News for Investment Opportunities

Investing with the European-Iranian commercial bank? The town holds its Taufkirchen deal over three million € not as risky. (© Reuters)

Money is money. "Is one of the favorite wisdom of bankers Emperor Vespasian has with this set of justified once shrugged the Reibach from the taxation of public toilets." Pecunia non olet "- as the saying goes in the original Latin – is also a favorite set of Jörg Poetke, Mayor Taufkirchen. It describes the decision of his treasurer, three million euro from the European-Iranian commercial bank (EIHB) as hard to put money – at a financial institution, then, the lands now on the sanctions list of the EU and thus sidelined. The bank will handle financial flows for the Iranian nuclear and missile programs.

It is too early to estimate how many Bavarian communities have parked the money of their citizens in the bank of the Islamic Republic. A town hall staff in the region who wishes to remain anonymous reports, but have applied by other municipalities in the Munich area, the millions of dollars in EIHB. This could include a remarkable risk-taking: The U.S. Treasury, the Bank has already set last September on a blacklist.

Mayor Poetke will evaluate the deal with the EIHB not as risky. Least of all he sees parallels to the epic financial products called swaps transactions were letting on which cities and municipalities in 2009 – and many millions Euro Tax money is lost. Poetke is convinced: "That money is safe, it is entirely been acceptable to select the offer with the highest net interest income.." The Greens see the council otherwise. The group criticized the community support to citizen’s income, the Iranian nuclear program. The Bavarian Gemeindetag refers to under its municipal Haushaltsverordung: The Act makes it free to municipalities to invest their money in the economically most profitable provider. Nevertheless Municipalities CEO Jürgen had to give coaches a good feeling, civil money in the custody of the EIHB. "I would not advise it," he says.

Around one million € manages EIHB Poetke until July, according to Taufkirchen. The community needs well have no fear that their account will be frozen permanently. The Federal Bank, responsible for the implementation of the sanctions is hardly Taufkirchen of complicity with the regime in Iran . Transfer Nevertheless, it may take until the community gets to their money. This requires an application be made to the federal bench. The test may drag on, "We set no time frame," said a spokesman.

BONN (Dow Jones) – The European Aeronautic Defence and Space Company EADS may form together with the wireless technology specialist Rohde & Schwarz and Carl Zeiss is a joint venture in the field of defense and security electronics. (Photo: EADS)

The Federal Cartel Office had approved the plans in the first test phase without conditions and constraints, a spokesman on Thursday said Dow Jones Newswires on request.

HAMBURG (Dow Jones) – The owner of the Hamburg shipping company Hapag-Lloyd control according to a newspaper report on an initial public offering in mid-April. (Photo: Hapag-Lloyd)

The advisory investment banks have to report in the Financial Times Germany "(FTD – Friday edition) 15 on the April agreed an indicative target date. To date, a date was just before the summer break in the IPO market in June as a favorite. "The owners move up a gear," the paper quoted a negotiation participants.
The world’s fifth largest container shipping company is one of the TUI Group’s 49.8%, the remainder being held by a consortium that is from the city of Hamburg and the logistics entrepreneur Klaus-Michael Kuehne dominates. Hapag-Lloyd’s market value is estimated at several billion euros. This would be the initial public offering expected to be largest in Germany so far this year.
However, there are currently among the owners still discussions about the details. Just will save Hamburg, for example, significant influence, to guarantee the whereabouts of the headquarters in Hamburg. Debated about going to write this in the statute and allow a change only by a high majority at the general meeting of about 75%.
In order to secure the influence of existing shareholders, was also discussed in the meantime, to transform the legal status of the shipping company into a partnership limited by shares – as it is about the DAX Group handles the case. Is still uncertain how high the percentage is to be sold in the first step on the exchange. Currently, a package is in effect from 35% to 40% as probable, which is almost entirely come from TUI.

FRANKFURT (Dow Jones) – Moody’s moves in their ratings with regard to the banking law, no comprehensive restructuring of the state bailout for German banks with more into account. (Photo: Commerzbank)

It is directed according to their own specifications from late Thursday, the ratings of subordinated bonds (Lower Tier 2 and Tier 3), the non-core capital includes, on the future of the bank’s financial strength and not the probability of a rescue by the state.
Affected by the decision, with one on 16 December started scanning is completed, papers in a volume of around EUR 24 billion of 23 German banks and a banking subsidiary in Ireland. Downgraded, the credit rating of 248 subordinated bonds.
The new law would be of a distribution of loads in the event of a crisis on several shoulders with it, is Moody’s. drawn with the responsibility would also holders of subordinated upstream and bonds. Most affected by a possible failure in the view of the rating agency subordinated securities, were now reduced to a large-scale action, the ratings by up to seven levels. On average, the downgrading of 2.5 notches. Nachrangschuldverschreibungen beared a greater general risk of default than senior debt.
Also for the country’s banks, there is no guarantee of more state support, so they are also affected by the revaluation. An exception to the support makes Moody’s for the Bayerische Landesbank and the Sparkasse Köln Bonn. These two institutions could stand in the respective local government in a crisis.

FRANKFURT (Dow Jones) – Swiss industrial group ABB sees itself following the recent major acquisition spend more capable of substantial funds for acquisitions. "Purchases for an additional 10 billion dollars would certainly be possible," said CEO Joe Hogan of the "Börsen-Zeitung" (Friday edition). (Photo: ABB)

"Even then we would still retain our investment grade rating, and the gearing ratio would be around 50%." These two conditions are essential for ABB.
The Zurich Group in November announced the acquisition of the North American Baldor Electric Co. The transaction volume is 4.2 billion USD. Previously, ABB Ltd. had reported in May to buy the U.S. software firm Ventyx for over 1 billion USD.
The announcement by Siemens, buy in the electricity transmission technology to want to not surprise Hogan. "All major suppliers are interested in the very interesting markets power transmission and automation," said ABB managers. "The fact that Siemens wants to buy there, surprises me not at all. I was just surprised that Siemens has its intentions now ever made public."

