Scott Bessent: A Key Pick for U.S. Treasury Secretarysyahrir maulana This article renews the Hold rating of my latest review of OUSM of July 2023, in light of current portfolio and updated data. OUSM strategy O’Shares U.S. Small Cap Quality Dividend ETF ( BATS: OUSM ) was launched on Quantitative Risk & Value (QRV) provides you with risk indicators and data-driven, time-tested strategies. Get started with a two-week free trial now. Fred Piard, PhD. is a quantitative analyst and IT professional with over 30 years of experience working in technology. He is the author of three books and has been investing in data-driven systematic strategies since 2010. Quantitative Risk & Value Learn more Analyst’s Disclosure: I/we have no stock, option or similar derivative position in any of the companies mentioned, and no plans to initiate any such positions within the next 72 hours. I wrote this article myself, and it expresses my own opinions. I am not receiving compensation for it (other than from Seeking Alpha). I have no business relationship with any company whose stock is mentioned in this article. Seeking Alpha's Disclosure: Past performance is no guarantee of future results. No recommendation or advice is being given as to whether any investment is suitable for a particular investor. Any views or opinions expressed above may not reflect those of Seeking Alpha as a whole. Seeking Alpha is not a licensed securities dealer, broker or US investment adviser or investment bank. Our analysts are third party authors that include both professional investors and individual investors who may not be licensed or certified by any institute or regulatory body.
At 2-12 entering play Friday night, the Philadelphia 76ers are one of the worst teams in the NBA and their aspirations of a championship seem to be dissipating by the day. The 76ers, of course, aren't out of the Eastern Conference playoff picture with 68 games left in the regular season. The top six finishers in each conference make the playoffs, with the play-in reserved for the seventh through 10th seeds. The Atlanta Hawks currently hold down the sixth spot in the East at 7-9. Even with a favorable conference set-up, the reality is this season can really get off track if the Sixers aren't careful. Simply put, they must string wins together — and fast. A look at the next couple of weeks shows games one would believe are winnable against the Brooklyn Nets (6-9), Charlotte Hornets (6-9) and Detroit Pistons (7-10). But considering the drama off the court with the recent team meeting and the on-court struggles, this team hasn't earned the benefit of the doubt when projecting wins. In a perfect world, the team must hope that once healthy, the trio of Joel Embiid, Paul George and Tyrese Maxey will elevate Philadelphia among the league's elite. But that vision is blurred at the moment. Embiid's left knee still doesn't seem to be right and George will miss at least the next two games after hyperextending his left knee in a loss to the Memphis Grizzlies on Wednesday. This is the same injury he had in the preseason. Oh, and Maxey is just returning from a hamstring injury after missing six games, so he must find his rhythm again. Nobody knows when this Big Three will have a chance to build chemistry. There's also the matter of supporting pieces, or lack thereof. Jared McCain (15.6 PPG) has been a pleasant surprise and is a great building piece for the future, but he's still just a rookie. It's also fair to ask if 38-year-old Kyle Lowry and 35-year-old Eric Gordon should be playing legit minutes on a team with championship aspirations in 2024? This roster has proved it's not good enough to survive Embiid not playing in back-to-backs and absences from George and Maxey. Yes, the All-Star level talent makes it hard to totally put the Sixers on ice for the season, but sometimes logic is the best guide to projecting future outcomes. Logic says they aren't a cohesive unit. Logic says their best player (Embiid) can't be relied on consistently to be healthy. Logic says their big signing (George) is old (34) and can't carry the heavy load when Embiid is