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☆ From US to London, royal super fan makes 'once-in-a-lifetime' coronation pilgrimage
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-02 | by ( Jeevan Ravindran | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

[1/5] Royals super fan Donna Werner from the U.S. and fellow royals fan show their outfits ahead of the Coronation of King Charles, in London, Britain, May 2, 2023. Now she is ecstatic to be in London for her first coronation. Next to her tent, Werner has hung an American flag and a sign reading "US loves King Charles." She has also painstakingly created a hat covered with flags, photos and cut-out figures of King Charles. It really does, it really, really does."

Exchange operators' shares have outperformed in the past few weeks, with traders and analysts pointing to signs of investors rotating into exchanges, partly at the expense of banks. "Exchange operators are data and technology businesses with defensive utility-like features, while banks are highly cyclical and exposed to idiosyncratic business model risks". Average daily value traded at the London Stock Exchange (LSEG) (LSEG.L) rose 12.9% month-over-month in March. "Investors tend to look at the exchanges as defensive names. "We continue to like exchange stocks."

☆ LW CEO on inflation outlook
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-13 | by ( Jim Cramer | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: 1 min

LW CEO Tom Werner, speaks with "Mad Money" host Jim Cramer about inflation. Share Share Article via Facebook Share Article via Twitter Share Article via LinkedIn Share Article via Email

☆ Ukraine is well on the way to becoming part of the EU, EIB president says
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-13 | 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 EmailUkraine is well on the way to becoming part of the EU, EIB president saysWerner Hoyer, president of the European Investment Bank, said Ukraine is likely to be a "very successful" member of the European Union soon.

REUTERS/Tom KaeckenhoffLEVERKUSEN, Germany, April 5 (Reuters) - Incoming Bayer (BAYGn.DE) chief executive Bill Anderson says he is keeping an open mind on whether to break up the company into smaller pieces, as some fidgety investors want. "That's why I said I am going to have an open mind," he said. On the stock market Bayer, once the most valuable company on Germany's DAX blue-chip index, is now worth only about the same as it paid for Monsanto. At Bayer, he said he did not have his own desk and made use of the company's meeting rooms as needed. Professing a love of American football, hiking and snowboarding, he was also effusive about Bayer as a company and its heritage of medicines such as Aspirin.

☆ Boston Red Sox Chair: Fans have embraced baseball rule changes
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-29 | 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 EmailBoston Red Sox Chair: Fans have embraced baseball rule changesTom Werner, Boston Red Sox chairman, joins 'Squawk Box' to discuss the channels available for baseball content, the problems with regional sports networks, and more.

☆ You’ve heard about the 4-day workweek — but what about the 9-day fortnight?
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-17 | by ( Sophie Kiderlin | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +3 min

Enter the nine-day fortnight. The nine-day fortnight working pattern effectively means that across 14 calendar days, nine of them are working days and five are days off. The 9-day fortnight in practiceMany of the benefits are similar to those of the four-day week, according to those who have tested it. Ben Branson-Gateley, CEO and co-founder of human resources software firm Charlie HR which also follows a nine-day fortnight, says he has noticed additional benefits compared to the four-day week. Both Branson-Gateley and Franklin have seen their employees change the way they approach work as a consequence of the nine-day fortnight.

☆ This Isn't What Millennial Middle Age Was Supposed to Look Like - The New York Times
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-14 | by ( Jessica Grose | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +25 min

Things have been difficult for her family, she says, but one thing she isn’t worried about: a midlife crisis, looming just over the horizon. One of our questions was about whether they had experienced a midlife crisis and how they would define the term. Many people said they felt they couldn’t be having a midlife crisis, because there was no bourgeois numbness to rebel against. “Who has midlife crisis money?”The traditional midlife crisis, as presented in popular culture, at least, unfolds amid suburban ennui. We just increase our Lexapro.”Was the midlife crisis ever even real?

