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☆ Leaving the office for dead may haunt investors
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-23 | by ( Aimee Donnellan | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

Those moves may herald a requirement for a return to a five-day office week. Average office attendance is only 35%, according to AWA, a consultancy that studied companies in 22 countries during April and May of 2023. Still, a mass exodus of tenants is unlikely as office leases in financial districts like London’s Canary Wharf have around 10 years left. But investors fear that once leases come up for renewal, companies will cull space. If bosses have it their way, office stocks may come back from the dead.

Persons: France’s, BNY Mellon, Jamie Dimon, “, ” BNY Mellon, Francesco Guerrera, Streisand Neto Organizations: Reuters, Boston Properties, Google, JPMorgan, . Tech, Communications, Reuters Graphics, AWA, Alexandria Real, Thomson Locations: London , New York, San Francisco, London, U.S, Alexandria, Britain

☆ Arm float may deepen cracks in IPO market: podcast
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-17 | by ( Aimee Donnellan | ) www.reuters.com time to read: 1 min

LONDON, Aug 17 (Reuters Breakingviews) - The chip designer is preparing a stock market listing in the US. Orders are already being lined up from customers like Amazon.com (AMZN.O) but in this Viewroom podcast Breakingviews columnists explain why it may not get a lofty valuation and how that could put off possible followers. (The host is a Reuters Breakingviews columnist. Follow @aimeedonnellan on TwitterEditing by Oliver Taslic and Thomas ShumOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles. They do not reflect the views of Reuters News, which, under the Trust Principles, is committed to integrity, independence, and freedom from bias.

Persons: Oliver Taslic, Thomas Shum Organizations: Reuters, Thomson

☆ BAE’s stratospheric space deal has sound logic
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-17 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

People gather at the BAE Systems' booth during the Association of the United States Army (AUSA) Global Force Symposium & Exposition in Huntsville, Alabama, U.S. March 28, 2023. REUTERS/Cheney Orr/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsLONDON, Aug 17 (Reuters Breakingviews) - BAE (BAES.L) is showing off its deep pockets. On Thursday, the $37 billion maker of war ships and armored vehicles said it will splurge over $5.5 billion in cash on Ball Corp’s (BALL.N) aerospace arm. BAE CEO Charles Woodburn beat off private equity bidders including Blackstone (BX.N) to seal the deal, which bulks up his exposure to civil and military space surveillance solutions. They do not reflect the views of Reuters News, which, under the Trust Principles, is committed to integrity, independence, and freedom from bias.

Persons: Cheney Orr, Ball, Charles Woodburn, Woodburn, Woodburn’s pricey, Aimee Donnellan, EY’s loveless, Neil Unmack, Streisand Neto Organizations: BAE Systems, Association of, United States Army, Global, REUTERS, Reuters, BAE, Blackstone, Ball Aerospace, Twitter, TPG, Thomson Locations: Huntsville , Alabama, U.S

☆ TPG dangles messy end for EY’s loveless marriage
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-16 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

On Monday, the Financial Times reported that private equity firm TPG (TPG.O) had approached EY about buying a stake in its consulting arm. Back in May of last year when EY’s split was leaked to the press, valuations were much more attractive. If TPG pushes for a full breakup, EY would still have to work out how to divvy up its tax advice business between audit and consulting. Given the challenges, EY may well decide it’s better to soldier on with an awkward marriage than risk a messy divorce. They do not reflect the views of Reuters News, which, under the Trust Principles, is committed to integrity, independence, and freedom from bias.

Persons: EY’s, EY, Aimee Donnellan, Exor’s Philips, Bain, Neil Unmack, Oliver Taslic Organizations: Reuters, Financial Times, TPG, Big, Partners, Twitter, Thomson

☆ UK GDP jump offers little relief to BoE
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-11 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

The larger-than-forecast 0.5% rise in GDP in June meant that output grew 0.2% in the second quarter compared to the previous three months. That’s a modest acceleration but not enough to force the Bank of England to hike rates again in September. Jeremy Hunt, Britain’s finance minister, was quick to claim credit for the GDP numbers. Less rational is the sharp jump in sterling and UK bond yields, fuelled by market expectations that the BoE will now have to raise rates in September. Sure, June GDP numbers were strong but they were flattered by the absence of the bank holiday that had depressed May’s figures.

