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.

Daniel Stewart wields the axe

Wednesday, 29 June 2016, 12:00 am

There is more gloomy news from London's small cap stockbroking industry.

I hear Daniel Stewart, which has seen its shares suspended, has this week begun a major cull, possibly about a third of its work force.

Whether this latest purge is connected to Brexit or just an extension of the general malaise in the industry remains to be seen.

I asked Peter Shea, chief executive of Daniel Stewart, about the job losses but he declined to comment...

Read more...

Is the tide turning for Odey the Brexiteer? - part 2

Saturday, 25 June 2016, 12:00 am

It looks like my story from yesterday was bang on the money.

Indeed, just a few hours after I published yesterday morning charming Crispin got on the front foot to go on the record about his recent strong performance in June and also from the result of the referendum.

In case you missed it, here are links to yesterday's follow up pieces:..

Read more...

Is the tide turning for Odey the Brexiteer?

Thursday, 23 June 2016, 12:00 am

Crispin Odey's flagship European fund has had a tough time in the last year or so after the charismatic fund manager made some pretty bold and contrarian bear calls that haven't quite worked out.

However, yesterday rival hedgies told me the Odey European fund was actually up around 10pc in June 2016 (the final monthly performance won't be published for another couple of weeks)...

Read more...

Cough up or sell up

Wednesday, 22 June 2016, 12:00 am

Market participants are going to have to stick their hands in their pockets to keep trading companies, indices and currencies over the next few days.

That's because brokers and spread betting firms have begun demanding traders and hedge funds put up more "margin" to cover existing positions during the conclusion of the Bexit referendum, according to well-places sources...

Read more...

Betaville hits 20 million!

Tuesday, 21 June 2016, 12:00 am

Little old Betaville has hit another milestone - today it reached a total of 20 million page impressions from readers.

It's been great fun breaking stories and cracking jokes. But it's now time to think about taking Betaville to the next level.

So, keep an eye on the blog over next few weeks as you are likely to see a few major changes.....

Read more...

Sanofi said to weigh alternative deals to Medivation; eyes BioMarin Pharmaceutical - sources

Friday, 17 June 2016, 12:00 am

French pharmaceutical giant Sanofi is working on a back up plan in case it fails to win its $9.3 billion hostile pursuit of US-listed Medivation.

Top sources have told me the French pharmaceutical giant has begun looking at US-based rare disease specialist BioMarin Pharmaceutical as a potential alternative takeover deal after growing frustrated in its pursuit of Medivation, which has so far resisted the French company's advances...

Read more...

Portuguese consortium said to still be working on BHS despite closure - part 3

Wednesday, 15 June 2016, 12:00 am

Most of my peers and rivals are down in Westminster live tweeting Sir Philip Green's interview (wind up) by MPs.

But I thought I would take this opportunity to set the record straight. After this morning's post I had a call from a representative of the Soares do Santos family in Portugal, claiming the family is not backing Greg Tufnell's consortium in its attempt to buy BHS...

Read more...

Portuguese consortium said to still be working on BHS despite closure - part 2

Tuesday, 14 June 2016, 12:00 am

It would appear Mike Ashley isn't the only bidder still trying to get hold of BHS - or parts of it, at least.

Well-placed sources have told me the Portuguese consortium, led by Greg Tufnell (Phil Tufnell's brother) and backed by the dos Santos family, was also contacted by administrators on Sunday about whether it would still be interested in buying BHS...

Read more...

Chinese said to be in talks with Wirecard about purchasing a 25pc stake; could make move on the whole company - sources

Wednesday, 8 June 2016, 12:00 am

A mystery Chinese company is in talks with German payment processor outfit Wirecard about a deal to buy a significant stake in the business or even purchase the group outright.

According to well-placed sources, a Chinese telecoms company has been talking to Wirecard, whose current market capitalisation stands at EURO 4.7 billion, for quite some time about a partnership and a potential deal...

Read more...

Nutmegged on SOBI - part 2

Wednesday, 8 June 2016, 12:00 am

There has been quite a bit of noise around Swedish rare disease specialist SOBI over the last couple of days.

Well, I wouldn't get too carried away. I'm told there is supposed to be an important meeting in the next 24 / 48 hours where a decision will be made on the "situation".

In case you don't recall what the situation is, here are links to FT Alphaville's piece and my follow up article...

Read more...

Retail titbits - part 4

Monday, 6 June 2016, 12:00 am

Oh look - I see another one of little old Betaville's stories has been confirmed this morning with the announcement that Radley has been sold to Bregal Freshstream, a new (ish) private equity firm.

In case you don't recall, little old Betaville was the first global media outlet to "exclusively reveal" that Bregal Freshstream, which is backed by a wealthy Dutch family, was participating in the Radley auction...

Read more...

Portuguese consortium said to still be working on BHS despite closure

Thursday, 2 June 2016, 12:00 am

I'm very sad to read the reports about administrators to BHS failing to secure a rescue deal for the beleaguered store group.

However, I have one well-placed source that says the consortium led by Greg Tufnell, brother of former England cricketeer Phil Tufnell, is still working a plan to buy the chain despite reports administrators are planning to appoint Hilco to liquidate the company's assets...

Read more...

RARE Alert: Israeli property giant said to be weighing outright purchase of Atrium European Real Estate Limited - part 2

Tuesday, 31 May 2016, 12:00 am

I have a little update on that piece of RARE on Atrium European Real Estate I stumbled across last week.

In case you don't remember, within the story I wrote last week I noted that eastern European shopping mall operator Atrium was looking at other options should the Gazit Globe deal fall over...

Read more...

Back on Tip TV talking about Royal Mail, Pacific Biosciences and Actelion

Tuesday, 31 May 2016, 12:00 am

Loyal readers might have been worried that Tip TV had given me the chop after several weeks without a clip being re-published on little old Betaville.

But fear not - I haven't been on the show because Tip TV have been moving studios. And today my old mucker Moose (aka Nick Batsford) invited me back for a sit down with man-about-town Zak Mir...

Read more...

[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].