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LONDON - The High Court has sanctioned a scheme of arrangement for the acquisition of UK financial service company Hargreaves (LON:HRGV) Lansdown plc (HL) by Harp Bidco Limited, a consortium led by private equity firms including CVC Capital Partners (WA:CPAP). The takeover, announced on August 9, 2024, is set to be finalized upon delivery of the court order to the Registrar of Companies, anticipated for March 24, 2025.
Hargreaves Lansdown’s shareholders are looking at the Scheme Record Time on March 21, 2025, as the moment when CREST, the electronic share settlement system, will be disabled for HL shares. This follows the receipt of all necessary regulatory and antitrust approvals, as well as the affirmative outcomes of the Court Meeting and General Meeting.
Trading of Hargreaves Lansdown shares on the London Stock Exchange (LON:LSEG)’s Main Market is expected to be suspended from 7:30 a.m. on March 24, 2025, with the last day for dealings set for March 21, 2025. If the scheme becomes effective as planned, the listing of HL shares on the Official List will be canceled, and the shares will cease trading on the Main Market from 8:00 a.m. on March 25, 2025.
Upon the effective date, share certificates for Scheme Shares will no longer be valid, and entitlements to Scheme Shares held in uncertificated form will be canceled.
The acquisition by Harp Bidco Limited, which is indirectly owned by CVC Private Equity Funds, Nordic Capital XI Delta, SCSp, and Platinum Ivy B 2018 RSC Limited, represents a significant shift in ownership for one of the UK’s leading financial services firms. The consortium has confirmed that the financial terms of the cash offer are final and will not be increased unless a competing offer emerges.
This transaction is a clear indicator of the ongoing consolidation in the financial services sector and the continued interest of private equity in this industry. The expected timetable of principal events for the acquisition remains as previously announced on February 28, 2025. Further announcements will be made once the scheme becomes effective. This information is based on a press release statement.
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