ML
* GALENICA - Sprint Investments 2 sells 320k shrs @ CHF 1,355; MS sole.......
PREMIER OIL - Small +ve on production although no update on financing.....+5%
MONCLER - Strong 1Q with rev 7% ahead. Confirms FY cons EBITDA of €334m.+3-5%
ARKEMA - Big beat. EBITDA 11% ahead at 302m v 272m cons. No guidance yet..+3%
LANXESS - Beat. EBITDA 4% ahead & upgrades guidance range. SI c.3.25%.....+2%
OMV - Beat across the board with Q1 net income a 20% beat, EBIT 39% beat..+2%
SBM - Sound update, no material issues. Co see no new orders in '16/'17...+2%
TUI - Good. EBIT seasonal loss of €237mn better than our €256mn forecast..+2%
BARRATTS - Private sales rate ran at 0.75/site/wk, flat on last yr in H2..+2%
COMPASS - EBIT 3% & EPS 4% ahead. North Am v strong but ROW still soft..+1-2%
EXPERIAN - FY solid. Inline with cons with EBITDA $1210m v cons $1210m....+1%
WIRECARD - German regulator sees mkt manipulation of shrs. Launches probe.+1%
MEDIASET - Q1 TV ad growth was +2.8% & +4.7% for the first 4 months.......+1%
LEG - Solid. FFO II €62.5m, EBITDA €49.6m, LTV 47.4%, Mgmt raise guidance.+1%
ALSTOM - EBIT 10% beat. Strong orders & margin but cash burn continues....+1%
CARLSBERG - Small beat. Org sales growth +2% v +1.3% cons. FY16 reit......+1%
HOCHTIEF - Slightly ahead with PBT €159mn v €153mn cons. FY16 guide reit..+1%
MARINE HARVEST - 1Q rev €805b v €775m cons & net income €128m v €78m est..+1%
POSTE ITALIANE - Q116 beat but underlying mail performance looks weak...+0.5%
EON - EBITDA €3,071bn +3.5% v bbg cons & Net Income €1,314bn +3.1% v cons.u/c
YARA - Sentiment -ve. OCI announces new CAN price for Germany of EUR162/t.u/c
NATIONAL EXPRESS - IMS inline with expectations, maintains FY guidance....u/c
LUNDIN - Mixed but svedrup production uplift likely to trump higher debt..u/c
DEUTSCHE POST - Inline. EBIT €835m v €837m cons. PEP EBIT 3% miss. FY reitu/c
MEDIOBANCA - 1Q top line 7% beat but capital a little light at 13.2%......u/c
ABN AMRO - Headline beat and capital strong but miss on NII and fees......u/c
BILFINGER - Soft but inline with BAML and indic given at AGM. Confirms FY.u/c
JRP - Ok update. DB de-risking sales up 58% for combined group. No cons...u/c
WOOD GROUP - Trading update inline with results release. Guidance inline..u/c
EDF - Declined to put # on the impact of carbon price floor. Revs inline..-1%
UBM - We DOWNGRADE to Underperform as has o/performed 20% this yr, PO 590p-1%
METRO - Q2 sales of €13,573m, 0.5% ahead & EBIT 200% beat. FY reiterated..-1%
LAGARDERE - We DOWNGRADE to Underperform, taking our PO €22.8 from €27.5..-1%
SWATCH - Fossil reported watch revs -8% and cut guidance by 28% overnight.-1%
WILLIAM HILL - Inline. Net rev growth in 1Q16 -3% driven by a weak online.-1%
RBI - Mixed to weak. Net income inline however both NII and fees declined-2%
NUMERICABLE - Miss with no guidance given for France. Revs 2.2% miss......-3%
JC DECAUX - Q1 org growth ahead of prev guidance but Q2 guide light.....-3-5%
Investec
UK
* ARROW GLOBAL-Q1.Rev +25.4%.Increase in core collections.FY on track.......+2%
* BARRETT DEVS-Update.Mkt conditions remain strong.FY remains on track......+1%
* BT/VODAFONE-Liberty Global Would Evaluate Telefonica’s 02 in U.K(CEO).....-1%
* CAPE-Update.To be H2 weighted.Margins across the board below exp's......-3-5%
* CENTAUR MEDIA-Q1. Rev +5%. Exhibitions ahead, Ad weak. No chg to FY......unch
* COMPASS GRP-H1. Numbers & div a beat. FY exp's remain unch..............+1-2%
* EXPERIAN-FY.Organic rev growth;FX headwinds remain,upbeat outlook........unch
* ITV/SKY-Negative read across from Disney's earnings miss last night.......-1%
* MEDICLININC-Appoints new group CFO.......................................unch
* MELROSE-Update. Trading remains in line.Continues to seek acq's..........unch
* NAT.EXPRESS-Update.All divisions performing well.FY remians on track......+1%
* OCADO-Vague bid spec in today press after ydays move (+9.26%)............unch
* ONESAVINGS-Update.Numbers ahead.Upbeat outlook stmnt....................+1-2%
* PREMIER OIL-Update.Prod.ahead.+ve Catcher.Covenant discussions ongoing..+3-4%
