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EQLS Equals Group Plc

139.50
0.00 (0.00%)
Share Name Share Symbol Market Type Share ISIN Share Description
Equals Group Plc LSE:EQLS London Ordinary Share GB00BLS0XX25 ORD 1P
  Price Change % Change Share Price Shares Traded Last Trade
  0.00 0.00% 139.50 0.00 01:00:00
Bid Price Offer Price High Price Low Price Open Price
Industry Sector Turnover Profit EPS - Basic PE Ratio Market Cap
  -
Last Trade Time Trade Type Trade Size Trade Price Currency
- O 0 139.50 GBX

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Date Time Title Posts
03/6/202518:11Equals Group: e-banking and payments group4,105

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Posted at 03/4/2025 20:21 by swiss paul
RECOMMENDED CASH ACQUISITION

for

Equals Group plc (Equals)
by
Alakazam Holdings BidCo Limited (BidCo)

a newly-incorporated company to be indirectly wholly-owned by a consortium comprising (i) the TowerBrook Funds (ii) the J.C. Flowers Funds and (iii) the Railsr Shareholders

to be effected by means of a scheme of arrangement
under Part 26 of the Companies Act 2006

2 April 2025

Update on Conditions and Updated Expected Scheme Timetable

On 11 December 2024, the boards of Equals and BidCo announced that they had reached agreement on the terms of a recommended all cash acquisition of the entire issued and to be issued ordinary share capital of Equals (the Acquisition).

The Acquisition is to be effected by means of a Court-sanctioned scheme of arrangement under Part 26 of the Companies Act 2006 (the Scheme) and is subject to the terms and conditions set out in the scheme document relating to the Acquisition (the Scheme Document) published on 17 December 2024. Unless otherwise defined, all capitalised terms in this announcement have the meaning given to them in the Scheme Document. All references to times are to London, UK, times unless otherwise stated.

As announced on 8 January 2025, the Scheme was approved by the requisite majority of Scheme Shareholders at the Court Meeting held on 8 January 2025 and the Special Resolutions relating to the implementation of the Scheme were also approved by the requisite majority of Equals Shareholders at the General Meeting also held on 8 January 2025.

Satisfaction of regulatory Conditions

Equals and BidCo are pleased to announce that the Regulatory Conditions set out in paragraphs 3.2 to 3.7 of Part III (Conditions to the Implementation of the Scheme and to the Acquisition) of the Scheme Document have now been satisfied.

Completion of the Acquisition remains subject to the Court's sanction of the Scheme at the Court Hearing, the delivery of a copy of the Scheme Court Order to the Registrar of Companies and the satisfaction (or, where applicable, waiver) of the remaining Conditions set out in Part III (Conditions to the Implementation of the Scheme and to the Acquisition) of the Scheme Document.

A further announcement will be made following the Court Hearing.

Next steps and timetable

Equals and BidCo are pleased to confirm that the Court Hearing to sanction the Scheme is scheduled to be held on 10 April 2025. Further details of the Court Hearing will be available on the Business and Property Courts Rolls Building Cause List at www.justice.gov.uk on the day before the Court Hearing.

An updated expected timetable of principal events for the implementation of the Scheme is set out in the Appendix to this announcement. On the basis of the current expected timetable, and subject to the satisfaction (or where applicable, waiver) of the remaining Conditions, the Scheme is expected to become Effective on 14 April 2025. The last day of dealings in, and for registration of transfers of, Equals Shares is therefore expected to be 11 April 2025, with all dealings in Equals Shares being suspended at 7.30 a.m. on 14 April 2025. It is also expected that the admission to trading of Equals Shares on AIM will be cancelled with effect from 7.00 a.m. on 15 April 2025.

The dates and times in the expected timetable (including as repeated in the rest of this announcement) are indicative only, are based on Equals' and BidCo's current expectations and are subject to change. The dates will depend, among other things, on the date on which: (i) the Conditions are satisfied or (if capable of waiver) waived; (ii) the Court sanctions the Scheme; and (iii) the Court Order sanctioning the Scheme is delivered to the Registrar of Companies.

If any of the key dates and/or times set out in the expected timetable change, the revised dates and/or times will be notified to Equals Shareholders by issuing an announcement through a Regulatory Information Service, with such announcement being made available on Equals' website at: hxxps://www.equalsplc.com/strategic-review.

Enquiries:

Equals

via Burson Buchanan

Ian Strafford-Taylor

Richard Cooper
Posted at 12/12/2024 09:22 by masurenguy
Another perspective !

