Worldpay shares leap on news of approaches

Shares in Worldpay jumped yesterday after the UK payments processor revealed that early stage takeover approaches had been made by both Vantiv and Jpmorgan Chase. The company has received a preliminary approach from each firm, but stressed that did not guarantee that a formal offer would be made.

In a statement, Worldpay said: “There can be no certainty either that an offer will be made nor as to the terms of any offer, if made.” Worldpay has some 400,000 customers and was owned by Royal Bank of Scotland until the statebacked lender sold off its remaining stake to private equity outfits Advent International and Bain Capital in 2013. It floated in 2015.