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A cheeky website about deals, dealmakers and anything else I find interesting. Edited by Ben Harrington. If you have a tip or want to discuss a story please feel free to email Betaville at ben@betaville.co.uk. Betaville can also be reached at Whats App, Signal or Telegram. Betaville's Twitter handle is @bharringtonw11 and you can message me via Twitter with stories.

Happy birthday Betaville

Wednesday, 18 February 2015, 6:24 pm

It's been just over a year since I kicked off Betaville, a cheeky blog that likes to break serious business stories, dig up stock market gossip and crack a few jokes, too...

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More on Salix...

Monday, 16 February 2015, 2:31 am

Interesting piece by Reuters late on Friday evening about how US healthcare group Endo International is interested in buying Salix, a takeover target for FTSE 100-listed Shire. Here is a link:..

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The auction of auctioneer - part 2

Wednesday, 11 February 2015, 6:16 pm

It sounds like the auction of Bonhams isn't going as smoothly as the ones carried out by the 200-year old auctioneer.

The owners of Bonhams hired Greenhill last year to look at "strategic options".

Since then, various parties - such as China's Poly Culture - have got into serious discussions about a deal only for it fall over at the final stages. ..

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A can of worms - part 3

Friday, 6 February 2015, 6:50 pm

Bankers are clambering all over of this £4 billion Rexam takeover deal.

I hear Credit Suisse and Bank of America Merrill Lynch have just been "restricted" from publishing equity research on Rexam, which typically means these banks have been retained as advisers on the deal.

I guess it's no surprise that Credit Suisse and Bank of American Merrill Lynch have been restricted as they are corporate brokers to Rexam...

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A can of worms - part 2

Thursday, 5 February 2015, 8:04 pm

Many apologies to Oscar Williams Grut, the stock market reporter over at The Independent and Evening Standard...

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A can of worms

Thursday, 5 February 2015, 6:48 pm

Rexam shares are up almost 7pc this morning.

I suspect the stock is reacting to comments in Gary Parkinson's stock market report in The Times today.

Parky, a top hack, wrote that a couple of American companies - Crown and, separately, Ball - are looking the London-listed can manufacturer. Here is a link to Parky's report:..

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Qataris and Blighty

Friday, 30 January 2015, 5:47 pm

Wow - the Qataris really have got an affinity for old Blighty!

Qatar Airways has just said it has bought a 9.9pc stake in our very own British Airways, also known as IAG.

The move comes after it emerged this week the Qatari sovereign wealth fund looks to have secured Canary Wharf owner Songbird Estates for £2.6 billion.

Here is a link to the Qatar Airways announcement:..

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Sunday review

Sunday, 25 January 2015, 11:41 pm

Huge hat tip to Oliver Shah over at The Sunday Times for his scoop about Sir Philip Green putting BHS on the market. Here is a link to Oliver's piece:..

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Ruddy on Ashley

Friday, 23 January 2015, 7:04 pm

Graham Ruddick has written a particularly good viewpoint piece in this morning's Telegraph.

Graham - a jolly nice chap, a former colleague and one of the best young hacks I have ever worked with - attempts to unravel what maverick Mike Ashley is up to by shuffling his shareholdings about in Sports Direct.

Here is a link a link to Graham's piece, which is well worth a read:..

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[Disclaimer - the information on Betaville does not consitute any form of investment recommendation and is not intended to be relied upon by readers in making, or refraining from, any investment decisions].