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.

RARE ALERT: Mayan Energy said to be carrying fresh £2 million equity fundraising

Wednesday, 15 November 2017, 5:26 pm

Mayan Energy is poised to carry out its second equity fundraising in the space of just six months.

According to sources claiming to be familiar with the matter, Aim-listed Mayan is on the verge of carrying out a £2 million equity fundraising and the deal could be announced in the next few days.

One source said Mayan - which focuses on Mexico and the US - is looking to raise the money around 0.6p a share, which would be a significant discount to the current share price...

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Osborne rekindles ITV bid rumour...

Wednesday, 15 November 2017, 11:01 am

Alistair Osborne, one of Betaville's favourite business commentators, today revives the ITV bid rumour is his excellent column in the business section of The Times.

It's been a while since a news organisation has trotted out the well-worn bid theory but Osborne is one of the wisest old hacks I have had the pleasure of working with, so it's worth paying attention to. I have pasted a link to Alistair's column below:..

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English on Cayman...

Tuesday, 14 November 2017, 7:14 pm

If your interested in a contrarian view on the Cayman Islands post the Paradise Papers "expose" then give Simon English's column in today's Evening Standard a read.

English is one of Betaville's favourite City commentators as he always provides sharp insight and evokes a chuckle. Below is a link to Simon's top column...

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Betaville Intelligence

RARE ALERT: Telit Communications said to ... - part 3

Friday, 10 November 2017, 10:50 pm

Telit Communications is lining up the former boss of onling gambling group 888 Holdings to become its new chairman.

According to sources in the recruitment industry, headhunting firm Korn Ferry recently put Richard Kilsby, who stepped down as chairman of 888 Holdings in 2015, on the shortlist of potential candidates to become the embattled company's new chairman...

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Betaville Intelligence

RARE ALERT: Plus500 said to ...

Thursday, 9 November 2017, 2:25 pm

Plus500's corporate brokers have been sounding out investors about selling around 7pc of the founders' total shareholding in the Aim-listed contract for difference platform.

According to sources familiar with the matter, brokers at Liberum and Berenberg this week approached investors with the opportunity to buy as much as 7pc of Plus500 from a group comprising the founders of the Israeli contracts for difference broker, such as Alon Gonen...

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Tags: Plus 500

Saracens owner takes stake in women's clothing retailer Sosander - sources

Friday, 3 November 2017, 1:31 pm

The London market is all aflutter today after a couple of big IPOs (Bakkavor and Arqiva) were scrapped. But don't fret - Betaville has some upbeat news about new(ish) listing at the smaller end of the market.

Sources familiar with the matter said Nigel Wray, chaiman of Saracens Rugby Club and serial investor, has snapped up a stake in Sosandar, the womens fashion etailer that is gaining a listing by reversing into an Aim-listed cash shell called Orogen...

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Is the tide turning for Odey the Brexiteer? - part 26

Wednesday, 1 November 2017, 4:17 pm

Ping! An email arrives from a retired City contact who is in a bit of grump about receiving a letter from Odey Wealth.

Betaville's chum hasn't heard from Odey Wealth for four years but suddenly the private client arm of Odey Asset Management has got in touch asking whether he would like invest in funds either managed or overseen by charming Crispin...

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Billionaire broker on rates, recession and the Governor...

Monday, 30 October 2017, 8:01 pm

Followers of my work might have noticed a piece in this weekend's The Sunday Times quoting Peter Hargreaves, the billionaire founder of Hargreaves Lansdown, with his views on where stock markets might go next given they are flirting with record highs. Below is the link in case you missed it:..

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Banks rows - Greenburgh cited - part 4

Friday, 27 October 2017, 9:50 pm

They do say imitation is the sincerest form of flattery. So, Betaville is feeling rather flattered after reading today's City insider column in the venerable Financial Times.

One item in the column, written by senior FT hack Patrick Jenkins, is rather similar to tale about Matthew Greenburgh first aired on Betaville a few days ago. Below are the links:..

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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].