UK: Uniq might go private after demerger from Wincanton

Foods group Uniq ’s plans to demerge Wincanton , its logistics business, could spell the exit of both companies from the UK stock market. Speculation that the logistics business could become a takeover target after the demerger is growing, providing Uniq's management with a chance to take its food business private.

March 21, 2001

Foods group Uniq’s plans to demerge Wincanton, its logistics business, could spell the exit of both companies from the UK stock market.

Speculation that the logistics business could become a takeover target after the demerger is growing, providing Uniq’s management with a chance to take its food business private.

Wincanton is expected to be valued at between £215m (US$307m) and £250m when it begins trading in mid-May under its own name. Wincanton began life in 1925 as the transport and engineering arm of Cow & Gate. The division, which collected milk churns from farms, became part of Unigate when Cow & Gate merged with United Dairies in 1959.