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.
Sir Jim Ratcliffe has been sniffing around Independent Oil & Gas's debt.
People familiar with the situation said Ineos, Sir Jim's chemicals company, bid on Independent Oil and Gas's bonds before the North Sea oil explorer decided to repay some of the non-convertible debt held by failed outfit London Oil and Gas, which is associated with controversial City firm London Capital & Finance...
There was plenty of backslapping taking early place early this week by hacks at Reuters for the media organisation's "scoop" about Alphabet, owner of Google, bidding for Fitbit, the weareable device maker. Below is a link to the "scoop" by Reuters...
Hat tip to hacks at the Wall Street Journal for landing this rather cracking scoop about Fiat Chrysler and Peugeot holding merger talks. Below is the link:
https://www.wsj.com/articles/fiat-chrysler-peugeot-owner-psa-in-talks-to-combine-11572373519..
Betaville always enjoys catching up with old colleagues as there is nothing like hack camaraderie down the pub.
Aside from the top banter Betaville did also glean some decent advice from fellow journos about how to run a story that involves a random punter making some pretty defamatory allegations on a video clip about Metro Bank, which has had a few issues lately...
Microsoft and Alphabet have both been tipped as potential acquirers of wearable device maker Fitbit amid talk it has appointed an adviser to run a strategic review.
People following the situation said they had heard rumours Alphabet, the owner of Google, and Microsoft are both in the running to buy Fitbit...
Well, that didn't take long...
Who said the London M&A market was in the doldrums?
This morning Prosus has just launched a hostile counter bid for online food delivery company Just Eat, valuing the company at 710p a share in cash. Below is a link to the RNS announcement:
Betaville was in a rather good mood on this gloomy Autumn Monday.
Indeed, nothing gives little old Betaville more pleasure than having my RARE Alerts, scoops and jackanories followed up by official confirmations as it keeps the naysayers at bay...
Watchstone, the company formerly known as Quindell, is on the verge of reaching a settlement with the Australian legal group that advised a BBC Producer on a high-profile claim against Jeremy Clarkson...
Oh look - I see Avacta Group, the Aim-listed biotechnology company, has effectively confirmed little old Betaville's RARE alert from yesterday morning. Below is the link:
Avacta Group, the Aim-listed biotechnology company, is close to announcing a multi-million pound equity fundraising.
Sources familiar with the matter said Avacta is tapping up investors for up to £7 million, possibly via a placing.
It's believed Avacta is looking to raise the new capital at around 15p a share, said sources familiar with the matter...
Is the end game for colourful Telit Communications fast approaching?
Well, there has been talk about interest in a combination with Canada's Sierra Wireless for the last twelve months but so far no formal confirmation has emerged.
Meanwhile, Telit's shareholder register becomes increasingly eclectic, with Richard Griffiths recently declaring he now has a stake of 7.5pc in the "Internet of Things" chip company. Below is the link:..
Nick Candy is said to be working on a plan to form a consortium to buy some or all of Capital & Counties, the London-listed property company.
People following the situation have heard rumours Mr Candy, a well-known British property investor, is working with investors from the Gulf region about purchasing the beleguered property group...
Cyrus Kapadia, the newish British boss of Lazard, gets an outing in the The Times City diary today. Below is the link:
https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/the-investment-banker-who-practises-what-he-preaches-khgwmjgdp..
It's not often you see a share price leap 500pc in a day on heavy volume - even on London's junior market.
But NF Energy Saving Corp - a Nasdaq-listed Chinese designer of "energy efficient systems" for thermal and nuclear power plants - has just leapt 508pc to $9.
Earlier today NF Energy Saving Corp announced the completion of the acquisition of Boqi Zhengji Pharmacy Chain Co, which has more than 300 pharmacy stores in China...
RIB Software, the German software company, is at the centre of vague takeover speculation.
People following the situation said they have heard rumours a mystery buyer is eyeing RIB Software and may be willing to pay as much as EURO 25 a share.
However, the identity of the potential purchaser remains unclear.
To be clear, the above story is UNCOOKED. In case you don't remember I have pasted the definition of UNCOOKED below:..
[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].