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☆ Rio swaps wild goose chase for white-knuckle ride
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-18 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

SHARM EL-SHEIKH, Egypt, Nov 18 (Reuters Breakingviews) - Rio Tinto’s (RIO.L) tortuous quest to buy out minorities in Turquoise Hill Resources (TRQ.TO) just got even worse. Now a side deal to remove Pentwater Capital Management and SailingStone Capital Partners from the deciding vote has fallen apart. Rio needs Turquoise Hill, which controls two-thirds of Mongolian mega-mine Oyu Tolgoi, to ensure a tighter grip on one of its key growth projects. But to win the vote it needs a simple majority of the minorities, and Pentwater and SailingStone have over 30% already. Hence the attempted side deal, which would have outsourced the valuation of the two minorities’ stakes to an arbitration process.

☆ No China is no fix for Britain’s industrial woes
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-17 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

LONDON, Nov 17 (Reuters Breakingviews) - The British government has blocked the sale of a silicon wafer factory in Wales to a subsidiary of China’s Wingtech Technology (600745.SS). It’s a sign of the growing wariness among western governments of the risks involved in Chinese investment. The decision to force Netherlands-based Nexperia to sell most of its stake in the Newport Wafer Fab business isn’t illogical. The plant makes basic silicon wafers, used in chips for switches in domestic appliances such as vacuum cleaners. They do not reflect the views of Reuters News, which, under the Trust Principles, is committed to integrity, independence, and freedom from bias.

☆ Sea is turning the tide
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-16 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

BENGALURU, Nov 16 (Reuters Breakingviews) - The loss-making Southeast Asian technology giant’s decision to ditch its growth-at-all-costs strategy is showing results. The $28 billion U.S. listed games-to-payments company Sea (SE.N) has been exiting some markets and slashing jobs and discounts. Overall group revenue grew 17% to $3.2 billion in the quarter, beating analyst estimates. Sea is now working toward achieving Shopee’s adjusted EBITDA breakeven by the end of 2023. The improvements will shore up support for its decision to remain in Brazil, a big emerging market.

☆ Intesa’s payments exit sends awkward message
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-15 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

MILAN, Nov 15 (Reuters Breakingviews) - Carlo Messina has picked a puzzling moment to get out of Nexi (NEXII.MI). Italy’s biggest bank by market capitalisation, a key industrial partner to the 11 billion euro payments group, sold its entire 5% stake at 8.7 euros a share late on Monday, or 584 million euros. Intesa, which sold its retail payments business to Nexi for 1 billion euros and entered a long-term partnership, will remain a key business ally. Analysts believe Nexi is worth 12 euros a share, according to average target prices from Refinitiv. Intesa’s hurried sale suggests the stock, which has already lost more than a third of its value this year, may have further to fall.

☆ Nio speeds then sputters on path to profitability
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-11 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

Yet costs accelerated at breakneck speed, causing its net loss to increase nearly five times from a year earlier to nearly $600 million, William Li’s $17 billion company reported on Thursday. Li told analysts he expects the automaker’s core business to break even in the fourth quarter of 2023, without offering detail. His optimism is undermined, however, by signs the company has lost control of costs. Nio can’t be blamed for rising battery costs or China’s zero-Covid campaign, as they are out of Li’s control. They do not reflect the views of Reuters News, which, under the Trust Principles, is committed to integrity, independence, and freedom from bias.

☆ SoftBank buyout goes from impossible to improbable
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-11 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

The $74 billion Japanese investor logged earnings of $21 billion in the three months to end September after trimming its stake in Alibaba (9988.HK). It offsets some gloom as technology valuations plummet; writedowns of its punt on crypto exchange FTX will follow. Expectations that these repurchases are a prelude to a buyout have helped lift SoftBank’s shares by one quarter in the past month. But any further sales of Alibaba or other assets would give SoftBank the firepower to keep buying out minorities. They do not reflect the views of Reuters News, which, under the Trust Principles, is committed to integrity, independence, and freedom from bias.

