>>> What to look at today - 3rd of July 2018

Stocks in Asia extended declines and the yuan slumped once again amid debate surrounding the impact of an escalating trade war and fear of contagion to emerging markets. Treasury yields dipped and the dollar steadied.
Shares in Tokyo reversed earlier gains after China’s currency tumbled past 6.7 per dollar, a level that some had thought would trigger intervention from authorities. The yuan indeed showed a sudden comeback mid-morning, before dropping again. Hong Kong’s stocks tumbled in a catch-up after the city was off on holiday Monday while shares in Shanghai pared losses as the session progressed. Australian stocks stood out, as they have repeatedly in recent weeks, as outperformers in the region. Equity futures signaled losses in Asia won’t extend into the U.S. and the U.K.

Nikkei -0.23% Hang Seng -2.15% CSI -0.45% Shanghai -0.13% Shenzen +0.11%

Eur$ 1.1649 CNH 6.7060 CNY 6.6947 JPY 110.97 GBP 1.3153 CHF 0.9939 RUB 63.3982 WTI$ 74.74 +1.08%

S&P +0.12% EuroStoxx +0.50% FTSE +0.34% DAX +0.58% SMI +0.45%

Macro :
- Trump Says Not Planning Anything on WTO, But May if It’s Unfair
- Italy’s Government Cracks Down on Short-Term Work Contracts
- Citibank Says Stocks Preferred Over Bonds in 2H Allocation
- U.K. Banks Risk Massive Extra Claims After PPI Ruling, FT Says

Keep an eye on :
- ALV GY : Allianz SE Resolves on New Share Buy-Back up to EU 1B
- ASC LN : Crozier Is Said to Considered for Chairman of Asos: Sky
- BAKKA NO : Bakkafrost 2Q Harvest 12,900 Tonnes Head on Gutted Equivalents
- BPOST BB : Bpost to Stop Parcel Delivery on Saturdays: De Standaard
- CPB US : *THIRD POINT IS SAID TO SEEK SUPPORT FOR CAMPBELL SOUP SALE: NYP
- CBK GY : SocGen to Buy Commerzbank’s Equity Markets and Commodities Unit
- CBK GY : MBank, Commerzbank Work on Pan European Bank Project, Puls Says
- DBK GY : Deutsche Bank Commits to ‘Core’ Nordic Market Amid Cost Cuts
- ENG SM : Enagas Seeks Arbitration Over GSP Investment in Peru: Filing
- FNAC FP : Vivendi to Sell 11% Stake in Fnac Darty for EU267 Million
- GBLB BB : Groupe Bruxelles Lambert Buys Back EU30.5m of Stock
- GLJ GY : Grenke FY Net Income View Midpoint 2.7% Below Est.
- MRK GY : Merck KGaA Sees Performance Materials Unit Growth After 2019
- NOVN SW : Novartis Credit Rating Cut by Moody’s on Alcon Spin Off Plan
- OSR GY : Osram’s Reliance on Auto Volume Growth Exposes Risks: Berenberg
- RI FP : Pernod Strategy Right But Will Hit Margins; Jefferies Downgrades
- PTEC LN : Playtech Estimates Cut at MS, Says More Deterioration Possible
- RENE PL : REN Sells Liquiefied Petroleum Gas Unit REN Portgas to Energyco
- SAND SS : Sandvik to Report Capital Gain of ~1b SEK on Divesting Hyperion
- SBMO NO : SBM Offshore Wins Contracts for ExxonMobil’s Second Liza FPSO
- GLE FP : SocGen to Buy Commerzbank’s Equity Markets and Commodities Unit
- SPSN SW : Swiss Prime Site Buys Implenia’s ‘West-Log’ Project in Zurich
- SWEDA SS : Swedbank Sees Higher Expense Due to Risk-Adjusted Resolution Fee
- TEP FP : Teleperformance Sells EU750M of 2025 Bonds
- UCG IM : Italian Bank Growth Muted, Unicredit Oversold: Morgan Stanley
- VIV FP : Vivendi to Sell 11% Stake in Fnac Darty for EU267 Million
- WIND IT : CK Hutchison to Pay EU2.45B in Italian Mobile Operator Buyout

