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[1/2] A view of the Ubisoft Entertainment logo in Saint-Mande, near Paris, France, September 8, 2022. The maker of the blockbuster "Rainbow Six" franchise reported net bookings of 554.8 million euros ($584.09 million)for the three months to September 30, well above its target of 350 million euros. For the third quarter, the company expects net bookings of around 610 million euros. The group reported operating income of 16.1 million euros for the six months to end September, after a loss of 215.3 million euros in the same period last year. ($1 = 0.9498 euros)Reporting by Enrico Sciacovelli and Olivier Cherfan, editing Jane MerrimanOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: Sarah Meyssonnier, Ubisoft, Yves Guillemot, Mirage, Enrico Sciacovelli, Olivier Cherfan, Jane Merriman Organizations: Ubisoft Entertainment, REUTERS, Ubisoft, Pandora, Rainbow Six Mobile, Thomson Locations: Saint, Paris, France

☆ Azimut to start marketing funds to UniCredit clients in Q1
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-27 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

July 27 (Reuters) - Italian asset manager Azimut (AZMT.MI) said its partnership with UniCredit (CRDI.MI) was on track and would start contributing to net profit from early next year, when it begins marketing products built for the bank's clients across its branches. UniCredit, which sold its asset management operations in 2017 to boost capital, has turned to Azimut as it works to grow its fee income by bringing back in house parts of the business. "We have entered into stage two of the ... strategic partnership with UniCredit," CEO and CFO Alessandro Zambotti said in a statement, as Azimut posted a 15% yearly rise in first-half net profit. Under the deal unveiled in December, Azimut will set up in Ireland an asset management business tailored to UniCredit clients' needs which the bank has an option to acquire for a token price within five years. Azimut has said it expects to reap a 0.5% profit margin on the sales of new products to UniCredit clients.

Persons: Azimut, UniCredit, Alessandro Zambotti, Andrea Orcel, Pietro Giuliani, Enrico Sciacovelli, Valentina Za Organizations: UniCredit, Wednesday, Thomson Locations: Italian, Ireland

May 16 (Reuters) - French video game producer Ubisoft (UBIP.PA) posted the biggest operating loss in company's history on Tuesday but stuck to its guidance for the current financial year, citing a renewed focus on blockbuster titles. The maker of the hit "Rainbow Six" franchise posted a full-year non-IFRS operating loss of 500.2 million euros ($550.6 million), in line with a target announced in its January profit warning. The family-run firm has been dogged by game cancellations and delays in recent years, booking a writedown estimate of around 500 million euros in 2022 due to research and development expenses. The Paris-listed publisher confirmed its estimate for a full-year core profit of around 400 million euros, while forecasting first-quarter net bookings of around 240 million euros. ($1 = 0.9084 euros)Reporting by Victor Goury-Laffont and Enrico Sciacovelli; Editing by Jan HarveyOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

☆ Births in Italy hit record low in 2022, population shrinks further
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-07 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

April 7 (Reuters) - Births in Italy dropped to a new historic low below 400,000 in 2022, national statistics bureau ISTAT said on Friday, as the population continued to shrink. Last year Italy recorded more than 12 deaths for every seven births and the resident population fell by 179,000 to 58.85 million, ISTAT said in its annual demographic report. The population decline slowed somewhat compared with 2021 and 2020, two years heavily affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. Italy recorded 392,600 births in 2022, down from 400,249 the previous year, ISTAT said, the 14th consecutive fall and the lowest number since the country's unification in 1861. Foreigners made up 8.6% of the country's population in 2022, for a total of 5.05 million.

☆ Ubisoft vows to get back to operating margin above 20% in medium term
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-16 | by ( Enrico Sciacovelli | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

Feb 16 (Reuters) - French video game producer Ubisoft (UBIP.PA) said it would reach operating margin above 20% in the medium term, as it aims to shift its focus to major franchises and "long-lasting" live service games. "We anticipate that in the coming years, behind a very rich lineup, we progressively get back to above 20% operating margin in the medium term," Chief Financial Officer Frederick Duguet said in a call with analysts. Last year Ubisoft achieved an operating margin of 19.1%, compared to a 21.1% in 2020-21, as the pandemic kept people home and boosted sales. The company stuck to January's forecast for an operating loss of around 500 million euros in its 2022-23 year. That was a drop of 2.6% year-on-year, however, with Ubisoft citing the impact of the macro-economic environment on the video game market and the company's performance.

