stock rose 1.8% to 905 pence shortly after the open of regular trading Friday.

Aggreko offers rentals of power, heating and cooling equipment to clients in the energy, refining, construction and events industries. It has provided generators to the Glastonbury Festival, Britain’s marquee music event, as well as the 2018 Winter Olympic Games in South Korea.

Bloomberg News reported Thursday that the private equity firms were nearing a firm offer for Aggreko following weeks of negotiations. Platinum Equity has also made a preliminary approach to Aggreko, though its interest was seen as less likely to translate into a deal, people with knowledge of the matter said.

TDR and I Squared’s offer for Aggreko is in-line with expectations and unlikely to see competing bids, Andrew Nussey, a Peel Hunt analyst, wrote in a note. The acquisition is expected to be completed in the summer of this year.

Bargain Hunting

Private equity firms have been hunting for bargains among listed companies in the U.K. Blackstone Group Inc. and Global Infrastructure Partners teamed up last month on a deal to buy Signature Aviation Plc, an operator of private-jet bases, for $4.7 billion. Allied Universal Security Services LLC, which is backed by Warburg Pincus, has offered to take over British security firm G4S Plc for 3.8 billion pounds.

TDR has been particularly active. It completed an acquisition last month of a controlling stake in Walmart’s U.K. grocery arm, Asda Group Ltd., together with Britain’s Issa brothers. In February, it approached Arrow Global Group Plc about a potential takeover bid valuing the London-listed alternative investment group at more than 540 million pounds.

Morgan Stanley, Barclays Plc, Deutsche Bank AG, Goldman Sachs Group Inc., JPMorgan Chase & Co. and Bank of America Corp. are advising the private equity consortium. Aggreko is working with Centerview Partners, Citigroup Inc. and Jefferies Financial Group Inc.

Barclays, Bank of America, Deutsche Bank, Goldman Sachs and Banco Santander SA are helping arrange debt to fund the transaction.

©2021 Bloomberg L.P.