Scout24 AG

German classifieds group Scout24 <G24n.DE> has attracted interest in its autos unit AutoScout24 from used-car dealing platform Auto1 as well as from several private equity firms, people close to the matter said.

Hellman & Friedman and Blackstone Group Inc <BX.N> are selling a 6.2% stake they owned in Scout24 AG <G24n.DE> to institutional investors on Wednesday, according to two bookrunners handling the deal, months after their failed attempt to buy the German classifieds group.

Activist investors calling for strategic change at Scout24 <G24n.DE> have won a vote to place a representative on the German classifieds group's non-executive supervisory board, ramping up pressure on management.

Fund manager Baillie Gifford on Friday threw its weight behind the management team at German classifieds group Scout24 <G24n.DE>, which has faced calls from activist investor Elliott Advisors to break up the business.

Fund manager Baillie Gifford on Friday threw its weight behind the management team at German classifieds group Scout24, which has faced calls from activist investor Elliott Advisors to break up the business.

German classifieds group Scout24 <G24n.DE> said on Tuesday it would explore a sale or spin-off of its autos platform and borrow more to buy back shares, after facing calls from activist investor Elliott to boost shareholder returns.

German classifieds group Scout24 <G24n.DE> can cope with a higher long-term leverage ratio of up to 3.5 times core earnings to fund greater capital return to shareholders, CEO Tobias Hartmann said on Tuesday.

German classifieds group Scout24 can cope with a higher long-term leverage ratio of up to 3.5 times core earnings to fund greater capital return to shareholders, CEO Tobias Hartmann said on Tuesday.

German classified listings group Scout24, reporting upbeat second-quarter profits, said on Tuesday it would explore options for its autos platform after facing calls from activist investor Elliott to sell the business.

U.S. activist investor Elliott [ECAL.UL] has urged German classifieds group Scout24 <G24n.DE> to sell its car listings business and ramp up a share buyback program to boost returns to investors.

Scout24 is interested in acquiring certain parts of Ebay's classifieds business, Chief Executive Tobias Hartmann said, adding that he was interested in Ebay's car and real estate classifieds operations.

Scout24 is interested in acquiring certain parts of Ebay's classifieds business, Chief Executive Tobias Hartmann said, adding that he was interested in Ebay's car and real estate classifieds operations.

A takeover bid for Germany's Scout24 led by Hellman & Friedman and Blackstone has failed as it did not secure the required support of 50 percent of shares, the bidders said on Tuesday.

The takeover bid led by Hellman & Friedman and Blackstone for Scout24 has failed as it did not reach the threshold of 50 percent of shares, the bidders on Tuesday said in a statement.

The private equity houses seeking to take over Scout24 said on Monday that they now control a stake of 8.7 percent, as the clock ticked down on their tender offer to buy the Germany-based car and property classifieds group.

Private equity houses Hellman & Friedman and Blackstone's potential acquisition of German online classifieds group Scout24 will be backed with €2.72bn of leveraged loans, it was announced on Thursday.

Private equity houses Hellman & Friedman and Blackstone launched a tender to buy Scout24 on Thursday, saying they supported acquisitions by the German cars-to-property classifieds group to expand the business.

Scout24, the Germany-based autos and property marketplace, expressed an interest on Monday in acquisitions if eBay Inc sells its classifieds business following pressure from activist investors to do so.

Hellman & Friedman and Blackstone have won over Scout24 after raising their offer for the online classifieds group to 5.7 billion euros ($6.4 billion) including debt, setting up the biggest takeover of a listed German company by private equity.