February, 2021

• 17 February

  Transat plummets with Air Canada takeover in jeopardy

  

  Bloomberg Air Canada’s proposed takeover of Transat AT Inc has been thrown into doubt after European regulators failed to approve the deal by a February 15 deadline. The companies are still talking about “potential amendments” that can keep the deal alive, Montreal-based Transat said in a statement. However, Air Canada won’t agree to extend the deadline, meaning either company now …

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• 17 February

  Amazon accused of lax virus safety in NY suit

  Bloomberg Amazon.com Inc has failed to comply with workplace safety rules during the pandemic and retaliated against warehouse workers who raised concerns, New York alleged in a lawsuit against the retail giant. “Amazon’s flagrant disregard for health and safety requirements has threatened serious illness and grave harm to the thousands of workers in these facilities and poses a continued substantial …

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• 17 February

  Gucci sales slide as pandemic ends its years of expansion

  

  Bloomberg Gucci sales fell for a fourth quarter, ending years of expansion as the luxury brand and growth motor of Kering struggled amid renewed lockdowns in Europe. Revenue at the Italian luxury brand dropped 10% on a comparable basis to 2.28 billion euros ($2.76 billion) in the three months through December, Kering said on Wednesday. Analysts had expected a 7.2% …

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• 17 February

  EBay’s $9.2b unit sale hits UK hurdle

  Bloomberg EBay Inc’s sale of its online classifieds business to Adevinta ASA has hit a hurdle, as UK regulators voice concerns over the potential threat to competition that the tie-up poses. The UK Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) told the companies to propose remedies that address antitrust concerns for the deal, which was valued at $9.2 billion when it was …

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• 17 February

  BofA clients with $614b hike risk-taking to new records

  

  Bloomberg Bank of America Corp. (BofA) clients with $614 billion combined are in the throes of an unprecedented frenzy of risk-taking, as more Wall Street banks sound the alarm on greed across markets. After a week which recorded the strongest-ever inflow into stocks, a record net 25% of investors surveyed by the investment bank this month are taking higher-than-normal risks. …

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• 17 February

  Billionaire Hindujas pay 61% premium to boost IndusInd stake

  

  Bloomberg The billionaire Hinduja family paid a premium to boost its stake in IndusInd Bank Ltd., a sign of confidence in the Indian private-sector lender as concerns over its asset quality ease. IndusInd International Holdings Ltd., which represents the bank’s founding Hinduja clan, completed a rights issue to fund the conversion of warrants to shares in the Mumbai-based bank, it …

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• 17 February

  JPMorgan offers firms an exit for costly state Covid bailouts

  

  Bloomberg JPMorgan Chase & Co. is working with about 10 stressed or distressed borrowers in Europe hoping to lower cost of government bailout loans in debt market, according to senior bankers. Most of the companies are trying to offload loans made last year to help them survive the pandemic and lock in lower rates, Daniel Rudnicki Schlumberger, the bank’s co-head …

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• 17 February

  Goldman pledges $25m to historically black colleges

  

  Bloomberg Goldman Sachs Group Inc. said it would commit $25 million to a five-year program aiding historically black colleges and universities. In its first year, the initiative will include 125 students who will get training in fundamental finance skills, the New York-based company said in an emailed statement. “Diversity is an imperative for our organisation,” Chief Executive Officer David Solomon …

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• 17 February

  Ex-UniCredit CEO Mustier to plan SPAC

  Bloomberg Ex-UniCredit SpA Chief Executive Officer Jean Pierre Mustier plans to raise funds for a special purpose acquisition company (SPAC), the latest former top banker to take advantage of the trend for blank check vehicles. Mustier, who left UniCredit last week after a boardroom power struggle, plans to work on the SPAC with former Bank of America Corp. executive Diego …

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• 17 February

  BOJ must avoid ETF buys fuelling stock bubble: Ex-official

  

  Bloomberg A three-decade high for Japan’s soaring stocks is adding to pressure on the Bank of Japan (BOJ) to tweak its buying of exchange-traded funds (ETFs), according to the former head of its financial markets department. “Shares could be rising on a bubble and the BOJ could be helping inflate that bubble,” Hiromi Yamaoka said in an interview, the same …

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