DIRS.INFO The most relevant business & tech news

☆ Analysis: WeWork's troubles darken outlook for embattled office market
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-03 | by ( Sinead Cruise | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +6 min

Backed by Japan's SoftBank, WeWork aimed to revolutionise the office market by taking long leases on large properties and renting the space to multiple smaller businesses on more flexible, shorter arrangements. Some leveraged property investors could struggle to earn enough rental income to service rising debt costs, they said. The number and volume of real estate loans due for refinancing in 2024 is unclear because many deals are struck privately between borrower and lender, Ed Daubeney, co-head, debt and structured finance, EMEA, at real estate services firm Jones Lang LaSalle, told Reuters. U.S. industrial and office real estate investment trusts (REITs) were seen 35.8% more likely to default, versus expectations a year ago. "We're at a massive turning point in the real estate investment market globally," Jose Pellicer, head of real estate strategy at M&G Real Estate, said.

Persons: Kate Munsch, Japan's SoftBank, WeWork, Jeffrey Havsy, Ed Daubeney, Jones Lang LaSalle, Savills, refinancings, What's, MSCI, Jefferies, Jose Pellicer, Sinead Cruise, Elisa Martinuzzi, Mark Potter Organizations: REUTERS, Media, Real Estate, Reuters, Analysts, Europe, Flex, BNP, G, Thomson Locations: San Francisco , California, U.S, York, New York, London, United States, Europe, Britain, Germany, California

☆ WeWork's troubles darken outlook for embattled office market
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-03 | by ( Sinead Cruise | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +6 min

☆ New routes, old coaches: Europe's night trains struggle to pick up speed
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-03 | by ( Rachel More | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +5 min

They travelled with European Sleeper, a Dutch-Belgian startup whose launch in May is part of a renaissance of night train travel. CHALLENGESYears of decline in Europe's night train network coincided with the rise of low-cost airlines. Supporters of night trains are pushing for more state help to compete against budget airlines, such as a value-added tax exemption on cross-border routes and lower track access charges. At night, trains compete with freight traffic and construction works, and during the busy morning hours they vie for arrival slots at stations with commuter services. Sarah and Sonia's train, European Sleeper's ES453 service, pulled in at 7.57 a.m., one hour and nine minutes late.

Persons: Bart Biesemans, Sarah, Sonia, Chris Engelsman, Engelsman, Alberto Mazzola, Sonia didn't, Victoria Klesty, Matthias Williams, Mark Potter Organizations: REUTERS, Rights, Berlin Central Station, Reuters Graphics, Reuters, OBB, Siemens Mobility, European Union, Thomson Locations: Berlin, Brussels, Belgium, Dutch, Belgian, Europe, Paris, Zurich, Norwegian, Oslo, Copenhagen, Prague, Amsterdam, Barcelona, France

The logo of IndiGo Airlines is pictured on passenger aircraft on the tarmac in Colomiers near Toulouse, France, July 10, 2018. REUTERS/Regis Duvignau//File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsBENGALURU, Nov 3 (Reuters) - India's biggest airline IndiGo said on Friday it would lease new planes and extend agreements on some older ones to offset the disruption from new problems with Pratt & Whitney engines. IndiGo has retained 14 of its older Airbus A320ceo, extended leases on 36 other aircraft, and is taking 11 additional aircraft on lease starting November. The company is in talks with Pratt & Whitney for compensation over engine issues and expected payments to be staggered, he said. Close to 40 IndiGo planes are currently grounded due to older issues with Pratt & Whitney engines and the airline is yet to ascertain the number of groundings from the new problems.