>>> Europe : Brokers Upgrades & Downgrades - 3rd of July 2018

>>> Up
* Alfa Laval Upgraded to Buy at Kepler Cheuvreux
* Hermes International Upgraded to Hold at HSBC; PT 525 Euros
* Krones Upgraded to Buy at Kepler Cheuvreux; PT 127 Euros
* UniCredit Upgraded to Overweight at Morgan Stanley
* Wartsila Upgraded to Buy at Kepler Cheuvreux

>>> Down
* AF Downgraded to Accumulate at Handelsbanken; PT 215 Kronor
* Autoliv Downgraded to Accumulate at Handelsbanken; PT $115
* Hastings Downgraded to Neutral at JPMorgan; PT 3.15 Pounds
* Link Mobility Cut to Hold at Kepler Cheuvreux; PT 225 Kroner
* Osram Downgraded to Hold at Berenberg
* Pernod Ricard Cut to Hold at Jefferies; Price Target 150 Euros
* Playtech Downgraded to Equal-weight at Morgan Stanley
* Unicaja Banco Cut to Equal-weight at Morgan Stanley

>>> Initiation
* Arkema Reinstated at HSBC With Buy; PT 118 Euros
* Colonial Rated New Overweight at Barclays; PT 11 Euros
* Covestro Reinstated at HSBC With Buy; PT 107 Euros
* DSM Reinstated at HSBC With Hold; PT 93 Euros
* Evonik Reinstated at HSBC With Reduce; PT 26 Euros
* GB Group Rated New Buy at Jefferies; PT 7 Pounds
* HolidayCheck Rated New Buy at Berenberg; PT 4.60 Euros
* Intesa Resumed at Morgan Stanley With Equal-weight
* Lanxess Reinstated at HSBC With Buy; PT 85 Euros
* Merlin Rated New Equal-weight at Barclays; PT 13 Euros
* Software AG Rated New Hold at Berenberg; PT 44 Euros

>>> Cal
>> Stock
* GrandVision Preferred To Fielmann in Eyewear Retail: Berenberg

>>> Recordati 51.8% stake acquired by CVC through acquisition of FIMEI for EUR 3

Recordati 51.8% stake acquired by CVC through acquisition of FIMEI for EUR 3bn
30 JUN 2018
The shareholders of FIMEI announce that they have reached an agreement (“Agreement”) to sell their entire shareholding in FIMEI to a consortium of investment funds controlled by CVC Capital Partners (the “Investors”).

FIMEI owns approximately 51.8% of the shares of Recordati S.p.A. [BIT:REC]

The transaction consideration under the Agreement is approximately EUR 3bn, implying a price of EUR 28 per Recordati S.p.A. share. The consideration will be payable as approximately EUR 2.3bn in cash and EUR 750mn in subordinated long-term debt securities.

The Agreement is subject only to the Investors receiving required anti-trust and competition clearances in the relevant jurisdictions.

Upon the receipt of required clearances and closing of the transaction, under Italian Law, the Investors will be required to launch a mandatory tender offer to all minority shareholders.

Commenting on the Agreement, Dr Alberto Recordati, the chairman and CEO of FIMEI, said “the Recordati family announces it has reached an agreement with CVC and its co-Investors who want to invest in and develop the company over the coming years. This important decision has the support of all the shareholders of FIMEI”.

Andrea Recordati, who has been asked by CVC to continue leading Recordati and its management team, commented on the transaction “I am pleased that we have met a highly-respected investor group to keep building and developing the company going forward. I am happy to have been asked to remain with the company as CEO along with our dedicated and well respected management team. In the process of finding the best partner to take Recordati forward, it was important to find a party that would allow Recordati to remain independent, with continuity for management and employees, and accelerate its growth strategy as a leading global consolidator in the pharmaceutical industry. I have chosen to reinvest personally alongside the Investors.”

Completion of the sale of FIMEI is anticipated to take place in the last quarter of 2018, and is subject only to mandatory competition approvals. Following closing, in accordance with CONSOB rules, the Consortium will make a mandatory tender offer (“MTO”) to the remaining minority shareholders. The Recordati family requested, and the Consortium has agreed, to provide other shareholders with a full cash offer at EUR 28 per share, which implies a higher economic value than the cash and deferred payment made to the Recordati family. The offer of the full price in cash to the minority shareholders in the MTO is subject to the absence of a material market correction prior to closing of the FIMEI transaction (defined as a decrease in the FTSE MIB index of more than 20%). In such an event, the Consortium intends to lower the cash offer price in the MTO, subject to the approval of CONSOB, to a price equal to the cash value of the consideration (cash and deferred payment) paid to the Recordati family.

