<p>Lone Star’s <span>£647 million</span> acquisition of retirement housebuilder McCarthy &amp; Stone is due to complete today (January 29) following a successful scheme sanction hearing.</p><p><span>The retirement giant will now be delisted from the stock exchange, with today the last day of dealing in its shares.</span></p><p></p> <p><span>Global investment firm Loan Star and McStone announced the takeover on October 23, with the US company stating that the acquisition represented an “attractive opportunity” to gain exposure to the retirement living sector.</span></p><p></p> <p><span>On the same day, Paul Lester, McStone’s chairman, said: </span><span>“The all-cash offer represents a compelling and attractive opportunity for shareholders to realise and crystallise their investment in McCarthy &amp; Stone in the near term and also provides a meaningful premium to the prevailing share price notwithstanding the backdrop of the wider risks posed by the political and macro-economic environment.”</span></p><p></p> <p><span>On December 8, shareholders approved the acquisition, with just under 80% of McCarthy &amp; Stone’s shareholders voting for Lone Star’s cash offer at 120p per share, up from the 115p bid originally announced.</span></p><p></p> <p><span>Covid-19 has significantly impacted McStone’s business. During the year ending October 31 2020, its total completions stood at 832 units against the 2,402 achieved during the equivalent period in 2019.</span></p><p></p> <p><span>And …