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☆ Startup CEO says humans won't be needed for translation in 3 years as it launches AI app
▼ + stars: | 2024-11-13 | by ( Arjun Kharpal | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

Vasco Pedro, co-founder and CEO of Unbabel, on the first day of the 2023 Web Summit at the Altice Arena in Lisbon. Unbabel's LLM allows AI translation in 32 languages, Vasco Pedro, the company's CEO, told CNBC in an interview at the Web Summit in Lisbon. Widn.AI is Unbabel's new product and is based on the company's proprietary large language model (LLM) called Tower. LISBON — Unbabel on Wednesday announced a translation service powered by artificial intelligence, adding another rival to a highly competitive space — with its CEO warning that humans may not be needed for translation at all in three years. But he said there will be an increase in the amount of content translated which will sustain the company's growth.

Persons: Vasco Pedro, Pedro, Widn.AI, There's Organizations: CNBC, Unbabel, Wednesday, Google Locations: Lisbon, Widn.AI, LISBON, Unbabel

☆ AI-powered search startup Glean doubles valuation in new funding round led by Altimeter
▼ + stars: | 2024-09-10 | by ( Riley De León | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

AI-powered search startup Glean said Tuesday it has raised $260 million in a funding round that values the tech company at $4.6 billion — more than double its last reported valuation. Glean competes with a herd of well-financed generative AI startups and tech giants, attempting to compete with Microsoft Copilot and chatbot Amazon Q. Glean's Series E round, led by Altimeter and DST Global, includes Craft Ventures, Sapphire Ventures, and SoftBank Vision Fund 2, all new investors in the company. Founder and CEO Arvind Jain started Glean in 2019 with other former Google engineers as an enterprise search engine. The company soon transitioned to generative AI.

Persons: Arvind Jain, Glean, Catalyst, Kleiner Perkins, Jain Organizations: CNBC, Glean, Microsoft, DST Global, Craft Ventures, Sapphire Ventures, Latitude, Lightspeed Venture Partners, Sequoia Capital, IDC Locations: Lisbon, Portugal, Palo Alto , California

☆ India's Bharti to buy Drahi's stake in BT, worth $4 billion
▼ + stars: | 2024-08-12 | by ( ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

India's Bharti Enterprises said it would acquire a 24.5% stake in BT , worth about 3.2 billion pounds ($4 billion), buying out the British company's top investor, telecoms tycoon Patrick Drahi, as his Altice group struggles with high debts. The Indian company said it would buy an initial 9.99% stake before seeking to add the remaining 14.51% following regulatory approvals. Bharti said it supported BT's executive team and strategy as the group pushed forward with an "ambitious" transformation programme to deliver long-term sustainable growth. BT's shares have risen by 24% in the last six months as the fruits of its long-term investment plan to build the country's fibre network start to materialise. "This scale of investment from Bharti Global is a great vote of confidence in the future of BT Group and our strategy," Kirkby said in a statement following the investment.

Persons: India's, Patrick Drahi, Bharti, Drahi, Carlos Slim, Allison Kirkby, Kirkby Organizations: India's Bharti Enterprises, BT, UK National Security and Investment, Bharti Global, BT Group Locations: Abu Dhabi

☆ Here are Friday's biggest analyst calls: Nvidia, Apple, Amazon, Intel, Morgan Stanley, Square, Coinbase, Lululemon and more
▼ + stars: | 2024-08-02 | by ( Michael Bloom | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +8 min

Wells Fargo downgrades Morgan Stanley to underweight from equal weight Wells Fargo downgraded Morgan Stanley and said the "upward premium re-rating seems over." Morgan Stanley initiates Lionsgate Studios at overweight Morgan Stanley said it's bullish on shares of the movie studio company. Morgan Stanley reiterates Tesla as a top pick Morgan Stanley said it's standing by the stock following an analysis of July auto sales. Morgan Stanley upgrades Mobileye to equal weight from underweight Morgan Stanley said the risk/reward is more balanced for the auto supply tech company. " Morgan Stanley reiterates Nvidia as overweight Morgan Stanley says it's sticking with its overweight rating on the AI chipmaker.