out. Logic also says the 76ers can't expect the young backcourt of Maxey and McCain to hold it down when the aforementioned are out. Can things get better? Sure, but there's another reality the Sixers have to face: Philadelphia can't afford to take games in November and December for granted. If the team isn't careful, it will go from championship contender to a spot among the league's basement dwellers. Through 14 games, they Sixers are much closer to the latter.Lincoln County commissioners to consider District Court Clerk applicationsWater Detection Sensors Market to Exhibit a Remarkable CAGR of 6.9% by 2028, Size, Share, Trends, Key Drivers, Demand, Opportunity Analysis and Competitive Outlook 12-13-2024 10:26 PM CET | Advertising, Media Consulting, Marketing Research Press release from: Data Bridge Market Research The water detection sensors market is expected to gain market growth in the forecast period of 2021 to 2028. Data Bridge Market Research analyses that the market is growing with the CAGR of 6.9% in the forecast period of 2021 to 2028 and is expected to reach USD 2,006.64 million by 2028. Water detection sensors are mainly used for two purposes: the first being detection of water that may be leaked from the water pipes and the second being the measuring of water quality for drinking, wastewater or ground water. These sensors can detect the water as soon as the water comes in contact with these sensors. They generally use the cable for detecting the presence of water and are place in an area where the pipes are running. Browse More About This Research Report @ https://www.databridgemarketresearch.com/reports/global-water-detection-sensors-market Some of the major players operating in the water detection sensors market report are The Detection Group, Inc., Dwyer Instruments LTD., Campbell Scientific, Inc., TTK - Leak Detection System, Emerson Electric Co., HORIBA, Ltd., CMR Electrical, Endress+Hauser Group Services AG, Insteon, FIBAR GROUP S.A., Gems Sensors, Inc. (a subsidiary of Fortive), Hermann Sewerin GmbH, RIKO Float Technology co., ltd., Danaher, Libelium Comunicaciones Distribuidas S.L., TE Connectivity, Ijinus, Waxman, Lumi United Technology Co., Ltd., Sontay Ltd. among others. Competitive Landscape and Water Detection Sensors Market Share Analysis : The water detection sensors market competitive landscape provides details by competitor. Details included are company overview, company financials, revenue generated, market potential, investment in research and development, new market initiatives, global presence, production sites and facilities, company strengths and weaknesses, product launch, clinical trials pipelines, brand analysis, product approvals, patents, product width and breadth, application dominance, technology lifeline curve. The above data points provided are only related to the companies' focus related to global water detection sensors market. Browse Trending Reports: https://dbmr064rs.blogspot.com/2024/11/smart-stethoscope-market-trends.html https://dbmr064rs.blogspot.com/2024/11/hearth-market-insights-and-growth.html https://dbmr064rs.blogspot.com/2024/11/snow-sports-apparel-market-trends.html https://dbmr064rs.blogspot.com/2024/11/organic-seed-market-trends-forecast-and.html About Data Bridge Market Research: An absolute way to predict what the future holds is to understand the current trend! Data Bridge Market Research presented itself as an unconventional and neoteric market research and consulting firm with an unparalleled level of resilience and integrated approaches. We are committed to uncovering the best market opportunities and nurturing effective information for your business to thrive in the marketplace. Data Bridge strives to provide appropriate solutions to complex business challenges and initiates an effortless decision-making process. Data Bridge is a set of pure wisdom and experience that was formulated and framed in 2015 in Pune. Contact Us: - Data Bridge Market Research US: +1 614 591 3140 UK: +44 845 154 9652 APAC: +653 1251 1177 Email: - sopan.gedam@databridgemarketresearch.com This release was published on openPR.
