Vice : Authorities Seize First Shipment of Alcoholic Spirit From Chernobyl

Authorities Seize First Shipment of Alcoholic Spirit From Chernobyl
The 1,500 bottles of alcohol, made using apples grown near the Chernobyl nuclear power plant, were bound for the United Kingdom.

Authorities have seized and confiscated 1,500 bottles of Atomik, an artisanal alcoholic spirit made using apples grown near the Chernobyl nuclear power plant, for reasons unknown.

Professor Jim Smith, who set up the Chernobyl Spirit Company after spending several years working in the disaster zone, revealed in a press release that the first experimental batch of Atomik was intercepted by authorities after leaving a distillery in northern Ukraine. The shipment was intended for delivery to the United Kingdom, but now “remains in the hands of Kyiv prosecutors”. Professor Smith said it was unclear why.

“It seems that they are accusing us of using forged Ukrainian excise stamps,” he claimed, “but this doesn’t make sense since the bottles are for the UK market and are clearly labelled with valid UK excise stamps”.

The Chernobyl Spirit Company is working hard to get the shipment released. Elina Smirnova, the lawyer representing them in court, said the seizure was in violation of Ukrainian law, and accused the authorities of targeting “a foreign company which has tried to establish an ethical ‘white’ business to primarily help Ukraine.”

“The actions of Ukrainian law enforcement agencies are damaging the reputation of Ukraine as an open country for doing business,” Smirnova said. “We still believe that the truth will win.”

Professor Smith and colleagues’ research in the Chernobyl exclusion zone aims to show that many areas thought to still be contaminated by the 1986 nuclear disaster can in fact be used to farm safe, consumable products.

“In many areas land could now be used to produce crops which are safe to eat,” reads a statement on the Atomik website. “As every chemist knows, distillation of fermented grain leaves many heavier elements in the waste product so the distillate alcohol is more radioactively ‘pure’ than the original grain. We have used distillation to reduce radioactivity in the grain even further to make a product from Chernobyl which we hope people will want to consume.”

The apples used to make Atomik were grown in the Narodychi district: one of the still-inhabited areas most affected by the disaster, which is subject to harsh restrictions around agriculture and development, the BBC reports. The spirit’s original recipe used rye grains, meaning it resembled a type of vodka.

>>> TradeGate Pre-Market Indications

DAX:
  • E.On (EOAN TH) -0.6%
    • EON Profit Beats Estimates as Energy Demand Rebounds In Europe
  • BASF (BAS TH) -1.6%
  • Infineon (IFX TH) -1.6%
  • Deutsche Post (DPW TH) -1.6%
  • Daimler (DAI TH) -1.6%
  • Delivery Hero (DHER TH) -1.7%
MDAX:
  • Fraport (FRA TH) +0.1%
    • Fraport 1Q Revenue Beats Estimates
  • Thyssenkrupp (TKA TH) -0.3%
    • Thyssenkrupp Lifts​​​​​​​ Forecasts on China-Led Industrial Recovery
  • Porsche SE (PAH3 TH) -1.8%
  • Nordex (NDX1 TH) -1.8%
    • Nordex 1Q Sales Beat Estimates
  • HelloFresh (HFG TH) -2%
  • Brenntag (BNR TH) -2%
    • Brenntag 1Q Oper Ebitda Beats Estimates
  • Zalando (ZAL TH) -2.1%
    • Kinnevik Sets Final Terms for Distribution of Zalando
SDAX:
  • Medios (ILM1 TH) +1.3%
  • Kloeckner (KCO TH) +1.2%
  • Home24 (H24 TH) +0.8%
    • Home24 1Q Adjusted Ebitda Margin 0.4% Vs. -3.40% Y/y
  • Wacker Neuson (WAC TH) -2%
  • 1&1 Drillisch (DRI TH) -2.3%
    • 1&1 Drillisch 1Q Revenue EU973.7M
  • Grenke (GLJ TH) -2.5%
  • Cewe Stiftung (CWC TH) -3%
  • SGL (SGL TH) -3.2%

>>> What to look at today - 11th of May 2021

Asian stocks and U.S. equity futures slid Tuesday after a technology-led Wall Street tumble as surging commodity prices stoked concern about inflation. Other assets including the dollar and Treasuries were steady.
MSCI Inc.’s Asia-Pacific share index fell the most since March, with technology underperforming amid a sea of red from Japan to Hong Kong. Nasdaq 100 contracts retreated about 1% after the index tumbled on concern that higher inflation could push up interest rates, weighing on equity valuations. S&P 500 futures dropped after the gauge fell from an all-time high.
Oil dipped as traders monitored the worsening fallout from the closure of the largest U.S. oil-products pipeline. The spotlight remains on the broad commodity rally, which threatens to stoke price pressures. Data showed China’s factory-gate prices surged more than expected in April.
A measure of inflation expectations earlier reached the highest level since 2006. The 10-year Treasury yield eased back slightly after rising to 1.60%.
US After Hours DDD +14.5%, NLS +11%, BRKS +10.1% surging higher on earnings; RXT -14.7%, NVAX -11.3%, SPCE -9.8%, SAIL -7.5% fall on earnings; RCKT -13.1% falls on clinical hold

