Betaville

Bears circle Global Life Inc... - Part 4

So, it turns out Viceroy is the latest big bear to attempt a mauling of Global Life, the US-listed insurance group.

The short selling activist has just released its own note, which Viceroy claims is its "longest investigation by far".

Now for legal reasons little old Betaville isn't able to air any of the allegations Viceroy has dug up in these pixels.

If you want to read the report to make your own mind up, I suggest you go to Viceroy's website...

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THG founder rants about Darktrace takeover bid...

As if every financial commentator wasn't enough, now Matt Moulding, founder of London-listed online retailer THG, has gone off on a rant about the Darktrace takeover bid.

It's his customary complaint about how the City of London gangs up on technology companies etc etc etc. Below is the full rant, which he has posted on Linked In...

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Darktrace may receive a counter offer, suggests The Times

There were two columns in The Times this morning suggesting that London-listed cyber security firm Darktrace may receive a counter offer to rival Thomas Bravo's £4.3 billion bid.

In his Business Commentary column little old Betaville's former The Daily Telegraph colleague and boss - Alistair 'Acebic' Osborne - writes: "who knows, Darktrace may yet lure a higher bid"...

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Bears circle Global Life Inc... - Part 3

It sounds like the bears haven't given up on Global Life, the US-listed insurer, despite the company's announcement of a $1.3 billion share buy back.

In case you don't recall, little old Betaville first alerted readers that bears were circling Global Life at the beginning of last month. Below is a link to that piece:

https://www.betaville.co.uk/news/bears-circle-global-life-inc/..

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Sunday review on a Monday: BHP, Anglo American and Hipgnosis...

The race is on among financial commentators to call (or figure out, if you are a news hack) who will make a counter bid for Anglo American, the FTSE 100-listed mining company under siege from rival BHP Billiton.

Yesterday, Oliver "Shahsy" Shah of The Sunday Times went early with his bold prediction that Glencore will be the interloper to come up with a rival offer for Anglo American. Below is the link to Shahsy's piece:..

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Thomas Bravo snaps up Darktrace for over $5.3 billion

The British takeover frenzy continues unabated.

This time US private equity firm Thomas Bravo has agreed a deal to buy London-listed Darktrace for over $5.3 billion or around 620p a share. Below is a link to the announcement:

https://www.londonstockexchange.com/news-article/market-news/recommended-cash-acquisition-of-darktrace-plc/16442541..

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Burberry 'at risk' of a takeover, claims The Daily Telegraph

A peculiar takeover story has emerged in little old Betaville's former employer - The Daily Telegraph.

On the front page of the The Daily Telegraph's business section the newspaper reports that City analysts have warned that Burberry is 'at risk' of a takeover...

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BHP Billiton said to weigh £40 billion plus takeover of Anglo American, reveals Bloomberg

Arch rivals at Bloomberg have just broken a rather large story that little old Betaville was also chasing this late afternoon.

According to Bloomie, BHP Billiton has recently been "evaluating the possiblity" of takeover bid for FTSE 100-listed Anglo American. Below is a link to the story: ..

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Deals, deals, Deals ... in a bear market - Part 65

After last week's small sell off some market participants are claiming the 'new' bear market has arrived but that doesn't appear to be dampening dealmaking activity.

Indeed, Italian coffee maker Luigi Lavazza SpA just launched a cash offer for Italian vending machine maker IVS.

Lavazza will pay EURO 7.15 a share to other investors as part a complicated take private alongside IVS largest shareholder...

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JD Sports snaps up American sporting goods firm Hibbett Sports, Inc for over $1 billion

British business media commentators like to complain about how London-listed businesses are being gobbled up by 'foreign' predators.

But JD Sports, the London-listed sportswear retailer, has this morning shown it's not all one way traffic.

The company announced the acquisition of US-listed sporting goods retailer Hibbett for $87 a share or over $1 billion. Below is a link to the press release:..

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Quanex Building Products pounces on Tyman with £788 million takeover bid

Another London-listed business looks set to fall into the hands of an American predator.

This time US-listed Quanex Building Products Corporation has agreeed to purchase Tyman, the London-listed doorbell maker, for £788 million.

It's bit of complicated part cash, part share deal valuing Tyman at around 400p a share. Below is a link to the details of the offer:..

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Sunday review: Dr Martens, International Distribution Services and Hipgnosis...

There were plenty of deal stories in the British Sunday newspapers today.

One tale that caught little old Betaville's eye was a story by Mark "Shappers" Shapland in the Mail on Sunday about a possible takeover bid for London-listed shoe maker Dr Martens.

Shappers writes that: "Dr Martens is being circled by some of the world's leading fashion companies and could be about to fall into hands of foreign owners"...

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Blackstone preparing £1.2 billion counterbid for Hipgnosis, reveals Sky News

Mark "The Kleinmanator" Kleinman of Sky News has just popped up with a decent scoop about how Blackstone is weighing tabling a counter bid for Hipgnosis, the London-listed owner of songs by Blondie, the Red Hot Chili Peppers and the Kaiser Chiefs.

According to Kleiny, Blackstone has already table several offers for the Hipgnosis Songs Fund, including one offer at 82p a share and another at 88p. Below is a link to the Sky News report:..

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