☆ Japan lives at the bleeding edge of good enough
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-11 | by ( Pete Sweeney | Thomson Reuters | Asia Economics Editor Pete Sweeney Joined Reuters Breakingviews In Hong Kong In September Previously He Served As Reuters' Chief Correspondent For China Economy | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +6 min

Prime Minister Fumio Kishida says he will put innovation and scientific research at the “centre” of his policy push. That has meant pushing the $1.3 trillion Government Pension Investment Fund to get involved funding startups while removing policy bottlenecks. In the United States nearly a third of venture capital came from pensions whereas in Japan it is only 3%, according to a Nikkei report. However, the blunting of Japan is due more to its failure to deploy existing tools and best practices than invent new ones. Investing in the future makes for riveting speeches, but Japan Inc will get more from reinventing itself than inventing new things.

In the three years to the end of 2021, Alphabet, Meta and Snap (SNAP.N) hared ahead. The upshot was the Big Tech groups boasted 2021 revenue of $380 billion, most of which was digital advertising. Alphabet, Meta and Snap saw revenue up a miserly 2.4%, on average. For one thing, digital ad giants’ stellar 2021 made maintaining the pace trickier. Meta and Alphabet will still see some of this cash given traditional ad players will use platforms like Google for these big clients’ digital advertising.

☆ UK energy IPOs get a vote of minimal confidence
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-09 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

LONDON, Nov 9 (Reuters Breakingviews) - In one sense, Ithaca Energy’s initial public offering on Wednesday was a success. But a 6% drop below its 250 pence listing price on its first day of trading suggests it’s not all good news read more . Ithaca, owned by Israel’s Delek Group (DLEKG.TA), has a newly minted equity value of roughly $2.9 billion, and $1.4 billion of net debt. And Ithaca might have to rethink key growth projects, like oilfield Cambo, if the UK elects a potentially more anti-fossil fuel Labour government in the coming years. They do not reflect the views of Reuters News, which, under the Trust Principles, is committed to integrity, independence, and freedom from bias.

The respective chief executives of $139 billion Philip Morris International (PM.N) and $95 billion Rio Tinto (RIO.L) are attempting takeovers that are central to their strategies. Olczak, who needs 90% of shareholders to accept in order to automatically de-list the company, initially faced opposition to his $16 billion offer. The mining giant asked for the postponement at the request of Quebec’s financial regulator, Turquoise Hill said. Two key investors in Turquoise Hill have agreed to withhold their votes on the bid, with their final deal dependent on Canadian arbitration. Turquoise Hill shares closed at C$41.6 on Nov. 4.

The initial public offering of the ride-hailing-to-online-shopping giant at a $28 billion market capitalisation in April was a landmark deal on the back of relaxed listing rules. Now GoTo will have to manage a big contortion in the $570 billion stock market. At a stretch, GoTo’s involvement might prevent a further price slump on the company’s current $15 billion market value. The company sold nearly $1 billion of stock at a multiple of 17 times forecast revenue for 2023. The meddling in the secondary market looks like a necessary evil.

Web Summit, the sector’s annual bash held in Lisbon, is doing the opposite. And the usual welter of tech companies, investors and celebrities are still milling around. That new strain of reality-based tech investing has a lot further to go, though. The relative lack of investor focus at Web Summit on new technologies that could really move the dial, such as ways to ease climate change, is striking. The sector, Smith told Breakingviews, will increasingly “influence what people talk about and who comes to Web Summit”.

