WSJ : Emmys 2024: See the Winners

Emmys 2024: See the Winners
Here are the television shows and Hollywood talent that took home awards Monday night

The Emmy Awards were back Monday night, after a four-month delay due to the writers and actors strikes last year. Actor and comedian Anthony Anderson hosted the awards show, which aired on Fox.
While other awards shows this season honor the standouts of 2023, the postponed Emmys celebrated television shows dating back to 2022.
See all the winners below:
Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series
  • Winner: Ayo Edebiri, “The Bear”
  • Alex Borstein, “The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel” (Nominee)
  • Janelle James, “Abbott Elementary” (Nominee)
  • Sheryl Lee Ralph, “Abbott Elementary” (Nominee)
  • Juno Temple, “Ted Lasso” (Nominee)
  • Hannah Waddingham, “Ted Lasso” (Nominee)
  • Jessica Williams, “Shrinking” (Nominee)
Actress in a Comedy Series
  • Winner: Quinta Brunson, “Abbott Elementary”
  • Christina Applegate, “Dead to Me” (Nominee)
  • Rachel Brosnahan, “The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel” (Nominee)
  • Natasha Lyonne, “Poker Face” (Nominee)
  • Jenna Ortega, “Wednesday” (Nominee)
  • Jennifer Coolidge, “The White Lotus” (Nominee)
Supporting Actress in a Drama Series
  • Winner: Jennifer Coolidge, “The White Lotus”
  • Elizabeth Debicki, “The Crown” (Nominee)
  • Meghann Fahy, “The White Lotus” (Nominee)
  • Sabrina Impacciatore, “The White Lotus” (Nominee)
  • Aubrey Plaza, “The White Lotus” (Nominee)
  • Rhea Seehorn, “Better Call Saul” (Nominee)
  • J. Smith-Cameron, “Succession” (Nominee)
  • Simona Tabasco, “The White Lotus” (Nominee)
Supporting Actor in a Drama Series
  • Winner: Matthew Macfadyen, “Succession”
  • F. Murray Abraham, “The White Lotus” (Nominee)
  • Nicholas Braun, “Succession” (Nominee)
  • Michael Imperioli, “The White Lotus” (Nominee)
  • Theo James, “The White Lotus” (Nominee)
  • Alan Ruck, “Succession” (Nominee)
  • Will Sharpe, “The White Lotus” (Nominee)
  • Alexander Skarsgård, “Succession” (Nominee)
Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series
  • Winner: Ebon Moss-Bachrach, “The Bear”
  • Anthony Carrigan, “Barry” (Nominee)
  • Phil Dunster, “Ted Lasso” (Nominee)
  • Brett Goldstein, “Ted Lasso” (Nominee)
  • James Marsden, “Jury Duty” (Nominee)
  • Tyler James Williams, “Abbott Elementary” (Nominee)
  • Henry Winkler, “Barry” (Nominee)
Actor in a Comedy Series
  • Winner: Jeremy Allen White, “The Bear”
  • Bill Hader, “Barry” (Nominee)
  • Jason Segel, “Shrinking” (Nominee)
  • Martin Short, “Only Murders in the Building” (Nominee)
  • Jason Sudeikis, Ted Lasso” (Nominee)
Scripted Variety Series
  • Winner: “Last Week Tonight With John Oliver”
  • “A Black Lady Sketch Show” (Nominee)
  • “Saturday Night Live” (Nominee)
Supporting Actress in a Limited or Anthology Series or TV Movie
