Company takeovers hit new high

THE scale of pandemic plundering by private equity giants is laid bare by figures showing a record £289bn worth of UK company takeovers this year.

That is almost double last year’s £146bn, with the number of deals up 45pc to 1,911.

Low interest rates and dented stock market values left firms such as Morrisons, Asda and G4S as targets.

The Daily Mail has campaigned against pandemic plunderers, highlighting their history of job-cutting, asset-stripping and debt-loading.

Research by specialist law firm Forsters showed the takeover market roared back to life in 2021 despite the pandemic.

Not all of the 1,911 deals involved private equity but firms taken over included Morrisons, which was bought by Clayton, Dubilier & Rice for £7bn. Other firms that fell to private equity include the AA, Aggreko and Signature Aviation.