Nikkei -3.16% Hang Seng -1.78% CSI +0.46% Shanghai +0.30% Shenzen +0.35%

Eur$ 1.2144 CNH 6.4246 CNY 6.4287 JPY 108.86 GBP 1.4126 CHF 0.9006 RUB 74.1615 TRY 8.3020 WIT$ 64.45 -0.72% Gold 1,837.25 +0.07% BTC 55,000 -2700

S&P -0.44% Nasdaq -0.70% EuroStoxx -1.25% FTSE -1.18% Dax -1.21% SMI -0.58%

Macro :
- Millennium Set to Open Two More Offices in Tax-Friendly Florida

Spacs :
- Vice Is Said to Target $3 Billion Valuation in SPAC Merger
- ‘Boring’ SPACs Gain Favor as Competition Ramps Up

Keep an eye on :
- DRI GY : 1&1 Drillisch 1Q Revenue EU973.7M
- AALB NA : Aalberts Posted Organic Revenue Growth in First 4 Months of 15%
- ARL GY : Aareal Bank 1Q Operating Profit Misses Estimates
- AGFB BB : Agfa-Gevaert 1Q Adjusted Ebit Loss EU1M Vs. Profit EU7M Y/y
- BAKKA NO : Bakkafrost 1Q Operating Ebit Beats Estimates
- BC8 GY : Bechtle 1Q Pretax Profit Beats Estimates
- GBF GY : Bilfinger 1Q Adj. Ebita EU11M Vs. Loss EU11M Y/y
- CEC GY : Ceconomy 2Q Adjusted Ebit Loss EU146M Vs. Loss EU131.0M Y/y
- BNR GY : Brenntag 1Q Oper Ebitda Beats Estimates
- ROO LN : Deliveroo 37% Drop Shows Tension Between London’s IPO, ESG Push
- DBK GY : Deutsche Bank’s 1MDB Probe Dropped by U.S. Justice Department
- DFDS DC : DFDS 1Q Revenue Beats Estimates; Outlook Kept
- DUK US : Elliott Management Has Stake in Duke Energy
- DUE GY : Duerr 1Q Adjusted Ebit Beats Estimates
- EOAN GY : EON Profit Beats Estimates as Energy Demand Rebounds In Europe
- EVO SS : Evolution Holder Osterbahr Ventures Offers 4.2m Shares: Terms
- EVT GY : Evotec SE 1Q Adjusted Ebitda EU21.1M Vs. EU30.0M Y/y
- FDR SM : Fluidra ABB Deal Size Raised to 9.6M Shares, BNP Paribas, BofA, Berenberg Conduct Sale of 8.1M Fluidra Shares, Fluidra ABB Places 9.6m Shares at EU31.30 per Share
- FRA GY : Fraport 1Q Revenue Beats Estimates
- G1A GY : GEA Group 1Q Revenue Meets Estimates
- GFC FP : Louis Vuitton Renews Lease At Champs-Elysees Store: Gecina
- HTWS LN : Omantel to Sell Tower Infrastructure to Helios Towers for $575m
- H24 GY : Home24 1Q Adjusted Ebitda Margin 0.4% Vs. -3.40% Y/y
- JEN GY : Jenoptik Maintains FY Ebitda Margin 16% to 17%
- SDF GY : K+S Boosts FY Ebitda Forecast, Beats Estimates
- KBC BB : KBC Group 1Q Net Income Beats Estimates
- LEG GY : LEG Immobilien 1Q Adjusted Ebitda EU126.0M Vs. EU113.7M Y/y
- LHA GY : Lufthansa Working With Banks on $3.7 Billion Capital Increase
- NWG LN : *U.K. GOVT INTENDS TO SELL ABOUT 580M SHARES IN NATWEST GROUP
- NESN SW : Nestlé Health Science to Acquire Nuun
- NDX1 GY : Nordex 1Q Sales Beat Estimates
- NRS NO : Norway Royal Salmon 1Q Operating Ebit Misses Estimates
- NOVOB DC : Novo Nordisk Treatment Granted Orphan Drug Status by FDA
- OUT1V FH : Outokumpu Offering of 40.5m Shares Prices at EU5.15/Share
- REC NO : REC Silicon 1Q Ebitda $4.0M Vs. $1.9M Q/q
- RNO FP : Renault to Push Ahead With Plan to Sell French Foundry at Caudan
- SBANK NO : Sbanken 1Q Net Income Misses Estimates
- SHLF NO : Shelf Drilling 1Q Adjusted Ebitda $46.5M
- SPI AV : S Immo to Book EU85m Valuation Write-Up in 2Q Results
- SSABA SS : Industrivarden Sells Its SSAB Stake at SEK45.53 per Class A Shr
- SAX GY : Stroeer 1Q Adjusted Ebitda EU73.5M Vs. EU116.9M Y/y
- SWECB SS : Sweco 1Q Operating Profit Beats Estimates
- SLHN SW : Swiss Life 1Q Fee And Commission Income +CHF527M
- TKA GY : Thyssenkrupp Lifts Forecasts on China-Led Industrial Recovery
- THG LN : THG Raises $1 Billion for M&A, Adds SoftBank as Key Investor,*THG SHARES ARE OFFERED AT 596P EACH: TERMS
- UTDI GY : United Internet Maintains FY Ebitda About EU1.22B, Est. EU1.23B
- VLA FP : Valneva Announces Closing of $107.6M Global Offering
- ROSE SW : Zur Rose Raised to Buy at Citi