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Mumbai, Dec 23 (PTI) Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis on Monday launched the trailer of a Marathi movie "Sangeet Manapman", based on an iconic play by the same name, and likened the prevailing political situation in the state to the film's title. "Manapman" in Marathi means honour/dishonour. "I have just come here after expanding the ministry, allotting portfolios, offices and bungalows to the new ministers. We, too, have our own "maan apman" , and its music reverberates in public," he remarked at the event. The BJP-led Mahayuti alliance won a landslide victory in the November 20 elections. Fadnavis took oath as CM on December 5 in Mumbai, expanded his ministry ten days later on December 15 in Nagpur and allocated portfolios a week later. On Monday, ministerial cabins at the state secretariat in south Mumbai and government bungalows were allocated. Alluding to his political journey in the last few years, Fadnavis praised the lead actor Subodh Bhave, saying "You have the unique distinction of playing Bhamini and now Dhairyadhar. Similarly, I, too, sometimes have to be CM, then LoP (Leader of Opposition), then deputy CM and CM again." Bhamini and Dhairyadhar are the lead characters in the Marathi movie, which will hit theatres on January 10. Incidentally, Bhave (who has also directed the upcoming film) had essayed the character of famous Marathi singer and stage actor Balgandharva in his eponymous biopic in 2011. One of the characters immortalized by Balgandharva was "Bhamini". Now, the actor is playing Dhairyadhar in "Sangeet Manapman". Fadnavis said "Sangeet Manapman' will re-invent classical Marathi art and music. The Centre recently conferred classical language status on Marathi, recognizing its significant cultural importance. Marathi music and musical theatre have long held a valuable place in the literary journey of culture. It is essential to present this rich tradition of art and music to the new generation in a modern form, the CM emphasised. The film "Sangeet Manapman" is a remarkable effort to preserve classical Marathi art and music, Fadnavis noted. The CM highlighted the significance of films in promoting Marathi art and music for the modern generation. The event was graced by film personalities Nivedita Saraf, Bhave, Sumeet Raghavan, Vaidehi Parashurami and Amruta Khanvilkar, among others. Fadnavis said the play 'Sangeet Manapman' has been captivating Marathi hearts for the past 113 years. It is truly delightful to see this timeless play in a new form through the upcoming film. The beauty of musical compositions from the play will reach the younger generation through the movie, he averred. Fadnavis assured efforts would be made by his government to ensure Marathi art and artists receive proper platform in the future. (This story has not been edited by THE WEEK and is auto-generated from PTI)
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Lyric is making waves in the warehousing industry by addressing key challenges with its innovative smart solutions. These solutions are tailored to improve efficiency and reduce costs, dramatically reshaping warehousing operations for businesses worldwide. With projects in smart logistics and intelligent warehousing exceeding a delivery value of 2 billion yuan, Lyric is at the forefront of revolutionizing enterprise warehousing models. The company's innovative approach includes the use of autonomous mobile robots, enhancing efficiency and adaptability in warehouse settings. Highlighting its prowess in hardware, Lyric offers a comprehensive range of independently developed automated warehousing equipment. This includes stacker cranes and autonomous robots utilizing advanced technology, optimizing space utilization and handling materials efficiently in complex, three-dimensional storage environments. (With inputs from agencies.)S hocking homelessness figures, showing that primary‐school children are the worst-affected age group in England, are a reminder of how gravely Conservative housing policies failed – and how desperately change is needed. In London, which has the highest homelessness rate , one in 24 pupils are in temporary accommodation – at least one in every classroom and more in poorer boroughs. Rough sleeping has also risen, bringing increased risks during cold winter nights. The recent increase in funding for councils, to help them fulfil their homelessness prevention duties, was welcomed by campaigners. But with charity budgets squeezed harder than ever , and with a national insurance rise for employers on the way, there is a real danger that housing problems for the most vulnerable members of society could get worse rather than better. That 354,000 people in England are officially homeless is a moral outrage. To lack a home is to be without one of the most basic necessities for living. The effect of such chronic insecurity extends beyond the immediate problems it causes (such as overcrowding, disruption of education and lack of privacy in hostels). Housing also affects health and wider life chances. In an article published on Sunday, the poet Jay Bernard said that regret is the legacy of years spent living in precarious conditions – along with heightened recognition of the class differences that grant some people protection. After many delays, the renters’ rights bill will strengthen the hands of private tenants in dealings with landlords. No-fault evictions are, finally, being outlawed. Belatedly, the government has accepted that the weakly regulated residential property market has been a disaster for too many tenants, while enabling landlords to treat other people’s homes as financial assets. Loopholes remain to be closed as the bill makes its way through parliament. Unless rules limiting in-tenancy rent rises are put in place, such hikes are all but certain to be used in place of eviction notices, to remove tenants when landlords believe that they can make more money by replacing them. The housing charity Shelter, along with trade unions and others, are pushing for a number of changes that would make such actions harder. Two amendments proposed by the Labour MP Paula Barker, limiting rent rises and strengthening the national register of landlords, ought to be supported by MPs. Ministers have ambitious plans for housebuilding – which is essential to enable young people without inherited wealth to become homeowners. Initial targets are likely to be missed, due in part to the lack of a suitable workforce , and ministers need to address this urgently. If homelessness is to be reduced, they must also be robust in prioritising the needs of social renters. Developers must not be allowed to prioritise so-called luxury properties over the less profitable but still high-quality homes that people with lower incomes need. It is hard to quantify the extent to which housing insecurity has contributed to chronic and mental poor health. But there is no question that there are links . Homelessness is harmful – as pretty much everyone instinctively knows. Civil society efforts to alleviate the suffering it causes should be championed. But charities cannot solve this issue on their own. It is for ministers to put pressure on developers and landlords. Homeless people sometimes have other problems, too, but what the vast majority need more than anything else is an affordable home.
