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Airbus' supply is improving, and the Spirit deal will be closed in Q4
Airbus' suppliers have shown a marked improvement in their confidence and performance. They are all ready to help the company achieve its target to increase deliveries by 7%, to 820 jets, this year. Florent Massou Dit Labaquere is the executive vice president for operations at the European planemaker. He told reporters that they are also working towards a long-term goal to increase their production of narrow-body aircrafts from 75 per month today to 75 in 2027. Massou spoke as the largest planemaker in the world Prepare to inaugurate Mobile, Alabama will host a second assembly line in the U.S. for jets of the A320neo family later Monday. Airbus plans to expand in China as well in the coming weeks. He said that the 10 additional assembly lines will be enough to meet the production targets despite the shift in demand to the larger A321neo which takes more time to construct. Airbus announced plans in 2021 to double the production of narrow-body aircraft from 40 per month to 75 per month by 2025. The company has maintained the target, but has pushed back the date by two years because of industry-wide changes. Bottlenecks and delays Airbus, according to industry sources, struggled to convince some suppliers to increase investments in plans that might not come to fruition as targets were continually extended. Massou said that suppliers are more optimistic. He said, "I have seen a totally different picture. I've met a lot more suppliers who understand our situation and can attest to the stability in planning we experienced over the past few months." Massou stated that Airbus hopes to have the separation of Spirit AeroSystems from Boeing by the end the year. He told reporters that the deal was progressing and they expected to close it in Q4. (Reporting and editing by Tomasz Janovski and Louise Heavens.)
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Warburg Pincus will buy Germany's PSI company for more than 700 million Euros
The firms announced on Monday that private equity firm Warburg Pincus had struck a deal with German PSI Software to purchase it for over 700 million euros (811 million dollars), while shareholder and customer E.ON remains a strategic investor. First reported both the near takeover of PSI and Warburg Pincus offer for the maker software for energy network networks last week. After a Friday jump of nearly 11%, PSI shares have gained another 35% and are now trading at 44.9 Euros each - the highest since January 2022. This was close to Warburg Pincus’ offer of 45 euros per shares, which is a premium around 50% over the closing price of the company on Thursday. BERLIN HQ MANAGEMENT STRUCTURE TO BE MAINTAINED PSI, a company that makes software for power grids and gas transmission grids - the backbone of the energy infrastructure - as well as factories - has announced it is seeking funding to upgrade its products. The group was hampered for weeks last year by a cyberattack, which forced them to take down most of their IT systems, exposing the vulnerability in software supply within critical infrastructure. In 2024, PSI will have a loss of 15,2 million euros (17.6 millions dollars) before interest and tax. PSI's board said it supported the offer of its suitor and intended to recommend it to shareholders. After the close of the deal, PSI intends to withdraw from the German Stock Exchange. PSI also added that Warburg Pincus will maintain the company's current management structure, including its Berlin headquarters. E.ON STAYS KEY SHAREHOLDER Max Fowinkel, Warburg Pincus' managing director, and Ryan Dalton, its vice president, said that they believed Warburg Pincus was the best partner for PSI to help it grow in the future. PSI announced that Warburg Pincus had signed agreements with anchor shareholders for approximately 28.5% equity in PSI. In the statement, it was stated that an unnamed investor will reinvest a portion of its proceeds with Warburg Pincus in PSI's holding structures. Norman Rentrop, a German newsletter publisher and businessman, is PSI's biggest shareholder, with 23%, while E.ON, Europe’s largest energy network operator, is the second largest investor, with about 18%. The firms stated that for the purposes of the transaction E.ON would be considered to have acted jointly with Warburg Pincus. Goldman Sachs manages the sales process.
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President Serba says that Serbia will protect their interests in relation to NIS Oil Company
Aleksandar Vucic, Serbia's president, said that Serbia would do all it could to protect its own interests if the U.S. imposed sanctions on Serbian-based NIS oil company, which is owned by Russia. Washington announced sanctions against NIS in January, Serbia's largest oil importer, and one of Russia’s last remaining energy assets within Europe, for Moscow's invasion of Ukraine in 2022. NIS announced last week that there would be no further delays. "Our Russian Friends have understood our message." We knew their interests. We will do all we can, both tactically and strategically, to serve the interests of Serbia", said Vucic on Instagram. Vucic's post was a result of "frank, sincere and open talks" between Alexander Dyukov (CEO of NIS parent company Gazpromneft) and Pavel Sorokin, Russia's deputy minister for energy. He added that there would be no energy shortages, no shortages in crude oil or its derivatives. Vucic didn't specify what measures Serbia can take to ensure unhindered crude oil supplies. The Office of Foreign Assets Control of the U.S. Treasury made a decision Thursday to reduce shipments of crude oil to the NIS refinery in Belgrade via the JANAF pipeline, which is a neighbouring country. Vucic warned last week that without deliveries NIS, Serbia's sole refinery which accounts for around 80% all of its oil products, from jet fuel to gasoline, will struggle to continue operating beyond November 1. (Reporting and editing by Aleksandar Vasovic, Susan Fenton and Joe Bavier).