TOULOUSE (Dow Jones) – The Japanese airline, Skymark Airlines has secured the appointment of four A380 Airlines The European aircraft manufacturer Airbus. This will be the airline of the first Japanese operator of large aircraft, said the EADS subsidiary on Friday.

The third largest airline in Japan were closed in November, a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on the order with Airbus.

PARIS (Dow Jones) – French retail group PPR is in the sports and lifestyle while looking for potential takeover targets. Acquisitions were not absolutely necessary for the growth of the group but said CEO Francois-Henri Pinault, the radio station BFM.

The brands of the company, which includes among others the sporting goods supplier Puma had sufficient growth opportunities. Yet one searches for Akquistionszielen very active in this area.
It should not be short of money to the group for possible acquisitions. PPR had secured the funds for future acquisitions already insured Pinault. The French have thus secured a credit line of EUR 2 billion. This one is also prepared for possible rate hikes.
Growth momentum in the sports apparel business expects the manager of the emerging markets. This should increase the demand, since the disposable income of the people of this region’s needs. The growth in countries already support the business of luxury in Paris, which also includes brands such as Gucci and Pinault. PPR alone it owes the Chinese market 21% of the Gucci sales.

HANNOVER (Dow Jones) – TUI Germany GmbH, Hannover, has joined other tour operators and now raises fuel surcharges for their trips. From today on the need for all customers with bookings departures 15th April to pay an appropriate charge, TUI spokesman Mario twill said on Friday. (Photo: Reuters)

For the medium-haul trip per person and subject to 6 EUR. For the long haul, depending on the distance 13 EUR or 30 EUR per person per trip.
The tour operator Thomas Cook and alltours had at the beginning of the week responding to rising oil prices and the increase in air fares and fuel surcharges passed on to their customers.

VIENNA (Dow Jones) – A nearly full utilization of the Austrian steel producer voestalpine has brought in the third quarter, only slightly higher sales at a profit jump. voestalpine earned more than expected by analysts and screwed the profit forecast for the fiscal year up significantly. (Photo: voestalpine)

The share price given the buoyancy News: The start of trading on Friday, the voestalpine share up 2% to 33.88 EUR.
In the three months to the end of December the Austrians increased its operating profit to EUR 244 million to EUR 132.4 million in the prior year period. The net profit was at EUR 150.6 million more than doubled. Still strong, earnings after minorities of EUR 131.2 million to EUR 50.6 million just a year earlier. Sales rose slightly by 4.1% to EUR 2.745 billion.
This could exceed the voestalpine AG both sales and earnings figures in the analyst forecasts. The surveyed by Dow Jones Newswires industry observers had expected the net profit of 125 million EUR. The operating result, they saw only 227 million in revenues and EUR 2.71 billion EUR.
An interruption of the positive developments do not see the Austrians. Given the favorable economic environment is in the main economic regions of the world in 2011 with a further rise in demand expected. For voestalpine this meant until the summer of 2011 in all divisions, a stable full capacity.
Driver of economic development are mainly Asian markets like China and India. But Brazil is characterized by good dynamics. By doing business in these countries would also be the operative recovery of the northern and central European export economies – especially Germany – worn. In Southern and Eastern Europe is the development, despite a slight relaxation but still "unsatisfactory".
The bottom line reflects more optimistic attitude of voestalpine again in the higher EBIT forecast. For the financial year 2010/11 at the end of March, the company now expects operating profit of about EUR 850 million. So far, the Austrians had a double, so at least EUR 700 million, in prospect.
On the stock market are the financial figures and the new forecast is good, even if the better view was already widely expected. The significantly increased forecast for EBIT does indeed at first glance, very good, the market consensus, however, already amounted to 865 million EUR. "In light of the report for the fiscal third quarter, I think even more than EUR 900 million for feasible," said a broker. Positive was also emphasized that all operations are fully utilized.
The result was overall strong, said Centro Bank analyst Klaus Kueng. The higher forecast, though it expects to be welcomed. However, margins are likely in the quarters to come under pressure as expected Küng. The reason were mainly due to higher costs resulting from higher coking coal and iron ore prices.

LONDON (Dow Jones) – High prices and a strong operating performance in the field of iron ore, copper and platinum have driven the profits of the Anglo American plc, 2010 in the amount. Net income climbed 170% to 6.5 billion USD and was well above the consensus estimate of analysts of 4.94 billion USD.

Operating profit rose, according to the mining company from Friday to 9.76 billion USD, of which, 9.1 billion dollars earned in the core business. Analysts had on average 9.55 billion USD.
Adjusted earnings climbed by 94% to nearly 5 billion USD or $ 4.13 per share. Have been implemented in the group 32.93 (24.64) billion. Higher prices were achieved for all commodities, it said. For platinum, the price increase had amounted to 34% and 48% nickel.
CEO Cynthia Carroll, Anglo American has developed, according to 2010 both operationally and financially strong. In addition to price increases in the company came here and productivity improvements and cost management. Despite the current uncertainties assessed Anglo American, the medium to long term outlook for demand growth positive for the projects it raw. Supported this development will in particular from emerging countries. The group has doubled thanks to its project pipeline in a volume of 70 billion USD in the situation, production of metals in the next decade. 2015 is expected to increase production by 50%.