☆ Assassin's Creed maker Ubisoft reports Q3 net bookings in line with forecast
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-16 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

Feb 16 (Reuters) - French video game producer Ubisoft (UBIP.PA) reported on Thursday net bookings of 726.9 million euros ($776.2 million) in its third quarter to the end of December, in line with its forecast. That was a drop of 2.6% year-on-year, however, with Ubisoft citing the impact of the macro-economic environment on the video game market and the company's performance. The gaming market is set to fall 4.3% in 2022, according to estimates from gaming market research firm Newzoo. The company stuck to January's guidance for an operating loss of around 500 million euros in its 2022-23 year. Ubisoft said its line-up for the next fiscal year would include Skull & Bones - first revealed in 2017 - Assassin’s Creed Mirage and Avatar: Frontiers of Pandora.

☆ World Cup quarter-finals 2022: which teams have qualified?
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-06 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +5 min

Captain Lionel Messi, who has said he intends to retire from the national team after the tournament, scored his first goal in a World Cup knockout round in his 1,000th match to beat Diego Maradona's tally of eight World Cup goals. The Selecao have lifted the World Cup five times and are the pre-tournament favourites to win a record-extending sixth title. This is the sixth World Cup for Croatia, who reached the final in 2018 when they lost to France. England have won the World Cup only once in 1966, and finished fourth in 2018. France won the World Cup in 1998 and 2018.

☆ Factbox: World Cup 2022 knockout stage: which teams will qualify?
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-30 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +5 min

Nov 30 (Reuters) - The World Cup in Qatar is nearing its knockout phase. The Selecao have claimed the World Cup five times and are pre-tournament favourites to win a record-extending sixth title. Brazil have played in every World Cup since 1930 but have not reached the final since they last won the title in 2002. England's only World Cup win dates back to 1966. This is the third appearance at the World Cup for Senegal, who reached the quarter-finals in 2002.

☆ Italy's Saras posts jump in Q3 core profits, announces CEO departure
▼ + stars: | 2022-10-28 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: 1 min

Companies Saras SpA FollowOct 28 (Reuters) - Italian refiner Saras (SRS.MI) said on Friday its core earnings had jumped in the third quarter thanks to the increase in oil products' prices and crack margins as well as higher volumes, as it also revealed the departure of its current chief executive. The group reported comparable adjusted earnings before interests, taxes, depreciation and amortization (EBITDA) of 296.4 million euros ($294.86 million) in the three months to September, up from 2.3 million in the same period of 2021. Saras said in a separate statement that the refiner and its CEO and General Manager Dario Scaffardi had mutually agreed to part ways, effective at the end of the month, appointing Matteo Codazzi as his successor. Reporting by Enrico Sciacovelli, editing Federico MaccioniOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

☆ Hit by game delays and cancellations, Ubisoft posts half-year net loss
▼ + stars: | 2022-10-27 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

Oct 27 (Reuters) - French video game maker Ubisoft (UBIP.PA) said on Thursday its net result turned into a loss in the half-year, citing lost research and development expenses and related game cancellations. The firm has been dogged by game delays, on top of project cancellations and heavy sector competition. The maker of the blockbuster "Assassin's Creed" franchise posted a net loss of 190.2 million euros ($190.6 million)in the half-year ended on September 30, compared to a slight profit of 1.6 million euros in the same period last year. Ubisoft nonetheless on Thursday confirmed its full-year guidance and projected third quarter net bookings of around 830 million euros, on the back of a still unspecified mobile licensing deal. The "Prince of Persia" franchise maker posted net bookings down 2.6% to 699.4 million euros for the six months ended in September.

☆ Factbox: Companies sell their businesses in Russia
▼ + stars: | 2022-10-10 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +9 min

