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.
Wednesday, 18 July 2018, 8:02 pm
Last month Betaville asked how much lower can Foxtons stock go after the shares hit an all time low of 57p.
Well, a lot lower it would seem: the estate agency's shares flirted with 47p today!
And sentiment could be about to get even worse in the London property market. Click on the link below tonight's FT piece:
https://www.ft.com/content/99072e92-8a6b-11e8-bf9e-8771d5404543..
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Tuesday, 17 July 2018, 11:24 pm
So, today's business section of the Daily Mail appears to be echoing the theme Betaville has aired over the last week about a rekindling of China-backed dealmaking for European/British businesses. I have pasted the link below:..
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Monday, 16 July 2018, 11:19 pm
Goldman Sachs this evening restricted its equity research team from publishing a rating on Capita, according to sources familiar with the situation.
It's well known the Wall Street bank has been advising Capita and its (newish) chief executive, Jon Lewis, on the company's £700 million rights issue and the £700 million disposal programme, including the recent sale of parking management company Parkingeye to Macquarie and MML Capital for £235 million...
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Monday, 16 July 2018, 8:20 pm
I see Bacanora Minerals (or is it Lithium?) has finally confirmed the piece I wrote in The Sunday Times the other week about how a secretive Omani fund is in talks to take a stake in the company as part of a major equity and debt fundraising. Below are links to the original piece I wrote and also today's RNS confirmation...
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Monday, 16 July 2018, 11:41 am
Loyal readers might remember this website's recent scoop about the former PM potentially joining Lex Greensill's outfit: Greensill Capital (now rebranded as just Greensill). Below is a link to the piece:
https://www.www.betaville.co.uk/news/revealed-david-cameron-former-pm-said-to-be-in-tal/..
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Betaville IntelligenceFriday, 13 July 2018, 9:57 am
Voila! Controversial Telit Communications has finally confirmed it has struck a deal to sell its automotive division for $105 million - $125 million. Below is the link:
https://www.investegate.co.uk/telit-communications--tcm-/rns/sale-of-automotive-division-for--105-million/201807130700035213U/..
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Betaville IntelligenceThursday, 12 July 2018, 5:05 pm
Stefan Persson has reportedly denied any plans to take Hennes & Maurtiz private amid talk he has tapped up lenders for financing a buy-out.
Yet since the Swedish retail giant unveiled second quarter figures last month the billionaire has bought over $120 million worth of Hennes & Mauritz. This buying spree comes after Persson splurged around $700 million on Hennes & Maurtiz stock in April and May this year...
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Betaville IntelligenceTuesday, 10 July 2018, 2:10 pm
Telit Communications, the London-listed internet of things provider, has promoted a senior executive to head a new automotive business unit, signalling the company is close to selling the division to a potential buyer for between £100 million and £150 million.
Dirk Reimer, previously a vice president, has just been made managing director of Telit's new integrated automotive division, said sources claiming to be familiar with the matter...
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Tuesday, 10 July 2018, 8:37 am
Sensyne Health, the start up healthcare technology business funded by controversial (star?) fund manager Neil Woodford, is pressing ahead with a float on London's AIM market.
Sources familiar with the situation said Sensyne, formerly known as Drayson Health, has hired brokers from Peel Hunt to work on the listing...
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Sunday, 8 July 2018, 10:04 pm
Below is a link to a great scoop by John Collingridge, now deputy editor of The Sunday Times business section, about how China General Nuclear is trying to buy a stake worth £4 billion in Britain's nuclear power stations from Centrica and EDF.
https://www.thetimes.co.uk/edition/business/chinas-cgn-eyes-stake-in-uk-nuclear-stations-rll8f0lp9..
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Exclusive to Betaville Intelligence subscribersFriday, 6 July 2018, 5:38 pm
Betaville IntelligenceFriday, 6 July 2018, 3:46 pm
Fosun is said to be the mystery company circling Ageas, the Belgian insurance business formerly known as Fortis.
The Chinese conglomerate is in the "early stages" of examining a takeover of Ageas, said sources claiming to be familiar with the matter.
Last week Betaville Intelligence reported a potential acquirer of Ageas may have already indicated an interest in buying the business, which provides property insurance...
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Friday, 6 July 2018, 3:20 pm
Nick Wheeler, the founder of shirt brand Charles Tyrwhitt, could be about to make another multi-million fortune from the sale of Feefo, an online reviews platform.
City sources told Betaville Feefo has hired from advisers from corporate finance boutique Stella to look at "strategic options" for the business after receiving takeover approaches from private equity firms...
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Thursday, 5 July 2018, 5:07 pm
Well that didn't take long.
An hour after Betaville published along came Bloomborg with a tale about how China Grand Enterprises, Inc. and its affiliate company Huadong Medicine Co made a takeover approach for London-listed Sinlcair Pharma, the face lift specialist.
Below is a link to the RNS confirmation:..
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Thursday, 5 July 2018, 10:58 am
Are the Chinese about to unleash another round of dealmaking for European businesses?
A couple of years ago some of China's largest companies attempted unprecedented deals for western corporates - e.g. Anbang's $14 billion bid for Starwood Hotels - and, of course, well-known top flight football clubs...
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Betaville IntelligenceTuesday, 3 July 2018, 3:10 pm
UK Oil & Gas is said to be working on a fresh equity fundraising despite having just raised £5 million from investors.
The company developing the so-called "Gatwick Gusher" is said to be weighing raising another £2 million in fresh equity capital at 2p, according to sources claiming to be familiar with the matter...
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Exclusive to Betaville Intelligence subscribersSunday, 1 July 2018, 10:58 pm
Sunday, 1 July 2018, 6:43 pm
So, farewell Iain Dey, who until yesterday was the business editor of The Sunday Times, a newspaper Betaville regularly writes for.
Iain and Betaville first worked together back over a decade ago when The Daily Telegraph and The Sunday Telegraph decided to merge their respective business reporting teams. Below is a scoop we broke together during that period:..
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Friday, 29 June 2018, 8:19 am
Foxtons came to the market in 2013 at 230p courtesy of BC Partners, the private equity firm.
But it now languishes at around 57p thanks to stamp duty changes, affordability of London homes and, yes, the dreaded Brexit.
How much lower can it go.....
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Thursday, 28 June 2018, 9:46 am
Sir Philip didn't make it down to yesterday's legendary launch (was he ever invited?) at Fortnum & Mason.
But there were few other business big hitters there to congratulate Oliver Shah on his brilliant new tome, including John Lovering, the fomer Debenhams chairman, Luke Johnson, former chairman of Pizza Express and Amanda Staveley, the Mayfair-based bank and football club dealmaker...
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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].