Persons: Regis Duvignau, Pratt & Whitney, IndiGo, Pieter Elbers, Gaurav Negi, Negi, Aditi Shah, Nandan, Shounak Dasgupta, Mark Potter Organizations: IndiGo Airlines, REUTERS, Rights, India's, IndiGo, Pratt & Whitney, Pratt &, Airbus, Thomson Locations: Colomiers, Toulouse, France, India, New Delhi, Bengaluru

A worker cleans a BMW i7 xDrive60 elecric car while it is charging at a BMW dealership in Sandton, South Africa, October 27, 2023. "We have no interest in sinking prices to gain market share. In a statement, BMW made no mention of high interest rates or inflation weighing on growth, in contrast to competitors such as Mercedes-Benz (MBGn.DE) and Porsche (P911_p.DE). Fully electric sales hit 15.1% of total sales in the third quarter, outstripping BMW's end-year target of 15%. Models from the upper price segment, like the 7 Series, the updated BMW X7, and the BMW X5 and BMW X6 models, are also driving sales growth.

Persons: Siphiwe, Oliver Zipse, That's, Walter Mertl, Victoria Waldersee, Christina Amann, Elaine Hardcastle, Mark Potter Organizations: BMW, REUTERS, JV, LSEG, Mercedes, Benz, Porsche, BMW X5, Thomson Locations: Sandton, South Africa, BERLIN, China

☆ Oil heads for weekly loss as geopolitical risk premium wanes
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-03 | by ( Ahmad Ghaddar | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

Both benchmarks gained more than $2 a barrel on Thursday, but were on track to lose about 4% on the week. The report could bolster the view that the U.S. Federal Reserve need not raise interest rates further. The Fed held interest rates steady on Wednesday, while the Bank of England held rates at a 15-year peak. The stable policies kept oil prices supported as some risk appetite returned to markets. "The oil market will be watching for an escalation of tensions, particularly on the Lebanese border, as Hezbollah attacks increase," City Index Fiona Cincotta said.

Persons: Jussi Rosendahl, Brent, Fiona Cincotta, Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah, Israel, Jeslyn Lerh, Mark Potter Organizations: REUTERS, U.S, West Texas, National Bureau, Statistics, U.S . Labor Department, U.S . Federal, Fed, Bank of, Palestinian, Thomson Locations: Porvoo, Finland, China, Bank of England, Gaza, Lebanese, Saudi Arabia, Singapore

☆ Global assets in spot bitcoin ETFs hit $4.16 billion - CoinGecko
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-03 | by ( Suzanne Mcgee | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

REUTERS/Dado Ruvic/Illustration/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsNov 3 (Reuters) - Global assets invested in exchange-traded funds (ETFs) tied to the spot price of bitcoin now total $4.16 billion, according to CoinGecko, a cryptocurrency data and analysis company. Nearly half of that sum, or $2 billion, is invested in the seven spot bitcoin ETFs that have been launched in Canada since 2021. Canada also is home to the single largest of the 20 ETFs, the Purpose Bitcoin ETF , which has $819.1 million in assets. The SEC has so far denied all spot bitcoin ETF applications, saying applicants have not shown they can protect investors from market manipulation. There's fierce debate about the potential size of the U.S. spot bitcoin ETF market, with estimates starting at $1 billion or more in first-day demand.

Persons: Dado Ruvic, Suzanne McGee, Mark Potter Organizations: REUTERS, Global, United States Securities, Exchange Commission, SEC, Thomson Locations: bitcoin, Canada, U.S, Jersey, Cayman Islands, Liechtenstein, Brazil, Australia

☆ GSK lifts annual forecasts on strong launch of RSV vaccine
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-01 | by ( Eva Mathews | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

Arexvy, launched in the United States recently, recorded third quarter sales of 709 million pounds ($862 million), trouncing analysts' expectations of 358 million pounds, according to a company-compiled consensus. GSK accounts for close to two-thirds of RSV shots given in the United States since early September, according to IQVIA data. Full-year sales are seen between 900 million pounds and 1 billion pounds for the shot, GSK said. The company faces about 79,000 cases related to Zantac in the United States, with 73,000 of them in Delaware and scheduled for trial starting January 2024. For the third quarter, Shingrix, the company's top-selling drug for shingles, generated 825 million pounds in sales.