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Virgin Atlantic names Koster new CEO after Weiss steps down
Virgin Atlantic announced Corneel Kster as their new CEO on Monday. The current Chief Operating Officer will be promoted to the top position in January next year, as the incumbent Shai Weiss steps down after seven years as the UK airline's leader. The company stated that Weiss decided to resign, but didn't give any reason. Koster returned to Virgin Atlantic in 2019 as its chief commercial officer after working for Delta Air Lines, Aeromexico and Delta Air Lines. Between 2010 and 2013, he was Virgin Atlantic's Director of Operations and Security. Koster stated in a press release that it was an "incredible privilege" to assume the role of CEO. Koster will be appointed CEO of the company on January 1, 2026. According to Weiss' LinkedIn profile, he has been working in the Virgin Group since 2001 when he was hired as the managing director of Virgin Media. Weiss was Virgin Atlantic's Chief Financial Officer and then its Chief Commercial Officer before he became CEO in 2019. (Reporting and editing by Sarah Young, Joanna Plucinska and Susan Fenton).
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Gold miners and UK stocks shine as Trump softens his tone on China tariff
London shares recovered modestly on Monday led by the miners as U.S. president Donald Trump softened rhetoric about trade tensions with China. Worries over this had caused a sharp drop on Friday. As of 1012 GMT the blue-chip FTSE 100 index was up 0.07%, after dropping 0.9% the previous session. Trump's threat to impose 100% tariffs on Chinese goods reignited fears of a global trade war. The FTSE 250, which is a mid-cap index, gained 1.15%. Trump's tone was more accommodative over the weekend. He posted that "it will be fine" as well as that the U.S. did not intend to "hurt China". Gold prices reached another record high, and precious metals miners led the gains on the market with a 7% increase. The gold miners Fresnillo & Endeavour rose the most on the FTSE 100, with an increase of 7.6% & 6.4% respectively. Blackstone, a U.S. private-equity giant, said that it was considering an offer of cash for Big Yellow Group. This would increase the shares of the self storage firm by 18.3%. Rival Safestore also rose 11.2% in response to the news. Tritax Big Box gained almost 3% following Blackstone's agreement to purchase a 9% stake of the UK real estate trust. Tritax has agreed to purchase Blackstone's UK logistic assets for $1.39 billion. The overall real estate sector grew by 2.5%. The index of industrial metals miners rose by 2.2% in line with the gains in copper price. Anglo American and Glencore, the two largest mining companies, rose between 1.5% to 2.8%, which helped lift the blue-chip index. Oxford Instruments, among other stocks, fell 11.4% because the company said it expects its H1 revenue will drop. Lloyds Banking Group rose 1% as a motor financing charge was lower than expected. (Reporting and editing by Avinash p. in Bengaluru, Sanchayaita roy.