  • Winner: Niecy Nash-Betts, “Dahmer – Monster: The Jeffrey Dahmer Story”
  • Annaleigh Ashford, “Welcome to Chippendales” (Nominee)
  • Maria Bello, “Beef” (Nominee)
  • Claire Danes, “Fleishman Is in Trouble” (Nominee)
  • Juliette Lewis, “Welcome to Chippendales” (Nominee)
  • Camila Morrone, “Daisy Jones & The Six” (Nominee)
  • Merritt Wever, “Tiny Beautiful Things” (Nominee)
Directing for a Comedy Series
  • Winner: Christopher Storer, “The Bear”
  • Bill Hader, “Barry” (Nominee)
  • Amy Sherman-Palladino, “The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel” (Nominee)
  • Mary Lou Belli, “The Ms. Pat Show” (Nominee)
  • Declan Lowney, “Ted Lasso” (Nominee)
  • Tim Burton, “Wednesday” (Nominee)
Writing for a Comedy Series
  • Winner: Christopher Storer, “The Bear”
  • Bill Hader, “Barry” (Nominee)
  • Mekki Leeper, “Jury Duty” (Nominee)
  • John Hoffman, Matteo Borghese, Rob Turbovsky, “Only Murders in the Building” (Nominees)
  • Chris Kelly, Sarah Schneider, “The Other Two” (Nominee)
  • Brendan Hunt, Joe Kelly, Jason Sudeikis, “Ted Lasso” (Nominee)
Reality Competition
  • “The Amazing Race” (Nominee)
  • “RuPaul’s Drag Race” (Nominee)
  • “Survivor” (Nominee)
  • “Top Chef” (Nominee)
  • “The Voice” (Nominee)
Writing for a Variety Series
  • Winner: “Last Week Tonight With John Oliver”
  • “Late Night With Seth Meyers” (Nominee)
  • “Saturday Night Live” (Nominee)
  • The Daily Show With Trevor Noah” (Nominee)
  • “Late Show with Stephen Colbert” (Nominee)
Variety Talk Series
  • Winner: “The Daily Show With Trevor Noah”
  • “Jimmy Kimmel Live” (Nominee)
  • “Late Night With Seth Meyers” (Nominee)
  • “Late Show with Stephen Colbert” (Nominee)
  • “The Problem With Jon Stewart” (Nominee)
Directing for a Limited or Anthology Series or TV Movie
  • Winner: Lee Sung Jin, “Beef”
  • Jake Schreier, “Beef” (Nominee)
  • Carl Franklin, “Dahmer — Monster: The Jeffrey Dahmer Story” (Nominee)
  • Paris Barclay, “Dahmer — Monster: The Jeffrey Dahmer Story” (Nominee)
  • Valerie Faris, Jonathan Dayton, “Fleishman Is in Trouble” (Nominee)
  • Dan Trachtenberg, “Prey” (Nominee)
Supporting Actor in a Limited or Anthology Series or TV Movie
  • Winner: Paul Walter Hauser, “Black Bird”
  • Murray Bartlett, “Welcome to Chippendales” (Nominee)
  • Richard Jenkins, “Dahmer – Monster: The Jeffrey Dahmer Story” (Nominee)
  • Joseph Lee, “Beef” (Nominee)
  • Ray Liotta, “Black Bird” (Nominee)
  • Young Mazino, “Beef” (Nominee)
  • Jesse Plemons, “Love & Death” (Nominee)
Writing for a Drama Series
  • Winner: Jesse Armstrong, “Succession”
  • Beau Willimon, “Andor” (Nominee)
  • Sharon Horgan, Dave Finkel, Brett Baer, “Bad Sisters” (Nominee)
  • Gordon Smith, “Better Call Saul” (Nominee)
  • Peter Gould, “Better Call Saul” (Nominee)
  • Craig Mazin, “The Last of Us” (Nominee)
  • Mike White, “The White Lotus” (Nominee)
Best Writing for a Limited or Anthology Series or TV Movie
