Ramsdens raises profit guidance as accepts sweetened US takeover offer
Ramsdens Holdings PLC on Friday said it has agreed to accept a sweetened takeover offer from US pawnbroker FirstCash Holdings Inc worth £230 million.
Fort Worth, Texas-based FirstCash, which also provides point-of-sale payment solutions, is offering to pay at 675 pence per Ramsdens share in cash, plus up to 9p per share in dividends, valuing the Stockton-on-Tees, England-based financial services provider and pawnbroker at £229 million, or £232 million including dividends. The revised offer is a 13% premium to the previously agreed 600p-per-share bid.
Ramsdens shares were up 13% to 664.94p in London midday Thursday. Firstcash shares closed up 2.5% to USD215.23 on Nasdaq on Wednesday.
Investors holding just over 17% of Ramsdens shares have committed to support the offer, the company said.
Separately on Thursday, Ramsdens provided a trading update, raising its pretax profit guidance for the financial year ending on September 30 to between £32 million and £35 million from between £30 million and £33 million, citing robust pawnbroking demand, resilient jewellery retail trading, and stronger June foreign exchange. The result will be up from £16.2 million in financial 2025.
Ramsdens noted that while the price of gold is down 20% from its peak in January, it remains above its level in financial 2025. Meanwhile, the company's pawnbroking loan book stands at £15.5 million, up from £14.5 million in May, amid robust demand. Interest received from the loan book will be ahead of previous expectations, the company said.
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