Persons: Dado Ruvic, Abrysvo, Dani Saurymper, Emma Walmsley, Eva Mathews, Maggie Fick, Tomasz Janowski, Mark Potter Organizations: GSK, GlaxoSmithKline, REUTERS, stg, CVS, Pfizer, Pacific Asset Management, GSK's, Thomson Locations: London, United States, U.S, Europe, Japan, Delaware, Bengaluru

☆ Volkswagen puts off east European gigafactory amid sluggish EV demand
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-01 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

A Volkswagen logo is seen during the New York International Auto Show, in Manhattan, New York City, U.S., April 5, 2023. It said earlier this year it was in no rush to make a decision. Czech officials said on Wednesday they would start offering their proposed site for Volkswagen's battery plant to other investors, saying they could not afford to wait any longer for a decision. "We cannot continue to hold the land for this project," Fiala told a news conference. Industry minister Jozef Sikela said talks were happening with five investors, with two of those projects on a similar scale to Volkswagen's plans.

Persons: David, Dee, Delgado, Oliver Blume, BEV, Blume, Petr Fiala, Fiala, Jozef Sikela, Jason Hovet, Louise Heavens, Mark Potter Organizations: New York, REUTERS, Rights, Volkswagen, Volkswagen's, Skoda Auto, Thomson Locations: Manhattan , New York City, U.S, Europe, Czech Republic, Hungary, Poland, Slovakia, Salzgitter, Germany, Valencia, Spain, St, Thomas, Canada, Volkswagen's Czech, Czech

☆ Mega-cap firm valuations fall amid rising rates, tech earnings concerns
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-01 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

A sign is pictured outside a Google office near the company's headquarters in Mountain View, California, U.S., May 8, 2019. REUTERS/Paresh Dave/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsNov 1 (Reuters) - Most global mega-cap stocks continued their slide in October, hit by the rise in U.S. interest rates and lacklustre third-quarter earnings growth among some top U.S. tech firms. Reuters Graphics Reuters GraphicsTesla's (TSLA.O) market value tumbled almost 20% to $638 billion last month, largely due to the impact of rising U.S. interest rates on electric vehicle (EV) demand. On the other hand, Microsoft's (MSFT.O) market value jumped 7.1% to $2.5 trillion, buoyed by its strong fiscal first-quarter results in all segments. This growth was attributed to strong performances in cloud computing and PC businesses, bolstered by increased customer interest in its artificial intelligence offerings.

Persons: Paresh Dave, Patturaja Murugaboopathy, Gaurav Dogra, Mark Potter Organizations: REUTERS, Google, Reuters Graphics Reuters, Panasonic Holdings, Nvidia, Oil, Thomson Locations: Mountain View , California, U.S, Japan, China, Saudi, Bengaluru

AI Artificial Intelligence words are seen in this illustration taken, May 4, 2023. Britain's technology minister Michelle Donelan said "the right people with the right expertise" would be around the table to discuss how to mitigate the risks of AI. China will be a key participant, given the country's role in developing AI technology, although questions have been raised by some lawmakers in Britain about its presence. The U.S. ambassador to Britain, Jane Hartley, said the AI conversation should be global, but added that the invitation to China had come from London. Reporting by Paul Sandle and Martin Coulter Editing by Mark PotterOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: Dado Ruvic, Rishi Sunak, Sam Altman, Sceptics, Kamala Harris, Ursula von der Leyen, Antonio Guterres, Michelle Donelan, Jane Hartley, Francois, Philippe Champagne, Paul Sandle, Martin Coulter, Mark Potter Organizations: REUTERS, Safety, European Union, Elon, Bletchley, European, U.S, United Nations, Reuters, Thomson Locations: Britain, United States, China, European Union, U.S, London

☆ Hong Kong Finance Chief to Attend APEC Meet, Side-Stepping Dispute
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-31 | by ( Oct. | At A.M. | ) www.usnews.com time to read: +1 min

HONG KONG (Reuters) - Hong Kong's financial secretary Paul Chan will attend an APEC meeting on Nov. 15-17 in San Francisco, it said on Tuesday, standing in for Chief Executive John Lee and smoothing over a diplomatically sensitive issue for both Beijing and Washington. Beijing had previously said Lee, who is subject to U.S. sanctions, should attend. The United States imposed sanctions on Lee in 2020 over his role in the crackdown of pro-democracy demonstrations. Earlier this year, a State Department spokesperson said Washington would work with Hong Kong to ensure "appropriate" participation in the APEC (Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation) meeting. Hong Kong's statement said Lee was unable to attend due to "scheduling issues" and made no mention of the U.S. sanctions.