Persons: Goldman Sachs, Goldman, Morgan Stanley, Apple, Q, Gildan, Wells, downgrades Morgan Stanley, it's, TD, TD Cowen, Cowen, Raymond James downgrades Crocs, Raymond James, CROX, Oppenheimer, Tesla, Rosenblatt, Lululemon, LULU, K's Organizations: TEAM, Apple Intelligence, Barclays, Deutsche Bank, Amazon, Big Cap Tech, Stifel, Bank of American, Bank of America, Lionsgate, Lionsgate Studios, Intel, of America, TD Cowen, Dynamics, U.S, EV, 7M, UBS downgrades, UBS, Nvidia Locations: California, USA

☆ Outbrain is closing in on a deal to merge with Altice-owned adtech company Teads
▼ + stars: | 2024-07-19 | by ( Lara O'Reilly | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

Read previewContent recommendation firm Outbrain is closing in on a deal to acquire or merge with Teads, the adtech company owned by European telecommunications giant Altice, according to four sources familiar with the matter. Spokespeople for Outbrain and Teads said it was company policy not to comment on M&A speculation. Teads parent company Altice International reported net debt of 9.2 billion euros, around $10 billion, at the end of the first quarter, while Altice France had some 24 billion euros, about $26 billion, in debt in the same period. AdvertisementTeads reported 601 million euros ($654 million) in revenue in 2023, down 5.5% from the prior year. Its adjusted earnings before income tax depreciation and amortization were 157 million euros ($170 million), an 8.7% decrease from 2022.

Persons: —, Outbrain, couldn't, Teads, it's, Taboola, Patrick Drahi, pare, Altice, Moody's, Morgan Stanley Organizations: Service, Business, Altice, chum, CNN, Fox News, Altice International, Drahi Locations: Altice France, USA, France

☆ Stocks making the biggest moves midday: Altice, Tesla, Krispy Kreme, Cinemark and more
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-05 | by ( Tanaya Macheel | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

Altice USA — The cable television firm tumbled more than 12% after Wells Fargo downgraded the stock to underweight from equal weight. Krispy Kreme — Shares jumped 6% after Piper Sandler upgraded the stock to overweight from neutral. Cinemark — The movie theater chain climbed 4.4% on the back of a double upgrade to overweight from underweight by Wells Fargo. Snowflake — The cloud company added 2.5% after Rosenblatt upgraded the stock to buy from a neutral rating, citing strong customer interest. Agilent Technologies — The life sciences applications stock rose nearly 3% after Stifel upgraded it to buy from hold.

Persons: Wells, Steven Cahall, Tesla, Elon Musk, Piper Sandler, McDonald's, Cinemark, Rosenblatt, Daniel Arias, Johnson, — CNBC's Hakyung Kim, Alex Harring, Samantha Subin, Michelle Fox Organizations: USA, Reuters, EV, Investors, Energy, Citi, Technologies, Stifel, Shockwave, Johnson, Israel Locations: U.S, Wells Fargo

☆ Here are Friday's biggest analyst calls: Apple, Tesla, Netflix, Marvell, Ollie's, Snowflake, Eli Lilly, Krispy Kreme & more
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-05 | by ( Michael Bloom | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +8 min

"We are raising our YE'24 NFLX target price $65 to a street-high $765 driven primarily by a combo of higher '24 and beyond subscriber/ARPU forecasts." "We are upgrading Ollie's Bargain Outlet to a Buy from a Hold rating while raising our price target to $90 from $80, implying 26% upside from current levels." We cut our price target from $2 to $1, still giving ATUS the highest multiple in Cable as optionality. "We are raising our already Street High $330 YE'24 target price $60 to $390 driven primarily by higher premium and to a lesser extent ad supported ARPU forecasts." Jefferies adds Pepsi to the franchise picks list Jefferies said it sees opportunity internationally for Pepsi and raised its price target to $209 per share from $199.