* PURPLEBRICKS-FY T/U on course to meet FY expect's, LFL up 445%............+2%
* RENISHAW-Q3 REV CA. 20% than Q315(large one-off orders).FY guid' unch....unch
* TAPTICA-Update.Strong H2 continues into H1.11.5% U/G to FY16 EPS.........3-5%
* TUI-H1 confirms FY est's,sees underlying EBITA growth of at least 10%.....+2%
* TT ELEC.-Update,inline.favourable FX.Cnfident outlook...................+2-3%
* VERTU-FY pre-tax +25%,March/April sales rise YOY,divi increase............+2%
* WILLIAM HILL-T/U Net rev -3%, on-line -11%, FY Op-prof' guid' UNCH........-1%
* WOOD GRP-T/U sees FY EBITDA in-line,committed to div increase in '16......+1%
EU
* ABN-Q1 net €474m Vs est €418m, CET1 15.8%, regulatory costs up.............+1%
* ALLIANZ-Q1 out, was pre released, more PIMCO outlfows, AUM -17%............-1%
* ALSTOM-2015/16 sales €6.88b v est €6.71bn, confirms 2020 targets...........U/C
* ALTICE-Q1 r
evs €4.26bn Vs est €4.27bn, maintains outlook...................U/C
* ARKEMA-Q1 ebitda ahead at €302m, margins 16%, confirms 2016 o'look.........+1%
* AXEL SPERINGER-Q1 rev, ebitda in line, guidance seems in line..............+1%
* BILFINGER-Q1 business development in line, confirms FY o'look............+0.5%
* CARLSBERG-Q1 org revs +2% Vs 1.3% est, better E Europe will be taken well..+1%
* CNP-Q1 revs +8.9% l4l,hurt by Brazil real fall(s/b expected).............+0.5%
* D POST-Q1 ebit 3.5% beat, rev small miss, reits f/casts,comment to follow..+2%
* EDF-Q1 rev 2% light, reits FY ebitda target, comment to follow.............U/C
* EON-Q1 net inc €1.31bn(est €1.28bn),no surprises aftr recent CMD...........+2%
* GENMAB-Q1 rev 15% light, cites one off effects, reaffirms FY f/casts.......U/C
* HOCHTIEF-Q1 sales 2% ahead,new orders +31%,margin +3.6%,confirms guidance..+2%
* JC DECAUX-Q1 org gth +10.5%(guided +9%),sees Q2 +3%(weak?),d/grades away...-3%
* LANXESS-Q1 ebitda 3% ahead of cons, raises FY ebitda guidance by 2%........+3%
* LEG IMMOB.-Q1 FFO I rises 22%, raises guidance by around 1%................+2%
* LEONI-Q1 ebit €24.4m vs est €23.4m, FY guidance towards low end............-1%
* LUNDBECK-Q1 rev 3% beat, raises FY rev and ebit guidance by 3%.............+3%
* MEDIASET-Q1 rev in line,ebit ahead,net looks worse, ad trends positive.....+1%
* MEDIOBANCA-Q3 net €121.3m(est €89.6m),CET1 13.2%(13.4% in Dec),weak into...+2%
* METRO-Q2 sales in line,Q2 lfl sales +0.6% overall,1.1% Ger,confirms FY.....+1%
* MONCLER-Q1 sales +17%(est 12.2%),retail & w/sale beat,further gth in 2016..+3%
* NH HOTELES-Q1 rev €301.8m vs est €299m (2 ests), net looks slightly worse..U/C
* NUMERICABLE-Q1 ebitda €851m vs est €878m, revs in line.....................-2%
* OMV-Q1 clean net inc 12% beat, cutting costs, capex unch...................+1%
* POSTE ITALIANE-Q1 rev 6% ahead, net €367m(est €323m), looks good...........+2%
* SCOUT24-Q1 rev +12.9%,looks in line,on track for FY,strong y’day...........-1%
* TU
I-current trading in line, reits outlook,to sell specialist division...+1.5%
* WOLTERS KLUWER-Q1 org rev +3%, repeats FY f/casts..........................U/C
Other news
* RAIFFEISEN-releases Q1, considers merger with parent company.
* GAMELOFT,UBISOFT may react to Electronic Arts (+7% a/hours in US on results)
UK
* ARROW GLOBAL-Q1.Rev +25.4%.Increase in core collections.FY on track.......+2%
* BARRETT DEVS-Update.Mkt conditions remain strong.FY remains on track......+1%
* BT/VODAFONE-Liberty Global Would Evaluate Telefonica’s 02 in U.K(CEO).....-1%
* CAPE-Update.To be H2 weighted.Margins across the board below exp's......-3-5%
* CENTAUR MEDIA-Q1. Rev +5%. Exhibitions ahead, Ad weak. No chg to FY......unch
* COMPASS GRP-H1. Numbers & div a beat. FY exp's remain unch..............+1-2%
* EXPERIAN-FY.Organic rev growth;FX headwinds remain,upbeat outlook........unch
* ITV/SKY-Negative read across from Disney's earnings miss last night.......-1%
* MEDICLININC-Appoints new group CFO.......................................unch
* MELROSE-Update. Trading remains in line.Continues to seek acq's..........unch