Companies Bayer AG FollowNEW YORK, March 9 (Reuters) - Bayer AG (BAYGn.DE) plans to spend $1 billion on drug research and development in the U.S. this year as it works to double its sales in the country by the end of the decade, Bayer's top U.S. pharmaceutical executive told Reuters. "It's time for us to double down on the U.S.," Guth said, noting that Bayer plans to sell the drugs it is developing itself in the country, rather than partner with U.S. companies like it has in the past. Bayer is looking to build up its portfolio of new drugs as it hopes to improve share prices, which have been hit by concerns over litigation surrounding weedkiller Roundup and a lack of trust in the company's leadership. Guth said he expects peak sales of 12 billion euros from cancer drug Nubeqa, kidney medication Kerendia, and two of its top pipeline assets, experimental stroke drug asundexian and experimental women's health drug elinzanetant. Reporting by Michael Erman; Editing by David GregorioOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

☆ Exclusive: Hydrogen firm Thyssenkrupp Nucera says IRA spurring U.S. interest
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-09 | by ( Christoph Steitz | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +5 min

Thyssenkrupp Nucera held talks about several potential green hydrogen projects "with very concrete timelines" during a trip to the United States last week, Chief Executive Werner Ponikwar said in an interview. Green hydrogen, produced using renewable energy, is seen as key to decarbonising industry and so meeting climate targets. "We are gaining a new growth market," Ponikwar said. Ponikwar expects the U.S. hydrogen market to grow to a mid double-digit gigawatt (GW) amount by the end of the decade, from just a few hundred megawatts currently. While the IRA supports hydrogen production, it does not require makers of hydrogen equipment to produce locally, unlike other renewable technologies where that's a condition to qualify for credits.

☆ Efficient Dortmund edge past Leipzig 2-1 to move into top spot
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-03 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

DORTMUND, Germany, March 3 (Reuters) - Borussia Dortmund took a two-goal lead in the first half and hung on for a nervous 2-1 victory over RB Leipzig on Friday to go top of the Bundesliga and stretch their perfect run in 2023 to eighth straight league wins. "We had to tremble until the end but I prefer to win than to play well and lose. "It was our big wish to take over the lead in the Bundesliga and keep putting pressure." "But we have to keep our heads up as there are still a lot of great matches in front of us." Leipzig face Manchester City in their own Champions League last 16 return leg on March 14 after their 1-1 draw in Germany last week.

☆ Bayer braces for falling profits in challenge for new CEO
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-28 | by ( Ludwig Burger | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

Bayer said in a statement that earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortisation (EBITDA), adjusted for special items, would likely be between 12.5 billion euros and 13 billion euros ($13.2 billion - $13.8 billion) this year, excluding the effect of currency swings. Bayer said this month it would replace its CEO early, recruiting former Roche (ROG.S) executive Bill Anderson, amid demands by some investors that Bayer should simplify its diversified structure and split into separate groups. A $6.4 billion provision remained on the balance sheet for glyphosate payouts, the larger of the two legal burdens. So Bayer should really not be on the buy list of many investors at the moment," said Molnar. Bayer saw herbicide sales jump 44% in 2022 after hurricane Ida damaged rival producers and constrained Chinese suppliers failed to plug the gap.

☆ Bayer sees lower 2023 operating profit on cost inflation
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-28 | by ( Ludwig Burger | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

FRANKFURT, Feb 28 (Reuters) - Agriculture and healthcare company Bayer (BAYGn.DE) said operating earnings would likely decline in 2023, hurt by higher costs and the reversal of last year's price boost for its glyphosate-based weedkillers. In a statement on Tuesday, Bayer said earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortisation (EBITDA), adjusted for special items, would likely be between 12.5 billion euros ($13.23 billion) and 13 billion euros this year, excluding the effect of currency swings. In his last presentation of the company's quarterly results, Chief Executive Werner Baumann said the company is active in the right areas of business. For 2023, "the company anticipates lower prices for agricultural herbicides as well as for some of its established pharmaceutical products," Bayer said, also citing high inflation-driven cost increases. ($1 = 0.9447 euros)Additional reporting by Patricia Weiss Editing by Friederike Heine, Kirsten DonovanOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

☆ European Investment Bank proposes new fund to counter US green subsidies - Spiegel
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-28 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

BERLIN, Feb 28 (Reuters) - The European Investment Bank could set up a new fund to counter subsidies offered by the U.S. Inflation Reduction Act, which pressure companies to move their production there, its president said in an interview published on Tuesday. Werner Hoyer told German news magazine Der Spiegel a fund set up to help companies stay afloat during the coronavirus pandemic could serve as a model for a fund to help safeguard European industry. "In principle, every investment project that has not yet received final approval is currently being put to the test." The European Commission earlier this month proposed allowing increased levels of state aid so that Europe can compete with the United States. The $430-billion act was passed by U.S. Congress last August and offers subsidies and tax incentives for a swathe of domestically produced green industry products.

