Pendragon Agrees to Hedin Takeover

Pendragon is poised to be taken private by Hedin Group in a £400m deal. Board members are reported to have agreed to Anders Hedin they will recommend a 29p a share bid to shareholders.

Reports say executives have been finalising the deal which could mean a short extension to the ‘put up or shut up’ deadline is required before directors’ approval is confirmed.

City sources add the deal could still be gate crashed by Constellation Automotive, which could launch a rival bid. A deal could attract the interest of competition regulators, but it would still only leave Constellation with 20% of the UK auto retail market.

A rival bid would have to be in the region of 35p a share.

Hedin believes Pendragon can be run more efficiency, say reports. It would bring in its own management team.