Supermarkets

Czech billionaire’s supermarket raid looks pricey

14 April 2021

Daniel Kretinsky doubled his stake in British grocer J Sainsbury to 10%, prompting talk of a takeover. The $7.5 bln chain has thrived during the pandemic, but a reopening economy will mean more competition and higher costs. A buyout would yield mediocre returns.

Capital Calls: Bling deal

6 April 2021

Concise views on global finance in the Covid-19 era: Signet, the owner of jewelers Zales and Kay, is buying rental firm Rocksbox.

Carrefour makes most of French M&A exceptionalism

24 March 2021

After seeing its own takeover blocked by President Emmanuel Macron, the Paris-based retailer is buying Brazil’s third-largest grocery chain. The $1.3 bln price is reasonable, and the touted savings large. Foreign expansion is more appealing than bulking up in slow-growth France.

Capital Calls: Digital art

11 March 2021

Concise views on global finance in the Covid-19 era: A blockchain-protected work by Beeple sold for $69 million at Christie's.

UK grocer’s $10 bln LBO just about fits in trolley

4 February 2021

The Issa brothers and TDR will put in only $1 bln to buy Asda. The deal makes canny use of generous debt and property markets. Borrowing, while high, looks manageable so long as the gas pump tycoons can manage the triple threat of discounters, Amazon and Brexit.

Couche-Tard may be impulse buyer after French fail

21 January 2021

Founders of the minimart empire, blocked from buying Carrefour, have a super voting share that expires in 11 months. After that they’d need investor support for a big purchase like German grocer Metro. The 13% drop in the Canadian group’s stock shows fears of a short-term spree.

Carrefour’s merger blues need retail therapy

19 January 2021

The $15 bln grocer’s shares are in the bargain bin after the French executive blocked a deal with Canada’s Couche-Tard. A sale of its Brazil unit could give investors a boost, but leave a rump in a challenged market. Buying Gallic rival Casino is CEO Alexandre Bompard’s best bet.

France’s Carrefour defence targets wrong enemy

14 January 2021

Finance Minister Bruno Le Maire opposes a possible $20 bln takeover of the grocer by Canada’s Alimentation Couche-Tard. He’s right to worry about jobs and supply chains after Covid-19. But a new owner would still need French cashiers, while suppliers are better protected by law.

Canada’s pump giant tries cheeky French till dash

13 January 2021

Quebec-based Couche-Tard is eyeing supermarket chain Carrefour. There’s little overlap, but supermarkets may offer the $37 bln petrol station operator a hedge against an electric vehicle boom. The target’s depressed share price means its shareholders are unlikely to play ball.

Stock rewards for all would be valued virus legacy

29 December 2020

Woolworths pared manager bonuses so that over 100,000 employees could get a little slice of equity in the Aussie supermarket chain. More companies should follow suit. What’s good for Silicon Valley and Wall Street is good for everyone, starting with frontline pandemic workers.

Corona Capital: Friendly’s and Dunkin’ Donuts

2 November 2020

Concise views on the pandemic’s corporate and financial fallout: Two Massachusetts casual-dining chains change hands, one in bankruptcy. Friendly's found Covid-19 even more unfriendly than did Dunkin' Brands.

Corona Capital: Utah Jazz, Comcast, Kraft

29 October 2020

Concise views on the pandemic’s corporate and financial fallout: Utah Jazz’s owners sign off with a respectable return; Comcast shoots the light out on broadband; and Kraft rides the stay-at-home wave.

Corona Capital: Mixed market messages, Chile votes

26 October 2020

Concise views on the pandemic’s corporate and financial fallout: Global stocks slumped on Monday as Covid-19 cases rose – yet some prognosticators are readying for major stimulus; and Chile has shown that pandemics don’t have to squash voter turnout.

Daniel Kretinsky’s grocer grab has sliver of sense

1 October 2020

The Czech billionaire has bought $1.5 bln worth of shares in European supermarkets like J Sainsbury and Casino. Anaemic growth and low margins suggest that’s unwise. But if his targets can slash costs and take advantage of an online boom, his bet may begin to look shrewd.

Corona Capital: Covid-19 tests, Bed Bath & Beyond

1 October 2020

Concise views on the pandemic’s corporate and financial fallout: Diagnostic company Quidel predicts a quarterly earnings bonanza; meanwhile the pandemic turns a struggling retailer into a winner, at least temporarily.

Walmart pays price for late UK checkout

30 September 2020

The retail giant may sell grocer Asda to buyout firm TDR and two petrol station tycoons for $8.3 bln. It’s a cheaper and riskier exit than a planned union with peer J Sainsbury, thwarted by watchdogs last year. Online competition, a pandemic, and Brexit have weakened its hand.

Corona Capital: Amazon, NYC and Trump

14 September 2020

Concise views on the pandemic’s corporate and financial fallout: Amazon’s hiring boom highlights its weakness, and U.S. President Donald Trump could throw New York City a bone.

Corona Capital: Testing, Flights, Football

10 September 2020

Concise views on the pandemic’s corporate and financial fallout: U.S. lab-testing group Quest announces speedy growth; IAG’s gloomy horizons have a silver lining; and NFL football comes charging back.

Corona Capital: Europe’s recovery, Indian selloffs

21 August 2020

Concise views on the pandemic’s corporate and financial fallout: The latest economic reports from Britain, France and Germany paint a patchy picture; and why the virus will hinder New Delhi’s asset-sale programme.

Japan’s FamilyMart plays way too easy to get

17 August 2020

Itochu wants to buy the rest of the convenience store operator for $5.4 bln. FamilyMart pushed for better terms based on new M&A guidelines to protect minorities. Yet it ultimately endorsed a lowball offer that ignored them. Clearly the new rules aren’t strong enough.