This week there have been some interesting takeover deals and trading statements to comment on.
- Restaurant Group (RTN) announced it is buying the Wagamama chain in a deal worth a hefty £559m in total. I’m pretty sure that this doesn’t look a good deal for the shareholders.
- The third-quarter trading statement from Next (NXT) showed that online sales are still growing but the decline in the profitability of its high street business continues.
- WH Smith (SMWH) is another company I have written about recently, its acquisition of InMotion, the U.S. airport retailer, seems a good strategic fit with its travel business but my question would be around the price WH Smith is paying for the business.
- Reckitt Benckiser’s (RB) purchase of infant formula maker Mead Johnson does not seem to be working out well, with total like-for-like infant formula sales down on last year.
- I also give my take on Facebook (FB).