* NAT.EXPRESS-Update.All divisions performing well.FY remians on track......+1%
* OCADO-Vague bid spec in today press after ydays move (+9.26%)............unch
* ONESAVINGS-Update.Numbers ahead.Upbeat outlook stmnt....................+1-2%
* PREMIER OIL-Update.Prod.ahead.+ve Catcher.Covenant discussions ongoing..+3-4%
* PURPLEBRICKS-FY T/U on course to meet FY expect's, LFL up 445%............+2%
* RENISHAW-Q3 REV CA. 20% than Q315(large one-off orders).FY guid' unch....unch
* TAPTICA-Update.Strong H2 continues into H1.11.5% U/G to FY16 EPS.........3-5%
* TUI-H1 confirms FY est's,sees underlying EBITA growth of at least 10%.....+2%
* TT ELEC.-Update,inline.favourable FX.Cnfident outlook...................+2-3%
* VERTU-FY pre-tax +25%,March/April sales rise YOY,divi increase............+2%
* WILLIAM HILL-T/U Net rev -3%, on-line -11%, FY Op-prof' guid' UNCH........-1%
* WOOD GRP-T/U sees FY EBITDA in-line,committed to div increase in '16......+1%
EU
* ABN-Q1 net €474m Vs est €418m, CET1 15.8%, regulatory costs up.............+1%
* ALLIANZ-Q1 out, was pre released, more PIMCO outlfows, AUM -17%............-1%
* ALSTOM-2015/16 sales €6.88b v est €6.71bn, confirms 2020 targets...........U/C
* ALTICE-Q1 r
evs €4.26bn Vs est €4.27bn, maintains outlook...................U/C
* ARKEMA-Q1 ebitda ahead at €302m, margins 16%, confirms 2016 o'look.........+1%
* AXEL SPERINGER-Q1 rev, ebitda in line, guidance seems in line..............+1%
* BILFINGER-Q1 business development in line, confirms FY o'look............+0.5%
* CARLSBERG-Q1 org revs +2% Vs 1.3% est, better E Europe will be taken well..+1%
* CNP-Q1 revs +8.9% l4l,hurt by Brazil real fall(s/b expected).............+0.5%
* D POST-Q1 ebit 3.5% beat, rev small miss, reits f/casts,comment to follow..+2%
* EDF-Q1 rev 2% light, reits FY ebitda target, comment to follow.............U/C
* EON-Q1 net inc €1.31bn(est €1.28bn),no surprises aftr recent CMD...........+2%
* GENMAB-Q1 rev 15% light, cites one off effects, reaffirms FY f/casts.......U/C
* HOCHTIEF-Q1 sales 2% ahead,new orders +31%,margin +3.6%,confirms guidance..+2%
* JC DECAUX-Q1 org gth +10.5%(guided +9%),sees Q2 +3%(weak?),d/grades away...-3%
* LANXESS-Q1 ebitda 3% ahead of cons, raises FY ebitda guidance by 2%........+3%
* LEG IMMOB.-Q1 FFO I rises 22%, raises guidance by around 1%................+2%
* LEONI-Q1 ebit €24.4m vs est €23.4m, FY guidance towards low end............-1%
* LUNDBECK-Q1 rev 3% beat, raises FY rev and ebit guidance by 3%.............+3%
* MEDIASET-Q1 rev in line,ebit ahead,net looks worse, ad trends positive.....+1%
* MEDIOBANCA-Q3 net €121.3m(est €89.6m),CET1 13.2%(13.4% in Dec),weak into...+2%
* METRO-Q2 sales in line,Q2 lfl sales +0.6% overall,1.1% Ger,confirms FY.....+1%
* MONCLER-Q1 sales +17%(est 12.2%),retail & w/sale beat,further gth in 2016..+3%
* NH HOTELES-Q1 rev €301.8m vs est €299m (2 ests), net looks slightly worse..U/C
* NUMERICABLE-Q1 ebitda €851m vs est €878m, revs in line.....................-2%
* OMV-Q1 clean net inc 12% beat, cutting costs, capex unch...................+1%
* POSTE ITALIANE-Q1 rev 6% ahead, net €367m(est €323m), looks good...........+2%
* SCOUT24-Q1 rev +12.9%,looks in line,on track for FY,strong y’day...........-1%
* TU
I-current trading in line, reits outlook,to sell specialist division...+1.5%
* WOLTERS KLUWER-Q1 org rev +3%, repeats FY f/casts..........................U/C
Other news
* RAIFFEISEN-releases Q1, considers merger with parent company.
* GAMELOFT,UBISOFT may react to Electronic Arts (+7% a/hours in US on results)
CS:
ABN UNCH 1Q net EU474m est EU418m, CET1 15.8% vs 14.2%
ABN UNCH 1Q net EU474m est EU418m, CET1 15.8% vs 14.2%
Allianz -1% No's inline with pre-announced op profit and net income
Alstom +2-3% FY sales 2.5% beat, EBIT 3% beat, Confirms 2020 targets
Altice -1% Q1 Rev EU 4.26bln est EU 4.27bln. Re-iterates FY Outlook
Arkema +2% EBITDA €302m CSe €283m, 2016 outlook confirmed
Bekaert -3% Revs and sales slightly light, reaffirm margin tgt
Bilfinger -1-2% 2 board members withdraw from re-election
Barratt Dev +1-2% Says market conditions remains strong, reiterate outlook