Persons: That’s, Jeremy Hunt, BoE, Francesco Guerrera, Aimee Donnellan, Streisand Neto Organizations: Reuters, England soccer, Bank of, Conservative, Twitter, Siemens, Thomson Locations: Bank of England, Britain

☆ Inflation dip puts central bankers in a pickle: podcast
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-27 | by ( Aimee Donnellan | ) www.reuters.com time to read: 1 min

Breakingviews category · July 27, 2023 · 9:08 AM UTCThe world is getting hotter, but when it comes to achieving net zero investors are cooling. In November 2021 many large corporations gathering at the COP26 climate summit in Glasgow committed to decarbonising their operations by 2050 in an attempt to limit global warming to 1.5 degrees Celsius above pre-industrial levels. Less than two years on, despite the world hitting its highest-ever average temperature, the pressure is off. Glencore , the $75 billion Swiss group that is one of the world’s biggest coal miners, makes an interesting case study for what’s changed.

Persons: what’s Locations: Glasgow

☆ LVMH’s smooth ride faces twin speed bumps
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-26 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

Shares in the 413 billion euro luxury behemoth fell 4% on Wednesday after it failed to wow investors with its earnings, depressing Europe’s stock market. Yet investors balked at the 1% second quarter sales contraction in the United States - which represents about a quarter of total revenue - as inflation worries cooled shoppers’ appetite for expensive items. LVMH’s conglomerate model, which spans over 70 brands, has so far proven resilient to crises. The all-important Mainland China market, which made up a fifth of global personal luxury sales in 2021, is a potential worry. Slow demand both in the U.S. and China would test LVMH’s diversified model.

Persons: Dior, Tiffany, Givenchy, Bernard Arnault’s, Lisa Jucca, Aimee Donnellan, Pranav Kiran Organizations: MILAN, Reuters, Twitter, Thales, Thomson Locations: United States, China, U.S

☆ Rolls-Royce boss reaps benefits of setting bar low
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-26 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

LONDON, July 26 (Reuters Breakingviews) - Six months after calling Rolls-Royce (RR.L) a “burning platform”, Chief Executive Tufan Erginbilgic is giving Britain’s flagship engineering group a high five. Shares spiked 20% as investors celebrated the possibility of free cash flow hitting 1 billion pounds in 2023, 37% above consensus. The company had nearly 3.3 billion pounds of net debt last year, and Barclays analysts are pencilling in an increase this year. Erginbilgic can safely argue that Rolls-Royce is no longer a burning platform, but until he closes that gap he can expect heat from investors. They do not reflect the views of Reuters News, which, under the Trust Principles, is committed to integrity, independence, and freedom from bias.

Persons: Tufan Erginbilgic, Erginbilgic, France’s Safran, Pamela Barbaglia, Aimee Donnellan, Oliver Taslic Organizations: Reuters, Royce, Barclays, Electric, Twitter, Thales, Thomson

☆ China’s growing pains are only just beginning: podcast
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-20 | by ( Aimee Donnellan | ) www.reuters.com time to read: 1 min

LONDON, July 20 (Reuters Breakingviews) - The recovery in the world’s second largest economy is stalling. In this Viewsroom podcast, Breakingviews columnists discuss how that weakness will test President Xi Jinping’s resolve to deleverage sectors including property and add urgency to find new growth engines. Listen to the podcastFollow @aimeedonnellan on TwitterSubscribe to Breakingviews’ podcasts, Viewsroom and The Exchange. Editing by Oliver Taslic and Thomas ShumOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles. They do not reflect the views of Reuters News, which, under the Trust Principles, is committed to integrity, independence, and freedom from bias.

Persons: Xi Jinping’s, Oliver Taslic, Thomas Shum Organizations: Reuters, Twitter, Thomson

☆ Novartis buyback offers partial cure for M&A risk
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-18 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

LONDON, July 18 (Reuters Breakingviews) - Novartis’s (NOVN.S) bumper buyback will offer a little relief to investors. Many had been waiting to see what the $225 billion Swiss pharma giant would do with an extra $20 billion burning a hole in its pocket after Roche(ROG.S) bought back its stake in 2021. It needs new drugs to replenish its pipeline and boost an ailing share price, which has still not recovered since the pandemic. But on Tuesday, CEO Vasant Narasimhan said he will launch a $15 billion buyback programme. The Swiss drugmaker’s $15.4 billion of net debt is less than 1 times its forecast 2023 EBITDA, according to Refinitiv.

