Bloomberg Veolia Environnement SA will buy a 29.9% stake in Suez SA from Engie SA for 3.4 billion euros ($4 billion), setting the stage for a full takeover — and potentially a long and acrimonious corporate battle. Engie’s board agreed to sell the stake after Veolia increased its price for its holding by 16% and offered guarantees on employment. A …

Bloomberg ConocoPhillips is in talks to acquire rival Concho Resources Inc, according to people familiar with the matter, as one of America’s largest independent oil explorers looks to make a bold bet on shale during an historic industry downturn. The companies may announce a deal in the next few weeks, said the people, who asked to not be identified because …

Bloomberg Europe’s top aviation regulator said he’s satisfied that changes to Boeing Co’s 737 Max have made the plane safe enough to return to the region’s skies before 2020 is out, even as a further upgrade his agency demanded won’t be ready for up to two years. After test flights conducted in September, EASA is performing final document reviews ahead …

Bloomberg The cost of air tickets between two major Asian financial hubs jumped within 24 hours of Singapore and Hong Kong unveiling plans for a travel bubble that wouldn’t require people to quarantine upon arrival. The cheapest price for a Singapore Airlines Ltd return economy seat to Hong Kong was S$558 ($410) up until the end of December, versus around …

Bloomberg A rare mega deal by a Chinese airline is set to revive the country’s convertible bond market, after volatile trading dried up issuance of the popular securities. China Southern Airlines Co opened subscriptions for 16 billion yuan ($2.4 billion) of its convertible bonds, the largest deal for a non-financial firm since China Petroleum & Chemical Corp sold 23 billion …

Bloomberg Ryanair Holdings Plc slashed its schedule and cut back its presence in several countries, blaming tighter travel restrictions that have hammered demand in Europe. The shares fell after the Irish discount carrier said it will operate at about 40% of its 2019 winter capacity, down from a previous plan to run at 60%. Ryanair will reduce the number of …

Bloomberg A panel of creditors to Jet Airways India approved a resolution plan for the bankrupt airline, bringing a 16-month long process to recover dues to lenders closer to completion. Jet Airways’ lenders accepted the plans submitted by Murari Lal Jalan and Florian Fritsch, the carrier said. The airline didn’t provide any further details on the bidders or their proposal. …

Bloomberg A plan to sell bankrupt JC Penney Co’s retail operations to its two biggest landlords stalled, raising the prospect that creditors will carry the burden of millions of dollars in extra costs as the retailer prepares for the crucial holiday season. Talks between JC Penney’s lenders and the would-be buyers, mall owners Simon Property Group and Brookfield Property Partners, …

Bloomberg Apple Inc.’s latest iPhones won Wall Street over by dint of lower prices and a major design overhaul, fuelling expectations of a new cycle of sales growth for the world’s largest corporation. At a virtual event, the company showed off the iPhone 12 in black, red, blue, green and white with a 6.1-inch screen, part of the biggest re-design …

Bloomberg Automakers are so eager to replace less-lucrative cars with higher-margin SUVs, they’re willing to scrap iconic nameplates along the way. Volkswagen’s newest North American model, the Taos, is perhaps the starkest example of this yet. The German automaker made room to manufacture the compact sport utility vehicle in its Mexican assembly plant by ceasing production of the Beetle, one …