Ocado Group (LON:OCDO) (OTC:OCDGF) shares surged as much as 43% in London on Thursday amid market rumors that the company is being eyed up by Amazon (NASDAQ:AMZN).
A report in The Times noted that Amazon could place an 800p-a-share takeover bid with investment banks JP Morgan and Goldman Sachs acting on behalf of the bidder.
Such a price would value Ocado at £6.6 billion ($7.67B). Today’s surge pushed the company’s market cap to £4.9B.
The report also noted that “more than one American suitor “ is looking at the embattled retailer.
A spokesperson for Amazon declined to comment on market rumors, according to Reuters.
Shares in Ocado fell over 88% from February 2021 to early June 2023, when the stock hit the lowest levels since December 2017.