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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.

Sweett Group is not so sweet after all

Wednesday, 2 April 2014, 8:44 pm

Sweett Group shares have taken a hammering this morning, tumbling by almost 30pc.

This is because the company, one of Britain's oldest quantity surveyors, said it has discovered evidence that suggests "material instances of deception may have been perpetrated by a former employee or employees of the group during the period of 2009 - 2011".

As a result, Sweett Group has commissioned a further independent investigation by lawyers from Mayer Brown LLP...

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Whirlpool prepares takeover of Arsenal sponsor Indesit

Monday, 24 March 2014, 4:15 pm

American giant Whirlpool is closing in on a Euro 2.3 billion acquisition of Indesit, an Italian home appliances company that sponsors Arsenal Football Club.

According to a source familiar with the matter, Whirlpool has already approached Indesit's largest shareholder, Fineldo, about a takeover deal. Fineldo is the investment vehicle for the Merloni family, which founded Indesit in 1975...

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Italian companies and their difficulty with the truth

Tuesday, 18 March 2014, 12:34 am

Interesting to see Pirelli and Rosneft announce this morning the Russian gas giant has acquired a significant stake in the tyre group's holding company.

Back in January I came across a story about Rosneft and Goldman Sachs's private equity unit teaming up to back a management buy-out of Pirelli.

I checked the story out with Rosneft, Goldman Sachs (neither of whom commented) and Pirelli's spokesperson, who vehemently denied to the tale...

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Why wrestling is important for Newcastle United

Friday, 14 March 2014, 1:00 am

Here is a tale about a potential US deal that may have significant implications for Newcastle United Football Club.

Good sources tell me the American cable group AMC Networks has been sniffing around World Wrestling Entertainment Inc, the US-listed company behind those wrestling programmes, such as Raw and Smackdown...

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Agnelli family said to be in talks to buy 20pc of Swiss Re

Wednesday, 12 March 2014, 2:44 pm

I think I might have landed another genuine scoop. Here it is:

I understand a trust controlled by Italy's Agnelli family has been holding talks with Swiss Re about buying a 20pc stake in the insurance giant worth up to 8bn Swiss Francs.

According to sources familiar with the matter, the Agnelli family trust is planning to buy the 20pc stake in Swiss Re by making a 'tender offer' to all shareholders with an agreement from the Swiss Re board...

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ING moves closer to Euro 8 billion float of its insurance arm

Monday, 10 March 2014, 11:33 pm

I hear one of the largest flotations in Europe is getting close to lift off.

ING, which was bailed out by the Dutch government after the financial crisis, confirmed earlier this year it has already appointed JP Morgan, Morgan Stanley and, funnily enough, ING on a potential listing of its insurance business...

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Metso under the spotlight

Friday, 7 March 2014, 7:51 pm

A Finnish company called Metso has caught my eye.

Metso shares were up 5pc yesterday and are up another 1.5pc today (readers should be aware the stock crashed at the beginning of the year).

There has been vague talk doing the rounds all week that there is "something going on" with Metso
- which supplies technology to resources companies - although none of my sources seem to know precisely what...

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Aviva and its chief bottle washer

Thursday, 6 March 2014, 6:25 pm
Mark Wilson appears to be doing a good job with the turnaround of Aviva. 
At his first set of annual results, Mr Wilson this morning reported full-year profits of £2.2bn after tax in 2013 compared to a £2.9bn loss the previous year.

Mr Wilson also said the turnaround at the FTSE 100 insurer is 'intensifying'...

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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].