Susan Redline, MD, MPH, Selected as Editor-in-Chief of Sleep Health: Journal of the National Sleep FoundationJACKSON, Miss. (AP) — Clarke Reed , a Mississippi businessman who developed the Republican Party in his home state and across the South starting in the 1960s, died Sunday at his home in Greenville, Mississippi. He was 96. Reed was chairman of the Mississippi Republican Party from 1966 to 1976, beginning at a time when Democrats still dominated in the region. During the 1976 Republican National Convention, delegates were closely divided between President Gerald Ford and former California Gov. Ronald Reagan. Reed united the Mississippi delegation behind Ford — a move that created a decadeslong feud with William D. “Billy” Mounger, another wealthy businessman who was prominent in the Mississippi Republican Party. Reed recalled in a 2016 interview with The Associated Press that delegates faced considerable pressure. Movie stars visited Mississippi's 30 delegates to push for Reagan, and Betty Ford called on behalf of her husband. Reagan met twice with the Mississippi delegation — once with his proposed running mate, Pennsylvania Sen. Richard Schweiker — and once without, according Haley Barbour, who was executive director of the Mississippi Republican Party in 1976 and served as the state's governor from 2004 to 2012. “Everybody was coming to see us," Reed said. “These poor people had never seen this before, the average delegate.” Mississippi delegates were showing the stress at a meeting away from the convention floor in Kansas City, Reed said. “I looked out, and about half of them were crying," he said. Reed initially supported Reagan, but said he moved into the Ford camp because he thought Reagan made “a hell of a mistake” by choosing a more liberal northeastern running mate in a gambit to win support of the unpledged Pennsylvania delegation. “In my opinion, Reagan was the best president of my lifetime. I didn’t know that then,” Reed said in 2016. “And had he been elected with Schweiker, he might’ve gotten a bullet one inch over and Schweiker would’ve been president.” Ford won the party nomination during the convention, then lost the general election to Jimmy Carter, the Democratic former governor of Georgia. Reed was born in Alliance, Ohio, in 1928, and his family moved to Caruthersville, Missouri, when he was about six months old. He earned a business degree from the University of Missouri in 1950. He and Barthell Joseph, a friend he had met at a high school boarding school, founded an agriculture equipment business called Reed-Joseph International, which used technology to scare birds away from farms and airports. Republican U.S. Sen. Roger Wicker of Mississippi said Monday that Reed was “a mentor, supporter and advisor to me for over 56 years." Wicker said he was 21 when Reed put him on the Republican Platform Committee in 1972. “There is no more significant figure in the development of the modern day Mississippi Republican Party than Clarke Reed,” Wicker wrote on social media. “Our state has lost a giant."