Persons: Marvell, it's, Bernstein, Mizuho, Wells, Piper Sandler, Krispy, JPMorgan, Eli Lilly, LLY, Stifel, Rosenblatt, Snowflake, Jefferies, underperform KBW, Daiwa, Tesla, KBW, Monness Crespi Hardt Organizations: Netflix, Bank of America, Apple, Amazon Web Services, RBC, Eaton, Piper, JPMorgan, Technologies, Cable, Spotify, BMO, Royal Bank, Pepsi, Fox, Fox News, Digital, Citi, Express, American Express Locations: NY, McDonald's, USA, Toronto, Snowflake, U.S

☆ Stocks making the biggest moves premarket: Krispy Kreme, Cinemark, Western Digital and more
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-05 | by ( Lisa Kailai Han | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +3 min

Shockwave Medical — The medical device stock rose 1.6% after Johnson & Johnson announced it would buy the company for $12.5 billion. Krispy Kreme — Shares of the doughnut chain surged 5% in premarket trading after Piper Sandler upgraded the stock to overweight from neutral. Fox Corporation Class A — The stock rose 1% following an upgrade to buy from neutral at Seaport Research. Western Digital — The semiconductor stock rose nearly 3.5% after an upgrade to buy from neutral by Rosenblatt Securities. Agilent Technologies — The life sciences applications company rose more than 1% after receiving an upgrade to buy from hold at Stifel.

Persons: Johnson, Piper Sandler, Krispy Kreme, McDonald's, Omar Mejias, Wells, Steven Cahall, Ollie's, Gro —, Rosenblatt, Daniel Arias, — CNBC's Michelle Fox, Hakyung Kim, Yun Li, Sarah Min, Jesse Pound Organizations: Johnson, USA, Scotts Miracle, Gro, Fox Corporation, Seaport Research, Rosenblatt Securities, Western, Technologies, Stifel Locations: Wells Fargo

☆ Altice USA shares spike 50% on report Charter is considering acquisition
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-26 | by ( Jacob Pramuk | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +1 min

Altice USA shares spiked as much as about 50% on Monday following a report that Charter Communications is considering buying the broadband company. Charter is working with financial advisors as it considers whether it would make sense to buy Altice USA, Bloomberg reported Monday, citing people with knowledge of the matter. Charter declined to comment on the report, while Altice USA could not immediately be reached for comment. Altice USA shares had plunged more than 40% this year before their jump Monday, while Charter's stock has fallen about 25%. Altice USA owns brands led by broadband, TV and phone company Optimum.

Persons: — CNBC's Alex Sherman Organizations: Altice USA, Communications, Bloomberg, Altice Locations: USA, Altice USA

☆ Cheddar News, the business-focused startup, has been hollowed out. ‘It feels like the end,’ sources say
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-12 | by ( Oliver Darcy | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +5 min

There is “literally no one there.”That’s because there is, effectively, no one working at Cheddar News, the once spirited financial news-focused streaming television network. “It feels like the end,” a person familiar with the matter candidly told me. By the time Archetype acquired Cheddar in December, only a couple dozen or so editorial staffers remained at the outlet, people familiar with the matter told me. Soon after signing those agreements, however, Archetype sent furlough notices to many of the remaining employees. “There is certainly a death happening as we speak,” one of the people familiar with the outlet’s state of affairs told me.

Persons: New York CNN —, ” I’m, Jon Steinberg, Bell ”, Kristen Scholer, I’m, Steinberg, ”, Kelly Facer, Stephanie Gildea, it’s Organizations: New, New York CNN, Cheddar News, CNBC, millennials, Altice USA, Associated Press, Altice, Business Locations: New York, Manhattan, Cheddar, ”

Cheddar News owner Altice USA announced Thursday it has sold the financial news streaming service to the media company Archetype, which is owned by private equity firm Regent LP. Altice USA will collect proceeds in the future if Cheddar meets certain performance targets. Those payments could amount to about $50 million based on internal projections, CNBC previously reported. Cheddar, founded in 2016 by Jon Steinberg, was bought by Altice USA in 2019 for $200 million. "We are incredibly proud of what Cheddar News has accomplished within the Altice USA portfolio, growing its distribution to reach new viewers with fresh and exciting need-to-know news content," said Keith Bowen, president of news, advertising and programming for Altice USA, in a statement.