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IATA: Green jet fuel suppliers are 'price gouging airlines'
In an interview, IATA's head said that fuel suppliers use European Union green jet-fuel mandates to increase costs for airlines by adding surcharges. Prices are nearly doubled compared to the market rate, he added. This year, the EU started requiring airlines use sustainable aviation fuels (SAF). The mandate for a minimum blend of 2% is set to increase to 6% in 2030. Fuel suppliers will be responsible for supplying fuel at airports with SAF blends that are becoming stronger, but airlines must purchase the fuel they need for their operation. Willie Walsh, IATA's Director General, said that oil companies selling SAF could "extract extra profit from airlines" by charging compliance surcharges. He added that this would prompt European regulators into eliminating the mandates. Walsh stated that "they have in fact allowed fuel suppliers to price gouge in the name the environment and this is completely unacceptable." Walsh did not say which airlines were affected and which fuel providers were involved with the price increases. FuelsEurope, the industry association, did not respond immediately to a comment request. The cost of sustainable aviation fuel is three to five time more expensive than jet fuel. Some executives claim that energy companies aren't seeing enough demand for SAF in order to justify ramping production up. This, they say, is weighing down on prices instead of driving them higher. In recent years, several have scaled down SAF refinery project. Walsh spoke in an interview about a separate IATA report that outlined $11 billion extra costs by 2025 due to congestion in other parts the airline supply chain. (Reporting and editing by Joanna Plucinska, Tim Hepher)
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After drone attacks, Russia's seaborne oil exports fell 17% in September
Data from industry sources and calculations show that Russia's seaborne product exports dropped 17.1% from August to 7,58 million metric tonnes due to a decrease in fuel production, as various refineries suffered drone attacks. Several major refineries were attacked by drones in August and September, including Surgutneftegaz's Kirishinefteorgsintez refinery, Lukoil's Volgograd refinery and Rosneft's Samara group of refineries. Market sources reported that the unplanned outages caused by a number refineries have curtailed fuel shipments and increased crude oil shipments. Market data showed that in September, the total exports of oil products via the Baltic port cities of Primorsk Vysotsk St Petersburg Ust-Luga dropped by 15.4% on a month-to-month basis to 4,36 million tons. Last month, fuel exports through Russia's Black Sea port and Azov Sea port decreased by 23.2% compared to August. They now total 2.52 million tonnes. The oil product exports of Russia's Arctic port Murmansk and Arkhangelsk increased slightly by 1.8% monthly to 30,200 tonnes. Data from sources and calculations show that fuel exports in Russia's Far East ports fell 1.5% on a month-to-month basis last month, to 661 300 tons. Bernadette B. Baum (Reporting and Editing)
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Two trains collided in Slovakia, causing at least 20 injuries
Emergency services and local media report that two trains collided on Monday in eastern Slovakia, derailing a locomotive and a carriage, and injuring 20 people. On Facebook, police footage showed the wreckage of the train, a locomotive, and a carriage, which had fallen off the tracks. Paramedics were nearby, treating the injured. The Slovakian rescue service reported that it sent two helicopters as well as several ambulances. TA3 broadcast that at least twenty people had been injured, and hospitals in the area were preparing trauma plans. No immediate reports have been made of any deaths. Police said there were 80 passengers in the trains. Slovak Railways stated that two trains collided where the tracks crossed and turned into a single track, and the cause is under investigation. In a press release, it stated that "at this time, the priority is to rescue and evacuate our passengers and staff." Police said the accident happened near a tunnel in the village of Jablonov nad Turnou. This is about 55 kilometers (34 miles), west of Kosice, the main city of eastern Slovak Region. (Reporting and editing by Alison Williams and Aidan Lewis in Prague, with Jason Hovet reporting from Prague)
Blackstone considers a bid for Big Yellow after selling UK logistics assets worth $1.3 billion
Blackstone announced on Monday that it would sell UK logistics assets worth about $1,3 billion to Tritax Big Box for cash and a 9.9% stake. It was also weighing up a bid for UK Self-Storage firm Big Yellow.
The Wall Street giant has been investing and pursuing deals in Britain and Europe.
In July, the U.S. Private Equity firm, which pledged to invest in Britain 100 billion pounds over the next decade won a bid war against Tritax Big Box for logistics specialist Warehouse REIT at a price of nearly 500 million pound.
Blackstone is a major player when it comes to logistics in Europe, as the boom in online shopping has increased demand for warehouses.
It has agreed to transfer about 41 of the logistics assets in a larger British portfolio. However, when it acquires a 9% share it will become its largest shareholder. Tritax will pay Blackstone in cash 632 million pounds. Tritax shares rose 3% in the last few days following this news.
BLACKSTONE CONSIDERES BID FOR BIGYELLOW SELF STORAGE FIRM
Blackstone also said that it was considering an offer in cash for Big Yellow Group, which has a capitalisation of around 1.9 billion pounds. This boosted the shares of London-listed company by up to 22%.
Big Yellow Group stated that after Blackstone’s statement, it had met a few parties to discuss options including a possible sale but had not yet received an approach.
In recent years, the UK real estate market has been consolidated as rising borrowing costs have affected property values. However, some investors still believe in a recovery.
Primary Health Properties, a rival firm, has acquired British healthcare real estate developer and NHS landlord Assura after a long battle with private equity company KKR.
(source: Reuters)