Aviva has been successful in reaching a preliminary agreement with DLG over a potential acquisition after raising its offer
Direct Line Group (DLG) has accepted an improved takeover proposal from rival insurer Aviva.
In a joint statement this morning (6 December 2024), it was announced that Aviva had upped its offer from 250 to 275 pence per share, which equals a valuation of £3.6bn.
The two firms have now reached a preliminary agreement on the financial terms for a potential acquisition.
The DLG board said it ”remains confident” in the insurer’s prospects as a standalone company and ”continues to have conviction in the capabilities of the newly established leadership team”.
However, the board added that it had “carefully considered the proposal” from Aviva and that it was minded to recommend to shareholders that they accept a formal offer.
The board also felt the combination of the two firms ”would provide the opportunity to deliver significant synergies, creating substantial additional value for both sets of shareholders”.
Aviva comment
This comes after DLG rejected a £3.3bn bid from its rival insurer in November 2024, saying the offer was “highly opportunistic and substantially undervalued the company”.
Read: Aviva ‘contacts DLG shareholders’ as ‘hostile takeover’ looms
Read: DLG responds as Aviva attempts £3.3bn takeover of insurer
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However, the according to The Guardian, Aviva chief executive Amanda Blanc has been on the “charm offensive” since.
In the statement today, the insurer said it ”believes in the strong strategic and financial logic for a combination of Direct Line into the Aviva group”.
Winslow plea
Adam Winslow has been trying to turnaround DLG since joining from Aviva in March 2024 as chief executive.
In the 12 months to 31 December 2023, DLG recorded an operating loss from its ongoing operations of £189.5m. This was a major downswing from 2022, when the firm recorded a loss of £6.4m.
Winslow has been aiming to remove at least £100m of costs by the end of 2025 on a run-rate annualised basis.
And after DLG rejected Aviva’s first offer, he pleaded with shareholders to back his turnaround plan.
Winslow told The Sunday Times on 1 December 2024: “We’re making excellent progress in the early stages of a significant turnaround, with a refreshed and world-class leadership team in place to deliver the strategy.”
And speaking about his former boss Blanc, he said: “I respect her. She’s doing her job, but I’ve got my job to do, which is to drive value for shareholders.”
According to British takeover rules, Aviva has until 25 December 2024 to make a firm offer or walk away.
His career began in 2019, when he joined a local north London newspaper after graduating from the University of Sheffield with a first-class honours degree in journalism.
He took up the position of deputy news editor at Insurance Times in March 2023, before being promoted to his current role in May 2024.View full Profile
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