Persons: Paul Chan, John Lee, Lee, Wang Yi, Washington, Hong, Chan, Twinnie Siu, Farah Master, Ryan Woo, Louise Heavens, Mark Potter Organizations: Reuters, Chief, Beijing, Foreign, APEC, State Department, Economic Cooperation Locations: HONG KONG, San Francisco, Beijing, Washington, United States, Hong Kong, Asia, U.S

☆ Europe's space agency boss sees progress on Ariane 6 launcher
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-31 | by ( Tim Hepher | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

Director-General of the European Space Agency (ESA) Josef Aschbacher smiles as he attends an interview with Reuters during the World Economic Forum (WEF) in Davos, Switzerland, January 18, 2023. Josef Aschbacher, director general of the European Space Agency (ESA), said a more precise 2024 launch period would be defined following a delayed long-duration firing test due on Nov. 23. Aschbacher declined to comment on the state of negotiations ahead of the Seville "Space Summit", which is also due to address climate change and Europe's ambitions in space exploration. This is something that is highly critical for Europe," Aschbacher said. But in Europe's system of horse-trading for space funding, any agreement on exploration is likely to depend on progress on the critical issue of Ariane 6 funding, the people said.

Persons: Josef Aschbacher, Arnd, Aschbacher, Safran, Anders Fogh Rasmussen, Tim Hepher, Mark Potter Organizations: European Space Agency, ESA, Reuters, Economic, REUTERS, Rights, Elon, SpaceX, Russian Soyuz, Airbus, NATO, Thomson Locations: Davos, Switzerland, Seville, Spain, France, Germany, Italy, Russian, East, Ukraine, Europe, India, China, United States, Russia

☆ Bond fund managers head for third year of losses for first time in decades
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-31 | by ( Harry Robertson | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

Reuters GraphicsEuropean funds have effectively returned nothing this year after two down years, Morningstar data shows. Government bond funds have fared even worse and are set for three years of losses in both the U.S. and Europe. Bond yields rise as prices fall, and vice versa. Reuters GraphicsBank of America said there were $5.6 billion of inflows to long-dated Treasury funds last week, the largest on record. ICI data shows that U.S. money market funds have ballooned to $5.6 trillion in assets, from $4.6 trillion in October last year.

Persons: Dado Ruvic, Stefano Fiorini, Oliver Blackbourn, Janus Henderson, You've, Jonas Goltermann, Max Kettner, Harry Robertson, Mark Potter Organizations: REUTERS, Reuters Graphics, Morningstar, U.S, Generali Investments Partners, Reserve, Reuters, Treasury, Citi, ICE, Fed, Capital Economics, Investment Company Institute, Reuters Graphics Bank of America, Reuters Graphics Reuters, ICI, HSBC, Thomson Locations: Europe, U.S

☆ Odey Asset Management to close, website statement reads
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-31 | by ( Nell Mackenzie | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

Hedge fund manager Crispin Odey uses his phone outside of Hendon Magistrates' Court whilst facing one charge of indecent assault, in Hendon, London, Britain February 17, 2021. REUTERS/Toby Melville/ File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsLONDON, Oct 31 (Reuters) - Odey Asset Management, one of Britain's best known hedge funds, will shut, it said on Tuesday in a statement on its website, less than six months after its founder faced fresh allegations of misconduct. Crispin Odey, 64, was ousted in June from Odey Asset Management (OAM), which he founded in 1991, after the Financial Times and Tortoise Media reported that 13 women had alleged that he had sexually assaulted or harassed them. Where each fund manager would move, or if their fund was closed without finding an alternative home, was detailed on the hedge fund's website. No new fund manager for Sophia Whitbread, the only female portfolio manager listed, was named.