By MIKE CATALINI CHATHAM, N.J. (AP) — That buzzing coming out of New Jersey? It’s unclear if it’s drones or something else, but for sure the nighttime sightings are producing tons of talk, a raft of conspiracy theories and craned necks looking skyward. Cropping up on local news and social media sites around Thanksgiving, the saga of the drones reported over New Jersey has reached incredible heights. This week seems to have begun a new, higher-profile chapter: Lawmakers are demanding (but so far not getting) explanations from federal and state authorities about what’s behind them. Gov. Phil Murphy wrote to President Joe Biden asking for answers. New Jersey’s new senator, Andy Kim, spent Thursday night on a drone hunt in rural northern New Jersey, and posted about it on X. But perhaps the most fantastic development is the dizzying proliferation of conspiracies — none of which has been confirmed or suggested by federal and state officials who say they’re looking into what’s happening. It has become shorthand to refer to the flying machines as drones, but there are questions about whether what people are seeing are unmanned aircraft or something else. Some theorize the drones came from an Iranian mothership. Others think they are the Secret Service making sure President-elect Donald Trump’s Bedminster property is secure. Others worry about China. The deep state. And on. In the face of uncertainty, people have done what they do in 2024: Create a social media group. The Facebook page, New Jersey Mystery Drones — let’s solve it , has nearly 44,000 members, up from 39,000 late Thursday. People are posting their photo and video sightings, and the online commenters take it from there. One video shows a whitish light flying in a darkened sky, and one commenter concludes it’s otherworldly. “Straight up orbs,” the person says. Others weigh in to say it’s a plane or maybe a satellite. Another group called for hunting the drones literally, shooting them down like turkeys. (Do not shoot at anything in the sky, experts warn.) Trisha Bushey, 48, of Lebanon Township, New Jersey, lives near Round Valley Reservoir where there have been numerous sightings. She said she first posted photos online last month wondering what the objects were and became convinced they were drones when she saw how they moved and when her son showed her on a flight tracking site that no planes were around. Now she’s glued to the Mystery Drones page, she said. “I find myself — instead of Christmas shopping or cleaning my house — checking it,” she said. She doesn’t buy what the governor said, that the drones aren’t a risk to public safety. Murphy told Biden on Friday that residents need answers. The federal Homeland Security Department and FBI also said in a joint statement they have no evidence that the sightings pose “a national security or public safety threat or have a foreign nexus.” “How can you say it’s not posing a threat if you don’t know what it is?” she said. “I think that’s why so many people are uneasy.” Then there’s the notion that people could misunderstand what they’re seeing. William Austin is the president of Warren County Community College, which has a drone technology degree program, and is coincidentally located in one of the sighting hotspots. Austin says he has looked at videos of purported drones and that airplanes are being misidentified as drones. He cited an optical effect called parallax, which is the apparent shift of an object when viewed from different perspectives. Austin encouraged people to download flight and drone tracker apps so they can better understand what they’re looking at. Nonetheless, people continue to come up with their own theories. “It represents the United States of America in 2024,” Austin said. “We’ve lost trust in our institutions, and we need it.” Federal officials echo Austin’s view that many of the sightings are piloted aircraft such as planes and helicopters being mistaken for drones, according to lawmakers and Murphy. That’s not really convincing for many, though, who are homing in on the sightings beyond just New Jersey and the East Coast, where others have reported seeing the objects. For Seph Divine, 34, another member of the drone hunting group who lives in Eugene, Oregon, it feels as if it’s up to citizen sleuths to solve the mystery. He said he tries to be a voice of reason, encouraging people to fact check their information, while also asking probing questions. “My main goal is I don’t want people to be caught up in the hysteria and I also want people to not just ignore it at the same time,” he said. “Whether or not it’s foreign military or some secret access program or something otherworldly, whatever it is, all I’m saying is it’s alarming that this is happening so suddenly and so consistently for hours at a time,” he added. Associated Press reporter Hallie Golden in Seattle contributed to this report.A federal appeals court panel unanimously upheld a law Friday that could lead to a ban on TikTok in a few short weeks, handing a resounding defeat to the popular social media platform as it fights for its survival in the U.S. The U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit denied