The Rise and Fall of Market Speculation
A tumultuous day unfolded in the market as Shift4 Payments (NYSE:FOUR) experienced a sharp decline of 3.6% following Amadeus IT’s (OTCPK:AMADF) disinterest in acquiring the payments firm.
“We are aware of rumors regarding Amadeus and Shift4,” an Amadeus spokesperson told Seeking Alpha in an email. “Amadeus is not interested in this transaction.”
As speculations ran wild, Amadeus (OTCPK:AMADF) made it clear that it routinely evaluates strategic opportunities; however, the company asserted that the current rumors do not align with its strategic focus.
On a contrasting note, Shift4 (FOUR) witnessed a surge of 12% on Wednesday, fueled by a Reuters report speculating the potential for a takeover, with analysts even suggesting a lofty $138 per share.
The Amadeus denial comes as a surprise following Global Payments (GPN)’s declaration in December that it had no discussions with Shift4 (FOUR) regarding any strategic transaction, refuting a previous Bloomberg report.
Recent developments had hinted at Shift4 Payments (FOUR) actively exploring strategic alternatives, as confirmed in its Q3 shareholder letter, leaving investors on edge.