Barclays agree BlackRock deal for BGI
BlackRock has agreed to buy Barclays Global Investors for approximately $13.5bn (£8.2bn) in a deal that will make it the largest asset manager in the world with around $2.8trillion under management.
Within the past 3 years, BlackRock has transformed from a fixed income specialist to a fully diversified global asset manager. This transformation began with the takeover of Merrill Lynch’s asset management business for $8.5bn in 2006. BGI will enhance the group’s passive business, giving it capabilities across fixed income, equity, cash and exchange traded funds (ETFs).
Barclays management team said that it decided the BlackRock offer was superior to that agreed with Blue Sparkle, CVC Capital Partners’ SICAV investment vehicle. CVC has until the 18 June to match the BlackRock offer, after which point the BlackRock sale will be accepted and recommended to shareholders. Barclays cannot seek other offers now, only honour CVC’s right to match.
As part of the deal, John Varley, Barclays group chief executive, and Bob Diamond, Barclays group president and chief executive of investment banking and investment management, would become part of the board of directors of BlackRock.
The proposed transaction represents a multiple of 11.9x BGI's 2008 EBITDA as published and 28% of the current Barclays market capitalisation. Barclays will use the proceeds to improve its capital base. The gain will add an estimated 163bps to Equity Tier 1 and 150bps to Core Tier 1 capital ratios as at 31 December 2008.
Shore Capital said it thought a bidding war with CVC Capital Partners was unlikely. It added that the deal boosted its confidence that Barclays wouldn’t need further emergency restructuring. But it added that the recent rally in the shares gave little room for upside. The shares have climbed since March, when they were below 100p, to their current level of 304.5p, unchanged on the day.