TikTok’s petition to overturn the law — which requires TikTok to break ties with its China-based parent company, ByteDance, or be banned by mid-January — and rebuffed the company’s challenge of the statute, which it argued ran afoul of the First Amendment. “The First Amendment exists to protect free speech in the United States,” said the court’s opinion, which was written by Judge Douglas Ginsburg. “Here the Government acted solely to protect that freedom from a foreign adversary nation and to limit that adversary’s ability to gather data on people in the United States.” TikTok and ByteDance — another plaintiff in the lawsuit — are expected to appeal to the Supreme Court, though it’s unclear whether the court will take up the case. “The Supreme Court has an established historical record of protecting Americans’ right to free speech, and we expect they will do just that on this important constitutional issue,” TikTok spokesperson Michael Hughes said in a statement. Though the case is squarely in the court system, it’s also possible the two companies might be thrown some sort of a lifeline by President-elect Donald Trump, who tried to ban TikTok during his first term but said during the presidential campaign that he is now against such action. The law, signed by President Joe Biden in April, was the culmination of a yearslong saga in Washington over the short-form video-sharing app, which the government sees as a national security threat due to its connections to China. The U.S. says it’s concerned about TikTok collecting vast swaths of user data that could fall into the hands of the Chinese government through coercion. Officials also warned the proprietary algorithm that fuels what users see on the app is vulnerable to manipulation by Chinese authorities, who can use it to shape content on the platform in a way that’s difficult to detect. TikTok, which sued the government over the law in May, has long denied it could be used by Beijing to spy on or manipulate Americans. Its attorneys have accurately pointed out that the U.S. hasn’t provided evidence to show that the company handed over user data to the Chinese government, or manipulated content for Beijing’s benefit in the U.S. Get local news delivered to your inbox!New French government named after previous one collapsed in budget fight
FORT WORTH, Texas, Dec. 13, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- CorVel Corporation (NASDAQ: CRVL) announces that its Board of Directors approved a three-for-one forward stock split of its common stock. The Board also approved a proportionate increase in the number of authorized shares of common stock to accommodate the stock split. The Board did not approve an increase in the number of authorized shares of preferred stock. The implementation of the stock split and authorized share increase is subject to the filing of an amendment to the Company's Fourth Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation with the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware, which the Company expects to file on December 24, 2024. "Our stock price has seen extraordinary growth over the past several years fueled by our strong financial performance and the successful execution of our strategic plan. We believe it is the right time to effect a forward stock split to increase the accessibility of our stock to potential investors while maintaining our focus on delivering our customers enhanced technological solutions for the management of their healthcare needs,” said Michael G. Combs, the Company's President, Chief Executive Officer and Chairman of the Board. Following the filing and effectiveness of the amendment, every one share of common stock outstanding or held in treasury on December 23, 2024, the record date for the stock split, will be split into three shares of common stock. Subject to final approval by the Nasdaq Global Select Market, trading is currently expected to begin on a post-stock split adjusted basis at market open on December 26, 2024. Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements This Press Release contains "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the safe harbor provisions of the U.S. Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, which statements are subject to considerable risks and uncertainties. Forward-looking statements include all statements other than statements of historical fact contained in this Press Release, including statements regarding the implementation and timing of the stock split and authorized share increase, and the timing of trading on a post-stock split basis. Forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks and uncertainties that may cause our actual results to differ materially and adversely from those expressed, assumed, or implied by the forward-looking statements. Some of the risks and uncertainties that may cause actual results to materially differ from those expressed or implied by these forward-looking statements are described in the section entitled "Risk Factors” in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2024, as well as in our Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q and other filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Any forward-looking statement made in this press release is based only on information currently available to the Company and speaks only as of the date on which it is made. Except as required by applicable law or the listing rules of the Nasdaq Global Select Market, the Company expressly disclaims any intent or obligation to update any forward-looking statements, or to update the reasons actual results could differ materially from those expressed or implied by these forward-looking statements, whether to conform such statements to actual results or changes in expectations, or as a result of the availability of new information. Contact: Melissa Storan Phone: 949-851-1473 www.corvel.com
