Arsenal manager’s weak second half instructs CEOs 20 Apr 2018 Frenchman Arsène Wenger is hanging up his boots at the North London soccer club after 22 years. A golden age of winning seasons followed his arrival in 1996, but Arsenal underwhelmed for the last decade. As with corporate bosses like WPP's Martin Sorrell, he hung around too long.
Solid takeover hurdle trips up Foxconn of sneakers 11 Apr 2018 Taiwanese contract footwear maker Pou Chen wanted full control of its Hong Kong affiliate Pou Sheng. The $1.4 bln deal was nixed, however, by just 4 pct of investors. There's a risk that the rigorous system can be gamed, but it commendably tilts in favour of outside shareholders.
Indian cricket plays well for Disney and Murdoch 6 Apr 2018 Fox’s Star India is paying almost $1 bln to secure its monopoly over Indian cricket. It is unusual to see a company in play splashing the cash so freely. That suggests Disney, which is keen to buy parts of Rupert Murdoch's empire, shares his enthusiasm for this growth market.
Adidas catchup race has further to run 14 Mar 2018 The shoemaker’s shares have outpaced Nike and Puma during a global sportswear boom in the last three years. However, they still trade at a discount to main rivals, despite faster revenue growth and improving margins. Hitting new, higher targets should help Adidas close the gap.
Which gunmaker will exit assault rifles first? 28 Feb 2018 With the decision by Dick's Sporting Goods to take AR-15s off its shelves, it's a matter of time before one of the big producers of firearms gets out of tactical weapons and reverts to its self-defense and hunting roots. Aside from sending a message, it would be good business.
Sky and BT impose unusual austerity on UK soccer 14 Feb 2018 The pay-TV company and telecoms group showed novel restraint in bidding for the right to air English Premier League games. They will pay less per match and a fifth of games are unsold. Soccer clubs facing leaner times can pin their hopes on new bidders and international rights.
Korea can aim for Olympic economic bronze 9 Feb 2018 Hosting typically leads to financial defeat. The 2018 Winter Games will cost about $13 bln. In 2002, TV revenue equaled 30 pct of Salt Lake City's smaller tab. Pyeongchang won't land that split nor probably match Vancouver's. It should, however, skate past super-pricey Sochi.
Amazon can justify foray into UK soccer-rights war 5 Feb 2018 The tech group may bid to broadcast England’s Premier League. A head-on battle with Sky, which paid 4.2 bln pounds last time, would be costly. But Amazon could break even by buying just a few matches so long as 15 pct of rivals’ customers jump ship to its TV service.
BT belatedly remembers it’s a telecom business 2 Feb 2018 Under new chair Jan du Plessis, the former UK telephone monopoly seems more focused on network investment than costly TV forays. It is building more fibre internet lines and may declare a truce with rival Sky on soccer rights. That should please both regulators and shareholders.
Wanda’s sports spinoff would help trim flab 5 Jan 2018 The Chinese conglomerate could float sports assets acquired in haste, including a sports marketer and a triathlon organiser, Reuters says. Fresh funds could help cover offshore debts. Streamlining might also persuade regulators to let the main property unit list onshore.
Viewsroom: Debt markets set for wild ride 4 Jan 2018 More government borrowing and less central bank buying will force bondholders to fend for themselves, Breakingviews predicts. Plus, passive funds will force out a CEO, electric vehicles give gasoline cars a run for their money and soccer clubs’ spending splurge will intensify.
Our 2018 predictions on Reuters TV 31 Dec 2017 From the CEOs who should run for U.S. president, to the banks that ought to be sizing up mergers, our writers give their take on the coming year in a series of Reuters video reports.
European soccer’s spending splurge will intensify 29 Dec 2017 Transfer fees like the $263 mln Paris St Germain paid Barcelona for Neymar have stoked talk of a bubble. But increased spending is mostly justified by the soaring value of broadcasting rights. If U.S. tech giants join the action in 2018, players will reap the benefits.
Man City can narrow the deficit in Chinese soccer 29 Dec 2017 When it comes to mainland investment in European soccer and vice versa, the score is $3bln-nil. China’s splurge is over, but connecting old teams and new fans still makes sense. The Abu Dhabi-owned group behind Manchester City could be the first heavyweight to go the other way.
Gym chain’s China private equity workout has legs 19 Dec 2017 An ex-Goldman banker’s buyout firm is backing posh Hong Kong gym chain Pure. Fitness investments can turn ugly. One big opportunity, however, is expansion in China where the $4.4 bln health club market is expected to grow 20 pct annually. That sweat could help to pump up returns.
Lululemon retailing regime nears peak fitness 12 Dec 2017 A hot lifestyle brand, a brick-and-click sales model that keeps prices high and a growing opportunity to outfit men has the leisure-wear maker outpacing its flabby peers. Yet growth goals look a stretch and margins struggle to keep up. A premium valuation demands constant toning.
Cox: Popping gun bubble to bring financial casualties 12 Dec 2017 Five years since Sandy Hook, the firearms trade has never had a better friend in the White House than Donald Trump. Yet the industry is in terrible shape, having already fulfilled years of future demand. Storied Remington, maybe others, will face bankruptcy in 2018.
Orange can squeeze out a higher valuation 7 Dec 2017 The telco’s share price has been held back by high investment, price wars, and the French state’s holding. But the company is ahead of rivals in laying fibre broadband and can pay bigger dividends. That will narrow the 16 percent discount at which it trades to European peers.
New Delhi bowls Rupert Murdoch a bouncer 4 Dec 2017 Star India may be forced to share its $2.5 bln cricket rights with a state broadcaster if the league is deemed of “national importance.” That might score the government some points. For Murdoch, who is fielding interest for parts of his Fox empire, it would be a sticky wicket.
Holding: Bet on Supreme Court to lift gambling ban 1 Dec 2017 New Jersey’s suit to legalize sports wagers makes financial policy sense, but the constitutional argument is stronger. Limits on the feds’ power mean states do their own thing on everything from pot to guns. A court already inclined that way is likely to extend it to betting.