This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It will not be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/business/8467007.stm
The article has changed 15 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
Version 1 | Version 2 |
---|---|
Cadbury agrees Kraft takeover bid | Cadbury agrees Kraft takeover bid |
(20 minutes later) | |
Cadbury is to be taken over by the US food company Kraft after its board approved a new increased bid, the BBC has learnt. | |
The Cadbury board will advise its shareholders to accept a new offer of 840 pence a share - valuing the company at £11.5bn ($18.9bn). | The Cadbury board will advise its shareholders to accept a new offer of 840 pence a share - valuing the company at £11.5bn ($18.9bn). |
Cadbury shareholders will also receive a dividend of 10 pence a share, BBC business editor Robert Peston says. | Cadbury shareholders will also receive a dividend of 10 pence a share, BBC business editor Robert Peston says. |
The deal will bring to an end months of animosity between the two companies. | The deal will bring to an end months of animosity between the two companies. |
The offer will consist of 500 pence in cash, with the rest made of Kraft shares. Kraft will borrow £7bn ($11.5bn) to finance the deal. | The offer will consist of 500 pence in cash, with the rest made of Kraft shares. Kraft will borrow £7bn ($11.5bn) to finance the deal. |
Our business editor says that an official announcement will be made on Tuesday morning, with bankers still working frantically to put the finishing touches to the deal. | Our business editor says that an official announcement will be made on Tuesday morning, with bankers still working frantically to put the finishing touches to the deal. |
Fierce defence | Fierce defence |
The deal is a significant increase on earlier Kraft bids, which were flatly rejected by the Cadbury board as "derisory". | The deal is a significant increase on earlier Kraft bids, which were flatly rejected by the Cadbury board as "derisory". |
Kraft previously offered 761 pence per share, valuing the company at £10.5bn - a bid Cadbury's chairman Roger Carr said was an attempt to "buy Cadbury on the cheap". | Kraft previously offered 761 pence per share, valuing the company at £10.5bn - a bid Cadbury's chairman Roger Carr said was an attempt to "buy Cadbury on the cheap". |
The increase in Kraft's debt to pay for Cadbury will doubtless worry its employees BBC business editor Robert Peston class="" href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/thereporters/robertpeston/">Peston: The takeover terms | |
The approach by Kraft last year led to protests from unions and workers, concerned that a takeover would be likely to lead to job losses among the 40,000 Cadbury staff employed worldwide. | |
Kraft is likely to commit to protecting jobs at the Somerdale and Bourneville sites in the UK, according to our business editor, though staff numbers at Cadbury's head office in Uxbridge are expected to be cut. | Kraft is likely to commit to protecting jobs at the Somerdale and Bourneville sites in the UK, according to our business editor, though staff numbers at Cadbury's head office in Uxbridge are expected to be cut. |
The deal should also mean that a factory earmarked for closure at Keynsham, near Bristol, will be saved. | The deal should also mean that a factory earmarked for closure at Keynsham, near Bristol, will be saved. |
Are you affected by the issues in this story? Send us your views. | Are you affected by the issues in this story? Send us your views. |
The BBC may edit your comments and not all emails will be published. Your comments may be published on any BBC media worldwide. Terms & Conditions | The BBC may edit your comments and not all emails will be published. Your comments may be published on any BBC media worldwide. Terms & Conditions |