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.
So, Mark "the Kleinmanator" Kleinman just dug out a decent line about Blackstone teaming up with Bill Gates's fund to launching a joint £3.5 billion takeover bid for Signature Aviation. Below is a link to Mark's scoop with all the gory detail:
https://news.sky.com/story/bill-gates-and-blackstone-team-up-for-3-5bn-signature-bid-12181809..
Signature Aviation, the London-listed aviation services group, is said to have attracted a "third bidder".
Last month, Signature Aviation confirmed Betaville's intelligence alert about the possibility of takeover interest by disclosing both Blackstone and Global Infrastructure Partners, the owner of Edinburgh airport, had made approaches for the company...
Lantronix, the US-listed 'internet of things' designer, is said to have teamed up with a financial sponsor with a view to submitting a fresh takeover approach for Aim-listed rival Telit Communications.
People following the situation said Lantronix and its advisers recently indicated it could be willing to offer up to 220p a share in cash for Telit to the company and its advisers at NM Rothschild...
The British daily newspapers have finally cottoned on to the story about Marks & Spencer trying to buy ailing fashion brand Jaeger after Mark, "Kleinmanator", Kleinman of Sky News "revealed" last night a deal could be announced as early as this week.
Below is a link to the "Kleinmanator" piece's piece and follow up in the daily press...
We are only into the second full trading of the year but scribblers at Citigroup are quick out the blocks with their prediction that easyJet will have to carry out another equity issue, most likely in the second quarter of this year...
The confirmations keep on coming for little old Betaville.
This morning FTSE 100-listed Ferguson announced it has struck a deal to sell plumbing merchant Wolseley to Clayton Dubilier & Rice, whose advisers include Sir Terry Leahy, for just over £300 million. Below is the link to the Ferguson statement:..
So, Entain has been forced to confirm it has received a takeover approach from MGM Resorts at £13.83 a share, valuing the business at just over £8 billion. Below is a link:
The London market hasn't even yet opened for its first full day of trading of the New Year but already there is fresh multi-billion bid on the table.
The Wall Street Journal is reporting that MGM has submitted a $10 billion takeover approach for Entain, which was formerly known as GVC and owns the bookeeper Ladbrokes. Below is the link:..
Scribblers at Quest are tipping ITV and housebuilder Crest Nicholson as takeover targets for private equity as part of a 'gold rush' period for buy-out firms looking to pick up oversold bargains from the London market.
Yes, you read that right - ITV. Below is a link to The Times piece highlighting Quest's research...
It's that time of the year when the data providers release their deals data and, er, business journalists construct stories out of the information.
So, Reuters are running the line that "global M&A activity fell to a 3-year low in 2020" amid the pandemic. Below is the link:..
It took fourteen stories but Betaville got there in the end.
Yes, Acadia Healthcare, the US-listed healthcare firm, has finally confirmed the Betaville Intelligence series of articles about the sale of the Priory, including the last installment about Waterland and Median Kliniken's interest in purchasing the rehabilitation centre well known for treating celebrities, such as Kate Moss...
Apologies for the lack posts in the last few days but I have had a few days off.
Anyway, it appears that while I was enjoying some scrumptious food and delicious wine Vista Equity Partner's $3.5 billion takoever of Pluralsight, the US-listed educational software maker, has come under threat with several major shareholders objecting to the private equity firm's $20.26 a share offer...
I see Marston's today announced it has rescued 1300 jobs by striking a deal to take on the leases of more than 150 Brains pubs in South Wales for no consideration.
Below is a link to a piece about the transaction by my former Telegraph colleague, Ben Martin, now of The Times:..
STMicroelectronics NV, the Switzerland-based electronics and semiconductor manufacturer, is back in focus amid a fresh round of speculation it could soon be involved in a significant M&A transaction.
The precise nature of the transaction isn't clear but a deal may be "imminent", said these people following the situation.
Some people following the situation have heard rumours STMicroelectronics might in fact be a takeover target...
So, online fashion group Boohoo Group finally announced its new auditor - PKF Littlejohn LLP.
Perhaps that's what all the fuss was about a few weeks ago, which prompted Betaville to publish an UNCOOKED ALERT regarding the vague speculation? See the link below:
https://www.www.betaville.co.uk/betaville-intelligence/uncooked-alert-boohoo-group-said-to/..
The deal confirmations are coming thick and fast despite the uncertainty.
Indeed, you might recall that little old Betaville published an UNCOOKED Alert on Aerojet Rocketdyne Holdings Inc - the US-listed the US-listed aerospace, defence and real estate company - just over ten days ago. Below is the link:..
Payment companies are in the headlines this Sunday but not necessarily for similar reasons...
[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].