How you can cash in on DEAL MANIA By ANNE ASHWORTH Updated: 21:50, 6 December 2024 e-mail View comments An astonishing £52billion worth of UK-listed businesses have succumbed to bids or mergers in 2024, in a feeding frenzy of deals that provokes concern – but also indicates an opportunity. The shrinking of our stock market is bad news for the economy – the pace of departures is the fastest for a decade. But the payback for investors from takeover mania can be gratifying, suggesting that British shares are worth a bet now. So, enough of Black Friday and its often-so-so bargains. Is this the area where you could make a mint, especially given this week's forecast from the Swiss fund management group Pictet that the UK market could be less adversely affected than the rest of Europe by the Trump administration's tariffs policy? Trade buyers and US private equity groups are eager to indulge their appetite for businesses that appear irresistibly cheap and may not stay that way. The 45 companies that have been swallowed up include the packaging company DS Smith, cybersecurity group Darktrace, the financial platform Hargreaves Lansdown and the bank Virgin Money. Done deal: An astonishing £52billion worth of UK-listed businesses have succumbed to bids or mergers in 2024 Carlsberg's £3.3billion purchase of Britvic is being investigated by the Competition and Markets Authority watchdog. But the year's most controversial transaction is Czech billionaire Daniel Kretinsky's campaign to seize control of the Royal Mail owner IDS in a £3.6billion deal. Why is UK plc so alluring to predators? Ian Lance and Nick Purves, managers of the Temple Bar investment trust, say that shares have been ground down by short-term pessimism – and by UK pension funds preferring to put money into the US and other markets. So enticing are the bargains that have been produced that would-be bidders are not putting their plans on hold for Christmas. The 'takeover juggernaut keeps on trucking', in the words of Dan Coatsworth, analyst at broker AJ Bell, with a spate of offers for household names and more obscure firms in past days. Yesterday, the insurer Aviva moved closer to winning control of embattled rival Direct Line with a £3.6billion offer. The combined group will control one-fifth of the motor insurance market. The rumoured interest from several parties in ITV could turn into a tense drama, amid the perception that there is 'trapped value' in its studios arm which delivers shows as diverse as Love Island and Coronation Street. Also, the success of ITV X, its streaming service, has confounded expectations. The belief that the takeover talk could now be credible has led one analyst to speculate that ITV could be worth £4.5billion, against its current market capitalisation of £2.7billion. Suitors are also lining up for smaller enterprises. The Australian asset manager Macquarie has offered £700m offer for Renewi, the London-listed Belgian waste disposal business. RELATED ARTICLES Previous 1 Next Wealth preservation trusts can protect you and turn a profit... Can fund managers bounce back from a bad run, or is your... Share this article Share HOW THIS IS MONEY CAN HELP How to choose the best (and cheapest) stocks and shares Isa and the right DIY investing account Meanwhile, the FTSE 250 engineering firm TI Fluid Systems is to be acquired for £1billion by a Canadian competitor ABC Technologies, which is owned by the £250billion US private equity giant Apollo Global Management. It has also been revealed that the AIM-listed gold mining company Metals Exploration is snapping up Condor Gold for about £67.5m. Metals Exploration is backed by the investment vehicle of Nick Candy, the property developer famous for the One Hyde Park super-luxe apartment scheme in Knightsbridge, and his marriage to actress and singer Holly Valance. If you are checking your portfolio for exposure to this spending spree through individual stocks, funds and trusts, be aware that a bid approach may not culminate in an investor bounty. Lance and Purves point out that two holdings in their trust's portfolio – Anglo American and Currys – have fended off attempts to curtail their independence. Currys argued that a £757m offer from US activist investor Elliott Partners was far too low. A fair contention, it seems, since the share price of the electrical retailer is now 73 per cent higher than a year ago. There is also mounting disquiet among fund managers over what they