  • Winner: Lee Sung Jin, “Beef”
  • Joel Kim Booster, “Fire Island” (Nominee)
  • Taffy Brodesser-Akner, “Fleishman Is In Trouble” (Nominee)
  • Patrick Aison, Dan Trachtenberg, “Prey” (Nominee)
  • Janine Nabers, Donald Glover, “Swarm” (Nominee)
  • Al Yankovic, Eric Appel, “Weird: The Al Yankovic Story” (Nominee)
Best Directing for a Drama Series
  • Winner: Mark Mylod, “Succession”
  • Benjamin Caron, “Andor” (Nominee)
  • Dearbhla Walsh, “Bad Sisters”
  • Peter Hoar, “The Last of Us” (Nominee)
  • Andrij Parekh, “Succession” (Nominee)
  • Lorene Scafaria, “Succession” (Nominee)
  • Mike White, “The White Lotus” (Nominee)
Variety Special (Live)
  • Winner: “Elton John Live: Farewell From Dodger Stadium”
  • “The Apple Music Super Bowl LVII Halftime Show Starring Rihanna” (Nominee)
  • “Chris Rock: Selective Outrage” (Nominee)
  • “The Oscars” (Nominee)
  • “75th annual Tony Awards” (Nominee)
Actor in a Limited or Anthology Series or TV Movie
  • Winner: Steven Yeun, “Beef”
  • Taron Egerton, “Black Bird” (Nominee)
  • Kumail Nanjiani, “Welcome to Chippendales” (Nominee)
  • Evan Peters, “Dahmer – Monster: The Jeffrey Dahmer Story” (Nominee)
  • Daniel Radcliffe, “Weird: The Al Yankovic Story” (Nominee)
  • Michael Shannon, “George & Tammy” (Nominee)
Actress in a Limited or Anthology Series or TV Movie
  • Winner: Ali Wong, “Beef”
  • Lizzy Caplan, “Fleishman Is in Trouble” (Nominee)
  • Jessica Chastain, “George & Tammy” (Nominee)
  • Dominique Fishback, “Swarm” (Nominee)
  • Kathryn Hahn, “Tiny Beautiful Things” (Nominee)
  • Riley Keough, “Daisy Jones & the Six” (Nominee)
Limited or Anthology Series
  • Winner: “Beef”
  • “Dahmer – Monster: The Jeffrey Dahmer Story” (Nominee)
  • “Daisy Jones & the Six” (Nominee)
  • “Fleishman Is in Trouble” (Nominee)
  • “Obi-Wan Kenobi” (Nominee)
Actor in a Drama Series
  • Winner: Kieran Culkin, “Succession”
  • Jeff Bridges, “The Old Man” (Nominee)
  • Brian Cox, “Succession” (Nominee)
  • Bob Odenkirk, “Better Call Saul” (Nominee)
  • Pedro Pascal, “The Last of Us” (Nominee)
  • Jeremy Strong, “Succession” (Nominee)
Actress in a Drama Series
  • Sarah Snook, “Succession”
  • Sharon Horgan, “Bad Sisters” (Nominee)
  • Melanie Lynskey, “Yellowjackets” (Nominee)
  • Elisabeth Moss, “The Handmaid’s Tale” (Nominee)
  • Bella Ramsey, “The Last of Us” (Nominee)
  • Keri Russell, “The Diplomat” (Nominee)
Comedy Series
  • Winner: “The Bear”
  • “Abbott Elementary” (Nominee)
  • “Barry” (Nominee)
  • “Jury Duty” (Nominee)
  • “The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel” (Nominee)
  • “Only Murders in the Building” (Nominee)
  • “Ted Lasso” (Nominee)
  • “Wednesday” (Nominee)
Drama Series
  • Winner: “Succession”
  • “Andor” (Nominee)
  • “Better Call Saul” (Nominee)
  • “The Crown” (Nominee)
  • “House of the Dragon” (Nominee)
  • “The Last of Us” (Nominee)
  • “The White Lotus” (Nominee)
  • “Yellowjackets” (Nominee)

