A cheeky website about deals, dealmakers and anything else I find interesting. Edited by Ben Harrington. If you have a tip or want to discuss a story please feel free to email Betaville at ben@betaville.co.uk.
Huge hat tip to Dan Dunkley, the young M&A reporter over at The Sunday Times, for his story back in May about how Aveva was being circled by potential foreign predators. In case you don't recall, The Sunday Times ran the story on the front page (which means something in itself). Here is a link to the copy:..
Bloomberg has just "broken" the news that Pearson is weighing a £1 billion plus sale of the Pink' un. Here is a link to the Bloomberg exclusive:..
It's a Monday, so I was back on Tip TV talking about deals, dealmakers and, er, a north London football club.
Here is a link to today's clip:
I see Lloyds Banking Group has announced it has set up a "responsible business committee" -..
I try to stay away from chat rooms for day traders as they tend be full of conspiracy theories that are impossible to stand up (for journalists) and lose long-term investors money. But as we slip into the quiet period of the summer I thought I would cast my eye over some of the forums - and low and behold it would appear one reader has actually stumbled across a genuine story...
US pharma group Celgene last night agreed to pay more than $7 billion for Receptos, a biopharmaceutical company...
This (see below) well written interview with Shire chief executive Flemming Ornskov by the Wall Street Journal would appear to reinforce the idea that the FTSE 100-listed group is still on the hunt for a major acquisition - whether it be Actelion, BioMarin or another (US?) rival.....
It's a Monday, so here is the link to today's Tip TV session:
Readers might be scratching their heads, wondering why Teva still hasn't announced a formal offer for rival pharmaceutical company Mylan despite reports from Bloomberg and the Financial Times this week revealing the Israeli company is was preparing to submit a formal offer of between $86 and $88 a share...
Revealed: Private Equity International is on the verge of being sold to - surprise, surprise - a private equity firm...
Most of the London market is likely to be transfixed on the Budget...
Regular viewers of my Tip TV slot will know that I have been working on a story involving London-listed Inmarsat, the satellite network operator.
Well, I haven't managed to completely get to the bottom of the story out but I think I am barking up the right tree, so here is the tale.
Well-placed sources tell me Inmarsat has been working furiously hard on an acquisition of a US-based business, with a view to closing a deal in the next few months...
Bernie Ecclestone, the boss of Formula One, has been echoing some of the points I raised on Friday afternoon in the sports sections of The Times and The Sunday Times this weekend. I wonder whether the octogenarian billionaire is a Betaville reader? ..
I hope US readers had a good holiday weekend. Here is a link to today's Tip TV clip, in which I opine on the the wave of consolidation in the US health insurance market.
http://www.tiptv.co.uk/archives/ma-weekly-update-with-ben-harrington/..
I'm sure many Betaville readers will be watching British Grand Prix this weekend. So, do get in contact if you happen to spot a representative from any of the potential bidders, such as Qatar Sports Investments, circling Formula One in the VIP boxes. A cheeky photo of the Qataris at Silverstone wouldn't go amiss, too...
Stock market punters are up in arms after it emerged some of the spreadbetting firms have begun marking positions in embattled Quindell at just 30p a share...
Apologies for the lack of posts in the last 48 hours - I had to attend a few functions yesterday, including the Henley Royal Regatta. It was a fun event although the return train ride in a carriage whose air conditioning had broken down was not particularly pleasurable. ..
Apologies for the delayed Sunday newspaper review Betavillers - I was away this weekend...
Moose (aka Nick Batsford from Tip TV) and I had a good chat this morning. In case you are interested, here is a link to today's clip:
[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].