Corona Capital: Uber, Tokyo Olympics 20 Jul 2020 Concise views on the pandemic’s corporate and financial fallout: Uber’s contact-tracing program could help stem Covid-19’s spread and mend relationships with municipalities; and Japan PM Shinzo Abe faces discontent over his handling of both the virus and the postponed Olympics.
Corona Capital: Expense accounts, Zoom’s new box 15 Jul 2020 Concise views on the pandemic’s corporate and financial fallout: Goldman Sachs’ earnings give an insight into pandemic-era client schmoozing, and virtual meeting facilitator Zoom tiptoes into the high-priced hardware market.
Corona Capital: Ice hockey 13 Jul 2020 Concise views on the pandemic’s corporate and financial fallout: The National Hockey League and its players make the kind of deal Major League Baseball sluggers and owners should have been pitching for.
Corona Capital: Mets star bidders, Robot slayers 10 Jul 2020 Concise views on the pandemic’s corporate and financial fallout: Power couple J. Lo and A-Rod are giving hedge fund manager Steve Cohen competition for the New York Mets baseball team; Covid-19 is accelerating automation of the meat industry.
Corona Capital: Amazon, Car perks, College sports 29 Jun 2020 Concise views on the pandemic’s corporate and financial fallout: Companies are trying to bolster pocketbooks. Amazon makes extra payments to employees while car companies are offering major discounts. Plus: Under Armour ditches its UCLA deal.
Liverpool has one more financial peak to conquer 26 Jun 2020 The Reds ended a 30-year wait to win English soccer’s Premier League. Healthy financial results helped on the pitch. To reach European rival Barcelona’s exalted level, though, Liverpool needs more sponsorship revenue. That should hold up better than TV rights and player trading.
Italy’s soccer woes give buyout firms an open goal 17 Jun 2020 CVC and Bain Capital are vying to take a stake in the country’s top Serie A league. Empty stadiums will strain clubs’ finances, while broadcasters have dragged their feet on handing over 1.3 bln euros of annual TV money. It offers a rare opportunity for a cut-price cash transfer.
Corona Capital: Next crisis, Overvalued markets 16 Jun 2020 Concise views on the pandemic’s corporate and financial fallout: Deutsche Bank analysts sound a warning about future catastrophes, while investors try to square overpriced stocks with their hopes of a recovery.
Baseball risks strike-out with its labor squabble 15 Jun 2020 Major League Baseball and the players’ union have been arguing about pay and the length of the 2020 season. Meanwhile, other sports may soon be back in action. Baseball had problems before Covid-19. By focusing on short-term gains, the union could undermine the sport’s future.
Corona Capital: KKR, Rugby, Centene 12 Jun 2020 Concise views on the pandemic’s corporate and financial fallout: KKR volunteers advisers to share the pain, Super Rugby heads back to the pitch, and Centene's best bet.
Viewsroom: Global takeaway and Cathay 11 Jun 2020 Nothing sums up pandemic dealmaking quite like this: As a merger of America’s top shopping mall operators crashed and burned, two of the world’s biggest food-delivery companies joined forces. Also, Cathay gets a bailout and so might the Mets. Breakingviews columnists discuss.
Corona Capital: Instacart stocks up 11 Jun 2020 Concise views on the pandemic’s corporate and financial fallout: Grocery-delivery firm and lockdown beneficiary Instacart tops up on capital while the getting is good.
Mets bid faces Philly-style conflict of interest 9 Jun 2020 Apollo’s Josh Harris and Blackstone’s David Blitzer are exploring buying the New York baseball team. But they already own a sports team in Philadelphia – home to the sluggers’ archrivals. Private equity understands conflicts. But handling sports fans may be their toughest test.
Vacant arenas fortify TV’s financial grip on sport 28 May 2020 When games restart, distancing rules will mean emptier soccer and baseball stadiums. Sports which rely less on live crowds, like golf or Formula 1, may benefit. More home viewers should further boost the value of media rights, already worth $51 bln, and offset lost ticket sales.
Corona Capital: Hockey, HBO, Minority businesses 27 May 2020 Concise views on the pandemic’s corporate and financial fallout: A plan to get pucks back on the ice offers a sporting template. Meanwhile, HBO’s streaming service may have missed its moment, and a survey shows minority-owned businesses have mixed feelings about life after Covid.
Review: Michael Jordan marks capitalism’s end, too 22 May 2020 ESPN’s documentary “The Last Dance” explores the basketball legend who defined the 1990s and the modern sports industry. He personifies U.S. business – with his intense competitiveness and bullying. He’s a reminder of when U.S. dominance looked like a slam dunk.
Soccer stars’ wallets will carry the Covid burden 21 May 2020 England’s top league wants to follow Germany by restarting games. That would help teams minimise lost sales, which may be up to $1.3 bln. Still, the world’s biggest sport will be far less lucrative after the virus. Player wage cuts may be the only way to ensure clubs’ viability.
Corona Capital: Car racing, Royal Mail 15 May 2020 Concise views on the pandemic’s corporate and financial fallout: NASCAR is gearing up for a comeback; Royal Mail CEO delivers good news by departing.
Cable networks risk post-virus vicious cycle 7 May 2020 Live sports are a big reason Americans tolerate pricey pay-TV packages. The lack of games is an excuse to cut the cord. Yet the NFL and others will want more for broadcast rights to make up for empty seats. That could push cable bills higher, and more subscribers toward the exit.
Corona Capital: Payments M&A brawl, Endeavor 7 May 2020 Concise views on the pandemic’s corporate and financial fallout: Payments firm Wex’s attempt to ditch a double deal for two UK rivals will face legal pushback and perhaps Elliott Management’s ire. Talent agency Endeavor’s 2018 Epic Games investment is starting to come in handy.