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.
Hat tip to Alex Ralph. The hard working hack on The Times busness section dug up a rather good line in today's newspaper about how Philip Jansen, BT Group's newish chief executive, is now open to selling a stake in Openreach (whose valuation is £20 billion, by the way). Below is a link to Alex Ralph's story:..
Voila: U-blox and Telit Communications have confirmed Betaville's RARE ALERT from yesterday afternoon.
Below are links to their respective confirmations:
U-blox Holding AG, the Switzerland-listed wireless semiconductor company, is circling Telit Communications with a view to merging with the Aim-listed 'internet of things' designer.
People following the situation have heard rumours U-blox is interested in all-share merger with Telit and may have already approached the Aim-listed company with a proposal about a combination of the two businesses...
Last night Ubisoft Entertainment issued a EURO 600 million bond.
Why?
Well, it's not entirely clear but one of Betaville's favourite snouts pointed out that in the bond documentation that the French gaming giant said "the net proceeds of the bond will be used for general corporate purposes as well as potential future acquisitions"...
Another day, another multi-billion pound deal announced during this public health crisis, with RSA formally recommending a £7.2 billion offer from Canada's Intact and Denmark's Tryg...
Oh dear: ailing advertising agency M&C Saatchi has just attempted to sneak out a press release announcing the departure of its entire senior management team, including chief executive David Kershaw. Below is the link to the press release:
https://www.investegate.co.uk/m--38-c-saatchi-plc--saa-/rns/directorate-change/202011181801077943F/..
The FT's brilliant deals team presents more evidence that dealmaking is continuing at a brisk pace despite the pandemic in a lengthy piece quoting top bankers and lawyers...
Perhaps I was being a bit of tease by asking readers to get in touch with Peel Hunt about their UK mid-cap takeover tips note.
So, I have listed below the companies Peel Hunt reckons could become bid targets over the coming weeks and months...
Ping! Another email arrives from the well spoken chaps at London-based stockbroker Peel Hunt.
And the firm is very bullish about the prospect of more takeover deals, especially for UK-listed mid cap stocks.
Charles Hall, Peel Hunt's excellent head of research, writes:..
Scribblers at Goldman Sachs managed to generate some decent publicity for themselves yesterday by talking up (or is it puffing up) British Airways owner International Consolidated Airlines Group.
As a result, the shares flew (no pun intended) and some market reporters, such as Tom Howard of The Times, led their reports with the broker's bullish predictions about IAG's prospects...
Perhaps Betaville was being too optimistic (or, er, pessimistic) by predicting the next wave of cash calls from companies that have already tapped equity investors for capital will take place in early 2021.
In fact, it appears some businesses that have already raised funds from the equity market, such as cruise operator Carnival, are hitting the road again and asking investors for fresh funds...
Another day, another stakebuild in Telit Communications by the mysterious DBay Advisors.
Today DBay, which has already submitted a takeover approach for the whole company, said it now owns 15.37pc of the 'internet of things' provider. Below is the link to today's announcement:..
Pluralsight Inc, the US-listed online technology training company, is at the centre of takeover speculation.
People following the situation have heard rumours a private equity firm may be interested in purchasing Pluralsight, which sells video training courses for software developers, IT administrators and creative professionals...
DBay advisors has just upped its stake in Telit Communications.
According to regulatory filings DBday now owns just over 15pc of the 'internet of things' designer.
In case you don't recall, DBay is one of the companies that has submitted a takeover approach for Telit Communications.
One presumes the canny investment manager, led by wily Colin Kingsnorth, suspects his firm is likely to face competition for Telit Communications.....
The takeover bids are coming in and fast in the London market as predators look to take advantage of ailing rivals, with Connells Group launching a raid on Countrywide.
In case you don't recall, Countrywide was trying to get a "strategic investment" deal done with Alchemy. The private equity firm had offered £90 million for a stake of between 50pc and 67pc in Countrywide...
[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].