Private equity finds soft takeover targets in London – yet again | Nils Pratley

Offer for DCC Energy leaves total of completed or agreed deals within FTSE 100 this year at five, but has Westminster noticed?

• DCC, one of FTSE 100’s biggest energy firms, agrees £5.75bn takeover

And another one goes. Dublin-based DCC Energy is a lower-profile member of the FTSE 100, but they all count. We’re now at five completed or agreed takeovers within London’s leading index this year – and it’s still only July.

The subplot at DCC was vocal opposition from a few shareholders who thought the private equity groups KKR and Energy Capital Partners, a unit of Bridgepoint, should be paying more than the £5.75bn, or £65.25 a share, at which the board has rolled over. Fidelity International and Aviva Investors were to the fore, as well as DCC’s founder.