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.
Wednesday, 2 March 2022, 6:06 pm
You know the rumours about a potential sale of Chelsea FC are serious when the venerable Wall Street Journal finally decides to get on the story.
The WSJ has just published a piece claiming Roman Abramovich is seeking takeover bids for Chelsea FC, which has won the European champions league twice, ahead of the Russian tycoon being hit by financial sanctions. Below is the link:..
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Betaville IntelligenceTuesday, 1 March 2022, 11:12 am
It sounds like Spectris and Oxford Instruments are trying to get the £1.7 billion takeover deal wrapped up as quickly as possible.
People following the situation have heard the board of Oxford Instruments is set to formally recommend Spectris's £1.7 billion takeover offer in the next few days.
Quite why everybody is moving so quickly to get this deal done is a bit of a mystery. Perhaps the parties involved are worried about an interloper? ..
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Betaville IntelligenceMonday, 28 February 2022, 3:46 pm
Spectris has now confirmed its interest in purchasing Oxford Instruments for over £1.5 billion. Below is the announcement:
https://www.investegate.co.uk/spectris-plc--sxs-/rns/statement-re-possible-offer/202202281510440737D/
And it all looks very friendly to Betaville.....
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Betaville IntelligenceMonday, 28 February 2022, 12:32 pm
Oh look - Oxford Instruments has confirmed little old Betaville's UNCOOKED Alert from earlier today and outed London-listed rival Spectris as its potential suitor.
Click on the link below to read the details of the takeover approach from Spectris:..
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Exclusive to Betaville Intelligence subscribersMonday, 28 February 2022, 10:19 am
Sunday, 27 February 2022, 7:52 pm
The Mail on Sunday's business section splash was rather well timed.
Luke Barr and Francesca Washtell, two hard working young Mail hacks, ran a piece about how BP had come under fire from all quarters about its 20pc holding in Russian oil group Rosneft. Then several hours later the FTSE 100 oil giant announced its going to sell its whole stake in the business. Below is a link to Barr and Washtell's piece:..
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Saturday, 26 February 2022, 9:03 am
Clearly there are more important things going on in the world at the moment than corporate mergers & acquisitions.
But for readers obsessed with deals, there were a few stories that cropped up over the last twenty four hours that piqued Betaville's interest...
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Thursday, 24 February 2022, 10:59 pm
Another cracking tale from the deals team at the venerable Wall Street Journal.
Cara Lombardo and Liz Hoffman report Healthcare Trust of America Inc., which owns and operates medical-office buildings around the country, is in advanced talks to combine with smaller rival Healthcare Realty Trust Inc. in a deal that could create a company worth more than $10 billion...
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Betaville IntelligenceWednesday, 23 February 2022, 7:21 pm
There is a suggestion circulating that beleguered THG, the London-listed online retailer, is weighing the appointment of a heavyweight chairman in the next couple of weeks.
According to people following the situation, the company - run by the controversial Matt Moulding - has narrowed its shortlist of chairman candidates to two senior City types...
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Betaville IntelligenceWednesday, 23 February 2022, 3:06 pm
Indivior, the FTSE 250-listed opiod addiction treatment company, is rumoured to be the mystery bidder circling Opiant Pharmaceuticals, the US-listed developer of medicines for drug addiction.
People following the situation have heard rumours Indivior has been talking to Opiant since December last year year about a possible offer for the company.
These people following the situation claimed Indivior is being advised by bankers at Centreview...
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Betaville IntelligenceTuesday, 22 February 2022, 9:36 am
THG, the London-listed e-commerce business, has this morning released what appears to be a full force denial of The Sunday Telegraph's report about how beauty product suppliers are restricting the flow stock to the company.
Below is a link to THG's categorical denial:..
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Tuesday, 22 February 2022, 9:17 am
I see the bear has finally stepped out of the woods and begun mauling away at Swedish property company Samhallsbyggnadsbolaget, also known by its ticker name SBB.
Readers though might be wondering why SBB's shares leapt after a certain short seller started airing some rather fruity allegations (for legal reasons Betaville can't repeat the allegations here)...
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Monday, 21 February 2022, 5:52 am
Some of the stockmarket's most ferocious bears have pounced on Samhallsbyggnadsbolaget, a Sweden-listed property company also known as SBB.
People following the situation said that almost 10pc of SBB's shares are already on loan, potentially to short sellers of the stock.
Quite why these bearish types have begun to to target SBB - a Nordic property company focused on residential and social infrastructure properties - remains to be seen...
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Sunday, 20 February 2022, 3:57 pm
Aside from The Sunday Times scoop about Clipper Logistics there were a couple of other stories in the British Sunday newspapers that caught Betaville's eye.
One of them was Mark Shapland's piece in the Mail on Sunday about the possibility of Sony Music taking an interest in Audioboom, the Aim-listed podcasting company that has been the subject of a couple of Betaville UNCOOKED Alerts...
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Sunday, 20 February 2022, 3:16 pm
Forget about waiting until Monday morning.
Clipper Logistics has just announced it is minded to recommend a cash and shares offer from US rival GXO Logistics Inc at 920p a share. Presumably The Sunday Times piece nudged both companies into making the announcement today.
Below is the link:..
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Sunday, 20 February 2022, 12:51 am
Hacks over at The Sunday Times have landed a decent takeover tale about a possible takeover of London-listed online goods company Clipper Logistics, which handles orders for retail chains such as John Lewis, Asda and Asos.
According to Oliver Shah and Sam Chambers, both of The Sunday Times, Clipper Logistics has received an offer from a mystery suitor, which is being advised by NM Rothschild. Below is the link:..
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Betaville IntelligenceFriday, 18 February 2022, 2:42 pm
A growing number of advisers have been enlisted to work on a possible takeover of THG ahead of a potential formal offer for the London-listed online retailer.
People following the situation have heard Advent International has appointed consultants from McKinsey & Company to carry out analysis and a due diligence report...
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Thursday, 17 February 2022, 6:49 pm
It would appear there is a campaign on the go to break up Amazon.
First, the venerable Wall Street Journal opines in an editorial piece a week ago that it might be better for Amazon to be split into two. Below is the link:..
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Exclusive to Betaville Intelligence subscribersWednesday, 16 February 2022, 2:42 pm
Betaville IntelligenceTuesday, 15 February 2022, 3:35 pm
Ontex, the Belgian diaper maker, is at the centre of a fresh round of takeover speculation.
People following the situation have heard talk the company could soon be on the receiving end of a takeover approach.
Some people following the situation said the approach could come from Ontex's largest shareholders...
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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].