☆ Liverpool owner Henry rules out sale of the club
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-20 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

Feb 20 (Reuters) - Liverpool's American owner John Henry has said there are no plans to sell the Premier League club after the Merseyside outfit's owners said in November they were exploring a sale. After FSG's initial statement, Liverpool chairman Tom Werner said there was no urgency to complete any potential deal. Are talking with investors about Liverpool? I believe so, but it won't be a sale. Reporting by Aadi Nair in Bengaluru; Editing by Ken FerrisOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

☆ Bayer's new CEO has a full in-tray as investors push for change
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-09 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +5 min

February 9 - By Ludwig Burger and Patricia WeissFRANKFURT (Reuters) - Bayer's incoming CEO is inheriting a full in-tray from his predecessor: Thousands of lawsuits claiming its weedkiller causes cancer, an underwhelming drug development pipeline and disgruntled investors looking for major change. "The most important task for Bill Anderson is to regain investors' trust," said Markus Manns, a portfolio manager at Germany's Union Investment, a top 20 shareholder. Bayer's shares lag those of its global rivals, having fallen about 40% - knocking about 30 billion euros off its market valuation - since it bought Monsanto in 2018 for about $63 billion. Baumann's early exit has stirred debate about what the 56-year-old Anderson can do to restore investor trust and boost Bayer's shares. A stand-alone pharmaceuticals business, with 18.3 billion euros in 2021 sales, could also become a takeover target.

☆ German union opposes Bayer split after CEO departure - taz newspaper
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-09 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

BERLIN, Feb 9 (Reuters) - Germany's IGBCE union opposes any splitting-up of Bayer after the departure of its chief executive and warned that the company should not bow to pressure from hedge fund activism, taz newspaper reported on Thursday. "From the point of view of the employees, Bayer with its three pillars is perfectly positioned for the challenges of the future," said IGBCE executive board member Francesco Grioli, who is also a member of the supervisory board at Bayer. The company currently has three divisions - pharmaceuticals, consumer health and crop science. "You can only manage the transformation of the industry with a corporate policy based on risk diversification and sustainability - not on hedge fund activism," Grioli told taz. Bayer announced on Wednesday that it was replacing its CEO early, recruiting the former head of Roche's pharmaceuticals business, as investor criticism over the company’s lacklustre share price grew.

☆ Bayer Hires Former Roche Executive to Succeed CEO Werner Baumann
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-08 | by ( William Boston | Patrick Thomas | ) www.wsj.com time to read: 1 min

Bill Anderson is set to join Bayer’s management board in April and become CEO in June. BERLIN— Bayer AG said it is replacing the company’s embattled chief executive, Werner Baumann , with Bill Anderson, a 56-year-old American pharmaceuticals executive. Mr. Baumann, 60 years old, has served as CEO since 2016 after previously serving as the company’s finance chief. His current term was due to expire in April 2024. He led the company’s acquisition of Monsanto for $63 billion in 2018, which left Bayer mired in litigation and saddled with about $43 billion in debt.

☆ Bayer picks outsider Anderson as CEO after investor pressure
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-08 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

News of the CEO change sent the German drugs-to-pesticides giant's shares to their highest level in nearly eight months. Shares in Bayer closed up 6% on the news of the new CEO, reaching the top of Frankfurt's blue-chip index and hitting their highest level since June last year. "Bill Anderson's mission is clear: enable Bayer to realize its full potential and create sustainable value for our shareholders, farmers, patients, consumers, employees, and all stakeholders of the company," Winkeljohann added. Sources told Reuters earlier this week that activist investor Jeff Ubben had contacted fellow investors to drum up support for big changes at Bayer, including the swift replacement of Baumann. Reporting by Patricia Weiss, Kirsti Knolle and Christoph Steitz; Editing by Tom Sims and Alexander SmithOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

☆ Factbox: Bayer's new CEO: long-time Roche, Genentech executive, Bill Anderson
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-08 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

