Purplebricks shares rally on London Stock Exchange after rumors of takeover

 Major US equity fund, Francisco Partners, has been considering a takeover of Purplebricks. With rumors of this, the agency's shares have staged a rally on the London Stock Exchange rising by 5.2%

Its shares started the day in poor shape at 90p each but rallied soon after trading started, rising at one point to nearly £1 a share before ending the day at 95p. Recently, FT.com’s Live Market Commentary editor Bryce Elder suggested that Francisco Partners is probably not the only equity fund looking at a Purplebricks takeover or acquisition.

Purplebricks’ stock started the month well, topping out at £1.35 a share, but after the company made the shock announcement that its CEO and Co-Founder Michael Bruce would be leaving the company, and that its Oz operation was to close, it tanked to £1.07p.

Fund Times

Despite this, another City fund recently began hoovering up Purplebricks stock. Toscafund Management revealed that it had acquired nearly three million extra Purplebricks shares making it the eighth largest holder of the company’s stock with a total share of 5.64% of the hybrid estate agency.

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