Advertisement
UK markets closed
  • FTSE 100

    8,146.86
    -16.81 (-0.21%)
     
  • FTSE 250

    20,120.36
    -75.59 (-0.37%)
     
  • AIM

    776.04
    -4.39 (-0.56%)
     
  • GBP/EUR

    1.1845
    -0.0034 (-0.29%)
     
  • GBP/USD

    1.2686
    -0.0075 (-0.59%)
     
  • Bitcoin GBP

    52,193.98
    +652.48 (+1.27%)
     
  • CMC Crypto 200

    1,406.19
    -11.68 (-0.82%)
     
  • S&P 500

    5,431.60
    -2.14 (-0.04%)
     
  • DOW

    38,589.16
    -57.94 (-0.15%)
     
  • CRUDE OIL

    78.49
    -0.13 (-0.17%)
     
  • GOLD FUTURES

    2,348.40
    +30.40 (+1.31%)
     
  • NIKKEI 225

    38,814.56
    +94.09 (+0.24%)
     
  • HANG SENG

    17,941.78
    -170.85 (-0.94%)
     
  • DAX

    18,002.02
    -263.66 (-1.44%)
     
  • CAC 40

    7,503.27
    -204.75 (-2.66%)
     

Singapore State Fund Eyes Misys Software Deal

A powerful Singaporean state fund is plotting a takeover bid for Misys, one of the UK's biggest software companies.

Sky News understands that Temasek Holdings is among a number of potential acquirers examining offers for Misys, which was a member of the FTSE-250 index before it was taken private in 2012.

Misys specialises in the sale of software to banks, and counts 47 of the world's biggest lenders among its customer base, according to the company's website.

The UK-based business endured a troubled period before its sale nearly three years ago to Vista Equity Partners, a private equity firm which focuses on acquiring software companies, in a deal worth more than £800m.

ADVERTISEMENT

Temasek's interest in a takeover of Misys is unexpected, and it was unclear on Thursday whether the Singaporean fund was likely to pursue a deal on its own or with investment partners.

It currently owns stakes in some of the biggest companies in the world, including Bank of China (HKSE: 3988-OL.HK - news) , Standard Chartered (HKSE: 2888.HK - news) and Markit (NasdaqGS: MRKT - news) , the financial infrastructure group.

Singapore's sovereign wealth funds have been prolific investors in the UK, with the Asian city-state's Government Investment Corporation recently acquiring a 50% shareholding in the RAC (Taiwan OTC: 2237.TWO - news) , the roadside recovery service.

Other possible bidders for Misys include a number of Canadian pension funds and buyout firms, according to City sources.

The firm's fortunes have improved since its takeover by Vista, as banks have allocated greater investment to improving software capabilities in an industry that is becoming increasingly driven by technological change.

Since the 2012 deal, Vista has appointed a new management team at Misys, which has subsequently undertaken a string of further acquisitions.

These have included Custom Credit Solutions, a US-based provider of commercial loan origination and loan workflow management software.

Vista also combined Misys with Turaz, a former division of Thomson Reuters that provides software for managing treasury and capital markets transactions.

Temasek declined to comment while Misys could not be reached for comment.