Persons: Jon Steinberg, Keith Bowen Organizations: Cheddar News, Altice USA, CNBC, Sunset Magazine, Military Times, CNBC PRO Locations: Cheddar, Regent, USA

☆ Altice USA in talks to sell Cheddar News to private equity firm Regent
▼ + stars: | 2023-12-11 | by ( Alex Sherman | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

Altice USA is in talks to sell the financial news streaming service Cheddar News to LA-based private equity firm Regent LP, according to people familiar with the matter. Instead, Altice USA would participate in Cheddar's future performance as part of a so-called "earn out" structure. Since then, Altice USA, the fourth-largest U.S. cable provider, behind Comcast , Charter and Cox, has looked to shed assets as its stock price has plummeted. Altice USA has also considered selling U.S. cable asset Suddenlink but dropped those plans in late 2022. The New York Times reported Altice USA was considering selling Cheddar earlier this year.

Persons: Jon Steinberg, Dexter Goei, Steinberg, Goei, Regent, Ralph Lauren, Regent didn't Organizations: USA, Regent, Altice, CNBC, Altice USA, Comcast, Cox, Sightline Media, Sunset Magazine, Time Inc, Club Monaco, New York Times Locations: LA, USA, Altice USA, U.S, Tegna

☆ Who is new interim OpenAI CEO Emmett Shear? All you need to know about the man replacing Sam Altman
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-20 | by ( Ryan Browne | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +4 min

After a weekend of rumor and speculation, Emmett Shear — former co-founder and CEO of Twitch — confirmed he will take the top job at probably the most high-profile AI company in the world. watch nowTwitch was acquired by Amazon for $1 billion in 2014 and Shear stepped down as CEO of Twitch last year. Before Shear started Twitch, he was the co-founder of Kiko Calendar, a calendar app he worked on through the 2005 Y Combinator program. As head of OpenAI, Shear will likely face pressure from regulators who have been heavily scrutinizing AI model companies given the risks the technology poses around misinformation and potential displacement of jobs. Earlier this month, the U.K. held a pivotal summit on AI safety, attended by major foundational AI companies, to discuss some of the most pressing issues in the field.

Persons: Emmett Shear, Eoin Noonan, It's, Sam Altman, Twitch —, Shear, Altman, ChatGPT, Emmett, Justin Kan, Michael Seibel, Kyle Vogt, Kan, Twitch, Y, Kiko Organizations: Web, Getty, Amazon, YouTube Locations: LISBON, PORTUGAL, Lisbon, Portugal, Silicon

☆ Here are Thursday's biggest analyst calls: Nvidia, Amazon, Target, DoorDash, Intel, Plug Power & more
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-16 | by ( Michael Bloom | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +9 min

Bank of America reiterates Roblox as buy Bank of America said the stock is becoming "more investable." Deutsche Bank initiates Wayfair as buy Deutsche said in its initiation of the stock that it's a "pure-play e-commerce leader." Deutsche Bank initiates DoorDash as buy Deutsche said in its initiation of the company that it has "superior unit economics." Bank of America initiates Gen Digital as buy Bank of America said it likes the cyber safety vendor. Goldman Sachs reiterates Amazon as buy Goldman said it sees an "underappreciated secular growth opportunity" for Amazon shares into next year. "

