Wood Group (john) Takeover Rumours (WG.)

I don't think the takeover will be hostile. I think that the directors are quietly happy to accept a reasonable offer. But I think more than one bidder will emerge and they will fight it out. The first smell of a takeover will push the share price beyond 100 p.

I'm relatively new to having a stocks and shares ISA after having a bit of a bumper year of work last year and getting to a point where I can save a significant amount of money into each month. Saving for early retirement in ~20 years so can take a few risks.How do you guys find stocks like Wood when it's in this state? Luck?I'd been watching it for a while after the two takeover bids thinking it might be worth buying at 120p anticipating it jumping again at some point, luckily my procrastination seems to have been a good thing for once if it jumps back up!Being sensible most of my money is still in ETF's, although I sold a few of the poorer performing ones to buy these shares.

Takeover at a pound and Gilmarton out will do for me at this stage

While management is confident about annual profit, news that Deloitte is carrying out an independent review of the business is a big red flag for investors.Positives: Pursuing energy transition contractsSubject to a previous takeover attempt Negatives:Deloitte accounting reviewUnderlying customer investment can be volatile and uncertainThe average rating of stock market analysts:Buy

On the other hand if I was a company wanting to takeover WG I would want to know the size of the hole in the accounts that this probe is going to reveal otherwise its buying a pig in a poke. Look at PFC for a sad tale of one problem after another and also how WG bought a few pigs in pokes to get here.

Open to hostile takeover perhaps?

I'm pretty sure the key shareholders have called the company and have been getting some reassurance that everything is ticking along.Being short over the weekend could be dangerous with possible takeover interest

Takeover over of around £2.30 just a few months ago…SP now 53p, now what offer can we expect at significant discount?

After this, the board will never again be able to turn down a takeover approach. First buyer above a quid can have it

this looks like a buying opportunity. slipped down 10% over the last days. almost half the level the takeover was being discussed

John Wood Group has signed separate agreements for the sale of two businesses which together are expected to generate net proceeds of around US$165m this year. The FTSE 250-listed firm, which recently saw a takeover bid from a Saudi Arabian firm withdrawn due to market conditions, said it is selling its stake in Ethos Energy and CEC Controls. Combined the two businesses contributed US$41m to Wood's adjusted EBITDA in 2023. Wood expects net cash proceeds of around US$125m from the disposals, with the balance in loan notes of up to US$42m. Wood Group shares added 2.3% by around 9am. From Investegate link .

Panmure Liberum analyst Ashley Kelty says: "The end of the takeover interest from Sidara – due to market conditions, rather than any underlying issues with WG – removes a distraction from mgmt. and should allow the business to refocus on the longer-term strategy and on winning new business. "Disposals streamline the business further although some losses were crystalised on legacy contracts. The rise in margins is an encouraging step forward, but rise in net debt is a concern despite claims of savings being realised under strategy implementation. "The overall recovery is taking longer than mgmt. expected – having to deal with multiple takeover approaches has obviously knocked business off track – but investors will hope that the company can now focus on delivery."