 Peel Holdings may be the new operators of Liverpool docks |
Speculation is mounting that the owners of Liverpool John Lennon Airport are preparing a takeover bid for the Mersey Docks and Harbour Company. Peel Holdings has spent �103.8 million on increasing its stake in the company to more than 25%.
Mersey Docks also operates ports in Heysham, Lancashire, Sheerness and Chatham, in Kent, and runs a shipping division and transport business.
Analysts say it is a potential target because of its ports business.
The potential to redevelop surplus land and an ongoing programme to buy back its own stock are also attractive, they said.
The company's shares have surged by more than 17% since November 2004, when news of a potential takeover bid first broke.
Private equity house, CVC Capital, was thought to be behind a bid of more than �700m ($1.3bn).
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