Persons: it's, Goldman Sachs, Goldman, 1QFY, Roblox, Price, Stifel, Baird, Catalent, 1HCY24, Piper Sandler, Piper, Philip Morris, Guggenheim, Wells, TD Cowen downgrades Organizations: UBS, Nvidia, Qs, Networks, Palo Alto Networks, 1QFY billings, billings, Bank of America, Products, Deutsche Bank, Deutsche, HSBC downgrades Altice, HSBC, Goodyear Tire, Goodyear, " Bank of America, ITT, of America, Aerospace & Defense, Digital, JPMorgan, Entertainment, Mizuho, Intel, AMD, Amazon, Citi, EV, TD Cowen downgrades Target Locations: HSBC downgrades Altice USA, China

☆ Liberty Media's John Malone on interest rates, media outlook and the streaming landscape
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-09 | by ( ) www.cnbc.com time to read: 1 min

Share Share Article via Facebook Share Article via Twitter Share Article via LinkedIn Share Article via EmailLiberty Media's John Malone on interest rates, media outlook and the streaming landscapeLiberty Media Chairman John Malone joins 'Squawk on the Street' to discuss where investors should take advantage of opportunities, the distress surrounding Altice, and more.

Persons: Liberty Media's John Malone, John Malone Organizations: Liberty, Liberty Media

☆ Australian journalist Cheng Lei detained by China arrives home
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-11 | by ( ) www.cnbc.com time to read: 1 min

CGTN anchor Cheng Lei speaking on stage at the Corporate Innovation Summit during day two of Web Summit 2019 at the Altice Arena in Lisbon, Portugal. Australian journalist Cheng Lei, who had been detained on national security charges in Beijing for more than three years, returned home on Wednesday after being released, Australia's Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said. Cheng, who was tried in secret in March 2022, arrived in Melbourne and has been reunited with her two children and family, Albanese told a press conference. "(The) government has been seeking this for a long period of time and her return will be warmly welcomed not just by her family and friends but by all Australians," he said. Albanese said he expected to visit China this year.

Persons: Cheng Lei, Anthony Albanese, Cheng, Albanese Organizations: Corporate, Web, Australia's Locations: Lisbon, Portugal, Australian, Beijing, Melbourne, China

☆ Wells Fargo upgrades this telecom stock that can jump more than 20% from here
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-22 | by ( Lisa Kailai Han | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +1 min

Charter 's debt structure and growing sports segments should give it a leg up on competitors, according to Wells Fargo. The bank upgraded shares of the telecommunications company to overweight from overweight on Friday and lifted its price target to $550 from $450. While higher prices and the rising popularity of streaming services have plagued the cable industry in recent years, Charter's stock has rallied 31.8% this year. CHTR YTD mountain Charter ytd chart Charter's more favorable capital structure and its growing sports content – which should improve its streaming market share in the long term – are two reasons why analyst Steven Cahall prefers Charter stock over Comcast. "The worst of Cable is behind it, and CHTR is the clearest expression of the new normal," he wrote.

Persons: Altice, Steven Cahall, Cahall, — Michael Bloom Organizations: Comcast, Verizon, Cable, CNBC Locations: Wells Fargo, Cable

☆ Portugal's telecom watchdog working with operators to bar Huawei
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-18 | by ( Sergio Goncalves | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

REUTERS/Benoit Tessier/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsLISBON, Sept 18 (Reuters) - Portugal's telecom watchdog said on Monday it is working with operators to implement a high-level resolution which effectively bars Huawei's equipment from the country's 5G mobile networks, despite legal objections from the Chinese company. Huawei filed a lawsuit with a Lisbon court against the resolution at the end of August, seeking "protection of its legitimate interests and legal rights under the law". Portugal's main operators, Altice, NOS (NOS.LS) and Vodafone (VOD.L) have already said they will not use Huawei equipment in 5G core networks, amid European and U.S. concerns that Chinese involvement in critical infrastructure could compromise security. "It is work that is ongoing and we hope that it will be carried out successfully. We can assure the Portuguese that we are also working together with the operators", he added.