☆ BNP defies French banks’ interest-rate malaise
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-03 | by ( Liam Proud | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

A regulated savings rate, with roots tracing back to the French Emperor’s wars of conquest, is one reason why Gallic retail lenders could miss out on an interest-rate windfall that is boosting banks elsewhere. Ironically, 60 billion euro BNP Paribas (BNPP.PA) looks set to escape the curse because of some international expansion of its own. One-third of Gallic lenders’ deposits sit in savings vehicles with regulated interest rates, Jefferies analysts reckon. Combined with other interest-rate regulations and the fact that many French mortgage borrowers are on fixed rates, the upshot is that Gallic retail lending margins don’t rise as quickly as they might in Spain or Britain. Chief Executive Jean-Laurent Bonnafé, who is approaching his 11-year anniversary in the role, deserves credit for helping BNP to defy the lending malaise at home.

☆ Saudi Credit Suisse deal is fair Buffett imitation
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-02 | by ( Liam Proud | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

Saudi National Bank (1180.SE) is continuing the tradition, ponying up about $1.4 billion for a 9.9% stake in troubled Credit Suisse (CSGN.S). By contrast, Saudi Arabia’s biggest bank is acquiring $1.2 billion of new Credit Suisse shares in a private placement and then participating in the bank’s imminent rights issue. Credit Suisse is targeting a 6% return on tangible equity in 2025, once Chief Executive Ulrich Körner has cut costs and shrank the investment bank. The Gulf bank has talked up the wider opportunities of partnering with Credit Suisse. That would cost SNB roughly 220 million Swiss francs, taking its total investment spend to around 1.4 billion Swiss francs.

☆ BYD catches investors at distracted driving
▼ + stars: | 2022-10-18 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

Investors drove the $93 billion company’s shares up around 5% on Tuesday after the company estimated its net profit nearly quadrupled in the quarter ending September compared to the same period last year. Its global market share overtook Tesla (TSLA.O) in the first eight months of the year, according to Bernstein analysts. Tuesday’s recovery suggests at least some investors now believe that was overdone. BYD is driving into new markets overseas and moving its once budget brand up-market. They do not reflect the views of Reuters News, which, under the Trust Principles, is committed to integrity, independence, and freedom from bias.

☆ Next Italy PM is bolstering her EU credentials
▼ + stars: | 2022-10-14 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

MILAN, Oct 14 (Reuters Breakingviews) - Italy’s would-be premier Giorgia Meloni is seeking to score points with investors. The hard-right Brothers of Italy party leader, expected to become prime minister later this month, is looking to appoint pro-European lawmaker Giancarlo Giorgetti, 55, as finance minister. A veteran member of the League, Meloni’s coalition partner, Giorgetti is a moderate, pro-market politician. But the central banker, a top candidate to become Bank of Italy governor next year, turned down Meloni’s approach, people close to him told Reuters Breakingviews. They do not reflect the views of Reuters News, which, under the Trust Principles, is committed to integrity, independence, and freedom from bias.

☆ Ferrari’s SUV clears road to bold sales target
▼ + stars: | 2022-09-14 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

REUTERS/Guglielmo Mangiapane/File PhotoMILAN, Sept 14 (Reuters Breakingviews) - Ferrari’s (RACE.MI) long-awaited Purosangue SUV will propel the Italian sports carmaker towards its bold revenue target read more . Rival Lamborghini’s Urus SUV is already on sale. That implies car sales of perhaps 5.4 billion euros, after excluding sponsorship and other revenue. That’s 1.2 billion euros of revenue. He could make 5.5 billion euros in car revenue before even hiking price tags.

☆ Gloves come off in India’s digital content wars
▼ + stars: | 2022-09-05 | by ( Una Galani | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

MUMBAI, Sept 5 (Reuters Breakingviews) - The gloves are coming off in India’s content wars, and the traditionally cautious Disney (DIS.N) is proving a more ruthless fighter than many had expected. It also will hold digital rights to the ICC games throughout the rest of the year. By selling off some of the rights, Disney might reduce its spend on the ICC by a third or more. The American-owned company will hold onto the streaming rights for its digital platform, Disney+ Hotstar. The ICC said on Aug. 27 that Disney had won the TV and digital rights to events through the end of 2027.

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