LONDON, Feb 8 (Reuters) - Bayer (BAYGn.DE) bowed to investor pressure on Wednesday and named Bill Anderson, most recently head of Roche's (ROG.S) pharmaceuticals business, to take over from Werner Baumann as its CEO in June. Here are some key facts about the career about the 56-year-old American who will run the nearly 160-year-old German drugmaker:He is a chemical engineer by education and has worked for Genentech and its parent Roche since 2006CAREER:1989: started his career at Ethyl Corp, a U.S.-based fuel additives company, with postings in Belgium and the Netherlands1995: joined Raychem Corp., a U.S. technology and electronics firm1997-2006: worked at Biogen (BIIB.O) in the United States, UK and Ireland; roles included running its neurology unit, its largest business2006: joined Genentech as senior vice president, immunology and ophthalmology2010: became svp BioOncology2013: left Genentech to become global product strategy head/chief marketing officer at Genentech's parent company, Roche (ROG.S)2016: returned to Genentech as head of North American operations2017: appointed chief executive officer at Genentech2019-2023: CEO of Roche PharmaceuticalSources: Roche and BayerCompiled by Josephine Mason. Editing by Jane MerrimanOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

The campaign increases the pressure on non-executive Chairman Norbert Winkeljohann, who has faced calls from large shareholders for the swift replacement of Chief Executive Werner Baumann, who engineered Bayer's troubled Monsanto takeover. The approaches come after Ubben's activist investment fund Inclusive Capital Partners said last month it had bought a 0.83% stake in Bayer. David Herro, deputy chairman of Harris Associates, told Reuters in brief emailed comments that Ubben had contacted him to discuss Bayer. A spokesperson said Bayer was always open to a constructive dialogue with shareholders and declined to comment further. Investors who have publicly called for a swift CEO change hold at least a combined 6.7% in Bayer, according to Refinitiv data.

☆ Analysis: Swiss neutrality on the line as arms-for-Ukraine debate heats up
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-06 | by ( John Revill | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +5 min

Buyers of Swiss arms are legally prevented from re-exporting them, a restriction that some representing the country's large weapons industry say is now hurting trade. Under Swiss neutrality, which dates back to 1815 and is enshrined by treaty in 1907, Switzerland will not send weapons directly or indirectly to combatants in a war. Third countries can in theory apply to Bern to re-export Swiss weapons they have in their stocks, but permission is almost always denied. Meanwhile the right-wing Swiss People's Party (SVP), the lower house's largest party and traditionally staunch defenders of neutrality, now appears divided. ($1 = 0.9132 Swiss francs)Reporting by John Revill; editing by John Stonestreet and Hugh LawsonOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

☆ Liberian warlord's trial concludes in Switzerland
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-03 | by ( Emma Farge | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

If Kosiah is found guilty of crimes against humanity, this could extend his sentence to life. The Kosiah hearings were often laden with emotion, with some Liberian witnesses and victims confronting him for the first time since the country's civil wars. They all asked for anonymity because of the risk of reprisals back home where former warlords still hold prominent roles. In another, a witness who had been held as a sex slave by a soldier described how Kosiah had stabbed one of the Liberian plaintiffs present in the back. "I want him in jail," she told Reuters on the opening day of the appeals trial on Jan. 11.

☆ EU bank seeks pledges of more than 2 bln euros for Ukraine this year
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-02 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

BRUSSELS, Feb 2 (Reuters) - The European Union's investment bank on Thursday called for more budget guarantees from the bloc's 27 members to match or exceed this year the 2.2 billion euros ($2.4 bln) spent in Ukraine since the Russian invasion last February. The European Investment Bank (EIB) (EIB.UL), the lending arm of the European Union, said it had already disbursed 1.7 billion euros and had another 540 million for ongoing projects. He said much more would be needed to rebuild the country from the war, a task the World Bank last September estimated at $350 billion. The EU is also discussing with global partners the potential use of Russian assets frozen under sanctions to rebuild Ukraine, though legal doubts remain. These include an estimated $300 billion of Russian central bank assets.

☆ Morning Bid: Lights, camera, action
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-01 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

Investors are pricing in a quarter-of-a-percentage-point increase in the Fed's benchmark interest rate, which would mark the smallest hike since U.S. central bankers kicked off their tightening cycle 10 months ago with one the same size. But the forecasts still risk lagging behind policymakers' guidance on how high rates will go. The Bank of England is also expected to raise its interest rates by half a percentage point to 4% on Thursday. For today, European markets will focus on euro zone January flash PMI data, while results are due from Vodafone (VOD.L), GSK (GSK.L) and Novartis (NOVN.S). Germany and Italy figured among the biggest euro zone countries that recorded negative growth rates for the quarter but France and Spain expanded.

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