Latest news with #RishavChatterjee
Zawya
7 days ago
- Business
- Zawya
Alibaba looking to raise $1.53 billion through exchangeable bonds for cloud, commerce push
Chinese tech giant Alibaba Group said on Thursday it is seeking to raise around HK$12 billion ($1.53 billion) through exchangeable bonds to boost investments in cloud infrastructure and global commerce operations. The bonds link to Alibaba Health Technology, the group said. Investors can later exchange these bonds for shares in Alibaba Health, and the bonds will not pay interest over time. Alibaba Group holds more than 44% of Alibaba Health. The debt sale follows Alibaba's $5 billion dual-currency bond in November, which was the largest deal of its kind in Asia-Pacific during 2024. Thursday's offering comes as more investors tap the Asian credit market after monetary and fiscal stimulus by Beijing policymakers improved the region's debt appeal.. Hong Kong-listed shares of Alibaba Group closed 2.9% lower at HK$106.20 on Thursday, while Alibaba Health stock ended down 2.8%. ($1 = 7.8496 Hong Kong dollars) (Reporting by Rishav Chatterjee in Bengaluru; Editing by Tasim Zahid)
Time of India
30-06-2025
- Business
- Time of India
US-based I Squared Capital dumps plans to make separate offer for Hong Kong's HKBN
By Rishav Chatterjee U.S.-based infrastructure investment firm I Squared Capital has withdrawn plans to make a takeover offer for Hong Kong's HKBN , the broadband operator said on Monday, as a competing bid backed by a state-owned entity takes center stage. The announcement comes over a month after Reuters reported that China Mobile was nearing a deal to take over HKBN with I Squared having dropped out. I Squared already owns Hong Kong-based broadband provider HGC Global Communications , in which China Investment Corp. holds a minority stake. However, the Miami-based firm has so far been unable to secure approval from the Chinese sovereign wealth fund to proceed with a formal bid for HKBN, according to the Reuters report. Rival suitor China Mobile built a 15.5% stake in HKBN from buyout company TPG and has offered HK$7.8 billion ($993.64 million) for the broadband firm. I Squared was preparing to trump China Mobile's offer of HK$5.23 per HKBN share, which was made in December, but was not keen to pay more than HK$6 apiece, Reuters reported in January. HKBN CEO William Yeung said in May it was a "rumour" that China Investment Corp had vetoed I Squared's plan to present a formal offer for HKBN. The takeover offer from China Mobile was not good enough and HKBN was open to engage with more bidders to get the best value for its shareholders, Yeung had said. "Despite the HKBN CEO's comments that the China Mobile offer is not good enough, China Mobile has no pressing need to bump if a competing offer fails to materialise," Smartkarma's Arun George said in a note before HKBN's announcement on Monday. I Squared Capital did not immediately respond to Reuters' request for comment over why it decided to walk away from making an offer. China Mobile also did not respond to a request for comment.