Carlsberg UNCH 1Q organic sales growth beats ests, confirms forecast
CNP M/P EBIT €513m cons 563m, net €281m cons €214m
Compass M/P EBIT 2% ahead, company flag weakness in oil and gas
Deut Post +1% Sales light and EBIT beat, confirms guidance
E.ON -1-2% Q1 Net slightly ahead, Guidance is confirmed
Experian UNCH PBT 1% light vs cons, div as expected
Gas Nat -2% LNG trading disappointing
Hochteif +1-2% Sales inline but EBT €159m vs cons 151m
Jenoptik -1-2% 1Q Sales 158.2m vs cons 159.5m, confirms forecasts
JC Decaux -3-4% 1Q adj. revs rises 15% y/y, downgraded away from us
JC Decaux -3-4% 1Q adj. revs rises 15% y/y, downgraded away from us
LEG Immo +1-2% Raises FFO I outlook for 2016/17
Lanxess +2% Q1 small beat, guidance raised, Beat in polymers spreads
Leoni M/P Q1 final sales and EBIT 3% beat, confirms FY guidance
Lundbeck +3-5% Q1 beat and raised guidance
Lundin Pet M/P Q1 revs and EBITDA inline with market expectations
Marine Har -1% Revs 4% beat, lwers 2016 harvest guidance
Mediobanca +2-3% Revs €502.7m cons €475m, net well ahead €121m cons €89m
Melrose M/P Brush performing satisfactorily, seeking an acquisition
Metro M/P Q2 Sales inline with estimates, confirms FY guidance
Miners +2% Copper +0.70%, Brent +0.20%, Iron Ore -0.15%, China +0.76%
Moleskine -1-2% 1Q net revs 25.03m vs bberg cons 25.867m, confirms 2016
Moncler +3-5% Q1 revs 7% beat, outlook confident
Nat Express +1% Revenues +4%, coach passenger volumes grew by 6%
NH Hotels M/P Q1 revs small beat, Net loss small miss
Numericable -2-3% Q1 revs inline, EBITDA 3% miss
Ocado +2% Mentioned in FT and Daily Mail re: M&A spec
OMV M/P Net income better, E&P had very low exploration expenses
OMV M/P Net income better, E&P had very low exploration expenses
Onesavings +1% NIM and loan growth fine, Confident in guidance
Poste Italy +2-3% EBIT 12% ahead, net profit 14% ahead
Renishaw +2% Margin at 18.4% vs FY exp of 18.2, Keeps FY outlook
Richemont -1-2% Peer Fossil -23% last night, having slashed FY forecasts
SBM M/P Revs in line with mgmt expectations and guidance maintained
Schibsted +1-2% Sales NOK3.88bn vs cons 3.85bn, EBITDA NOK421m vs cons 402m
Swatch -1-2% Peer Fossil -23% last night, having slashed FY forecasts
TUI +1% EBIT loss inline, reiterate guidance
Will Hill M/P Gross win margin lower, reiterate guidance
Wood Group M/P No's inline, Guidance in line with street
Numis:
* ARROW GLOBAL +1%; Core collections up 31%, revenue up 25%
Numis:
* ARROW GLOBAL +1%; Core collections up 31%, revenue up 25%
* BARRATT DEVELOPMENTS +2%; TS, good perf, market remains strong, +ve outlook.
* CAPE +1%; AGM reports strong order book at £862m offset by weaker margins across the group. FY guidance remains unch with mkt conditions described 'robust'.
* CENTAUR +1%; TU good improvement in cash collection.
* COMPASS +1%; Encouraging interims, recovery in Europe gathering pace, Management says that “expectations for 2016 are positive and unchanged.”
* EXPERIAN -1%; Revenue in line, interim dividend small light.
* FUTURE unch; Acquisition of Blaze, no terms announced.
* MEDICLINIC mkt; New CFO announced. Wont move dial on strategy.
* MELROSE -2%; Trading in line but no real news on progress of acquisition.
* NATIONAL EXPRESS +2%; Strong Q1, rev + 11% yoy, top line growth across all divisions, North America especially strong, passenger growth +3%, confident o/look.
* OCADO +3%; Most papers citing a bid from Amazon as the reason for yday's rally.
* ONESAVINGSBANK +0.5%; Strong growth in Q1, net loans & advances grew by £460m during Q1.
* PREMIER OIL +5%; 'Strong' production on track to deliver 'at or above' upper end of 2016 expectations, 65-70kboepd. Catcher pre-first oil capex forecast to be -15% due to cost savings.
* PURPLEBRICKS +5%; TU H2 has seen continued strong gth, heady valuation though.
* RENISHAW +2%; O/look unch from March update. Rev 20% lower than Q3 2015. No surprises.
* RIVER & MERCANTILE +1%; Decent AuM growth, lower perf fees. Q3 AuM/NuM at £23.7bn was 3% ahead of the £23.1bn forecast.
* SEGRO mkt; Arranges bank facilities totalling €780m 11 May 2016.
