Betaville

AstraZeneca snaps up Amolyt Pharma for over $1 billion

There has been talk that perhaps dealmaking in the biopharmaceutical industry was waning following the the string of deal announcements in December 2023.

However, AstraZeneca has just put paid to that theory by announcing another takeover deal. This time the FTSE 100-listed company has agreed to purchase Amolyt Pharma, a France-based company focused on developing novel treatments for rare endocrine diseases...

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Bears maul Eurofins Scientific SE, again!

Bears have once again sunk their teeth into Eurofins Scientific, the Luxembourg-based French testing company.

Word reaches little old Betaville that Shadowfall - the activist short selling firm led by Mathew Earl, dubbed by some as the "dark destroyer" - published another note a couple of weeks ago about Eurofins containing some allegations...

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Just Group may be a takeover target, reports The Times

The Times today also reports that specialist London-listed insurer Just Group may be a takeover target.

Well, the suggestion is effectively hooked on some quotes from Barrie Cornes, an analyst from Panmure Gordon.

Now old Barrie Cornes has been covering the British insurance market as a stockbroker scribbler since little old Betaville was a cub reporter on The Daily Telegraph's City desk a long time ago...

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The newspaper, the dealmakers and the dealmaking...

You really know when you in the middle of a dealmaking boom when British newspapers start profiling the investment bankers that put the deals together.

And this morning chums and former colleagues on The Times business section did exactly that.

So, if you are interested in the rainmkers who have been working on the deals announced in the last few days and weeks then I suggest clicking on the link below:..

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Pollen Street grabs Mattioli Woods for £432 million

Mattioli Woods is the latest London-listed company to leaving the stock market.

The wealth management and pensions advisory company has agreed a deal to sell itself to private equity house Pollen Street for 804p a share or £432 million, which is just over a 32pc premium.

Now, I would paste the link to the full press release below but little old Betaville is struggling to find it on the regulatory news services this morning.....

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Nationwide snaps up Virgin Money for over £3 billion

Another day, another fresh deal announced in the UK market.

The latest is Nationwide's move to puy lender Virgin Money for over £2 billion.

According to this morning's announcement Nationwide is paying 220p a share for Virgin Money, which is a 38pc premium. Below is a link to this morning's press release:..

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Vimeo said to draw takeover interest from Bending Spoons, reveals Bloomberg

Arch rivals at Bloomberg decided to run the Vimeo takeover rumour that has been circulating the European markets over the last couple of weeks.

According to Bloomie, Italian mobile app developer Bending Spoons is consdering a takeover of US-listed video hosting company Vimeo and has been talking to banks about doing the deal. Below is a link to the scoop:..

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Deals, Deals, Deals ... in a bear market - Part 63

The UK is still proving to be a fertile hunting for overseas predators.

This morning US-based technology company Viavi announced the £1 billion plus takeover of Spirent Communications, the London-listed telecommunications testing company.

Below is a link to the full details of the 175p a share in cash offer for Spirent, which was also announced alongside a set of rather stinky results:..

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Boeing in talks to by SpiritAerosystems, reveals the Wall Street Journal

The Wall Street Journal has just landed another cracking stateside deal scoop.

According to the WSJ, Boeing is in discussions to acquire SpiritAeroSystems, its struggling former unit at the center of numerous quality issues affecting 737 Max jets.

The aircraft parts supplier has hired bankers to explore strategic options and has had preliminary talks with Boeing, according to the WSJ..

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Direct Line said to have received and rejected Ageas takeover approach, reveals Bloomberg

Arch rivals at Bloomberg have pulled their socks up a bit and are digging out a few decent scoops again.

According to Bloomie hacks Jan-Henrick Foerster and Pamela Barbaglia, ailing FTSE 250-listed insurer Direct Line received a takeover approach from Belgian insurer Ageas.

However, the approach was rejected, according to Bloomie. Below is a link to the Bloomberg scoop:..

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Saturday review: Crest Nicholson, RS Group and Watches of Switzerland...

Chums over at The Times have run a double page spread in the business section about the British mergers and acquisitions market.

Indeed, within the piece there were plenty of the customary on the record quotes from investment bankers talking up the prospect of more dealmaking but without getting so specific as to get themselves into hot water. Below is a link to the piece:..

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The newspaper City diary, the newly formed company and the mystery takeover bid ... - Part 2

Today's move by Urban Logistics REIT to out its own all share pursuit of the Abrdn Property Income Trust is rather curious.

Below is a link today's press release, which claims Urban Logistics REIT lobbed in an indicative offer for Abrdn Property Income Trust last Friday...

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Capital One agrees to buy Discover Financial for $35 billion

American financial media outfits Bloomberg and the Wall Street Journal were clearly onto something when they began to report yesterday that lender Capital One was in talks to buy credit card firm Discover Financial.

Overnight the deal was announced, with Warren Buffett-backed Capital One agreeing to buy Discover Financial for just over $35 billion in stock. Below is a link to the press release:..

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The newspaper City diary, the newly formed company and the mystery takeover bid ...

A good spot from the Evening Standard's City Spy column.

Hacks who write the column at the London-based free sheet discovered that new company has been formed at Companies House called 'Urban Logistics Bidco'. Below is a link to the company at Companies House:

https://find-and-update.company-information.service.gov.uk/company/15394134/filing-history..

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