Some Burberry clues...

Hat tip to the Financial Times. The newspaper broke a great story yesterday evening about Burberry hiring Robey Warshaw to defend the company after a mystery investor built up a stake in the clothing brand via HSBC. 

Here is the link:

Qataris and Blighty

Wow - the Qataris really have got an affinity for old Blighty!

Qatar Airways has just said it has bought a 9.9pc stake in our very own British Airways, also known as IAG.

Sunday review

Huge hat tip to Oliver Shah over at The Sunday Times for his scoop about Sir Philip Green putting BHS on the market. Here is a link to Oliver's piece:

http://www.thesundaytimes.co.uk/sto/business/Retail_and_leisure/article1510992.ece

Curious

Bloomberg is today reporting that IAG is planning to raise its EURO 1.3 billion offer for Aer Lingus to EURO 2.50 a share. Here is a link to the story: http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2015-01-12/british-airways-owner-iag-said-to-plan-higher-bid-for-aer-lingus.html

That's rather curious as I am sure I wrote late last week that IAG advisers have indicated the owner of British Airways is willing to offer between EURO 2.70 and EURO 2.85 to the Aer Lingus board.

RARE alert kicks off 2015 in style!

I see British Airways owner IAG has finally confirmed my first ever RARE alert, which was published on January 2, 2015.

The owner of British Airways has just said it raised its takeover offer for Irish airline Aer Lingus to EURO 2.40 a share on December 29, 2014. Here is a link: http://www.investegate.co.uk/intl-con-airline-grp--iag-/rns/statement-on-possible-cash-offer-for-aer-lingus/201501091822448405B/

RARE alert: British Airways owner said to have submitted raised Aer Lingus approach - part 3

For those readers following the IAG/Aer Lingus situation, there was more information in this morning's FT Alphaville markets live session. In case you missed it, here is a link:

http://ftalphaville.ft.com/marketslive/2015-01-06/

RARE alert: British Airways owner said to have submitted raised Aer Lingus approach - part 2

I see the Irish Independent is reporting that British Airways owner IAG has submitted a raised indicative offer for Aer Lingus, pitched at between EURO 2.40 a share and EURO 2.60 a share. Here is a link to the Irish Independent's piece: http://www.independent.ie/business/irish/aer-lingus-shares-rise-on-talk-of-renewed-iag-bid-30878537.html

I wonder what prompted the newspaper to write that story?

RARE alert: British Airways owner said to have submitted raised Aer Lingus approach

It's the new year, so I have decided to introduce a new concept to little old Betaville. It's called the "RARE" alert. The boys over at FT Alphaville have got their "RAW", so I am going to have my "RARE".

Readers might ask what is "RARE"? Well, it's market gossip that hasn't been tested through formal journalistic channels (public relations executives, bankers etc). The rumour might be total codswallop but then again there may be something in it, so it's worth airing on Betaville.

It's cheeky bid time

The boys over at FT Alphaville might have knocked off until the New Year but don't worry, little old Betaville will keep on going until 2015.

First, let's address this rather cheeky bid from for Afren from Seplat, which I have to admit I had never heard of until this morning.

Another FT deal scoop

The Financial Times is really on fire at the moment. Following yesterday's scoop about a takeover bid for Lloyd's of London insurer Catlin the venerable newspaper this afternoon broke the story about the owner of British Airways considering a 1.1 billion Euro offer for Aer Lingus. Here is a link to that piece:

http://www.ft.com/cms/s/c6fa70fe-86c1-11e4-8a51-00144feabdc0,Authorised=false.html?_i_location=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ft.com%2Fcms%2Fs%2F0%2Fc6fa70fe-86c1-11e4-8a51-00144feabdc0.html%3Fsiteedition%3Duk&siteedition=uk&_i_referer=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ft.com%2Fhome%2Fuk#axzz3Ltzlu99D