ShoreCap:
MELROSE IND - current trading inline, eyes acquisitions....................UNCH
ShoreCap:
MELROSE IND - current trading inline, eyes acquisitions....................UNCH
CAPE - Q1 trading mixed,margins pressured,oper.pft below expec,sees FY unch.-3%
ARROW GLOBAL - revs +25.4% £44.5m,EBITDA +57.6%,ontrack to deliver FY inline+2%
RENISHAW - Q3 revs at £308.1m vs £369.7m prev yr,PBT £20.2m.................-1%
CENTAUR MEDIA - revs +5%,sees some pressure on Ad and sponsorship revs......-1%
BARRATT DEVS - sees good demand,fwd sales +9.7%,market conditions strong....+2%
TT ELELCTRONICS - Made good start to year.Trading in line with forecasts...UNCH
PURPLEBRICKS - H2 trading strong.On course to meet fy views.................+1%
WILLIAM HILL - Q1 net revs -3%.Trading in line with prior fy views..........-1%
EXPERIAN - Fy revs in line.Expects another year of good growth.............UNCH
TUI - turnover +2.7%,EBITA +16.3%,summer trading inline,reits target g'dance+2%
WOOD GRP - mkt conditions remain challenging,sees FY EBITA 20% lower on '15.-1%
PREMIER OIL - strong production no's,on track to deliver at or above g'dance+2%
ONESAVINGS BANK - strong trading continues,loans grew by £460m..............+2%
JRP GROUP - quieter quarter in defined benefit sales........................-1%
NAT.EXPRESS - strong start to yr,revs +11%,passenger growth of 3%,PBT higher+1%
Mainfirst:
*DPW-Ebit 873m(844),Rev 13.9b(14.83),Reits FY Ebit 3.4-3.7(3.47).....+1%
Mainfirst:
*DPW-Ebit 873m(844),Rev 13.9b(14.83),Reits FY Ebit 3.4-3.7(3.47).....+1%
*ALSTOM-Confirms 202 tgts,2015/16 Sales €6.88b(6.71b)................+1%
*LANXESS-Rev 1.92b(2.01),Ebitda 262m(253.6),Raises 2016 f/casts......+3%
*ARKEMA-Sales 1.89b(2),Net 98m(75.6),Ebitda 302m(271.6),o/l +ve......+1%
*CARLSBERG-Sales 13b(13.2),BV -2%(-1.1),NRG 2%(1.3),China -3 to 4%...+1%
*SCHIBSTED-OPG Rev 3.88b(3.85),Ebitda 421m(401),PT 219m(214).........+2%
*LUDIN PET-Rev 191.3m(190.6),Ebitda 124.9m(125),Prod 62.4............U/C
*MEDIOBANCA-Rev 502.7m(475.5),NI 121.3m(89.6),NII 301.4m(300.6)......+2%
*EON-NI 1.31b(1.28),Ebitda 3.07b(2.96),Sales 27.1b(27.53)............+1%
*SPRINGER-Rev 783.4m(790.8),Ebitda 125.9m(126.2),Margin 16.1%........-0.5%
*OMV-Rev 3.991b(4.09),Net Inc 174m(124.8),Ebit 167m(154.2)...........+1%
*POSTE ITALIANE-Rev €9.8b vs est €9.17b,Net Income €367m.............+1%
*POP MILANO-NII 206.5m(199.8),Rev 389m(395.8),NI 48.3m(47.8).........+1%
*JCDECAUX-Rev 748.5m(743),Organic Grth 10.5%,Q2 Org Grth 3%..........-5%
*MONCLER-Rev 237.3m(221.3),Sales at constant FX +17%(12.2)...........+4%
*MEDIASET-Rev 786.1m(792),Ebit 105.4m(94.9),H1 add Rev 2 stay +ve....2%
*EDF-Sales 21.4b(22.03),Reits FY Ebitda target 16.3-16.8(16.52)......+1%
*ALLIANZ-Finals Rev/Op Inc/NI known,P&C CoR 93.3%,Solvency 186%......-0.5%
*BILFINGER-Output 1.35b(1.34),Adj Net 1m(-1.7),Ebita 7m(7.7).........-1%
*C/ZEISS-H1 Sales known,Q2 Ebit 41.79m(38.4),FY Ebit 13-15%(13.37)...+1%
*HOCHTIEF-Sales 4.41b(4.455),OP 159m(153),Net 63m(60.1),FY ok........+1%
*LEG-FFO 62.6m(61.7),Ebitda 84.1m(80.7),Raises FY16/17 outlook.......+2%
*METRO-Sales 13.6b(13.5),Ebit 11m(-8),PT -72m(-96),Net -57m(-51).....+1%
*TIM TAILOR-Sales218.9m(216.7),NI -5.8M(-5.8),Confirms FY............-1%
*TUI-Rev 6.79b(7.23),Prepares sale of Specialist Grp Division........+1%
*ALTICE-Rev 4.26b(4.27),maintains outlook............................+1%
Clinton Son-in-Law’s Firm Is Said to Close Greece Hedge Fund
It was a hedge fund portfolio pitched by Hillary Clinton’s son-in-law, Marc Mezvinsky, as an opportunity to bet on a Greek economic revival.
Now, two years later, the Greece-focused fund is shutting down, after losing nearly 90 percent of its value, according to two investors with direct knowledge of the matter who spoke on the condition of anonymity.
Investors were told last month that the fund would close. The fund, Eaglevale Hellenic Opportunity, had raised $25 million from investors to buy Greek bank stocks and government debt.
Eaglevale Partners, a Manhattan hedge fund firm founded by Mr. Mezvinsky and two former Goldman Sachs colleagues, raised money for the Hellenic fund at a time when some on Wall Street had hopes for a revival in the Greek economy. For a time, Mr. Mezvinsky appeared at hedge fund conferences promoting the Greece investment thesis.
Mr. Mezvinsky is married to Chelsea Clinton, the daughter of former President Bill Clinton and Mrs. Clinton, the former secretary of state who is seeking the Democratic nomination for president.
Betting on Greece has proved to be tricky — some investors have made huge gains while others have had their fingers burned, depending on the timing of their bets.
And the last 17 months have been especially difficult for a number of hedge funds, even ones run by some of the best-known managers.
This year, the Eaglevale flagship fund, which manages about $330 million and specializes in making macroeconomic bets, is down 1 percent. So-called macro hedge funds make trades based on global economic and political events. Last year, Fortress Investment Group and Bain Capital had to shutter hedge funds that had made bets on shifting macroeconomic trends.
The average hedge fund was down 0.63 percent in the first quarter of this year, according to the HFRI Fund Weighted Composite Index.
Mr. Mezvinsky and his partners began raising money in 2011 from investors for the firm’s flagship fund. Since then, that portfolio has posted uneven performance.
A Stanford University graduate, Mr. Mezvinsky worked at Goldman for eight years before leaving to join a private equity firm. He left that job to form Eaglevale with two longtime Goldman partners, Bennett Grau and Mark Mallon. The hedge fund firm is named after a bridge in Central Park.
