ACS has launched a competing bid for Abertis, via Hochtief, at €18,76 per share. It fits in with our forecast scenario that ACS would offer a higher price than Atlantia (€16,50/share, combining cash and shares which cannot be sold before February 15 2019) in its counter-bid for the Spanish concessionaire.
The capital hikes carried out by Spanish companies totalled 4.114,7 billion euros in September, almost four times more than a year earlier and the highest figure in that month since 2012. This is according to data analysed by the Economic Studies Department of rating agency Axesor.
Yesterday, Colonial held its “Investor Day” during which it said it expects gross revenues from rentals to rise 2.9% to €279 million in 2017 from a year earlier. The real estate firm will also launch a new share buyback plan, worth €100 million,
Markets’ indicators are showing a lack of any estimation of risk. To begin with, they are at record highs, although some observers say there is still upside potential. Investors’ perception of risk is very slight or zero and, as a result, the risks are very high for them.
Ratings agency Moody’s said yesterday that the European banks’ costs have increased due to the fact that the rise in regulatory and restructuring costs is eating up all the savings resulting from branch closures and workforce reductions.
Royal Bank of Scotland (RBS) will go ahead with the disposal of a substantial part of its SME banking business in the UK. The operation will be a complicated one and the British subsidiaries of Santander and Sabadell will participate in the bid process.
Abertis and Red Eléctrica are keeping talks open regarding an eventual corporate deal involving Hispasat. According to the press, Abertis, which holds 90.4% of the satellites firm, is asking for a control premium in addition to the valuation it made of the company in May.
When Carlos Slim agreed to take a stake in FCC in 2014, which was at that time controlled by Esther Koplowtiz, and in a lot of difficulties – sales on the decline, losses, debt…- a lot of people breathed easy thinking the Mexican businessman was going to put the builder back on the straight and narrow. But he is finding it difficult to relaunch the company.
Spain’s stock market regulator yesterday accepted Atlantia’s bid for Abertis, acknowledging that the content of the explanatory document presented by the Italian company is sufficient and in line with current regulations. The approval also gives Atlantia the possibility of improving its offer and establishes the period for ACS to consider its eventual competing bid.
Until the tense situation in the country is resolved, we believe the Spanish stock market will continue to suffer more than its European peers. As an example of this, in the week up until October 4, Spanish equity funds lost $229 million, according to market data firm EPFR.