The logo of French tyre maker Michelin is seen at a company building in Boulogne-Billancourt, near Paris, France, August 6, 2022. REUTERS/Sarah Meyssonnier/File PhotoOct 10 (Reuters) - Some Western companies have agreed to sell their Russian assets or hand them over to local managers as they seek to comply with sanctions over the Ukraine conflict and deal with threats from the Kremlin that foreign-owned assets may be seized. Below is a list of firms by sector that have sold their businesses in Russia:AUTOS** British car distributor Inchcape (INCH.L) sold its Russian business to local managementRegister now for FREE unlimited access to Reuters.com Register** Italian truck and bus maker Iveco (IVG.MI) transferred its 33% stake in its AMT truck assembly joint venture in Russia to a local partner** French tyre maker Michelin (MICP.PA) intends to transfer its activities in Russia to a new entity under local management by end-2022** French carmaker Renault (RENA.PA) sold its majority stake in Avtovaz (AVAZI_p.MM) to a Russian science institute, and transferred all shares in Renault Russia to the city of Moscow** MAN Truck & Bus and Scania, units of German truck maker Traton (8TRA.DE), expect to sell their sales companies in Russia to local partners along with Scania's Russian financing business by Q1 2023BANKS** Britain's HSBC (HSBA.L) agreed to sell its Russian business to Expobank, subject to regulatory approvals in Russia** Czech investment group PPF sold its Russian banking assets, including consumer lender HCFB and its subsidiaries, to investors led by Ivan Tyryshkin** France's Societe Generale (SOGN.PA) sold its Russian business Rosbank (ROSB.MM) to Interros Capital, a firm linked to Russian oligarch Vladimir PotaninCONSUMER ELECTRONICS** Swedish home appliance maker Electrolux (ELUXb.ST) transferred its business in Russia to local management** Its Electrolux Professional (EPROb.ST) branch also sold its Russian business to local management** Whirlpool (WHR.N) sold its Russian operations to Turkey's Arcelik (ARCLK.IS)ELECTRICAL COMPONENTS & EQUIPMENT** Finland's Boreo (BOREO.HE) sold its 90% stake in YE Russia to companies controlled by its current director Yrjö Pönni** U.S. industrial firm Emerson Electric (EMR.N) agreed to sell its Russia business to the local management** Finnish elevator maker Kone (KNEBV.HE) expects to close the sale of its Russian business to local management in Q4 2022** France's Schneider Electric (SCHN.PA) expects to close the sale its Russian unit to local management by end-2022** U.S. elevator maker Otis (OTIS.N) sold its Russia business to local investment firm Ice DevelopmentENERGY** French industrial gases producer Air Liquide (AIRP.PA) agreed to shift its Russian assets to local management, subject to regulatory approvals in Russia** Baker Hughes (BKR.O) agreed to sell its oilfield services business in Russia to local management, with closing expected in H2 2022** Italian utility Enel (ENEI.MI) sold its 56.43% stake in Enel Russia to Lukoil (LKOH.MM) and private fund Gazprombank-Frezia** Norway's Equinor (EQNR.OL) transferred assets of its Russian oil and gas joint ventures to state-owned partner Rosneft (ROSN.MM), and its 30% stake in the Arctic Kharyaga oilfield to state-controlled Russian operator Zarubezhneft** U.S. oilfield services firm Halliburton (HAL.N) sold its Russia operations to a management team made up of former employees** Oil major Shell (SHEL.L) sold its Russian retail and lubricants business to Lukoil** Singapore-based commodities trader Trafigura sold its 10% stake in Vostok Oil project in Siberia to Hong Kong-registered trading firm Nord Axis** Total Energies (TTEF.PA) sold its remaining 20% interest in the Kharyaga oil project to Zarubezhneft, and its 49% stake in Terneftegaz to joint venture partner NovatekFOOD & BEVERAGES** Finland's Atria (ATRAV.HE) sold its fast food business in Russia, Sibylla Rus, to Russian meat producer Cherkizovo (GCHE.MM)** Finland's Fazer sold its Russian unit to Moscow's Kolomenskij Bakery and Confectionery Holding** Irish ingredients giant Kerry Group (KYGa.I) sold its Russian subsidiary to local management and agreed to offload its Belarusian unit to a local operator** Fast food chain McDonald's (MCD.N) sold its Russian business to its licensee Alexander Govor** Finnish food and drinks company Paulig sold its operations in Russia to private Indian investor Vikas Soi** Yum Brands (YUM.N) sold its Pizza Hut business in Russia to a local operator** Finnish food processing firm Raisio (RAIVV.HE) sold its consumer business in Russia to Copacker Agro** Finnish dairy producer Valio sold its Russian business to GK VelkomINDUSTRIAL MACHINERY** Polish measuring devices maker Apator's (APTP.WA) Powogaz unit divested its entire stake in Russia-based AO Teplovodomer** Danish industrial firm Danfoss agreed to sell its Russian and Belarusian business to local management, subject to approval by shareholders and regulatory approvals in Russi

☆ Factbox: Companies potentially affected by Italy's election
▼ + stars: | 2022-09-25 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +5 min

A woman walks at a polling station during the snap election in Rome, Italy September 25, 2022. read moreHere is a list of companies that could be affected by the outcome of the election. The change of government and calls by Meloni to revisit Italy's national recovery plan could threaten Italy's ability to meet the commitments to which European Union post-pandemic funds are tied. Brothers of Italy welcomed CDP's decision to wait for the election before filing its non-binding bid for TIM's network. read moreBrothers of Italy has called for the new government to be allowed to make a final decision on ITA.

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