Persons: Crispin Odey, Toby Melville, Odey, James Hanbury, Jamie Grimston, Oliver Kelton, Freddie Neave, Geoffrey Marson, Canaccord Genuity, Adrian Courtenay, Green, Sophia Whitbread, Peter Martin, Nell Mackenzie, Alun John, Mark Potter Organizations: Hendon Magistrates, REUTERS, Odey, Management, Odey Asset Management, Financial Times, Tortoise Media, Asset Management, Lancaster Investment Management, Reuters, Inc, Bainbridge Partners, Thomson Locations: Hendon, Hendon , London, Britain, S.W, Mitchell

Orsted, the world's largest offshore wind developer, said it would stop developing its 2,248-megawatt (MW) Ocean Wind 1 and 2 projects in New Jersey. The offshore wind industry has found itself in a perfect storm of rising inflation, interest rate hikes and supply chain delays. Norway's Equinor (EQNR.OL), BP's partner on those New York offshore wind developments, booked a $300 million impairment on the projects on Friday. Orsted, which in June announced plans to invest 475 billion crowns by 2030, said it was in the process of reviewing its investments and could introduce cost-saving initiatives. Orsted's share price has tumbled 52% since an August profit warning, cutting its market value to 112 billion crowns from 235 billion.

Persons: Joe Biden, Norway's, Mads Nipper, Nipper, Bernstein, Deepa Venkateswaran, Jacob Gronholt, Pedersen, Louise Rasmussen, Gursimran Kaur, Terje Solsvik, Michael Perry, Mark Potter Organizations: Wednesday, U.S, BP, Thomson Locations: U.S, New Jersey, New York, Danish, Copenhagen, Bengaluru

☆ Russian rouble gives up gains after soaring to 3-month high
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-31 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

A view shows the newly designed Russian 1000-rouble banknote inside a currency detector during a presentation in Moscow, Russia October 16, 2023. REUTERS/Maxim Shemetov Acquire Licensing RightsMOSCOW, Oct 31 (Reuters) - The Russian rouble weakened on Tuesday, pulling back after soaring to a three-month high past 92 to the dollar earlier in a volatile session, supported by high interest rates, but facing a month-end reduction in foreign currency sales. By 1324 GMT, the rouble was 0.5% weaker against the dollar at 93.28 . "But at the same time, growth in the money supply is continuing and this will definitely result in rouble weakening." The rouble has strengthened from beyond 100 to the dollar since the decree was announced.

Persons: Maxim Shemetov, Alexei Antonov, Vladimir Putin's, Brent, Alexander Marrow, Christina Fincher, Mark Potter Organizations: REUTERS, Rights, Bank of Russia, Financial Times, Reuters, Thomson Locations: Moscow, Russia, Russian

☆ Siemens Energy shares recover further as guarantee talks continue
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-30 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

The logo of energy technology company Siemens Energy is displayed during the LNG 2023 energy trade show in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada, July 12, 2023. REUTERS/Chris Helgren/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsFRANKFURT/BERLIN, Oct 30 (Reuters) - Shares in Siemens Energy continued their recovery on Monday, topping Germany's blue-chip index as concerns over the group's ability to post guarantees for big industrial projects eased. Siemens (SIEGn.DE), which owns a 25.1% stake in Siemens Energy, was up 1.6%. News of the talks pushed Siemens Energy's shares to a record low last week on concerns the issue around guarantees could have an impact on the group's balance sheet. Around half of that, or about 15 billion euros, needs to be covered by the government, banks and Siemens, the sources said.