Not all cash bids are created equal
Why is Equals Group selling at a low-ball price to Lord Hammond of Runnymede’s crew?

Alakazam! Apparently that bit of hocus-pocus means “an instantaneous transformation or appearance that occurs by or as if by magic”. Or so says the Collins Dictionary. So, it looks a right misnomer for the bid vehicle, starring the former chancellor Lord Hammond of Runnymede, that has just unveiled a £283m agreed cash bid for the Aim-listed Equals Group. Far from appearing by magic, it’s the result of a tortuous 14 extensions to the “put up or shut up” (PUSU) bid deadline — even if the saga was started, in November last year, by a different crew to Hammond’s lot. Worse, at 140p per share, including a 5p special dividend, the price is pathetic, even allowing for the illiquid Aim market.

The Equals board, chaired by Alan Hughes, is selling out on the cheap: a 37% premium to Equals’ closing share price as long ago as October 31, 2023. Anyone would think Equals was having a rocky time. In fact, since switching its focus to business-to-business transactions, revenues have leapt from £29m in 2021 to £96 million in 2023 and adjusted ebitda is up from £1.1 million to £21m. In the first 11 months of this year, revenue jumped 38% to almost £120m.

Canaccord Genuity and Lazard, found the terms “fair and reasonable”, despite Canaccord analysts having had a 176p share price target for Equals in September of last year. Some investors are backing the deal, too, while Equals shares rose 12% to 134½p. Two co-founders, Stephen Heath and Ashley Levett — the Monaco-based investor embroiled in 1996’s Sumitomo copper farrago — have pledged their 14.2% stake. Schroders fund manager Andy Brough, with around 10%, said: “It’s an early Christmas present for Equals shareholders.” Far more on the money, though, is James Thorne of Columbia Threadneedle, with almost 12%. He called the offer “absolutely ridiculous”, saying Equals had built a “strategic asset” worth “twice the price”. He said that, due to Takeover Panel failures in allowing 13 months of PUSU extensions, Equals shares had been allowed to atrophy. The board is “selling this business with no premium whatsoever. He “intends to vote against” the deal.

Complete article:
Posted at 10/12/2024 15:54 by tabhair
Very unusual share price movement, especially considering that we're on the cusp of an announcement.

I do want to see the share price go up and the deal to go through, but at the same time this sort of thing should be investigated. How can we have confidence in the financial markets if there's the possibility that people can front-run the market?
Posted at 07/12/2024 13:26 by cp42kx07
So yet another PUSU expiry raises several questions:1. Will an offer materialise before the expiry? Unlikely as there would be no reason to delay an announcement of a formal offer.2. Will there be another extension? Laughably this is probably on the cards. The PUSU system has been made to look ridiculous by EQLS.3. Is this a PUSU record? Surely it must be!4. If there is a formal offer should shareholders accept it? I'm of a mind to vote against it on the basis that EQLS appears to be in a market sector with excellent growth prospects. Whether management are up to the job has become unclear however. Also I have a concern that management have been less than honest regarding the entire strategic review process which could mean that there are undeclared problems...5. If the offer does not materialise then at what level will the share price fall to short term and then reach within 2025? 95p / 160p?All in all none of the parties have come out of this with their reputations enhanced but (imo) the most blame must attach to management. An exceptionally poor show!
Posted at 19/10/2024 12:37 by cp42kx07
Only 10 trading days until the 1 year anniversary of the "strategic review".During this time the EQLS share price (inc dividend) has increased by 8.78% whereas the Cboe UK All Companies NTR (BUKACN) has increased by 20.10%.From an investment perspective the entire opaque process appears to have been a self-inflicted disaster.All in all, immensely disappointing, even if the 135p "offer" completes.
Posted at 28/8/2024 13:13 by carcosa
Owenski, correct me if I am wrong but there was a bid for XP Power announced via RNS on 21 May, "Advanced Energy Ind. - Statement re Possible Offer". At that point XP Power rejected the offer.

Wrt EQLS no formal bid has been announced from the consortium. All we know is what EQLS have published themselves. Until a formal offer is announced I don't think EQLS are in a position to formally reject anything that has not been proposed. Albeit a phrase from EQLS saying something like "we would be minded to accept/reject.." would have been useful. It's a technicality.

Also, who know who else (anyone?) might be in discussions with the Board; until another leak ensues there is no way of knowing.

FWIW after all this time it seems unlikely to me the consortium likely to raise the cash required as you say, it's 'odd'... but maybe they want to wait for the next UK govt Budget announcement first, so expect another PUSU extension?

