Betaville

David Cameron said to have been offered SPAD role at book launch

Apparently, Matt Hancock told David Cameron this week that if the former Prime Minister of the United Kingdom is still at loose end he could always "work as a special adviser" (also known as SPAD) for the Secretary of State for Health...

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Sir Christopher Hohn sells down LSE stake after reportedly predicting £15 billion takeover bid for the exchange

Betaville notes that Sir Christopher Hohn's The Children's Investment Fund has just slotted the majority of its 5pc stake in the London Stock Exchange.

So, unless the abrasive hedge fund manager isn't interested in making money for his investors, Sir Chris can't really still believe the LSE is still a takeover target?..

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Is Comcast's adviser preparing to become a media mogul himself?

The reason Betaville posits such a question in the headline is that yesterday it was suggested in The Times that Ian Osborne - a former adviser to former British Prime Minister David Cameron - is trying to buy Fortune magazine from publisher Meridith via his advisory firm/investment vehicle Connaught, which counts Sir Simon Robey as a director. Below is a link to yesterday's piece in The Times:..

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A Pembridge Resources snippet...

Loyal readers might recall Betaville has been following developments around Pembridge Resources, the London listed mining company, for several months.

Well, a reliable source has got in touch to inform me that some of the company's advisers have offered to invest their own personal money in the placing to raise $40 million for the acquisition of Minto Explorations, which owns a copper, gold and silver mine in Canada.

How regularly does that happen?.....

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REVEALED: The company behind the London Vet Show is being lined up for a £300 million sale - sources

CloserStill Media, the company that puts on the London Vet Show, could be about to change hands for between £250 million and £300 million.

Sources familiar with the matter said Inflexion, the private equity firm that owns CloserStill Media, has appointed bankers from DC Partners to run an auction for the business.

It's thought Clarion Events, which is backed by US buy-out giant Blackstone, is likely to be one of the frontrunners for company...

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Odey for PM?

Apparently, charming hedgie Crispin Odey, a vocal Brexiteer, is preparing to go into politics!

Well, that's according to a report in trade rag Financial News, which the publication splashed on earlier this week. Hat tip to intrepid FN hack Tom Teodorczuk for landing what would appear quite a scoop containing ON THE RECORD quotes. Below is a link:..

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Lloyds buy-out arm in the running to buy Lambrini, Crabbie's and City of London Gin maker - sources

The dreaded "Brexit uncertainty" seems to be dominating every aspect of media business coverage at the moment, including deals and dealmakers.

But there is one private equity firm that appears to be keen to continue in buying UK businesses no matter what: Lloyds Development Capital, the private equity wing of Lloyds Banking Group...

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Nick Train or Mike Ashley - who are you more likely to believe?

There is an interesting juxtaposition of stories/threats on the front page of the excellent business section of The Times today...

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That Sports Direct denial...

Most of this morning's business sections lead on story about how Mike Ashley's Sports Direct "doest not intend to make an offer" for beleguered rival Debenhams.

So, clearly Sports Direct WAS looking at making an offer for Debenhams as former colleague Ben Marlow reported last month in The Sunday Telegraph. Below is the link:..

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Bank holiday review: blue is the colour, football is the game... - Part 3

I see Jack Ma, founder of Alibaba, has resigned as chairman of Alibaba, the Chinese ecommerce giant.

Betaville wonders (rather unsubtly) whether Ma has suddenly resigned because he has aspirations of owning a Premier League football club...?..

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