Some of the firm’s earliest investors were Goldman partners, including Lloyd C. Blankfein, Goldman’s chief executive officer, who let Eaglevale use his name in marketing the flagship fund.
It is not clear why Eaglevale waited until this year to close the Hellenic fund, which already had lost about 40 percent of its value by early last year.
Last year was particularly tumultuous for Greece. The country neared the brink of economic collapse as the country’s leaders and its international creditors engaged in tense negotiations. Ultimately, the Greek government agreed to a number of economic reforms demanded by creditors in return for a new bailout.
The economic situation in Greece is still tenuous as the country continues to squabble with other eurozone nations and its creditors about how to reduce its debt burden. Investors on Wall Street continue to promote investment in Greece nonetheless.
During a recent Sohn Investment Conference charity event at Lincoln Center in New York, Richard Deitz, of the hedge fund VR Capital Group, told an audience of investors that he was betting on Greek banks and government bonds.
In letters to investors in 2014, Mr. Mezvinsky and his partners expressed confidence that Greece would soon be on the path to a “sustainable recovery.” But by the end of that year, Eaglevale’s leaders began to acknowledge that their perspective on the situation in Greece may have been wrong. The fund had earlier stopped taking in new money.
The one silver lining for the fund’s investors from all of this is that they will have a somewhat larger tax loss on investments to claim next year.
Dow+1.26% S&P+1.25% NAsdaq+1.26% Russell+0.95%
US Market Closed higher helped by rebound in oil, and outperformance of Industrial & Financials. JPY move overnight and implications on Nikkei were also a positive catalyst. WTI crude ended its day higher by 2.9% at $44.70/bbl. Supply disruptions in Canada and Nigeria have been widely credited for the increased buying interest. Industrials names were helped by farm equipment names and aerospace companies outperformed.Caterpillar +2.4% and Deere + 4.0% after the World Agricultural Supply and Demand Estimates Report elicited a bullish response in agriculture names. Financials were helped by CS performance (+6%) on better numbers. in the consumer AMZN continue to trade to new 52 weeks highs. Volume today were below average at 831mil shares. US After Hours Stock moving on ERN +ve : FUEL +17.1%, TROV +17.8%, NAII +15.1%, EA +7.5%, REXX +4.8%, BUFF +4.7%, PLNT +3.7%, CSLT +1.2% -ve : FOSL -30.6%, CJES -23.4%, TRXC -15.5%, FELP -11.6%, CYTX -11.5%, WATT -6.1%, KGC -5.8%, NUAN -5.5%, DIS -5.4%, ALRM -4.9%, DGLY -3.1%, PSEC -2%. WFT +1.3% on insider buying, ODP -26.3% (confirms the FTC's request for a preliminary injunction to block the proposed merger with Staples (SPLS)), SPLS -10.1%. Asian equity markets are mixed despite the biggest rally on Wall St in weeks as investors remain unconvinced that slowdown in China can be contained. Nikkei225 started out strongly with a rally of over 1% above 16,800 but retreated in afternoon session when JPY buyers re-emerged. Japan PM advisor Fuji called on the govt to postpone the sales tax and offer as much as ¥10T in fiscal spending measures. SoftBank +2.67% on Ern.
Nikkei +0.52% Hang Seng -0.71% CSI +0.85% Shanghai +0.59%
Eur$ 1.1387 CNH 6.5356 CNY 6.5115 JPY 108.67 GBP 1.4452 CHF 0.9737 RUB$66.0707 WTI$ 44.42 (-0.54%)
S&P -0.18% EuroStoxx +0.10% Dax +0.13% SMI -0.08%
Macro :
- Goldman Sachs Increases Gold Forecasts, Still Sees Price Decline
- Bafin Warns on Shortfalls in Corporate Pension Funds: Die Welt
- Goldman Calls Dollar Bottom Saying Traders Misprice Fed Resolve
- IMF Might Not Join Greek Bailout at Current Review: Kathimerini
Keep an eye on :
- ABBN VX : Investor AB Says ABB to Make Grid Unit Decision This Year: SVD
- AGFB BB : Agfa-Gevaert bidding to acquire targets, CEO says - De Tijd
- AKER NO : Aker 1Q Net Asset Value Declines to NOK19.7b in 1Q
- ALV GY : Allianz 1Q Net Rises 21%, Non-Operating Result Jumps EU339m
- ALO FP : Alstom Year Sales Beat Ests.; Confirms 2020 Targets
- ATC NA : Altice 1Q Rev. Matches Ests.; Reiterates FY Outlook
- AKE FP : Arkema 1Q Ebitda Beats Estimates; Repeats Ebitda to Rise in 2016
- AST IM : Astaldi 1Q Total Rev. Up 4.6% Y/y to EUR632.6m
- SPR GY : Axel Springer Says Digital Business Boosted 1Q Earnings Again
- BP IM : Banco Popolare 1Q Net Loss EU313.6m vs Profit Expected
- PMI IM : Pop. Milano CEO Particularly Satisfied With 1Q Results
- BEKB BB : Bekaert Sees 1H Adj. Ebit Margin Topping 7%; 1Q Rev. Misses Est.