>>> Europe : Brokers Upgrades & Downgrades - 11th of May 2021

>>> Up
* Amadeus Raised to Hold at HSBC; PT 55 euros
* British Land Raised to Sector Perform at RBC; PT 465 pence
* CompuGroup Raised to Buy at SRH AlsterResearch; PT 72 euros
* CompuGroup Raised to Buy at Berenberg; PT 85 euros
* Erste Raised to Overweight at Morgan Stanley; PT 39 euros
* Evotec SE Raised to Outperform at RBC; PT 39 euros
* Nike Raised to Buy at Jefferies; PT $192

>>> Down
* Kapsch TrafficCom Cut to Hold at Erste Group; PT 15 euros
* Orange Cut to Neutral at Goldman; PT 11 euros
* Wizz Air Cut to Neutral at Oddo BHF; PT 5,100 pence

>>> Initiation
* Argan Rated New Outperform at Oddo BHF; PT 99 euros
* Cap-XX Reinstated Buy at Cenkos Securities; PT 15 pence
* Deliveroo PLC Rated New Buy at Jefferies; PT 390 pence
* Deliveroo PLC Rated New Neutral at JPMorgan; PT 285 pence
* Deliveroo PLC Rated New Neutral at Citi; PT 285 pence
* Zardoya Rated New Outperform at Oddo BHF; PT 6.90 euros

>>> Call
* AB InBev Seen as a Covid-19 Winner, RBC Lifts Beer Giant’s PT
* Hugo Boss PT, EPS Lifted at Citi on Good Cost Control, Recovery
* U.K. Homebuilders Offer More Upside, Jefferies Raises PTs

>>> US After Hours Summary: DDD +14.5%, NLS +11%, BRKS +10.1% surging higher on earnings; RXT -14.7%, NVAX -11.3%, SPCE -9.8%, SAIL -7.5% fall on earnings; RCKT -13.1% falls on clinical hold


After Hours Summary: DDD +14.5%, NLS +11%, BRKS +10.1% surging higher on earnings; RXT -14.7%, NVAX -11.3%, SPCE -9.8%, SAIL -7.5% fall on earnings; RCKT -13.1% falls on clinical hold

After Hours Gainers:

Companies trading higher in after hours in reaction to earnings/guidance: DDD +14.5%, NLS +11%, BRKS +10.1% (also announces intention to separate into two independent publicly traded companies), ELY +6.8%, EVBG +5.8%, CLAR +3.5%, RBLX +3.4%, NLOK +3.3%, SWCH +3.2%, SWAV +3.1%, OMER +1.8%, BHF +1.7%, WYNN +1.7%, SDC +1.1%, MRVI +1%, SUM +0.7%, OXY +0.5%, SEER +0.2%, TREX +0.2%, G +0.1%, HHC +0.1%, IFF +0.1% (also to divest its fruit preparation business), NNI +0.1%, VOYA +0.1%

Companies trading higher in after hours in reaction to news: FF +8.6% (declares special cash dividend of $2.50/sh), EFC +7.8% (to join S&P SmallCap 600), AVNS +6.8% (to join S&P SmallCap 600), AZPN +5.9% (to join S&P MidCap 400), BNTX +4.8% (FDA authorizes Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine for emergency use in adolescents), AUS +2.7% (AUS announces combination agreement with Wynn Interactive), TSP +1.8% (receives 6,775 reservations for new line of autonomous trucks), PFE +0.6% (FDA authorizes Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine for emergency use in adolescents), YUM +0.2% (approves new $2 bln share repurchase authorization), TEN +0.1% (Carl Icahn affirms lowered active stake)

