Jongleurs 'rife for takeover'
City speculation about owners' future
The Jongleurs chain of comedy clubs could be a takeover target, City experts have speculated.
Shares in parent company Regent Inns slumped to an 11-year low a fortnight ago after the company announced it was to halve its dividend.
However, the price has since increased by 15 per cent amid rumours the company is rife for takeover, and analysts believe the rise will continue.
The takeover rumours were sparked when it was revealed that broker Cantor Fitzgerald had acquired a stake of more than 11 per cent of the company.
Regent Inns has been hit by the savage High Street price-cutting wars, harming revenue at its venues such as Walkabout.
Its only bit of good news was the number of football fans flocking to its bars during Euro 2004, but that could not disguise what the company called “difficult market conditions".Published: 4 Aug 2004
