As foreshadowed on Friday (CI No 1,071) the Betacom Plc share offer proved something of a disappointment for the telephone distribution outfit, and there was only a 62.8% take-up when the applications closed on Thursday, the remaining 7.5m shares being allotted to sub-underwriters; the general feeling at the firm is that it was a victim of the embarrassing trade figures and the British Steel flotation.