Persons: Benoit Tessier, Joao Cadete de Matos, Matos, Mario Campolargo, Sergio Goncalves, Alexander Smith Organizations: Huawei Technologies, Viva Technology, Porte de, REUTERS, Rights, Portugal's, Huawei, Vodafone, Reuters, Thomson Locations: Porte, Paris, France, Rights LISBON, Portuguese, Lisbon, Beijing

An advertising board is seen during the first demonstration of the technology 5G in Lisbon, Portugal June 4, 2018. The review by the banks, including Lazard, BNP Paribas, Morgan Stanley and Goldman Sachs, will involve some of Altice's major assets in the region, including SFR, France's second-biggest telecoms group, the person said. Altice, Morgan Stanley and BNP declined to comment, while spokespeople for Lazard and Goldman Sachs weren't immediately available for comment. Drahi told investors in August he felt "shocked" and "betrayed" by the ongoing corruption probe in Portugal, which led to the suspension of fifteen employees in Portugal, France and the United States and dozens of suppliers. Altice is already close to a deal to sell its data centres in France to Morgan Stanley Infrastructure Partners, French newspaper Les Echos reported on Wednesday.

Persons: Rafael Marchante, Altice, Lazard, Morgan Stanley, Goldman Sachs, France's, Goldman Sachs weren't, Patrick Drahi, Armando Pereira, Drahi, Les Echos, Mathieu Rosemain, Sharon Singleton Organizations: REUTERS, Rights, BNP, Lazard, Altice, Morgan Stanley Infrastructure Partners, Thomson Locations: Lisbon, Portugal, Dominican Republic, Altice France, France, United States

A guest speaks on a mobile phone as she arrives for the French telecoms operator Iliad's media conference in Milan, Italy, May 29, 2018. REUTERS/Stefano Rellandini/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsAug 30 (Reuters) - French telecom provider Iliad reported a more than 4% rise in half-year core profit on Wednesday, supported by gains across markets and the expansion of its activities in Italy. Telecommunications companies across Europe have been hit by rising energy prices, infrastructure costs to deploy fibre and 5G coverage, and a slowdown in subscriber growth. The group remains on the lookout for potential acquisitions in Italy after its 2022 Vodafone bid was rejected, he said. ($1 = 0.9204 euros)Reporting by Stéphanie Hamel and Victor Goury-Laffont in Gdansk; Editing by Milla NissiOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: Stefano Rellandini, Thomas Raynaud, Raynaud, Stéphanie Hamel, Victor Goury, Milla Nissi Organizations: REUTERS, French, Orange, Telecommunications, Free Mobile, U.S, Telecom Italia's, Vodafone, Thomson Locations: Milan, Italy, France, Poland, Europe, Laffont, Gdansk

☆ Altice’s beaten-up debt is only a bet for the bold
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-08 | by ( Pamela Barbaglia | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +6 min

REUTERS/Violeta Santos MouraLONDON, Aug 8 (Reuters Breakingviews) - Altice’s debt is a bet for the bold. Patrick Drahi’s telecoms group is sitting on a $60 billion debt burden, and faces rising borrowing costs and a corruption investigation. Drahi will therefore need to sell assets to cut debt, which starts to come due in 2025. Both Altice France and Altice International are trying to sell their data centre businesses, which could raise some 700 million euros, bankers say. Yet Altice France alone has some $19 billion of debt coming due by 2029.

Persons: Patrick Drahi, Violeta Santos Moura, Patrick Drahi’s, Drahi –, Armando Pereira, Altice, Drahi, “, ”, Pereira, Xavier Niel’s, Manuel Magalhaes e Silva, Altice International’s, Alexandre Fonseca, Neil Unmack, Oliver Taslic Organizations: French, REUTERS, Violeta Santos Moura LONDON, Reuters, Altice USA, Altice, Bouygues Telecom, Banco Espírito Santo, Public, Thomson Locations: Paris, France, Moroccan, Europe, United States, Portugal, Israel, Dominican Republic, Orange, Altice France, Banco Espírito, Portuguese, New York, London

Assets will be sold within Altice France or outside France to repay debt, Drahi told investors on a conference call. "(The aims is) to raise, one way or another, 3 billion (euros) of equity, plus or minus," Drahi said. Altice France's net leverage ratio at end of June was 6.3 times its yearly core operating profits. Altice France's net debt was close to 24 billion euros at the end of June, up from 23.6 billion at end of March, the group said. Total earnings before interest, tax, depreciation and amortisation (EBITDA) fell to 1.02 billion euros from 1.08 billion euros a year earlier.