- GBF GY : Bilfinger Says 1Q Development In Line, Confirms FY Outlook
- CARL BB : Carlsberg 1Q Organic Sales Growth Beats Ests., Confirms Forecast
- CNP FP : CNP Assurances 1Q Net EU281m; Hit by Decline in Brazil Real
- CSGN VX : Credit Suisse Estimates Cut; 1Q Beat Not Sustainable: JPMorgan
- DPW GY : Deutsche Post 1Q Ebit Beats Est, Rev. Misses; FY View Confirmed
- DIS US : -6% after Hours on ERN, ESPN & Theme Park were weaker
- EDF FP : EDF 1Q Sales EU21.4bn, Co. Reiterates FY Ebitda Target
- EDF FP : EDF CFO Says EU1 Billion Cost Savings by 2019 Is ‘A Minimum’
- ENGI FP : GBL Buys Back EU458.3m Engie-Convertible Bonds at 101.25%
- EOAN GY : EON 1Q Underlying Net Income Beats Estimates; Confirms Forecast
- EOAN GY : E.ON Open to Govt Deal on Nuclear Waste Disposal: Handelsblatt
- GALN VX : Sprint Investments 2 Starts Placement of 320k Shares in Galenica --> CHF1,355
- HOT GY : Hochtief 1Q Sales Above Estimates, Confirms 2016 Guidance
- IBAB BB : Ion Beam 1Q Rev. Rises 10% to EU64.6m; Reiterates 2016 Guidance
- DEC FP : JCDecaux 1Q Adj. Rev. Up 15%; Sees 2Q Organic Growth at 3%
- JEN GY : Jenoptik 1Q Rev. Up 8.5%; Profit Down 22%; Reiterates Outlook
- LXS GY : Lanxess 1Q Ebitda Ex-Items Beats Estimates; Raises 2016 Forecast
- LEG GY : LEG 1Q FFO I Rises 22%; Raises FFO I Outlook for 2016, 2017
- LUN DC : Lundbeck 1Q Rev., Ebit Beat Estimates, Lifts 2016 Forecast
- LUPE SS : Lundin Petroleum 1Q Ebitda Meets Estimates
- MHG NO : Marine Harvest 1Q Net Income Beats Est.; NOK1.70/Share Dividend
- MB IM : Mediobanca 3Q Net Beats Estimate; CET1 Fully Loaded 13.2%
- MEO GY : Metro 2Q Sales In Line With Ests., Confirms FY Guidance
- MSK IM : Moleskine Confirms 2016 Guidance, 1Q Rev. Up 8.2%
- MONC IM : Moncler 1Q Total Sales, Constant FX Sales Growth Beat Ests.
- NHH SM : NH Hotel Net Loss EU39.6m vs Net Loss of EU29.1m yr earlier
- OCDO LN : +9.3% on Rumor of AMZ potential bid fueled by BErnstein Report on AMZN stating that co has plenty of CF to invest and not many options.
- OPERA NO : Opera 1Q Rev Beats Ests on Advertising, Consumers Sales Growth
- RBI AV : Raiffeisen Eyes Possible Merger With Parent RZB This Year
- REP SM : Repsol could accelerate disposals opportunistically or to keep IG rating
- RUI FP : Rubis 1Q Reported Rev Rises 16% to EU735M
- SALM NO : Salmar 1Q Operational Ebit Rises; Names Trond Williksen New CEO
- SBMO NA : SBM Offshore Keeps FY 2016 Directional Revenue, Ebitda Guidance
- SCHA NO : Schibsted 1Q Revenue Matches Estimate; Says Had Good Start to Yr
- SWECB SS : Sweco 1Q Ebita Beats Ests., Sales Slightly Below
- UCG IM : UniCredit CEO Confident Bank Will Reach 2016 Targets
- VLA FP : Valneva 1Q Op Loss Narrows, Confirms 2016 Financial Outlook
- VOW3 GY : Qatar Said to Name Hessa Al Jaber to VW Board: Reuters (Earlier)
- WDI GY : BaFin Sees Indications of Manipulation of Wirecard Shares
- WDP BB : De Pauw Family Sells EU7.75m of Warehouses De Pauw Stock
>>> Up
*BREMBO RAISED TO OUTPERFORM VS NEUTRAL AT MEDIOBANCA
*LAFARGEHOLCIM RAISED TO BUY VS HOLD AT KEPLER CHEUVREUX
*PATRIZIA IMMOBILIEN RAISED TO BUY VS HOLD AT KEPLER CHEUVREUX
*RATOS RAISED TO HOLD AT NORDEA
>>> Down
*GALP ENERGIA SGPS CUT TO HOLD AT SANTANDER
*JCDECAUX CUT TO REDUCE VS HOLD AT HSBC
*JCDECAUX CUT TO UNDERWEIGHT VS EQUALWEIGHT AT BARCLAYS
*LAGARDERE CUT TO UNDERPERFORM VS NEUTRAL AT BOFAML
*PEKAO CUT TO SELL AT SOCIETE GENERALE
*UBM CUT TO UNDERPERFORM VS NEUTRAL AT BOFAML
>>> PT Change
>>> Initiation
*MEDICLINIC RATED NEW EQUALWEIGHT AT BARCLAYS, PT 905P
>>> Call
Asian Market Update: RBNZ stability review maintains housing leverage; Australia Westpac confidence improves
***Economic Data***
- (AU) AUSTRALIA MAY WESTPAC CONSUMER CONFIDENCE INDEX: 103.2 V 95.1 PRIOR, M/M: +8.5% (highest since Jul 2010) V -4.0% PRIOR
- (AU) AUSTRALIA MAR HOME LOANS M/M: -0.9% V -1.5%E; Investment Lending: 1.5% v 4.1% prior
- (JP) JAPAN APR OFFICIAL RESERVE ASSETS: $1.26T v $1.26T PRIOR
- (NZ) New Zealand Apr REINZ median home price +7.7% y/y v +4.2% prior; Home sales y/y +18.4% v +8.2% prior; Home sales 8.6K v 9.5K prior
- (KR) SOUTH KOREA APR UNEMPLOYMENT RATE: 3.7% V 3.8%E
***Index Snapshot (as of 04:00 GMT)***
- Nikkei225 +0.3%, S&P/ASX +0.7%, Kospi -0.5%, Shanghai Composite +0.4%, Hang Seng -0.6%, Jun S&P500 -0.2% at 2,074
***Commodities/Fixed Income***
- June gold +0.5% at $1,271/oz, June crude oil -0.5% at $44.43/brl, Jul copper +0.8% at $2.11/lb
