For a few hours on Wednesday, it seemed possible we were about to witness a rare stock market event: a FTSE 100 company holding out against a hostile raider from the US and defying some of its own large shareholders to defend its independence.
Sadly, it didn’t happen. Segro, the FTSE 100 warehouse landlord known as Slough Estates for much of its corporate life, capitulated minutes before the deadline and said it was “minded to recommend” the “best and final” offer of £14bn, or £10.32 a share, from the US giant Prologis of San Francisco. The two sides now have until 12 August to hammer out a firm agreement.
