16th Jul 2026 12:47
(Alliance News) - Ramsdens Holdings PLC on Friday said it has agreed to accept a sweetened takeover offer from US pawnbroker FirstCash Holdings Inc worth GBP230 million.
Fort Worth, Texas-based FirstCash, which also provides point-of-sale payment solutions, is offering to pay at 675 pence per Ramsdens share in cash, plus up to 9p per share in dividends, valuing the Stockton-on-Tees, England-based financial services provider and pawnbroker at GBP229 million, or GBP232 million including dividends. The revised offer is a 13% premium to the previously agreed 600p-per-share bid.
Ramsdens shares were up 13% to 664.94p in London midday Thursday. Firstcash shares closed up 2.5% to USD215.23 on Nasdaq on Wednesday.
Investors holding just over 17% of Ramsdens shares have committed to support the offer, the company said.
Separately on Thursday, Ramsdens provided a trading update, raising its pretax profit guidance for the financial year ending on September 30 to between GBP32 million and GBP35 million from between GBP30 million and GBP33 million, citing robust pawnbroking demand, resilient jewellery retail trading, and stronger June foreign exchange. The result will be up from GBP16.2 million in financial 2025.
Ramsdens noted that while the price of gold is down 20% from its peak in January, it remains above its level in financial 2025. Meanwhile, the company's pawnbroking loan book stands at GBP15.5 million, up from GBP14.5 million in May, amid robust demand. Interest received from the loan book will be ahead of previous expectations, the company said.
By Tom Waite, Alliance News editor
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