BUSINESS LIVE: Private equity eyes Ted Baker; JD Wetherspoon struggles

BUSINESS LIVE: Ted Baker targeted by US private equity group; JD Wetherspoon trade continues to lag 2019; Investec boosts profit guidance

US private equity group Sycamore Partners is in the early stages of making a possible cash offer for fashion retailer Ted Baker.

In the latest example of private equity targeting UK firms, it is understood that Sycamore has hired an investment bank to advise on a potential offer.

JD Wetherspoon is facing higher costs of food, drink and energy, but expects the rise in input prices to be slightly less than the level of inflation.

Reporting a first half loss, the budget pup group’s sales in the three weeks to 13 March were 2.6 per cent below the same period in pre-pandemic 2019.

Investec has raised its full-year profit guidance and now expects an up to 90 per cent increase in earnings, with group operating performance now above pre-Covid levels.

The Anglo-South African banking and wealth management group expects adjusted operating profit before tax to come in between £642million and £683million in the year to 31 March, up from £377.6million in the previous year.

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Ted Baker has become the latest British target of a US private equity firm



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