see as the paltry sums being paid by predators – which should also raise the ire of private investors. There is particular dismay over one business. The cafe bar company Loungers is to be bought for £338m by New York private equity player Fortress, whose past UK acquisitions include Curzon Cinemas, Majestic Wines, Poundstretcher stores and Punch pubs. Axa Investment Managers is just one of the shareholders who are unhappy. Nick Hawthorn, manager of the Downing Strategic Multi-cap fund, argues that the 310p-a-share being paid by Fortress represents a 'derisory 30 per cent premium' on the Loungers share price, which was hard hit by the Budget's employer National Insurance raid and other measures. Loungers disputes these claims. Yet they should serve as an alert to anyone who wants to make the most of bid and merger mania but who does not want to be short-changed. This is our guide: Where to invest Cashing in: Nick Candy and wife Holly Valance So attractive are the valuations of UK shares at present that some analysts argue that 'everything is for sale'. This assessment may be an exaggeration. Yet it will heighten the focus on names whose shares have fallen in past months such as the convenience store chain B&M, the drinks group Diageo and the bank Schroders – its price is down by 27 per cent this year. US buyout company Advent is, reportedly, poised to pounce on Tate & Lyle, the flavourings group. Since it is difficult to tell whether such reports are speculation or fact, it may be wise to put some cash into a UK trust or fund gives you a stake in the action – and a chance for future appreciation. Suitable choices include Fidelity Special Situations, Fidelity Special Values, Jupiter UK Dynamic and Temple Bar – which is my pick. Trusts that could pay dividends There has already been a large amount of consolidation in the investment trust sector. The Alliance and Witan trusts got together to form Alliance Witan which joined the FTSE 100 this week. If you are ready for adventure, James Carthew of QuotedData suggests renewable energy trusts, such as Bluefield Solar, Greencoat Renewables or NextEnergy Solar. Some of their share prices are at a discount of 30 per cent to the net asset value (NAV), making them a possibly enticing target. Greencoat also provides a 7.8 per cent dividend yield – some consolation if a predator fails to appear on the scene. Have your cake and eat it, too Ben Yearsley of Fairview Investing is not a fan of investing in a share simply because a bid could appear. He says: 'I tell my clients that you should buy what you normally buy, based on the company's credentials and prospects.' If a bid materialises, this is the icing on the cake. He continues: 'Standard Chartered has been the subject of takeover rumours for about three years. None has materialised. 'If you invested three years ago, believing this to be a bank that could make a comeback, you would have been rewarded with a share price rise of 126 per cent and enjoyed dividends along the way. What's more, the share price could advance by a further 20-30 per cent.' Don't rely on a bid The luxury goods industry is set for consolidation, its Asian clientele having become reluctant to spend. But companies seeking to make acquisitions in this sector can prefer a brand that is on its way to revival, rather than starting on the journey. This means holders of the iconic British fashion house Burberry (like me) may need to be forbearing as it tries to retain its style credentials through ads featuring Oscar-winning actress Olivia Colman, Chelsea and England footballer Cole Palmer, and Alex Hassell and David Tennant, stars of Disney+ series Rivals. For the moment, the handbag maker Mulberry has evaded the clutches of Fraser founder Mike Ashley. Yet close attention will be paid to the success of boss Andrea Baldo's drive to remodel the business. 'Watch and wait' should be your motto. What to do in the case of a bid It is tempting to be dazzled by an offer for a company in which you hold shares, especially if it is pitched at 20-30 per cent above the share price. But the offer may not necessarily reflect the company's prospects. Most bids are cash only. But if there is a mix of cash and shares, you have to weigh up whether you consider the bidder worth backing. If you hold your shares through a platform, you will receive information about the bid and be able to sell your shares without a fee if the offer is approved by the company's board and so become official. If the shares trade at about the level of the bid, it may be worth selling before this time in case the deal is derailed. DIY INVESTING PLATFORMS AJ Bell AJ Bell Easy investing and ready-made portfolios Learn More Learn More Hargreaves Lansdown Hargreaves Lansdown Free fund dealing and investment ideas Learn More Learn More interactive investor interactive investor Flat-fee investing from £4.99 per month Learn More Learn More Saxo Saxo Get £200 back in trading fees Learn More Learn More Trading 212 Trading 212 Free dealing and no account fee Learn More Learn More Affiliate links: If you take out a product This is Money may earn a commission. 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