International Personal Finance Accepts £543m Cash Bid at 235p Plus 9p Dividend
International Personal Finance has agreed to a £543 million all-cash takeover by BasePoint Capital, offering shareholders 235p per share. The deal also allows investors to retain the final dividend of 9p, marking the end of IPF’s nearly two-decade run on the London Stock Exchange.
1. Board Approves £543m All-Cash Offer
International Personal Finance shareholders have backed a recommended takeover by BasePoint Capital valuing the company at £543 million. Under the terms of the deal, each IPF share will be acquired for 235p in cash, and holders will still receive the declared final dividend of 9p. This agreement ends nearly 20 years of trading as a public company in London and was approved unanimously by the IPF board after detailed due diligence by both parties.
2. Share Performance and Premium Delivery
IPF shares jumped by approximately 5% on the announcement day, trading up to around 232p, reflecting investor confidence in the offer premium over recent share prices. The cash consideration represents a premium of close to 15% compared with the three-month volume-weighted average share price prior to deal discussions. Analysts note that the guaranteed dividend payment further sweetens the return profile for long-term holders.
3. Strategic Implications for Growth and Capital
BasePoint Capital, a US specialty finance group, positions this acquisition as a platform expansion into Central and Eastern Europe, where IPF has significant consumer lending operations. Management forecasts combined pro-forma assets exceeding £1 billion and cost-synergy opportunities of up to £10 million annually. The deal is expected to close in the second quarter of next year, subject to customary regulatory approvals and shareholder consent.