Persons: Roche, Vasant Narasimhan, can’t, Aimee Donnellan, Xavier Niel’s, Neil Unmack, Streisand Neto Organizations: Reuters, Swiss pharma, Alcon, Madrigal Pharmaceuticals, Novartis, Twitter, Xavier Niel’s GAM, Commonwealth Games, Thomson Locations: Swiss

☆ Xavier Niel’s GAM raid looks less quixotic
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-18 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

NewGAMe, whose backers include telecoms mogul Xavier Niel and Swiss wealth manager Bruellan, launched a tender offer for just under 18% of GAM’s shares. Liontrust’s offer looked like the least bad option for GAM, which is losing money as its assets have more than halved since 2018 to 68 billion Swiss francs. And at least one other investor, with 6.5%, has said it won’t accept Liontrust’s offer. That means Liontrust will probably struggle to get to the two-thirds vote it would need to take over GAM. But GAM also has over 2 billion Swiss francs of tax losses to carry forward, lowering any future tax burden.

Persons: Xavier Niel, Bruellan, NewGAMe, Neil Unmack, Aimee Donnellan, Oliver Taslic Organizations: Reuters, GAM, Liontrust Asset Management, Twitter, Commonwealth Games, Cathay, Thomson Locations: Swiss

☆ Argenx drug boost is mixed blessing for suitors
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-17 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

LONDON, July 17 (Reuters Breakingviews) - Argenx (ARGX.BR) has long been a presumed takeover target for drugmakers like Pfizer (PFE.N). Many of its remedies like Vyvgart, which delivered positive drug trial results on Monday, are likely to reach their peak just as the big drugmakers’ revenues come under patent pressure. Still, the more successful Argenx becomes the more expensive it will be for a potential bidder. Since then the company’s shares have nearly doubled, including a 26% bump on Monday thanks to the positive trial results. Argenx’s drug trial success may give bidders comfort they are not buying a dud, but that reassurance comes with a downside.

Persons: Argenx, Prometheus, Aimee Donnellan, George Hay, Pranav Kiran Organizations: Reuters, Pfizer, Big Pharma, Twitter, Cathay, Thomson Locations: Belgian

☆ Thames Water’s leaky financials are far from fixed: podcast
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-13 | by ( Aimee Donnellan | ) www.reuters.com time to read: 1 min

LONDON, July 13 (Reuters Breakingviews) - The privately owned UK water company managed to cobble together a rescue from existing shareholders. But in this Viewsroom podcast, Breakingviews columnists discuss why the fresh funds may not be enough, and the threat of nationalisation hangs over the sector as a whole. Listen to the podcastFollow @aimeedonnellan on TwitterSubscribe to Breakingviews’ podcasts, Viewsroom and The Exchange. Editing by Oliver TaslicOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles. They do not reflect the views of Reuters News, which, under the Trust Principles, is committed to integrity, independence, and freedom from bias.

Persons: Oliver Taslic Organizations: Reuters, Twitter, Thomson

☆ BP’s German wind option risks multiple blowbacks
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-13 | by ( George Hay | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +5 min

But Germany also aims to raise as much cash as possible from selling wind power development rights. But wind projects around the world have been hit by turbine makers like Siemens Gamesa and Vestas (VWS.CO)hiking prices in 2022 by 30%. Shaking down the private sector is fine, but not if you’re left with no wind projects. Reuters Graphics Reuters GraphicsFollow @gfhay on TwitterCONTEXT NEWSOil majors BP and TotalEnergies have won a 7 gigawatt (GW) offshore wind site auction in Germany worth 12.6 billion euros ($13.96 billion). BP’s initial payments totaling 678 million euros, equivalent to 10% of the bid amount, will be paid by July 2024.

Persons: Bernard Looney, TotalEnergies, Looney, TotalEnergies ’, Patrick Pouyanné, Bernstein, you’re, BP, Aimee Donnellan, Pranav Kiran, Streisand Neto Organizations: Reuters, BP, Bernstein Research, Siemens, Reuters Graphics Reuters, TotalEnergies, Federal, Thomson Locations: Germany, Berlin, U.S, Heligoland, Baltic, Ruegen, Europe, TotalEnergies

☆ Cora strengthens Carrefour’s inflation defences
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-13 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

LONDON, July 13 (Reuters Breakingviews) - Carrefour’s (CARR.PA) 1 billion euros acquisition of smaller rival Cora could be seen as a consequence of the French group’s ability to navigate rocketing inflation. It will give the combined company a near 23% share of the fragmented and competitive French market, consolidating Carrefour’s leadership on its home turf. Five years ago, Carrefour and Casino had begun tentative talks for a possible merger that ultimately collapsed. If anything, Cora’s acquisition will make Carrefour a more attractive target. They do not reflect the views of Reuters News, which, under the Trust Principles, is committed to integrity, independence, and freedom from bias.