Given the current share price is not a million miles away from 135p and the risks involved of a bid collapsing, am a tad surprised there have not been more investors getting out and re-deploying their funds.
Posted at 23/7/2024 16:24 by simso
I read an ongoing debate here about EQLS and ALPH valautions. Lets split the facts from the fiction, as ALPH have reported their first half numbers this morning, so we can compare to EQLS' recent TU, covering the same period.

1. Interest Income: EQLS interest income in H1 24 was 16% of the total sales, so is relatively less of a deal than it is for ALPH, where it accounts for around 40%.

2. EQLS sales growth in H1 was +33%, and Alpha +19%. If one stripped out interest from both companies, EQLS grew at +24% and ALPH +15%.

3. Comparing current year valuations, we know ALPH is on a P/e of 12 for the current year (inc interest), confirmed in a Panmure note this morning. With EQLS, the last forecats we have from House Brokers Cannacord and Zeus are almost 10 months old. Given teh progress made since, that's a long time ago! In Sept 23 both were predicting sales of around £110m for FY24. We now know the first half alone has delivered £60m. My own view for FY24 is £135m sales, EBITDA of £32m and EPS between 10p and 11p. If this comes to pass, then the P/e would be 10.

In summary I believe EQLS is arguably on a cheaper rating than ALPH, although this depends one ones own assumptions in deriving a view on EQLS EPS. It is a fact that EQLS is growing materially faster, and also that Interest Income is less of a deal than it is for ALPH.
Posted at 17/7/2024 22:08 by mcl1
To @Melcul's point, why would Insto's decrease their holdings when there were two potential bidders up until a month or so ago.

The price action is as smelly as anything. The Aim is up 15% since EQLS announced their SR, yet the share price is barely changed. Even the more remarkable when there is potentially a 135p bid on the table.


Ian S-T / the Board have diluted the value of the company because until they put up the 'for sale' sign, it was fair to assume we had shares in a sought after company with best in class technology that would command a takeover premium......that is clearly not the case.

They need to provide an honest appraisal of the business, why they put it up for sale, do they lack critical mass for long term sustainability and realistically what is achievable. The share price suggests two things, 1) the bid has no chance of happening and 2) there is an erosion of faith from shareholders that needs acknowledging and answering.
Posted at 10/7/2024 07:49 by carcosa
Clearly disappointing for many, myself included.

Should note that:
The consortium still need to raise the cash
EQLS have NOT said "they are minded to accept such an offer"
Allows time for others, including MDB, to make an improved offer.
General consensus seems to be EQLS share price would exceed 135p naturally anyway; but experience suggests Institutional Investors do not scupper such takeovers unless there is a large activist holder on the books.

Meanwhile todays CNBC's top 250 fintech companies may offer an alternative home for Equals shareholders who cash out of the company over the coming days...
Posted at 31/5/2024 16:18 by the_mandalorian
Thank you for your investment advice and the passive-aggressive pretentious go elsewhere dig, brought out by my slightest and reasonable scrutiny of your use of the p/e AEPS figure.

A little surprised considering I have never said this is a sell, or that the takeover will not happen. Isn't this a share discussion forum and not a fan club?
I am sure some folk would take it as rude or even condensing, but not me.

Read my history of posts, which included, unlike your own, exposing companies and breaking news before RNS on DHS investigations at NCYT, and scam lithium extraction partners in Chilean squats on CTL. So as I noob, green to all this, I don't take Offence ;)

I will answer the question for you that you didn't acknowledge.
The company used the same reasons for the non-reoccurring/ infrequent 'adding back' adjustments in Both 23/24 finals that give the AEPS figure.

Not unusual, most companies do, that's why clean EPS is the most important figure when assessing financial performance.

Is there any reason you went from using Clean EPS when posting in March 2023* to now only using AEPS, or was it before the period that you believed 'everyone in the city' used only AEPS?


*27th March 2023 Final results and share price on the date you posted that EQLS "had a p/e over 40"
EPS 1.8p share price 85p. =PE/ 47
AEPS 3.03 ; share price 85P =PE/27


Big7ime - 27 Mar 2023 - 12:20:42 - 20161 of 25292

Comparing ALPH,EQLS,AGFX Alph seems most profitable but very highly rated, Eqls profitability isN;T great but maybe early days as it has only just turned profitable AGFX is the stand-out share in terms that it is much more profitable than EQLS but share is so under-appreciated as trades on a multiple of around 10. EQLS is over 40 .
Equals share price data is direct from the London Stock Exchange

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