Yahoo
21-03-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Australia greenlights Vocus' takeover of TPG Telecom's fibre, fixed assets
By Rishav Chatterjee and Aaditya GovindRao (Reuters) -Macquarie-backed fibre network Vocus Group is closer to becoming one of Australia's largest owners of underground fibre infrastructure, as the competition regulator approved on Thursday its A$5.25 billion (about $3.3 billion) deal with TPG Telecom. Vocus and TPG, back in October 2024, had agreed to a deal for the former to take over the telecom operator's fibre and fixed network infrastructure assets, enabling Vocus to connect almost 20,000 buildings in Australia. The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) said the deal would not likely result in a substantial reduction of competition in any market. It said that Vocus would continue to face major competition from firms — including Telstra, Singapore Telecommunications-owned Optus — and local players such as Superloop and Aussie Broadband A spokesperson for Vocus said that the ACCC's decision was a positive step, and TPG's complementary assets will allow Vocus to drive competition into the sector. Analysts at Sandstone Insights called the clearance a major turning point for TPG, which resets its balance sheet. "With lower interest costs, a declining opex profile and lower capex requirements, TPG is poised for substantial free cash flow growth for the next 3-4 years," the analysts said. Shares in TPG gained 5% in Sydney, while those of its biggest rival Telstra were up 0.9%. The deal remains subject to Foreign Investment Review Board approval and U.S. regulatory approvals, TPG said. The Australian watchdog's review focused on how closely Vocus and TPG compete in the supply of data network and connectivity services, including fixed-line internet services, to large enterprise and government customers, it said in a statement. The probe found that Vocus focuses on providing services to large enterprise and government clients while TPG concentrates on the small and medium enterprise segment of the market. A Macquarie-managed infrastructure fund, alongside Aware Super, acquired Vocus in 2021, taking the company private and delisting it. ($1 = 1.5721 Australian dollars)
Yahoo
19-03-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Australia's Myer's profit slumps; shares tank on bleak outlook
By Rishav Chatterjee (Reuters) - Australian department store owner Myer on Wednesday posted lower interim earnings, citing logistical challenges at a distribution centre in Victoria and strategic review costs, while painting a gloomy outlook due to weak economic conditions. The firm, which finalised the purchase of the apparel brands portfolio from rival Premier Investments in January, said the sales for the first five weeks in the second half of the fiscal year were already down by 2.6%. Shares in Sydney dropped 10.5% to A$0.68 and hit their lowest since June 24, 2024. Total sales at the retailer were A$1.83 billion ($1.16 billion), with comparable sales up just a touch below 1%. This reflects the closure of Brisbane and Werribee stores coupled with other closures. The retailer posted net profit after tax of A$42.4 million for the 26 weeks ended January 25, an 18.5% decrease from the previous year. "Distribution centre issues certainly didn't help matters either, but for Myer's profit to start looking healthier next time around the company will be hoping for brighter retail conditions to emerge," said Tim Waterer, an analyst at KCM Trade. The results come after Myer's January warnings of sluggish sales and earnings during the major festive periods of Black Friday, Christmas and Boxing Day. A measure of Australian business activity dropped to its lowest since the pandemic last November due to tough trading conditions in both manufacturing and retail sectors, suggesting the local economy had not picked up from a time when households struggled with rising costs of living. Myer had updated the market regarding the construction of a national distribution centre in Victoria during 2021, which went live in August 2024. "The site has experienced implementation issues and is not yet operating as designed," the firm flagged. "If I was a shareholder, I'd be demanding more clarity as to what constitutes 'operational issues' given (if the matter is warehousing, technology, system or infrastructure)," said Jesse Moors, portfolio manager at Spatium Capital. ($1 = 1.5721 Australian dollars) Sign in to access your portfolio
Zawya
17-03-2025
- Business
- Zawya
Maynilad Water seeks to raise up to $858mln in Philippines IPO
Hong Kong's First Pacific said on Monday its Philippine affiliate, Maynilad Water Services, aims to raise up to 49.15 billion pesos ($857.75 million) through an initial public offering. Under the terms of the deal, Maynilad is offering up to 2.46 billion shares, with an expected offer price of up to 20 pesos each. The total number of shares being offered represented 30.45% of the company's total outstanding shares. If approved, First Pacific said the listing would take place on July 10, with the offer period running from June 25 to July 2. The company has enlisted banks, including Morgan Stanley and UBS, to assist with a more than $500 million initial public offering in the Philippines, Reuters reported in January. In December 2021, the Philippine government granted Maynilad a 25-year franchise to establish, operate and maintain a waterworks system, as well as sewerage and sanitation services in the west zone service area of Metro Manila and the province of Cavite, according to its website. Maynilad is the largest private water concessionaire in the Philippines in terms of customer base. The planned listing adds to a growing pipeline of IPOs in the Philippines, where IPO proceeds surged sharply to $234.1 million last year, from $72.9 million in 2023, according to data compiled by LSEG. Maynilad is managed by Maynilad Water Holdings Company, a joint venture between infrastructure conglomerate Metro Pacific Investments Corp, construction-to-nickel mining group DMCI Holdings and Japanese trading company Marubeni Corp . ($1 = 57.3010 Philippine pesos) (Reporting by Rishav Chatterjee in Bengaluru; Editing by Sherry Jacob-Phillips)