WSJ : Global Battery Race Heats Up With Billions for Europe’s Northvolt

Global Battery Race Heats Up With Billions for Europe’s Northvolt
Startup will use cash to expand production for customers including Volkswagen and BMW

One of the world’s most valuable battery startups is raising $3.4 billion in debt from the European Union and a group of banks including JPMorgan Chase JPM -0.73%decrease; red down pointing triangle, accelerating a race to build more batteries outside China and take advantage of a tidal wave of clean-energy subsidies.

Europe’s Northvolt plans to use the funding to grow battery production at a factory in northern Sweden for customers such as Volkswagen VOW3 -0.45%decrease; red down pointing triangle and BMW BMW -1.37%decrease; red down pointing triangle. It also plans to expand a recycling facility next door that will convert scrap metal and old batteries into reusable battery materials.

The funding is one of the largest transactions for a clean-energy company in recent years. It highlights a push from investors and policymakers to channel billions of dollars into making batteries that can power electric cars and store energy when the wind isn’t blowing and sun isn’t shining to speed the shift away from fossil fuels.

China controls swaths of the battery supply chain from metals processing to cell assembly, a concern for Western countries that are throwing billions of dollars in tax credits, loans and grants at companies to kick-start their own supply chains. The 2022 U.S. climate law has driven other countries to bolster their own subsidies to attract clean-energy investments.

The European Union’s investment bank has now contributed close to $1 billion toward Northvolt’s Sweden factory, part of its push to establish a homegrown battery company.

“Many countries have recognized that this is a critical infrastructure piece in the green transition,” Peter Carlsson, Northvolt’s chief executive and a former Tesla supply-chain manager, said in an interview.

Northvolt is also refinancing $1.6 billion in debt that it had raised previously. The company is accelerating battery production at its factory near the Arctic Circle in the next few years with the intention of making enough batteries annually to power several hundred thousand cars. One of Northvolt’s selling points is that it runs its factories on renewable power. That has helped fuel some $55 billion in battery orders from big European automakers.

Recycling battery materials back into the supply chain to reduce emissions has also become a hot area of investment. Recycling companies including a startup launched by a former Tesla chief technology officer have attracted billions of dollars in recent years.

Founded in 2016, Northvolt is establishing new battery factories in Germany and Montreal. The European Union recently approved a nearly $1 billion incentive package for the German plant, while the Canadian and Quebec governments are putting about $2 billion into the Montreal project.

The subsidies illustrate how concerns about the world’s reliance on Chinese batteries and the climate law known as the Inflation Reduction Act are driving a global competition for investments from companies such as Northvolt. The U.S. law tied tax credits for electric cars to how much material comes from domestic sources or trading partners.

The climate law also turbocharged a U.S. government clean-energy lending program that is pouring billions of dollars into domestic battery production.

Northvolt’s new funding includes other big banks such as Citigroup and BNP Paribas. The company has now raised about $13 billion in equity and debt, prompting speculation on Wall Street about when it might pursue a public listing.

Carlsson said the company is preparing to go public when market conditions are more attractive but that the new funding shows why Northvolt is in no rush while it scales production.

“2024 and 2025 will be crucial years,” he said.

FT : General Atlantic to buy UK’s Actis in bet on infrastructure growth

FT : General Atlantic to buy UK’s Actis in bet on infrastructure growth
Chief Bill Ford says demand for capital offers investment opportunity akin to the rise of smartphones

US private equity group General Atlantic has agreed to buy London-based infrastructure fund manager Actis, a combination further underscoring a wave of consolidation gripping private markets.

The terms of the deal, which is expected to be announced early on Tuesday, could not immediately be learned, but they will involve General Atlantic buying control of Actis.

Doing so will add $12.5bn to General Atlantic’s $83bn assets under management. It will bring under its ownership a specialist in sustainable infrastructure investments, particularly in emerging markets, an area where chief executive Bill Ford predicts increased investment activity.

“The capital need for sustainable infrastructure and the energy transition is huge,” Ford said in an interview with the Financial Times from the World Economic Forum in Davos. “Trillions of dollars of new investment is going to be needed so we think Actis represents a tremendous opportunity.”

The Actis transaction comes just days after BlackRock agreed to buy Global Infrastructure Partners for $12.5bn to create the world’s second-largest infrastructure firm.

While General Atlantic is well known for backing fast-growing technology and consumer companies such as Alibaba, Ford said emerging markets’ growing demand for infrastructure such as energy transmission reminded him of investment opportunities created by the rise of smartphones and ecommerce a decade ago.

The infrastructure operation will join a growing stable of investment capabilities inside General Atlantic. Last year, it acquired a footprint in credit investments by purchasing Iron Park. It also seeded Clipway, a specialist that buys second-hand investor stakes in private equity funds, or secondaries, to build a presence in that fast-growing market.

Actis is General Atlantic’s largest acquisition yet, pushing the New York-based investment group to nearly $100bn in total assets.

Ford indicated the deal would probably fulfil General Atlantic’s appetite for sizeable acquisitions to diversify its operations. “We’re in the markets we want to be in,” he said.