Persons: Chris Helgren, Joe Kaeser, Kaeser, Christoph Steitz, Markus Wacket, Rachel More, Mark Potter Organizations: Siemens Energy, REUTERS, Siemens, German Economy Ministry, Reuters, Welt, Thomson Locations: Vancouver , British Columbia, Canada, FRANKFURT, BERLIN, downpayments

☆ Sanofi loses $21 bln in market value after dropping 2025 profit target
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-27 | by ( Ludwig Burger | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +6 min

Under a push to spend more on immunology and inflammation drug development, the company abandoned a target for a 32% operating profit margin for 2025 to focus on "long-term profitability". EPS would see a strong rebound in 2025 but not enough to sustain the previous margin target. CONSUMER STAND-ALONECEO Hudson said the core innovative drugs business had improved enough to soon do without the more predictable cash flows from consumer products. The logo of French drugmaker Sanofi is seen a the Sanofi Genzyme Polyclonals in Lyon, France, September 30, 2023. The timing of the potential consumer listing, which Sanofi said would be in the fourth quarter of 2024 or later, would be set to maximize shareholder value.

Persons: Hudson, Sanofi, drugmaker, Paul Hudson, Terence McManus, Johnson, we've, Gonzalo Fuentes, Roche, Dupixent, Ludwig Burger, Sherry Jacob, Phillips, Mark Potter, Sharon Singleton Organizations: Sanofi, Bellevue Asset Management, Reuters, Barclays, Johnson, GSK, Pfizer, Bayer, Polyclonals, REUTERS, Provention, Merck & Co, Thomson Locations: France, Bellevue, Lyon, Paris

☆ Caixabank to look at how Telefonica and STC can cooperate
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-27 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

REUTERS/Violeta Santos Moura/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsMADRID, Oct 27 (Reuters) - Spain's Caixabank (CABK.MC), a major shareholder in Telefonica (TEF.MC), will analyse with the telecoms group any potential cooperation with STC after the Saudi telecoms firm's recent investment in Telefonica, the bank's CEO said on Friday. Caixabank has a 3.5% stake in Telefonica and a seat on its board. "Very particularly, we have to see what possibilities (Telefonica) has to cooperate with this great company, due to its size and relevance, which is STC," Gortazar said, adding Caixabank would seek to express its views on the matter at board-level discussions. As Telefonica is considered a defence service provider, Spain's Defence Ministry has a say in acquisitions and holdings between 5% and 10%, unless the buyer commits not to request a seat on the board. STC, which has yet to request authorisation from the Spanish government to exercise voting rights corresponding to the financial instruments, has said it does not intend to acquire control or a majority stake in Telefonica.

Persons: Violeta Santos Moura, Gonzalo Gortazar, Caixabank, Gortazar, Jesús, Andrei Khalip, Mark Potter Organizations: Spanish Telecom, REUTERS, Rights, Telefonica, Saudi, STC Group, Spain's Defence Ministry, STC, Thomson Locations: Madrid, Spain, Rights MADRID, Saudi

By 1417 GMT, the rouble was 0.4% stronger against the dollar at 93.57 , earlier reaching 92.5100, its strongest point since Sept. 12. "We expect that by the end of the year the rouble exchange rate will be trading in the range of 94-98 per dollar, 99-104 per euro and 12.8-13.4 per yuan," Vasilyev said. CURRENCY CONTROLSMonth-end tax payments, due on Oct. 30, which usually see exporters convert foreign exchange (FX) revenue to pay domestic liabilities, have supported the rouble in recent days. The rouble has strengthened from beyond 100 to the dollar since the decree was announced. "The specific impact of currency restrictions on the dynamics of the exchange rate will be insignificant in our opinion," she said.