After Hours Losers:

Companies trading lower in after hours in reaction to earnings/guidance: RXT -14.7%, NVAX -11.3% (also pushes back timetable to file for EUA to Q3 from Q2), SPCE -9.8%, VUZI -9.2%, SAIL -7.5%, INO -6.9%, MESA -6.9%, REAL -5.2%, NCMI -4.3%, MGNI -2.2%, FGEN -1.6%, SPG -1.5%, AFRM -1.4%, VLDR -1.4%, NHI -1.3%, NSTG -1.3%, OSH -0.3%, CNNE -0.2%, FOE -0.2%, SPNT -0.2%, ACM -0.1%, AEE -0.1%, EGHT -0.1%, RBA -0.1%

Companies trading lower in after hours in reaction to news: RCKT -13.1% (RP-A501 Phase 1 trial has been placed on clinical hold; also reports earnings), VCYT -4.5% (names new CEO), NSA -4.1% (to join S&P MidCap 400), KREF -3.6% (stock offering), GSM -3.5% (files for $40 mln mixed securities shelf offering), PXD -2.2% (stock offering), FUTU -1.5% (announces $400 mln investment in Futu Clearing for expansion of US operations), IR -1.5% (stock offering), PLUG -1.3% (to delay its 10-Q filing; also also provides business update), CRL -1% (to join S&P 500), HOLX -0.9% (receives broader Medicare coverage for its Breast Cancer Index test), ON -0.8% (convertible notes offering), PGR -0.8% (authorizes repurchase of up to 25 mln shares), CNO -0.8% (files mixed securities shelf offering), CPE -0.6% (names new CFO), NNDM -0.6% (files for 3,733,795 ADS offering by selling shareholders), AMK -0.4% (reports monthly highlights for April), BIIB -0.2% (announces research collaboration with Capsigen), CLNE -0.2% (files mixed securities shelf offering), JELD -0.1% (stock offering)

WWD : Gucci to Show Next Collection in Los Angeles

Gucci to Show Next Collection in Los Angeles
Alessandro Michele is planning a fashion show on Nov. 3, coinciding with the LACMA Art+Film Gala taking place on Nov. 6, for which Gucci is the founding and presenting sponsor.

MILAN — Six years after Alessandro Michele’s first cruise runway show for Gucci in New York City at the Dia-Art Foundation, the designer is planning to return to the U.S.

Michele will present his next collection for Gucci with an in-person fashion show in Los Angeles on Nov. 3.

The show will coincide with the occasion of the 10th LACMA Art+Film Gala, taking place on Nov. 6, for which Gucci is the founding and presenting sponsor.

In May 2020, Gucci was expected to hold its cruise show in San Francisco, but the COVID-19 pandemic prevented the brand from carrying out that plan. Over the previous five years Michele had taken the brand’s cruise collections to different locations, all historically and culturally charged. In addition to the Dia Art Foundation the venues included the Cloisters of Westminster Abbey in London; the Palatine Gallery in Palazzo Pitti in Florence; the Promenade Des Alyscamps in Arles, and the Capitoline Museums in Rome.

Michele, however, has now changed the pace of Gucci’s collections. In 2020, five years after his debut at the fashion house, in the midst of the global pandemic, the designer decided to abandon what he has called “the worn-out ritual of seasonalities and shows to regain a new cadence, closer to my expressive call. We will meet just twice a year, to share the chapters of a new story.” He conceived new names for the collections, inspired by the music world.

After Epilogue, the conclusive chapter of Michele’s previous narrative, presented in July last year during Milan Digital Fashion Week, Michele directed with Gus Van Sant a series of seven episodes for his collection “Ouverture of Something That Never Ended” shown in November 2020, tapping the likes of Billie Eilish, Harry Styles and Florence Welch, among others.

Last month, in a first step in the year marking Gucci’s centenary, Michele presented his “Aria” collection through a film he once again directed, this time with Floria Sigismondi, revisiting a number of the brand’s signature designs, from the Bamboo bag to the Flora motif, and introducing an innovative tie-up with Balenciaga.

On the occasion, the designer told WWD that he felt “free,” giving “a natural rhythm” to the collections. “Of course, there is more responsibility in this self-pacing, and I want to be attentive to the company and position the brand in a respectful way. I see there is a very democratic movement, designers are positioning their brands in ways that will avoid getting in the way of the others.” Michele revealed during the interview that the Aria collection will be shown in Shanghai later this spring.