General Atlantic’s expansion push comes as some prominent private equity groups consider public listings, while others sell to strategic partners with broader financial resources.

Last month, the FT reported General Atlantic had filed confidentially for a public listing in the US. General Atlantic declined to comment.

Other private equity groups including CVC have prepared plans to go public, creating expectations of a second wave of listings following the crisis-era floats of Blackstone, Apollo and KKR.

Actis chief executive Torbjorn Caesar said his group had considered other deals, such as selling a minority equity stake, but had decided that partnering with General Atlantic would give it access to a broader range of potential investors and insights into a wider array of industries.

Actis, created as a development finance arm of the UK government, was spun out in 2004 after its management team bought a 60 per cent stake for £373,000. They acquired the remaining 40 per cent for £8mn eight years later.

The UK group is known for a having a global investment reach, with dealmakers in 17 offices in cities ranging from Mexico City to Seoul. In recent years, it has made large investments in companies in the Middle East and sub Saharan Africa, where Ford expects population growth will fuel the demand for infrastructure and bolster the group’s growth.

Caesar will continue to lead Actis and its funds will continue to use the Actis brand.

WSJ : Closing of Kroger, Albertsons, C&S Deal Postponed

Closing of Kroger, Albertsons, C&S Deal Postponed
The companies now expect the deal to close in the first half of Kroger’s fiscal 2024

The proposed merger of U.S. grocery giants Kroger KR 0.39%increase; green up pointing triangle and Albertsons ACI -0.79%decrease; red down pointing triangle, and sale of assets to C&S Wholesale Grocers, will be later than previously anticipated as the companies continues discussion with regulators.

In a joint statement on Monday, the companies said that due to continued discussions with the Federal Trade Commission and individual state Attorneys General, they now expect the deal to close in the first half of Kroger’s fiscal 2024.

Previously, the companies expected to close the transactions early in the calendar year. Kroger reported its third quarter results at the end of November.

The companies said they remain in active and ongoing dialogue with the regulators regarding the proposed merger and divestiture plan.

Kroger in October proposed to acquire Albertsons. Early in September, the pair entered into a definitive agreement with C&S Wholesale Grocers for the sale of select stores and other assets as the two grocery giants in an effort to complete their planned tie-up.

In response to the new timeline, the companies said that “while this is longer than we originally thought, we knew it was a possibility and our merger agreement and divestiture plan accounted for such potential timing.”

Kroger said it plans to invest $500 million to reduce prices beginning the first day the merger is complete, and it has committed to protecting union jobs, with no plans for store closures or laying off frontline associates. Among other investments, Kroger said it will invest an incremental $1 billion to raise wages and comprehensive benefits for all associates post-close.

WSJ : These Four Questions Are Top of Mind for Investors in 2024

These Four Questions Are Top of Mind for Investors in 2024
The market rally has run out of steam, prompting concerns about whether stocks ran too far too fast

The blockbuster stock market rally stalled once the calendar flipped to 2024.

Some of the big tech stocks that drove the market’s advance last year appear to have run out of gas, government-bond yields have risen and inflation might not be cooling as quickly as some investors had hoped. After a rocky start to the month, the S&P is clinging to a 0.3% advance in January.

Investors say a decline in enthusiasm is normal after a stretch of robust gains like those that capped 2023. They also say they have many questions about the path of the economy and interest rates that will be key to discerning the market’s trajectory this year.

These are some of the biggest ones:

Can the stock rally broaden beyond the Magnificent Seven?
Stocks jumped out of the gate last year to the surprise of almost everyone. The problem? Just seven big tech stocks—Apple, Microsoft, Alphabet, Amazon.com, Nvidia, Tesla and Meta Platforms—were responsible for most of the S&P 500’s gains. That sparked worries about the health of the rally and whether the market would be vulnerable to a downturn if a few of the heavyweights faltered.

This year, many investors expect a revival in shares in beaten-down areas of the market, a bullish sign among strategists who view expanding market breadth as a signal that a rally has legs.

