Slack on the back

"Much talk about a potential sale of Virgin Active to private equity. But is it really likely? Potential bidders seem baffled by the stories and suggest that ubiquitous adviser Goldman Sachs - fresh from its Ocado triumph - is leaking the stories in a desperate effort to stuff another over-priced offer down investors' throats. Developing..." SlackBelly, July 28, 2010.

"Virgin Active, Sir Richard Branson’s gym chain, has shelved plans for a £1 billion flotation.

The company, which operates in Italy, Spain, Portugal, South Africa and the UK, had been exploring a float or sale to a private-equity firm. Insiders suggested the sale talks are also on ice although some observers believe a deal could yet be revived." Sunday Times, August 29, 2010.

Rich List here?

What do the cryptic ads running in the Times (below) - featuring images of two Lord Sugars plus four Roman Abramoviches plus two Bernie Ecclestones equalling one Bill Gates - all mean? Could the Sunday Times Rich List be imminent?

Odds on a dark horse?

With John Waples leaving Wapping for a career in spinning, here are the runners and riders on his replacement as City Editor of the Sunday Times - at least according to David Buik, BGC Partners' genial odds caller. Let's hope Buik has better luck than last time he created such a market, when the Sunday Telegraph was desperately seeking a new City Ed to replace Mark Kleinman. Back then, not one of Buik's selections even made the short-list!

DOMINIC O’CONNELL – 7/4

RICHARD FLETCHER – 9/4

CHRIS BLACKHURST – 3/1

DAN ROBERTS – 7/2

IAN KING – 4/1

ROBERT WINNETT - 9/2

PETER THAL LARSEN - 9/2

PHILIP COGGAN – 5/1

ALISTAIR OSBORNE – 7/1

ALLISTER HEATH - 7/1

JENNY DAVEY – 9/1

RUTH SUNDERLAND - 9/1

MARK KLEINMAN – 12/1

IAIN DEY – 14/1

DAVID ROBERTSON - 14/1

NICK GOODWAY – 16/1

JAMES MOORE – 25/1 (really, David?)