Mari Pinardo | Insurance companies, particularly the European ones, are up against a rock and hard place due to the low interest rate environment, the need to look for long-term profitability, the lack of investor appetite and the impact of Brexit on European fixed income markets. This backdrop, coupled with the high level of fragmentation in the sector in Spain, is likely to lead to more consolidation in the short-term.
MADRID | By Julia Pastor | Telecoms were the first sector opening fire in the European M&A’s market with the purchase of Ono by Vodafone. Now it is the turn of the construction industry via the merger of the two cement makers global leaders French Lafarge and Swiss Holcim. Joining both businesses would result into a company valued at $ 40 bn, which is presumably to face an investigation by competition authorities. Tourism sector would also participate in the corporate ball by selling 49% of airline Alitalia to Arab Emirate’s Etihad.