Kennedy Wilson Overcomes Billionaire Soros' Objections To Complete $8B Merger
Kennedy Wilson has completed a merger with its European offshoot, despite criticism from billionaire investor George Soros.
Los Angeles-based Kennedy Wilson has completed the merger with London-listed Kennedy Wilson Europe, which owns around $2B of assets across Europe in previously distressed markets like the U.K., Ireland and Spain.
Kennedy Wilson made its original merger proposal in April, but it was knocked back and drew public criticism from Soros’ Quantum Strategic Partners because the price offered for the European business was a 15% discount to its net asset value.
The company had been trading at a discount for some time. The offer eventually agreed to by shareholders, including Quantum, represented a 5% discount to net asset value.
Kennedy Wilson said the newly combined company would have an enterprise value of $8B, which includes debt.