Persons: Cora, Daniel Kretinsky, Xavier Niel ., Pierre Briançon, Aimee Donnellan, Streisand Neto Organizations: Reuters, Carrefour, Casino, Twitter, Thomson Locations: French, France

☆ AXA’s XL cleanup would be logical, if belated
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-12 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

The boss of $66 billion AXA (AXAF.PA) bought XL Group back in 2018 to beef up its position insuring against storms and other catastrophes. AXA XL’s reinsurance arm, about 10% of group revenues, also drove pricing up 7% last year. Based on AIG’s (AIG.N) recent sale of its reinsurance arm Validus Re, which was done at 1.4 times book value, XL’s reinsurance unit might be valued at around $2.8 billion. The extra cash may help placate investors that never much liked the deal, given that the contribution to earnings from XL should now be more stable. They do not reflect the views of Reuters News, which, under the Trust Principles, is committed to integrity, independence, and freedom from bias.

Persons: Thomas Buberl, Aimee Donnellan, George Hay, Oliver Taslic Organizations: Reuters, AXA, XL Group, XL, Twitter, Thomson Locations: U.S, China

☆ Bayer crop spinoff would be tricky but bountiful
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-10 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

LONDON, July 10 (Reuters Breakingviews) - Bayer’s (BAYGn.DE) new CEO may be considering some valuable crop rotation. The 49 billion euro seed-to-drug maker’s shares rallied 3% on Monday after a Friday report by German news service Platow Brief said the company may spin off its troubled crop science division. The crop science division was born of Bayer’s disastrous takeover of Monsanto in 2018, and the German conglomerate is still grappling with lawsuits alleging that its weedkiller caused cancer. If it offloads the crop science division, Bayer could indemnify the new owners against the cost of future litigation up to a certain point. Currently, the crop science division throws off a lot of the combined company’s cash.

Persons: maker’s, Bill Anderson, Bayer, Anderson, Aimee Donnellan, Liam Proud, Pranav Kiran Organizations: Reuters, Monsanto, Twitter, Thames, Thomson Locations: China

☆ Canary Wharf faces stiff test to reinvent itself: podcast
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-06 | by ( Aimee Donnellan | ) www.reuters.com time to read: 1 min

LONDON, July 6 (Reuters Breakingviews) - HSBC is quitting the financial hub and moving to smaller quarters. In this Viewsroom podcast, Breakingviews columnists discuss how hybrid working is an existential threat for commercial property and how Canary Wharf’s pivot to residential and retail may only be a partial salve. Listen to the podcastFollow @aimeedonnellan on TwitterSubscribe to Breakingviews’ podcasts, Viewsroom and The Exchange. Editing by Oliver TaslicOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles. They do not reflect the views of Reuters News, which, under the Trust Principles, is committed to integrity, independence, and freedom from bias.

Persons: Oliver Taslic Organizations: Reuters, HSBC, Twitter, Thomson

☆ Man mixes risk and reward in private credit bet
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-06 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

LONDON, July 6 (Reuters Breakingviews) - Man Group (EMG.L) is getting into the hot private credit market, by buying a majority stake in lender Varagon Capital Partners for $183 million. Private credit, which involves managers like Ares Management (ARES.N) or Blackstone (BX.N) making bilateral loans to mostly private equity buyouts, has been one of the hottest areas in fixed income. Low rates encouraged investors to hunt for yield, and has seen mainstream managers like T. Rowe Price (TROW.O)join the fray. They will be rewarded with further payments if they extend their commitments, and Man hopes to use its network to broaden Varagon’s investor base. Given private credit managers like Fortress have traded at more than double that multiple, it looks like a relatively savvy deal.

Persons: Rowe Price, Neil Unmack, Aimee Donnellan, Streisand Neto Organizations: Reuters, Man, Capital Partners, Ares Management, AIG, Fortress, Twitter, KKR, Thomson Locations: Varagon’s, China

☆ Putin’s problems are only minor boost for Ukraine: podcast
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-29 | by ( Aimee Donnellan | ) www.reuters.com time to read: 1 min

LONDON, June 29 (Reuters Breakingviews) - The Russian president restored a semblance of calm in Moscow after an aborted mutiny. In this Viewsroom podcast, Breakingviews columnists debate what this means for the country’s invasion of its neighbour. Listen to the podcastFollow @aimeedonnellan on TwitterSubscribe to Breakingviews’ podcasts, Viewsroom and The Exchange. Editing by Oliver TaslicOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles. They do not reflect the views of Reuters News, which, under the Trust Principles, is committed to integrity, independence, and freedom from bias.

