The Hargreaves Lansdown share price jumps as £5.4bn takeover is agreed

The Hargreaves Lansdown share price has spiked in morning trading following the announcement of a £5.4bn takeover by private equity.

| More on:

The content of this article was relevant at the time of publishing. Circumstances change continuously and caution should therefore be exercised when relying upon any content contained within this article.

Image source: Getty Images

When investing, your capital is at risk. The value of your investments can go down as well as up and you may get back less than you put in.

Read More

The content of this article is provided for information purposes only and is not intended to be, nor does it constitute, any form of personal advice. Investments in a currency other than sterling are exposed to currency exchange risk. Currency exchange rates are constantly changing, which may affect the value of the investment in sterling terms. You could lose money in sterling even if the stock price rises in the currency of origin. Stocks listed on overseas exchanges may be subject to additional dealing and exchange rate charges, and may have other tax implications, and may not provide the same, or any, regulatory protection as in the UK.

You’re reading a free article with opinions that may differ from The Motley Fool’s Premium Investing Services. Become a Motley Fool member today to get instant access to our top analyst recommendations, in-depth research, investing resources, and more. Learn More.

As I write, the Hargreaves Lansdown (LSE: HL.) share price is up 2.2% in morning (9 August) trading following the news it has agreed to be taken over by a private equity consortium. The group consists of CVC, Nordic Capital, and ADIA, Abu Dhabi’s sovereign wealth fund.

The stock’s been in fine form this year, rising 54.5% year to date and 37.3% over the last six months. So after hearing the news, some investors may be wondering if Hargreaves is a stock to consider buying. That’s what I’m here to answer.

Details of the deal

Before I do, let’s take a closer look at the details of the deal. As mentioned, the takeover values the firm at £5.4bn. That works out to a price of 1,140p per share, including 30 pence for its final dividend of 2024.

Should you invest £1,000 in Kainos right now?

When investing expert Mark Rogers has a stock tip, it can pay to listen. After all, the flagship Motley Fool Share Advisor newsletter he has run for nearly a decade has provided thousands of paying members with top stock recommendations from the UK and US markets. And right now, Mark thinks there are 6 standout stocks that investors should consider buying. Want to see if Kainos made the list?

See the 6 stocks

The price represents a 54.1% premium to the stock’s close on 11 April. That was the last day before the group’s initial approach to takeover the company.

The business is unanimously recommending shareholders support the takeover offer. In a release, Dan Olley, CEO of Hargreaves, said the business had “been reassured during process that the consortium are aligned with our mission”.

The consortium also released a statement, saying how Hargreaves “requires substantial investment in an extensive technology-led transformation to improve HL’s proposition and resilience, and to drive the next phase of HL’s growth and development”.

The firm was co-founded back in 1981 by Peter Hargreaves and Stephen Lansdown. Both have agreed to vote for the deal.

Half-year update

Alongside the takeover announcement, we also got its half-year results. The update had both positive and negative aspects.

Overall, Hargreaves saw net new business of £4.2bn, down from £4.8bn a year earlier. Despite that, it posted revenue of £764.9m, up 4% from the £735.1m recorded in the first half of 2023.

As such, assets under management rose 16% to £155.4bn. The business said this was “driven by net new business and positive market movement”.  

The firm now has just over 1.8m active clients and saw a 78,000 increase year over year. That said, profit before tax did fall 2% to £396.3m.

What next?

But where does that leave us potential investors? Well, its share price performance lately has been impressive. But driving that has been takeover talks. And while Hargreaves has many components I look for when investing in a business, such as strong brand recognition and a large customer base, I won’t be buying the stock today.

That’s because its share price has jumped to over 1,100p, just below the agreed takeover price.

As such, I’ll be steering well clear of picking up Hargreaves Lansdown shares any time soon. There’s little point in me buying the stock at the current price.

Regardless, I’ll keep hunting the FTSE 100 for my next bargain. I’m keen to gain more exposure to the financial services sector and see plenty of potential buying opportunities out there.

Should you buy Kainos shares today?

Before you decide, please take a moment to review this first.

Because my colleague Mark Rogers – The Motley Fool UK’s Director of Investing – has released this special report.

It’s called ‘5 Stocks for Trying to Build Wealth After 50’.

And it’s yours, free.

Of course, the decade ahead looks hazardous. What with inflation recently hitting 40-year highs, a ‘cost of living crisis’ and threat of a new Cold War, knowing where to invest has never been trickier.

And yet, despite the UK stock market recently hitting a new all-time high, Mark and his team think many shares still trade at a substantial discount, offering savvy investors plenty of potential opportunities to strike.

That’s why now could be an ideal time to secure this valuable investment research.

Mark’s ‘Foolish’ analysts have scoured the markets low and high.

This special report reveals 5 of his favourite long-term ‘Buys’.

Please, don’t make any big decisions before seeing them.

Claim your free copy now

Should you invest, the value of your investment may rise or fall and your capital is at risk. Before investing, your individual circumstances should be assessed. Consider taking independent financial advice.

Charlie Keough has no position in any of the shares mentioned. The Motley Fool UK has recommended Hargreaves Lansdown Plc. Views expressed on the companies mentioned in this article are those of the writer and therefore may differ from the official recommendations we make in our subscription services such as Share Advisor, Hidden Winners and Pro. Here at The Motley Fool we believe that considering a diverse range of insights makes us better investors.

More on Investing Articles

artificial intelligence investing algorithms
Investing Articles

Up 272% in just a year, is Palantir stock just getting started?

This writer recognises that Palantir has grown its business very well -- but does the stock price offer him an…

Read more »

Runner standing at the starting point with 2025 year for starting in new year 2025 to achieve business planing and success concept.
Investing Articles

Up 50%? The Aston Martin share price forecast is mind-blowing! 

If analysts are right, the Aston Aston Martin share price could absolutely rocket in the year ahead. Harvey Jones says…

Read more »

Investing Articles

As the S&P 500 drops, here are 2 Stocks and Shares ISA holdings I’m watching

Our writer has different views on how President Trump's tariffs might affect these two US holdings in his Stocks and…

Read more »

Surprised Black girl holding teddy bear toy on Christmas
Investing Articles

£10,000 invested in Tesla stock at Christmas is now worth…

Tesla stock has been one of best-performing investments of the past decade. But things haven't gone to plan for investors…

Read more »

Investing Articles

Up 279% in 5 years, could Meta stock keep soaring?

Meta stock has more than tripled in five years. This writer sees lots to like about the business but also…

Read more »

Pink 3D image of the numbers '2025' growing in size
Investing Articles

25% total return in a year? Is now the perfect time to buy BP shares?

BP shares are on the front line of today's global economic and political uncertainty but analysts think they can still…

Read more »

Affectionate Asian senior mother and daughter using smartphone together at home, smiling joyfully
Investing Articles

With Cash ISA changes coming, could now be the time to consider buying shares?

Changes to the Cash ISA could lead to greater investment in the stock market. This could be a good thing…

Read more »

Investing Articles

These FTSE 100 dividend shares just got cheaper, thanks to President Trump!

Investors buying dividend shares can lock in bigger long-term yields when share prices take a tumble. These two just did…

Read more »