Rightmove rejects REA Group’s sweetened takeover bid

UK property listings and services company Rightmove has said "no" for a second time to a new non-binding offer from News Corp’s REA Group (ASX:REA).

Media reports on Monday stated that Rightmove rejected the sweetened takeover bid from REA, which valued the company at around $11.5 billion.

The Financial Times reported that the new offer was made to Rightmove on Friday night, Sydney time.

In UK currency, the offer was raised by 6.4% to nearly £7.50 ($A14.68) a share, or about £5.9 billion.

The previous cash and REA share offer was worth around £7.05 and was made 12 days ago.

Rightmove shares fell more than 3% in London on Friday to £6.74, valuing the company at around £5.3 billion.

The £600 million difference represents a significant gap between the raised price and the higher market value.

REA has until the end of the month to make a formal offer for Rightmove or give up its pursuit of the company under UK takeover rules known informally as PUSU—“put up or shut up.”

About Glenn Dyer

Glenn Dyer has been a finance journalist and TV producer for more than 40 years. He has worked at Maxwell Newton Publications, Queensland Newspapers, AAP, The Australian Financial Review, The Nine Network and Crikey.

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