Persons: Patrick Drahi, Philippe Wojazer, Drahi, Dennis Okhuijsen, Altice, Portugal Altice's, Armando Pereira, Pereira, Mathieu Rosemain, Ingrid Melander, Silvia Aloisi, Mark Potter Organizations: Altice Group, REUTERS, Altice, Thomson Locations: Franco, Israeli, Paris, France, PARIS, Altice France, Portugal

☆ Factbox: Patrick Drahi, the telco tycoon facing debt woes, arrest of aide
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-07 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

* Drahi, who lives between Switzerland, the United States and Israel, controls France's second-biggest telecoms firm SFR on top of the most-watched news channel in the country, BFM TV. He also owns the largest telecoms firm in Portugal. * To ease investor concerns about the sustainability of the business, Drahi spun off the U.S. division, restructured debt and took the European arm private. * By 2023, Altice's combined debt, including its three units of Altice France, Altice International and Altice USA stood at around $60 billion. Altice's debt prices trade at stressed levels, having come under further pressure since Pereira's detention in July.

Persons: Patrick Drahi, Violeta Santos Moura, Altice, Drahi, Altice's, Armando Pereira, Pereira, Silvia Aloisi, Ingrid Melander, Sharon Singleton, Louise Heavens Organizations: French, REUTERS, Polytechnique, SFR, U.S ., Altice, Altice USA, BT, Thomson Locations: Paris, France, French, Israeli, Morocco, Drahi, Amsterdam, Belgium, Portugal, Israel, United States, Dominican Republic, Switzerland, London, New York

Fifteen employees have been put on leave in Portugal, France and the United States since news broke about the probe, which is currently limited to Portugal, said Drahi. Pressed by analysts on the call to lay out the role and extent of Pereira's involvement within the Altice group, Drahi said Pereira, whom he hired in 2003, had not held any stake in any Altice entity since 2005. Altice International, the entity that owns telecoms firm PT Portugal, is owned by Drahi's personal holding Next. The other two entities are Altice USA and Altice France, home to France's second biggest telecoms firm SFR. The debt has come under further pressure since Pereira's July detention, with longer-term debt issued by Altice France trading around 80 cents to the euro while those of Altice France Holding trade around 40 cents to the euro.

Persons: Patrick Drahi, Violeta Santos Moura, Drahi, Armando Pereira, Pereira, Altice, Mathieu Rosemain, Yoruk Bahceli, Ingrid Melander, Silvia Aloisi, Conor Humphries Organizations: French, REUTERS, Altice, PT Portugal, Altice International, Thomson Locations: Paris, France, Portugal, United States, Altice France

☆ New BT boss’s biggest test is investor relations
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-31 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

LONDON, July 31 (Reuters Breakingviews) - BT’s (BT.L) board faced the challenge of hiring a new CEO willing to implement a turnaround strategy decided by their predecessor. It has solved that problem by appointing one of its own members, Allison Kirkby, to the post vacated by outgoing Philip Jansen. Shares in the Swedish telco sank 4% on news of her departure, suggesting Telia’s loss is a gain for BT. Kirkby won’t take over until January 2024 but, having sat on BT’s board for more than four years, she should be able to hit the road running. Keeping these two investors on her side will be the real test for Kirkby at BT.

Persons: Allison Kirkby, Philip Jansen ., Swedish telco, Kirkby won’t, Patrick Drahi’s, Jansen, Pierre Briançon, Liam Proud, Oliver Taslic Organizations: Reuters, Telia Company, BT, Kirkby, Deutsche Telekom, Twitter, Soaring, of Japan, Thomson Locations: Swedish, Kirkby

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