RARE ALERT: Burford Capital said to ...-Part 2..
Thursday, 27 September 2018, 4:23 pm
A cheeky website about deals, dealmakers and anything else I find interesting. Edited by Ben Harrington. If you have a tip, want to discuss a story or have a subscription enquiry please feel free to email Betaville at [email protected]. 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.
David Cameron said to have been offered SPAD role at book launch
Wednesday, 26 September 2018, 6:44 pm
Apparently, Matt Hancock told David Cameron this week that if the former Prime Minister of the United Kingdom is still at loose end he could always "work as a special adviser" (also known as SPAD) for the Secretary of State for Health...
RARE ALERT: Assurant said to ... - Part 2..
Wednesday, 26 September 2018, 4:44 pm
Quelle Surprise: Comcast builds stake in Sky...
Tuesday, 25 September 2018, 9:42 am
Oh look - Comcast has just announced it owns over 30pc of Sky after tapping up shareholders (officially) for stock after the Saturday's shenanigans were finalised.
Sir Christopher Hohn sells down LSE stake after reportedly predicting £15 billion takeover bid for the exchange
Monday, 24 September 2018, 5:27 pm
Betaville notes that Sir Christopher Hohn's The Children's Investment Fund has just slotted the majority of its 5pc stake in the London Stock Exchange.
So, unless the abrasive hedge fund manager isn't interested in making money for his investors, Sir Chris can't really still believe the LSE is still a takeover target?..
Is Comcast's adviser preparing to become a media mogul himself?
Saturday, 22 September 2018, 12:32 pm
The reason Betaville posits such a question in the headline is that yesterday it was suggested in The Times that Ian Osborne - a former adviser to former British Prime Minister David Cameron - is trying to buy Fortune magazine from publisher Meridith via his advisory firm/investment vehicle Connaught, which counts Sir Simon Robey as a director. Below is a link to yesterday's piece in The Times:..
RARE ALERT: Equiniti said to ...
Thursday, 20 September 2018, 4:15 pm
Equiniti, the London-listed share registrar, is at the centre of takeover speculation.
According to sources claiming to be familiar with the matter, a potential buyer is circling Equiniti and may have already indicated an interest in purchasing the business.
However, the identity of the potential buyer is unclear...
Tags: Equiniti
A Pembridge Resources snippet...
Thursday, 20 September 2018, 3:25 pm
Loyal readers might recall Betaville has been following developments around Pembridge Resources, the London listed mining company, for several months.
Well, a reliable source has got in touch to inform me that some of the company's advisers have offered to invest their own personal money in the placing to raise $40 million for the acquisition of Minto Explorations, which owns a copper, gold and silver mine in Canada.
How regularly does that happen?.....
RARE ALERT: Comcast said to ...
Thursday, 20 September 2018, 9:42 am
Comcast, the US cable company, is this week said to have approached some of Sky's largest shareholders about buying their shares to build a substantial stake in the London-listed broadcaster...
Tags: Comcast
REVEALED: The company behind the London Vet Show is being lined up for a £300 million sale - sources
Wednesday, 19 September 2018, 5:14 pm
CloserStill Media, the company that puts on the London Vet Show, could be about to change hands for between £250 million and £300 million.
Sources familiar with the matter said Inflexion, the private equity firm that owns CloserStill Media, has appointed bankers from DC Partners to run an auction for the business.
It's thought Clarion Events, which is backed by US buy-out giant Blackstone, is likely to be one of the frontrunners for company...
Tags: Closer Still, Inflexion
Odey for PM?
Tuesday, 18 September 2018, 8:25 pm
Apparently, charming hedgie Crispin Odey, a vocal Brexiteer, is preparing to go into politics!
Well, that's according to a report in trade rag Financial News, which the publication splashed on earlier this week. Hat tip to intrepid FN hack Tom Teodorczuk for landing what would appear quite a scoop containing ON THE RECORD quotes. Below is a link:..
Lloyds buy-out arm in the running to buy Lambrini, Crabbie's and City of London Gin maker - sources
Tuesday, 18 September 2018, 1:10 pm
The dreaded "Brexit uncertainty" seems to be dominating every aspect of media business coverage at the moment, including deals and dealmakers.
But there is one private equity firm that appears to be keen to continue in buying UK businesses no matter what: Lloyds Development Capital, the private equity wing of Lloyds Banking Group...
Nick Train or Mike Ashley - who are you more likely to believe?
Saturday, 15 September 2018, 3:23 pm
There is an interesting juxtaposition of stories/threats on the front page of the excellent business section of The Times today...
UNCOOKED ALERT: Pure Storage said to ... - Part 2..
Thursday, 13 September 2018, 8:19 pm
RARE ALERT: Fevertree Drinks said to .....
Thursday, 13 September 2018, 6:04 pm
That Sports Direct denial...
Thursday, 13 September 2018, 10:08 am
Most of this morning's business sections lead on story about how Mike Ashley's Sports Direct "doest not intend to make an offer" for beleguered rival Debenhams.
So, clearly Sports Direct WAS looking at making an offer for Debenhams as former colleague Ben Marlow reported last month in The Sunday Telegraph. Below is the link:..
UNCOOKED ALERT: OneView Group said to be working on ... - Part 2
Tuesday, 11 September 2018, 6:14 pm
OneView Group, which was looking to carry out a £5 million equity fundraising earlier this summer, today announced a delisting. Below is a link to the statement:
Tags: OneView Group
RARE ALERT: Burford Capital said to .....
Tuesday, 11 September 2018, 3:16 pm
Bank holiday review: blue is the colour, football is the game... - Part 3
Monday, 10 September 2018, 9:31 pm
I see Jack Ma, founder of Alibaba, has resigned as chairman of Alibaba, the Chinese ecommerce giant.
Betaville wonders (rather unsubtly) whether Ma has suddenly resigned because he has aspirations of owning a Premier League football club...?..
WELL-DONE ALERT: Revolution Bars Group...
Friday, 7 September 2018, 9:15 am
Revolution Bars Group is said to have rekindled talks with privately-owned Deltic about merger.
Sources claiming to be familiar with the matter said Revolution and nightclub operator Deltic have been holding amicable discussions over the last few weeks about striking a deal to combine...
Tags: Revolution Bars Group
[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].