Persons: Oliver Taslic Organizations: Reuters, Twitter, Thomson Locations: Russian, Moscow

☆ Why backing prevention can yield better health: podcast
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-27 | by ( Aimee Donnellan | ) www.reuters.com time to read: 1 min

LONDON, June 27 (Reuters Breakingviews) - Treating illnesses like cancer consumes 11% of global GDP, according to the World Health Organization. In this Exchange podcast, Dr. Katie Tryon, director of healthcare strategy at Vitality, explains that overburdened care systems need to spend their way back into shape. Listen to the podcastFollow @aimeedonnellan on TwitterSubscribe to Breakingviews' podcasts, Viewsroom and The Exchange. Editing by Katrina HamlinOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles. They do not reflect the views of Reuters News, which, under the Trust Principles, is committed to integrity, independence, and freedom from bias.

Persons: Katie Tryon, Katrina Hamlin Organizations: Reuters, World Health Organization, Twitter, Thomson

☆ Fed’s rate hike habit will be hard to kick: podcast
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-13 | by ( Ben Winck | ) www.reuters.com time to read: 1 min

WASHINGTON, June 13 (Reuters Breakingviews) - The US central bank is mulling a pause after raising interest rates at its last 10 meetings. In this Exchange podcast, Morgan Stanley chief economist Seth Carpenter lays out the calculus behind the Federal Reserve’s next move, and why it’s so hard for policymakers to pivot. Listen to the podcastFollow @BenWinck on TwitterSubscribe to Breakingviews’ podcasts, Viewsroom and The Exchange. The opinions expressed are his own)Editing by Aimee Donnellan and Katrina HamlinOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles. They do not reflect the views of Reuters News, which, under the Trust Principles, is committed to integrity, independence, and freedom from bias.

Persons: Morgan Stanley, Seth Carpenter, Aimee Donnellan, Katrina Hamlin Organizations: Reuters, Federal, Twitter, Thomson

☆ Saudi oil cuts collide with investor scepticism: podcast
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-08 | by ( Aimee Donnellan | ) www.reuters.com time to read: 1 min

LONDON, June 8 (Reuters Breakingviews) - The Gulf state is slashing oil production in July and convinced OPEC+ to extend cuts to the end of 2024. In this Viewsroom podcast, Breakingviews columnists explain how these restrictions may still not be enough to convince investors to stop worrying about recession. Listen to the podcastFollow @aimeedonnellan on TwitterSubscribe to Breakingviews' podcasts, Viewsroom and The Exchange. Editing by Oliver TaslicOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles. They do not reflect the views of Reuters News, which, under the Trust Principles, is committed to integrity, independence, and freedom from bias.

Persons: Oliver Taslic Organizations: Reuters, Twitter, Thomson

☆ Indivior opioid settlement makes purer M&A case
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-05 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

LONDON, June 5 (Reuters Breakingviews) - Indivior (INDV.L) is one step closer to becoming a takeover target. Litigation risks have weighed down Indivior in the years following the company’s spinoff from Reckitt Benckiser (RKT.L) in 2014. The group still has lawsuits to settle over the same charges with insurers and patients. With its litigation risks easing, Indivior could soon lure larger cash rich pharmaceutical companies keen to access a market that is sadly showing no signs of decline. They do not reflect the views of Reuters News, which, under the Trust Principles, is committed to integrity, independence, and freedom from bias.

Persons: Reckitt, Roche, Indivior, Aimee Donnellan, Neil Unmack, Streisand Neto Organizations: Reuters, Suboxone, AstraZeneca, U.S . Centers for Disease Control, Twitter, Toyota, Thomson Locations: U.S

☆ Global tax would spoil investors’ plastic party
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-01 | by ( Lisa Jucca | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

This may change if supporters of taxes and other restrictive measures prevail at ongoing talks for a global treaty to end plastic pollution by 2040. And the world lacks sufficient infrastructure to sort discarded resins: only 9% of global plastic is recycled each year, the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development reckons. Some 90% of people support measures to combat plastic pollution, a global Ipsos survey from 2021 shows. Countries including Britain have already started applying levies on virgin plastic packaging. CONTEXT NEWSRepresentatives of 175 countries in March endorsed a landmark resolution to develop international, legally binding rules to end plastic pollution by 2040.

Persons: Inger Andersen, Barr, Aimee Donnellan, Pranav Kiran Organizations: MILAN, Reuters, Big Oil, ExxonMobil, Dow, Indorama Ventures, Saudi Aramco, Minderoo, Organisation for Economic Co, ” United Nations, Reuters Breakingviews, Barclays, Twitter, Thomson Locations: Sinopec, Britain, Paris

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