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.
Apollo pays £506 million for The Restaurant Group
Private equity house Apollo has just announced the £506 million takeover of The Restaurant Group, the operator of well known restaurants chains such as Wagamama, and Frankie and Benny's.
The board of The Restaurant Group has recommended a 65p a share in cash offer from Apollo. Below is a link to the press release:..
UNCOOKED ALERT: Tapestry, Inc said to.....
UNCOOKED ALERT: Arcelor Mittal SA said to ... - Part 2
A Japanese company is rumoured to be working with Arcelor Mittal on its interest in United States Steel Corporation, the US-listed steel producer.
People following the situation have heard speculation Nippon Steel Corporation may be working with Arcelor Mittal, possibly on a joint offer for US Steel.
Nippon Steel Corporation and Arcelor Mittal have already established a joint ventures, including ArcelorMittal Nippon Steel India Limited...
Exxon Mobil close to purchasing Pioneer Natural Resources for around $50 billion, reveals the Wall Street Journal - Part 2
Exxon Mobil has just formally announced the $60 billion all stock takeover of Pioneer Natural Resources.
So, take a bow hacks at the Wall Street Journal. They may be rivals but they nailed the Exxon Mobil - Pioneer Natural Resources takeover scoop not once but twice. Below is the link to the final announcement:
Below is the link to the press release:..
UNCOOKED ALERT: Aviva said to ... - Part 4
I must apologise - it would appear little old Betaville completely missed the fact that The Guardian also followed up last week's UNCOOKED Alert and were kind enough to give this website a mention.
Moreover, The Guardian seems to have spoken to its own proprietary sources and dug out an interesting line, which I have pasted below:
"A City source told the Guardian there had been some discussions with suitors."..
UNCOOKED ALERT: Aviva said to ... - Part 3
The echo chamber went into overdrive last week, with both the Daily Mail and The Times following up little old Betaville's UNCOOKED Alerts about Aviva.
In case you missed them, below are the links to those reports and little old Betaville's original alert:
https://www.betaville.co.uk/betaville-intelligence/56h57bbz/..
The former Chancellor of the Exchequer, the boutique investment bank firm and, er, insert anything they are both involved with here... - the series returns - Part 3
Last week George Osborne revealed in his Political Currency podcast with Ed Balls the way super secret takeover deals are disguised with "code words", such as Project "Cedar" and Project "Redwood"
So, it was interesting to read in today's front page news reports about the Metro Bank recapitalisation plan that there were lines about how Robey Warshaw, the M&A advisory boutique, is advising Santander on its interest buying the beleguered London-listed bank...
UNCOOKED ALERT: Metro Bank Holdings PLC said to ... - Part 2
Little old Betaville has been following the weekend reports about takeover interest in Metro Bank with great interest.
Why?
Well, back in May this year this website revealed in UNCOOKED Alert that Metro Bank was attracting takeover interest, with some people following the situation suggesting private equity-onwed Shawbrook was/is the bidder. Below is the link to that story:..
UNCOOKED ALERT: Aviva said to ... - Part 2
Dominic, "Dom", Walshhas followed up on little old Betaville's UNCOOKED about Aviva earlier this week.
In his market report colum today Dom, a veteran business hack at The Times, writes that "chatter surrounding Aviva refused to die down", suggesting also that an American company may be looking at purchasing the FTSE 100-listed insurance business. Below is a link to Dom's column:..
Exxon Mobil close to purchasing Pioneer Natural Resources for around $60 billion, reveals the Wall Street Journal
Hacks at the Wall Street Journal landed another jumbo scoop overnight about, potentially, one of the biggest US takeover deals of the year.
According to the WSJ, Exxon Mobil is in advanced talks to buy Pioneer Natural Resources, the US-listed shale oil producer, and a deal could be soon. Below is a link to the WSJ scoop:..
UNCOOKED ALERT: Euronav said to ... - Part 4
It took three stories but Euronav NV, the Belgian shipping company, finally confirmed little old Betaville's series of UNCOOKED alerts.
In case you don't recall, little old Betaville published its first UNCOOKED alert about the takeover rumours surrounding Euronav in June. Below are the links:
https://www.betaville.co.uk/betaville-intelligence/8ytoegep/..
UNCOOKED ALERT: Euronav NV said to ... - Part 3..
English (and Co) on fire, again... - Part 9
It was good to see - or hear, rather - Simon English on the LBC Money Podcast hosted by David Buik and Michael Wilson.
English is one of little old Betaville's favourite City commentators as he is able to combine fine writing with incisive analysis - and wit.
Now, it would appear English is getting involved in the Podcast game.
Anyway, below is a link to the LBC Podcast...
UNCOOKED ALERT: Aviva said to .....
UNCOOKED ALERT: Tavistock Investments PLC said to ..
Ruddy does some Off to Lunch M&A
Congratulations to Graham "Ruddy" Ruddick.
Little old Betaville's old chum and former colleague from our time on The Daily Telegraph's City desk has struck a deal with Richard Harpin to sell his excellent news letter Off to Lunch to Business Leader, a magazine and events company backed by the multi-millionaire founder of HomeServe.
This morning Ruddy writes:..
The former Chancellor of the Exchequer, the boutique investment bank firm and, er, insert anything they are both involved with here... - the series returns - Part 2
George Osborne just can't help dropping little investment banking secrets into his new "Political Currency" podcast.
In his latest podcast with Ed Balls, the former Labour front bencher, Osborne refers to how code words such as "Redwood" and "Cedar" are used to disguise super secret takeover deals being worked on at investment banks in the City of London...
RARE ALERT: ASOS said to ... - Part 19
Mike Ashley's Frasers Group is back at it.
After a brief pause Frasers Group has increased his stake in London-listed fashion retailer Asos to 19.1pc. Below is the link:
Aussies launch £636 million takeover bid for waste management firm Renewi
Little old Betaville reads everyday in the newspaper business sections how there has been a drop off in dealmaking but it does seem to quite tally with whats happening on the ground in the London market.
Today, for example, Macquarie - the Australian infrastructure investor - has just announced it wants to buy London-listed waste management company Renewi for 775p a share. Below is a link to the press release:..
[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].