Reuters – British Buyout Group in Talks to buy Elster Group

British buyout group Melrose is in talks to buy Germany’s utility meter maker Elster Group SE for $2.3 billion, writes Reuters. Melrose could offer $20.50 per Elster’s American Depository Share, a 25 percent premium to the German company’s closing price on Friday, writes Reuters.

Reuters – British buyout group Melrose Plc is in talks to buy Germany’s utility meter maker Elster Group SE for $2.3 billion, the two companies said on Monday.

Melrose, which buys underperforming manufacturing businesses and turns them around before selling them, could offer $20.50 per Elster’s American Depository Share, a 25 percent premium to the German company’s closing price on Friday.

Melrose, however, said it would not go ahead with the acquisition without a recommendation from Elster’s board or an undertaking from Elster’s largest shareholder, Rembrandt Holdings.

Rembrandt, which has a 62 percent stake in Elster, is owned by private equity firm CVC Capital Parnters.

Melrose’s announcement comes nearly a year after the company walked away from toolmaker Charter International in the face of a higher offer from U.S. company Colfax Group.

Shares in Melrose closed at 382.5 on Friday on the London Stock Exchange.