- (US) Weekly API Oil Inventories: Crude: +3.4M v +1.3M prior; 2nd straight build; largest build in 4 weeks
- GLD: SPDR Gold Trust ETF daily holdings rise 2.4 tonnes to 839.3 tonnes; 5th straight increase; highest since Dec 2013
- SLV: iShares Silver Trust ETF daily holdings fall to 10,421 tonnes from 10,454 tonnes prior
- (CN) China MoF sells 5-yr bonds at 2.69% v 2.58% prior
- USD/CNY: (CN) PBOC SETS YUAN MID POINT AT 6.5209 V 6.5233 PRIOR
- (CN) PBOC to inject CNY80B in 7-day reverse repos
- (JP) BOJ offers to buy ¥350B in 1-3yr JGBs, ¥440B in 3-5yr JGBs, ¥450B in 5-10yr JGBs
- (AU) Australia sells A$7B in 2.25% 2028 bonds at 2.525%; Largest bond sale ever by AOFM
***Market Focal Points/FX***
- Asian equity markets are mixed despite the biggest rally on Wall St in weeks as investors remain unconvinced that slowdown in China can be contained. Nikkei225 started out strongly with a rally of over 1% above 16,800 but retreated in afternoon session when JPY buyers re-emerged. USD/JPY fell as much as 70pips from the highs to 108.60 without any notable fundamental catalysts. S&P/ASX 200 hit a 9-month high above 5,400 early on as well, but retreated to 5,380 as Moody's warned on Australia banks. NZD/USD was also very volatile, spiking up some 60pips above $0.68 on New Zealand financial stability review that did not introduce any new macroprudential measures on housing as speculated by Fin Min English overnight.
- Among notable speakers, Japan PM advisor Fuji called on the govt to postpone the sales tax and offer as much as ¥10T in fiscal spending measures. Earlier, Abe's advisor Hamada remarked on FX, stating intervention will become necessary if USD/JPY falls to 90-95 range. In Chinese press, the govt had posted a plan for "zombie companies" to help reduce capacity in oversupplied sectors.
- Down under, AUD/USD hit a high of 0.7390 after Westpac consumer sentiment index rose by the biggest margin since mid-2010. Westpac economist attributed much of the improved confidence to the latest easing measure by the RBA. Aussie dollar moved off those highs abruptly as Moody's said major banks face increased challenges for rest of 2016 on expected "moderate weakening in asset quality and a slowdown in earnings growth over the rest of 2016" as well as negative impact on margins from a prolonged period of low interest rates.
- NZD/USD fell overnight after comments from Fin Min English who speculated that RBNZ will unveil new macroprudential measures to control housing inflation. This would, in turn, give greater leeway to the RBNZ in lowering rates. However, today's semiannual Financial Stability Report only stated that imbalances in the property sector are on the rise and that the central bank would closely watch the housing market but did not produce any new steps, sending NZD sharply higher. Later in the day, Gov Wheeler spoke in Parliament, clarifying that the RBNZ is "seriously" looking at further measures in Auckland or nationwide given the central bank's increasing concern. However, there was no specific timing for new measures and no decisions on further steps have been made.
***Equities***
US equities / ADRs:
- EA: Reports Q4 $0.50 v $0.42e, R$924M v $886Me; +7.7% afterhours
- PLNT: Reports Q1 $0.15 v $0.13e, R$83.3M v $77.9Me; +2.9% afterhours
- NUAN: Reports Q2 $0.38 v $0.35e, R$479M v $491Me; -5.5% afterhours
- DIS: Reports Q2 $1.36 (ex-items) v $1.40e, R$13.0B v $13.3Be; -5.5% afterhours
- SPLS: JUDGE BLOCKS MERGER WITH OFFICE DEPOT, CALLING IT ANTICOMPETITIVE; Initiating new $300M cost reduction plan; To pay Office Depot $250M break-up fee; Committed to dividend program, will close 50 stores; SPLS -10.1%, ODP -26.3% afterhours
- FOSL: Reports Q1 $0.20 v $0.18e, R$659.8M v $668Me; -30.8% afterhours
Notable movers by sector:
- Financials: China Galaxy Securities Co 6881.HK -1.3% (Apr result)
- Industrials: Suzuki Motor Corp 7269.JP +5.0% (FY15/16 result); GrainCorp GNC.AU -1.1% (H1 result); CSR CSR.AU +5.8% (FY16 prelim result)
- Technology: Pegatron Corp 4938.TW +0.3% (Q1 result); Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co 2330.TW +0.7% (Apr result); LG Electronics Inc 066570.KR -3.7% (relocation of mobile division speculation)
- Materials: Marubeni Corp 8002.JP -2.0% (FY15/16 result); Mitsubishi Corp 8058.JP +1.1% (FY15/16 result)
- Telecom: Softbank Corp 9984.JP +2.8% (FY15/16 result)