Investors have reason to be hopeful. Since the stock market’s recent low on Oct. 27, the small-cap-focused Russell 2000 has gained 19% and the equal-weighted S&P 500, which gives the same status to the smallest and largest companies in the index, has added 17%. Both indexes have outpaced the traditional S&P 500’s 16% advance.

The S&P 500 sectors off to the strongest start in January are healthcare, communication services and consumer staples, all up at least 1.2%.

Can we expect stocks to keep climbing once the Fed cuts interest rates?
Stocks got off to a bumpy start in January after ending 2023 with a bang. That prompted questions about whether markets had run too far too fast and if the Fed’s expected rate cuts were already priced in.

Stocks typically struggle to establish a strong footing ahead of the first rate cut in an easing cycle. Since the 1970s, the S&P 500 has noted a median decline of 1.8% in the three months leading up to the first rate cut, according to Ned Davis Research. The picture improves after that, with stocks gaining an average of about 20% over the course of an easing cycle, NDR said.

“Seems like what we did in December is priced in an awfully good outcome for a soft landing,” said Joe Kalish, chief global macro strategist at NDR. “Not saying it’s not possible, but it could be difficult to pull that off and keep the unemployment rate from rising and have inflation come down.”

Wait, is a recession still in the cards?
Many economists have lowered their estimates on the probability of a recession. That is mostly thanks to a decline in inflation, strength in the labor market, cooling wage growth and strong consumer spending.

But Fed policymakers expect the economy to grow at a slower rate this year compared with last and for the jobless rate to rise to 4.1% by the fourth quarter. As their pandemic-era savings are depleted, consumers could pull back on spending as well.

Typically, the effects from monetary-policy tightening take time to filter through the economy. Since the late 1950s, an average of 23 months have passed between the initial rate increase of a hiking cycle to the beginning of an economic downturn, according to Jeff Schulze, head of economic and market strategy at ClearBridge Investments. This hiking cycle started 21 months ago.

“Gosh, we got ahead of ourselves in thinking that because it was the fastest and highest rate-hiking cycle in our recent history, it would lead to the fastest and deepest recession,” said Jeff Klingelhofer, co-head of investments at Thornburg Investment Management. “That didn’t happen. But just because it didn’t happen doesn’t mean we’re not on target for still a pullback.”

Will this be a good year to buy a home?
The 30-year fixed mortgage rate peaked near 8% last fall, putting homeownership out of reach for many Americans. It has since fallen to 6.66%, according to mortgage giant Freddie Mac, and should keep dropping if the Fed sticks to its forecasts.
In December, the central bank penciled in three interest-rate cuts this year, and traders in the derivatives market are betting that rates fall even more. That would offer a respite to would-be home buyers who have been sidelined by high borrowing costs and allow those locked in at higher rates to refinance.

FT : London townhouse linked to Baroness Mone’s husband on sale for £25mn

London townhouse linked to Baroness Mone’s husband on sale for £25mn
Agents seek discreet ‘off market’ deal for six-bedroom property in Belgravia

A townhouse in London’s Belgravia owned by a company linked to the husband of Tory peer Baroness Michelle Mone is on sale for £25mn, weeks after the lingerie tycoon admitted lying over her role regarding a medical equipment company that won more than £200mn of UK state contracts during the pandemic.

The six-bedroom home in one of London’s most expensive residential neighbourhoods is owned by an Isle of Man company that is part of the Knox group of companies, founded and chaired by Mone’s husband, Douglas Barrowman. 

The property at 4 Chester Square was acquired in late 2020 for £9.25mn. Knox group told the Financial Times in December 2022 that it was purchased as an investment and that the company planned to sell the house after a refurbishment. Knox said at the time the acquisition was funded “using group internal resources and external banking facilities”.

The house has now been advertised for sale, with agents seeking a discreet “off market” transaction according to a document seen by the FT and two people familiar with the matter. 

The sales brochure describes the 6,000 sq ft residence as a “meticulously designed and elegant family home . . . one of the most distinguished and desired residences in Belgravia”. Its features include a sauna and steam room, and a purple-carpeted cinema room. 

A spokesperson for Barrowman confirmed to The Times in December that another house in Belgravia had been sold. The newspaper reported it fetched £19mn, less than the original £23mn asking price. Barrowman is preparing to take delivery of a £50mn yacht, the Daily Mail reported, after selling one smaller yacht and putting a third up for sale.