Jefferies International Limited served as financial advisor, Pedersoli Studio Legale as legal advisor and Walter Bevilacqua as general advisor to all the shareholders of FIMEI (with Chiomenti, Lombardi Segni, Mariconda e Associati and Toffoletto De Luca Tamajo as personal counsels to individual shareholders).

In a separate press release that was published together with FIMEI release on the Recordati website, CVC also announced the deal.


CVC is pleased to announce that a consortium of funds (the “Consortium”) led by CVC Fund VII has agreed to buy the holding company that owns a majority interest in Recordati.

Chairman Alberto Recordati said “Today is an important moment in the further development of the company my grandfather founded over 90 years ago. We have found in CVC a partner who shares our vision, values and passion for the company, its employees and its role in developing and distributing healthcare around the world.”


Andrea Recordati, CEO, said “I believe that this is great outcome for the company and its employees who will benefit greatly from having CVC as a partner. In the process of finding the best partner to take Recordati forward, it was important to find a party that would allow Recordati to remain independent, with continuity for management and employees, and accelerate its growth strategy as a leading global consolidator in the pharmaceutical industry.

I am very pleased to be working alongside CVC in accelerating Recordati’s global expansion. I am personally reinvesting alongside the Consortium as I believe in and support Recordati.”


Giampiero Mazza, Head of CVC Italy, said “We are honoured to be chosen by the Recordati family who have put great trust in us to continue in their role as the majority shareholder of their company. We have a great admiration for the business which we have known for over many years since Giovanni Recordati was CEO. We are excited by the opportunity to support this excellent management team, led by Andrea Recordati who we have asked to remain as CEO and who carries on the company’s legacy and provides the continuity of the business and its strategy alongside Fritz Squindo, Recordati’s Managing Director and CFO.“

Cathrin Petty, Head of EMEA Healthcare at CVC, added “Recordati has always been a very carefully managed, international pharma company with a broad platform of products and a strong geographical footprint in primary care. Over the last decade Recordati has built up a very attractive rare disease business which we look forward to expanding in addition to the core business. We hope that through our expertise and global healthcare network we will help accelerate this growth across orphan and specialty care to build a global leader in the industry.”

The transaction is structured as a fully financed acquisition by the Consortium of the family’s holding company FIMEI S.p.A for an Enterprise Value of EUR 3.03bn. FIMEI owns 51.8% of Recordati S.p.A., implying a 100% equity value for Recordati S.p.A. of EUR 5.86bn, equivalent to EUR 28.00 per share.

The members of the Recordati family will receive part of the consideration in the form of a deferred and subordinated long-term debt security in the amount of EUR 750m. Furthermore, Andrea Recordati in his capacity as CEO will invest alongside the Consortium. Closing of the FIMEI purchase is anticipated to take place in the last quarter of 2018 and is subject only to mandatory competition approvals. Following closing, in accordance with CONSOB rules, the Consortium will make a mandatory tender offer (“MTO”) to the remaining minority shareholders. The Consortium’s current expectation is that Recordati will remain a publicly listed company. The Recordati family requested, and the Consortium has agreed, to provide other shareholders with a full cash offer at EUR 28.00 per share, which implies a higher economic value than the cash and deferred payment made to the Recordati family. The offer of the full price in cash to the minority shareholders in the MTO is subject to the absence of a material market correction prior to closing of the FIMEI transaction (defined as a decrease in the FTSE MIB index of more than 20%). In such an event, the Consortium intends to lower the cash offer price in the MTO, in consultation and agreement with CONSOB, to a price equivalent to the actual consideration paid to the Recordati family (taking into account the present value of the deferred payment).

Leopoldo Zambeletti and Rothschild are acting as financial advisor to CVC. Gattai, Minoli, Agostinelli & Partners together with White & Case LLP are acting as legal advisors to CVC. Facchini, Rossi are acting as tax advisor to CVC. Committed financing for the transaction is being provided by Deutsche Bank, Credit Suisse, Jefferies and Unicredit.

The Consortium led by CVC Fund VII includes PSP Investments and StepStone.