Persons: Mikhail Vasilyev, Vasilyev, Yevgeny Suvorov, Suvorov, Vladimir Putin's, Elvira Nabiullina, Brent, Alexander Marrow, Mark Potter, Christopher Cushing, Deborah Kyvrikosaios, Gareth Jones Organizations: Bank, Bank of Russia, FX, Reuters, Thomson Locations: Russia, Ukraine MOSCOW, Moscow, London

☆ Yandex takes step towards Russian approval for restructuring
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-27 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

The logo of Russian technology giant Yandex is on display at the company's headquarters in Moscow, Russia December 9, 2022. REUTERS/Evgenia Novozhenina/File photo Acquire Licensing RightsMOSCOW, Oct 27 (Reuters) - Nasdaq-listed Russian tech company Yandex (YNDX.O) said on Friday it had obtained one of the approvals needed from the Russian government for its planned restructuring, which it hopes to complete by the end of 2023. Yandex, while reporting a 33% drop in third-quarter adjusted net income, said its board remained committed to completing the restructuring and divesting all Russia-based businesses. It said class A shareholders had now given consent for the merger of certain intermediate Dutch holding companies into Yandex NV. Yandex said it planned to take a restructuring proposal to shareholders for approval by the end of 2023.

Persons: Evgenia, Yandex, Alexander Marrow, Jason Neely, Mark Potter Organizations: REUTERS, Rights, Nasdaq, Yandex, Moscow, Reuters, Yandex NV, Thomson Locations: Moscow, Russia, Ukraine, nationalising, Washington

FRANKFURT, Oct 26 (Reuters) - Private equity firm Hg is weighing options, including a sale, for its German software business F24 next year, three sources familiar with the matter told Reuters. Hg is also weighing only selling part of its majority stake in the process, which is likely to target other private equity firms, one of the sources said. Deliberations are at an early stage and sale plans may not materialise if market conditions deteriorate, the sources said. Hg, which has not disclosed the exact size of its stake in F24, declined to comment. Earlier this year, F24 said it would work with telecom operator Telenet to continue to run the Belgian government's BE-Alert warning system for the next six years.

Persons: Emma, Victoria Farr, Anousha Sakoui, Mark Potter Organizations: Reuters, Telenet, Belgian, BE, Thomson Locations: FRANKFURT, Germany, Munich

☆ Spain's Sabadell lifts 2023 outlook for lending income and profitability
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-26 | by ( Jesús Aguado | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

The logo of Sabadell bank is displayed in Barcelona, Spain, March 16, 2023. Its net interest income (NII), earnings on loans minus deposit costs, rose 29% year-on-year to 1.24 billion euros. Higher lending income also helped the bank lift its 2023 target for return-on-tangible equity ratio (ROTE), a measure of profitability, to around 11.5% from 10.5%. Sabadell finished the quarter with a ROTE of 11.59% after net profit rose 46% year-on-year to 464 million euros, beating the 383 million analysts expected. Sabadell also announced an interim dividend of 0.03 euros per share in cash, up 50% versus last year.

Persons: Nacho, JP Morgan, Jesús Aguado, Varun, Mark Potter Organizations: REUTERS, Sabadell, British, TSB, Barclays, Thomson Locations: Sabadell, Barcelona, Spain, MADRID

☆ Unilever's new CEO lays out plans to simplify business, shares fall
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-26 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

Klondike, a brand of Unilever, is seen on display in a store in Manhattan, New York City, U.S., March 24, 2022. REUTERS/Andrew Kelly/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsLONDON, Oct 26 (Reuters) - Unilever's (ULVR.L) new chief executive Hein Schumacher on Thursday laid out long-awaited plans to simplify the business after admitting it had underperformed in recent years, but shares fell as some investors were unimpressed. Unilever reported a 5.2% rise in underlying sales, meeting analysts' average forecast, a company-provided consensus showed. Underlying price growth for the third quarter was 5.8% while underlying volumes were down 0.6%. The company also announced a senior executive shake-up, naming Fernando Fernandez, currently president of the beauty and wellbeing business, as its new chief financial officer.

Persons: Andrew Kelly, Hein Schumacher, Schumacher, Richard Saldanha, Alan Jope, Nelson Peltz, we've, Graeme Pitkethly, Fernando Fernandez, Richa Naidu, Mark Potter, Jason Neely Organizations: Unilever, REUTERS, Aviva, Thomson Locations: Manhattan , New York City, U.S, Europe

Search resuls for: "Mark Potter"

25 mentions found