The registered owner of the Chester Square house is Chester Ventures, according to UK land records. Chester Ventures’ beneficial owner is identified in Companies House records as Knox House Trustees (UK) Limited. 

Knox Group and Mone did not reply to requests for comment.

Mone became embroiled in a bitter row with Prime Minister Rishi Sunak last month after she admitted in an interview that she had lied to the media about her involvement with PPE Medpro, which sold personal protective equipment to the government from May 2020.

Mone, who was made a Conservative peer by Lord David Cameron in 2015, told the BBC in December that she approached Michael Gove, then minister for the Cabinet Office, offering PPE Medpro’s services in 2020. The bid was placed in a “high-priority lane” after her intervention.

In the same interview, Mone and Barrowman admitted they both stood to gain from profits of about £60mn made by the company.

Over several years spokespeople and lawyers for Mone denied she had any involvement with PPE Medpro, as did people representing Barrowman. PPE Medpro did not respond to a request for comment.

The UK government launched legal proceedings against PPE Medpro in December 2022, claiming breach of contract over the quality of £122mn worth of protective gowns provided by the company. PPE Medpro has denied that the goods were faulty.

FT : Greek government plans Athens airport IPO to sell 30% stake

Greek government plans Athens airport IPO to sell 30% stake
Announcement comes amid rebound in country’s tourism and economic recovery

The Greek government has announced plans to sell part of its stake in Athens airport through an initial public offering, as the country enjoys a boom in tourism and the privatisation of state assets is expected to gather pace this year.

Athens International Airport on Monday outlined plans for a listing on the Athens Stock Exchange in February, with the Greek state planning to sell a 30 per cent stake in the country’s largest airport, raising about €800mn, according to a person familiar the matter.

Greece has enjoyed a strong rebound in tourism since the end of pandemic border restrictions, and passenger numbers at the airport hit a record 28mn in 2023, up 24 per cent on the year before.  

Greece’s credit rating was lifted to investment-grade status in September for the first time 13 years, underlining the country’s economic recovery. The airport sale is expected to boost the Athens stock market and signal the country’s return to normality after its decade-long debt crisis.

The listing “represents a great opportunity for international and domestic investors to participate in the success story of Greek tourism,” said Dimitris Politis, chief executive of The Hellenic Republic Asset Development Fund (Taiped), the government body charged with privatising state assets. 

Taiped holds a 30 per cent stake in the airport, with German airport investor AviAlliance owning just over 40 per cent and the Greek Copelouzos family has 5 per cent. 

The Greek government would retain a stake in the airport even after the IPO through the Hellenic Corporation of Assets and Participations, a separate government body that owns 25 per cent and holds a significant amount of other Greek public assets. 

The sale would enable foreign institutional investors to gain sizeable exposure to Greek assets, as well as boosting the Athens stock market, according to Greek officials.

“The involvement of a broader group of investors, exposure and ability to tap into capital markets, [ . . . ] will further strengthen Athens International Airport,” said Athens airport chief executive Yiannis Paraschis.

Under the terms of the proposed listing, AviAlliance and the Copelouzos family would have the right to increase their stakes in the airport by 10 per cent and 1 per cent respectively, with AviAlliance potentially becoming the majority shareholder, according to people familiar with the deal.

>>> Q4 Inc. (QFOR CN) : Issues Letter to Shareholders: Reiterates benefits of pr

Issues Letter to Shareholders: Reiterates benefits of proposed acquisition by Sumeru Equity Partners for C$6.05/shr
- Both leading proxy advisory firms, ISS and Glass Lewis, have recommended Shareholders vote FOR the Arrangement
- The Arrangement delivers immediate, significant, and certain value following a robust strategic review process overseen by an independent Special Committee of the Board
- Q4 sets the record straight regarding FINSIGHT’s misleading criticisms of the Arrangement, which are based on ill-informed speculation, questionable motives, and faulty assumptions
- Urges Shareholders to vote FOR the proposed Arrangement today or well in advance of the deadline of January 22, 2024 at 10 a.m. Toronto Time.