FTSE 250 edged up Thursday, with Rotork plc making up more than all of that move. Rotork soared 66.85% after ABB Ltd offered a £4.14 billion cash deal. FTSE 100 slipped 0.34%.
ABB has set a stiff bar with its £4.1 billion bid for Rotork. Based on ABB’s “mid-teens” earnings multiple—interpreted as 14 to 16 times—Rotork will have to boost annual EBITDA by about £45 million to £82 million from the 2025 starting point to hit those targets. ABB hasn’t broken down how much it’s counting on from cost cuts, sales or other sources.