Inspired board reject takeover bid from major shareholder

By Ged Henderson

29 Apr 2025

inspired-500x500.png

The board of Kirkham headquartered energy and sustainability specialist Inspired has rejected a takeover bid from a major shareholder valuing the business at £110m.

And it has revealed that investors holding more than 49.15 per cent of its shares had turned down the unsolicited cash offer saying it “fundamentally undervalues” the business.

Those investors include Gresham House Asset Management, which holds or controls almost 30 per cent of Inspired shares.

In its statement the Inspired board said: “It believes Regent’s Offer fundamentally undervalues Inspired and that it has no current intention to accept the offer.”

Five other major investors and all of Inspired’s directors have since followed. 

In an earlier statement the Inspired board said it had not been approached by Regent prior to its offer announcement. It added: “The board unanimously believes that the offer fundamentally undervalues Inspired.”

Announcing the offer last week, The Regent Group, a long-term shareholder in the business since its AIM flotation in November 2011, said it was looking to place cash generation and debt reduction at the heart of the business’ strategy.

Regent, established in 1995, is a leading supplier of gas and metering services to industrial and commercial customers in the UK. It currently holds around 29.36 per cent of Inspired’s issued ordinary share capital.

In its statement it said: “The Wider Regent Group has historically been a supportive shareholder.

“However, it has believed for some time that the Inspired Group’s debt levels are too high and has raised concerns for some time, including by voting against the payment of the final dividend at the company’s Annual General Meeting held on 28 June 2024.”

It added: “Regent would like Inspired to implement initiatives that place cash generation and debt reduction at the heart of its strategy and feels the only way this can be achieved by the end of 2026 is by increasing its ownership of Inspired.”

Regent said if its bid was successful, it would launch a six-month strategic review of Inspired’s business, organisational structure, key functions, processes and systems.

Its statement said: “From this review Regent expects the board to identify the potential efficiencies and cost savings which will assist the board in determining how best to reduce the group's debt burden with the intention of eliminating it by the end of 2026.”

It added: “Regent believes that an outcome of the strategic review may result in material changes in employee and management headcount. It is expected that proposals regarding incentivisation arrangements for management and employees of the group will also be considered.”

Regent says it intends to keep Inspired’s current headquarters and HQ functions, operations and places of business.

Inspired’s services range from utility data management and procurement to consumption reduction and intelligent ESG strategies. It offers a wide range of integrated sustainability solutions through its four divisions

Enjoyed this? Read more from Ged Henderson

Latest news

1

Partner promotions at WNJ Stuart Mercer, left, and Matthew Johnson

Partner promotions at WNJ

21 May 2025

2

Accrington-made Vita Advanced Mattress wins prestigious 'Best of the Best' Award at Interzum 2025 Dr. Emily Schweissinger - Evonik, Dr. Roland Hubel - Evonik, Dr Mike Murray - The Vita Group, Natalie Watson - The Vita Group, Chris Hupfeld - Coverstro, Dr. Annegret Terheiden - Evonik and Dennis Wagner - Covestro

Accrington-made Vita Advanced Mattress wins prestigious 'Best of the Best' Award at Interzum 2025

21 May 2025

3

Napthens advises Calico Homes on land acquisition for £23m Dovestone Gardens extra care facility in Burnley Paul Hardy

Napthens advises Calico Homes on land acquisition for £23m Dovestone Gardens extra care facility in Burnley

21 May 2025

4

Construction begins on new Civil Service office building in Talbot Gateway Alan McBride Muse Will Town Defence Infrastructure Organisation Jennifer Chard Defence Business Services Cllr Lynn Williams Blackpool Council Garry Bowker Vinci

Construction begins on new Civil Service office building in Talbot Gateway

20 May 2025

5

Skiddle raises over £750,000 for charities Skiddle cheque presentation to Alder Hey Hospital

Skiddle raises over £750,000 for charities

20 May 2025

Background image for hub sign up block

LBV Hub

Leverage Lancashire Business View platforms

Post your news
Post your events
Post your offers
Build your network
Improve your SEO
Gain coverage in the magazine
Sign-up
Events
Sub36 Networking
Networking
11 Jun 2025

Sub36 Networking

British Jewellery School, Scorton, PR3 1BA

15:00 - 17:00

Lancashire Net Zero Carbon Conference
Net Zero Carbon Social 1200pxtrident 2
Networking
18 Jun 2025

Lancashire Net Zero Carbon Conference

Crow Wood Hotel & Spa Resort, Burnley, BB12 0RT

08:30 - 13:00

Lancashire Built Environment Conference 2025
BEC 315 X 315 Px
Networking
25 Sep 2025

Lancashire Built Environment Conference 2025

Blackpool Football Club, Blackpool, FY1 6HX

08:30 - 13:00

CMI Level 5 Management and Leadership Course
UCLanAerialCampus.jpg.jpg
LBV Hub Seminars
21 Feb 2025 - 21 Feb 2026

CMI Level 5 Management and Leadership Course

Preston Campus, Preston , PR1 2HE

09:00 - 17:00

CMI Level 5 Project Management Course
UCLanAerialCampus.jpg.jpg
LBV Hub Seminars
21 Feb 2025 - 21 Feb 2026

CMI Level 5 Project Management Course

Preston Campus, Preston, PR1 2HE

08:00 - 17:00

RISE - The Academy for Female Leaders and Managers
WENDY BOWERS RISE Illustrstion copy.jpg.jpg
LBV Hub Seminars
02 Apr 2025 - 08 Oct 2025

RISE - The Academy for Female Leaders and Managers

East Lancashire Chamber of Commerce, Clayton le Moors, BB5 5JR

09:00 - 15:30

Preston Freelancer Meet-Up: May
Freelancer Meet-Up May.png.png
LBV Hub Networking
22 May 2025 - 22 May 2025

Preston Freelancer Meet-Up: May

society1, Coworking Space, Preston, PR1 3LT

10:00 - 11:30

Amber River True Bearing quarterly investment seminar
LBV Hub Seminars
22 May 2025 - 22 May 2025

Amber River True Bearing quarterly investment seminar

Cottons Hotel & Spa , Knutsford, WA16 0SU

16:00 - 18:00

The Business Network Central & East Lancashire
LBV Hub Networking
22 May 2025 - 22 May 2025

The Business Network Central & East Lancashire

Mytton Fold, Langho, BB6 8AB

11:30 - 14:15

Liverpool Business Expo 2025
https---cdn.evbuc.com-images-881365363-4862066883-1-original.20241023-085714.jpeg.jpg
LBV Hub Awards
23 May 2025 - 23 May 2025

Liverpool Business Expo 2025

Aintree Racecourse , Liverpool , L9 5AS

09:00 - 15:00

Advantage: AI – A Workshop for Business Leaders – May 29
Artboard 15.png.png
LBV Hub Seminars
29 May 2025 - 29 May 2025

Advantage: AI – A Workshop for Business Leaders – May 29

Door4 Office, Burnley Wharf, Manchester Road, Burnley, BB11 1JG

09:00 - 11:00

Business Bike Club – June
Chamber Logo1.png.png
LBV Hub Networking
03 Jun 2025 - 03 Jun 2025

Business Bike Club – June

Various, Lancaster, LA

08:00 - 09:30

Advertise with us

Reaching 50,000 members, our print, digital and event platforms offer a fantastic way to raise your business profile and help you grow.

Find out more LBV122 Online Graphic
Subscribe now

Weekly news bulletin