ECB has big enough stick to repel bad-loan revolt 24 Apr 2018 A political backlash may force the European Central Bank to ditch plans for stricter provisioning of 760 bln euros of dud loans. The saga has weakened chief supervisor Daniele Nouy, and may delay reform of Europe’s banking union. But the ECB has other tools to cut the loan pile.
UBS strength helped by two temporary leg-ups 23 Apr 2018 The Swiss lender’s investment bank made a 24 pct first-quarter return on equity. CEO Sergio Ermotti’s long-term downplay of fixed income looks great given recent equity volatility. But the weakness of key European peers also helps UBS look good.
Breakdown: Telecom Italia’s three-way poker game 23 Apr 2018 The incumbent telco is entangled in its umpteenth debilitating corporate fight. The row pits U.S. activist investor Paul Singer against French financier Vincent Bolloré. But an Italian state investor may be the key player. Breakingviews explains how the cards will fall.
Bolloréxit sums up Vivendi’s sub-par governance 19 Apr 2018 Vincent Bolloré stunned investors by abruptly handing the French media group’s chairmanship to his son. The 66-year-old Vivendi shareholder may well linger, muddying accountability for group strategy. Corporate governance issues are familiar, but this is still an eye-opener.
Publicis shows WPP benefits of smooth succession 19 Apr 2018 The French group last year bumped longstanding boss Maurice Lévy up to the chairman’s suite. New broom Arthur Sadoun has, under Lévy’s guidance, revamped the strategy and revived growth. That is a lesson for its UK rival, which lost CEO Martin Sorrell without any obvious heir.
Hammerson’s M&A fumble leaves defences down 18 Apr 2018 The shopping centre operator ditched a 3.4 bln pound plan to buy rival Intu after shareholder pressure. The group will now sell assets and focus on posh malls, but the U-turn makes it vulnerable. The UK’s strict takeover rules give rejected suitor Klepierre a narrow way back.
Danone pasteurised debt gives novel way to go green 18 Apr 2018 Banks led by BNP Paribas will charge the French dairy group a lower margin on a 2 billion euro credit line if it hits social and environmental targets. Perversely, lenders would gain if Danone drags its feet. But shareholders now have a clear incentive to do the right thing.
French telco jigsaw missing key regulatory piece 17 Apr 2018 Bouygues could bid for Altice’s French business, Bloomberg reports, to end a painful price war. It’d make more sense than failed 2016 talks with state-owned Orange. But regulators may still prefer four less-profitable operators to three stronger groups with power to raise prices.
Intesa offers partial hope for Italy’s dud loans 17 Apr 2018 The Italian lender is nearing a deal with Swedish group Intrum to shed 10.8 bln euros of dodgy loans from its balance sheet. Domestic peers will be cheered by the price, which is higher than rivals have attained in similar transactions. Then again, Intesa is a better bank.
Review: America’s founding was all about the money 13 Apr 2018 “New World, Inc.” explores the role of British merchant adventurers in laying the groundwork for the colonial settlements in Virginia and Plymouth. The book is a prequel of sorts to the Pilgrim creation myth that suggests Mammon, not religious freedom, drove America's creation.
Hammerson has walked away from wrong deal 13 Apr 2018 The mall operator’s aversion to Klepierre’s 5 billion pound offer has driven away the suitor. The UK company is now free to pursue the takeover of a smaller rival in its home market. But the drawbacks of the plan and its clumsy defence risk irking investors.
Sage has a big software glitch to fix 13 Apr 2018 Shares in the UK tech group lost a fifth of their value after 2018 sales guidance was cut by an eighth. A U.S. acquisition is growing well. But fewer customers are signing up for the most lucrative contracts. Investors are right to worry the company is still too optimistic.
Cerberus Alitalia carve-up would not fly with Rome 11 Apr 2018 The private equity firm is reported to be plotting a three-headed bid for the Italian airline. It would see easyJet take short-haul routes and Air France-KLM long ones, while Cerberus puts up the cash. But a breakup plan will not pass muster with a new nationalist government.
Trump trade war risks European carmaker backfire 10 Apr 2018 BMW and Daimler sell a surprising number of American-made vehicles in China. Were the U.S. president’s tariff-war rhetoric to become reality, carmakers could shrink stateside production. If Trump wants to keep rather than lose jobs, he should seize Beijing’s latest olive branch.
Bolloré’s best bet is to play along with Singer 10 Apr 2018 Vivendi chair Vincent Bolloré may lose a fight for control of Telecom Italia with activist investor Elliott. Selling his 24 pct stake would mean a loss, assuming he can find a buyer. Staying put while Paul Singer’s group tries to revive the Italian telco is a better option.
Swiss treasure helps AXA pay for XL folly 10 Apr 2018 The French insurer is restructuring its Swiss life insurance business, freeing up $2.6 bln of capital. The move provides some extra funding for its $15 bln takeover of Bermuda reinsurer XL. Reduced financial risk is welcome, but doesn’t help justify what remains a pricey deal.
Rail strikes will test French appetite for Europe 9 Apr 2018 President Emmanuel Macron’s plans to overhaul the state-run train company have sparked mass walkouts. He’s not the only one with much to lose. If voters turn against rail reforms, they may also blame EU laws that are forcing the pace of change and grow more critical of Brussels.
Italy’s TIM grab gives investors two messy options 5 Apr 2018 State investor CDP may buy 5 pct of Telecom Italia. If it sides with Elliott, the activist fund could take control from top shareholder Vivendi. The French group’s oversight of TIM has been dysfunctional. But protectionism coupled with complex ownership is also unappealing.
Leaving Intu at till is first step for Hammerson 5 Apr 2018 The UK shopping centre owner is waiting to see whether rival Klépierre makes a formal bid before it commits to buying smaller Intu Properties. Shareholders have already turned down their thumbs at the Intu deal. A sweeter offer from the French group would be a better outcome.
Berlusconi scores point off Bolloré in mogul feud 3 Apr 2018 Shares in the former prime minister’s Mediaset TV group jumped after it agreed to collaborate with Sky’s Italian unit. An investor in Mediaset, Vincent Bolloré’s Vivendi will gain from the deal. But, as Berlusconi and Sky grow closer, Bolloré’s own ambitions risk being sidelined.