Murdoch in first major UK M&A deal post Brexit with £220 million talkSport buy; Sky next?

Perhaps those (I have to include myself here) predicting a slowdown in UK M&A post Brexit spoke too soon.

News Corp - the publishing company controlled by media tycoon Rupert Murdoch - has just announced it is purchasing Talksport-owner Wireless Group for £220 million. Here is a link to the regulatory news service announcement:

Goldman Sachs tips Sky, Cairn Energy and Zealand Pharma as takeover candidates

I never quite know what to make of a equity research teams' M&A predictions.

Why? Well, investment bank's equity research teams are supposed to have "Chinese walls" but you would have thought it's unlikely a top investment bank would actually let its own equity research analysts predict a deal that its M&A advisory bankers are actually working on.

Is Odey still bearish or turning bullish - part 2

Ping! An email arrives with the latest Odey Asset Management investor letter.

Whilst the fund's overall performance - down about 31pc since the beginning of the year to the middle of April - made headlines a couple of weeks ago in the venerable Financial Times, I can provide a bit of colour about where the old buffer has taken a hit in his flagship Odey European Fund.

Is Odey still bearish or turning bullish?

This time last year, Crispin Odey, the quintessentially British upper class hedge fund manager, hit the headlines when he turned particularly bearish, predicting a global economic downturn that will be "remembered in a hundred years" and leave stock markets facing devastation.

But it appears the charismatic Odey is - potentially - changing his tune. Well, at least with regards to the US economy in the short term.

Weekend review on Sky, Home Retail Group, J Sainsbury, Slater & Gordon, Royal Dutch Shell and BG Group.

There is plenty to reflect on in the British business press this weekend.

First off, I note that the Financial Times has done a reverse ferret of its position on whether wiley old Rupert Murdoch will have another run at Sky.

Back on Tip TV talking about 21st Century Fox, Sky, Home Retail Group, Relypsa and Time Warner

Moose and Zak teamed up this week to interview me on the M&A market. Here is a link today's show:

http://www.tiptv.co.uk/finance/ma-update-speculation-surrounding-home-retail-group-corporate-activity-from-21st-century-fox-possible/

Sky's the limit - part 2

A lot has been made of the quote that James Murdoch gave to the Hollywood Reporter a few months ago.

Indeed, the quote appears to have triggered banker gossip - highlighted by the Financial Times yesterday - that perhaps the Murdochs/Fox are sellers of the 40pc stake in Sky.

Sky's the limit

Here's an interesting piece from FT hack Matthew Garrahan:

http://www.ft.com/cms/s/e3f8dd10-99a0-11e5-9228-87e603d47bdc,Authorised=false.html?siteedition=uk&_i_location=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ft.com%2Fcms%2Fs%2F0%2Fe3f8dd10-99a0-11e5-9228-87e603d47bdc.html%3Fsiteedition%3Duk&_i_referer=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.google.co.uk%2F6666cd76f96956469e7be39d750cc7d9&classification=conditional_standard&iab=barrier-app#axzz3t430nWgs

Commentariat raise doubts over Formula One "vanity buyers"

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.

Or, perhaps the Qataris won't turn up after being outed in the Financial Times last week as potential suitor for Formula One by teaming up with American sports and property tycoon Stephen Ross, owner of the Miami Dolphins? The Qataris and Ross were reported to be willing to pay between $7billion and $8 billion for Formula One.

Enders predicts Murdoch may bid for Sky, again...

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.

Anyway, I see that while I took a day off to enjoy a quintessentially British day out in Sahara-like conditions Enders Analysis, founded by Claire Enders, has been talking up the prospects of Rupert Murdoch's 21st Century Fox having another crack at Sky.

Sunday review on a Tuesday

Apologies for the delayed Sunday newspaper review Betavillers - I was away this weekend.

Anyway, I see that The Sunday Times business section was once again packed with several juicy deal-related scoops, including Oliver Shah's piece on Grainger and Crystal Amber, which was confirmed yesterday by the property company.

Back on Tip TV talking about Grainger, Sky and Severn Trent

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:

http://www.tiptv.co.uk/archives/ma-weekly-update-2/

Back on Tip TV talking about Quindell, BP, BioMarin and Sky

Zak invited back onto Tip TV today. Here is a link to today's session:

http://www.tiptv.co.uk/archives/weekly-ma-update/