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Ambipar bankruptcy filing in Brazil cites 'irregularities'
Ambipar, a Brazilian waste management firm, filed for bankruptcy late Monday night, citing signs that a former executive was engaging in irregular activities. This move added to the concerns on corporate debt markets. According to Monday's filings, Ambipar filed its bankruptcy in a Rio de Janeiro Court, and its U.S. listed subsidiary, Ambipar Emergency Response sought Chapter 11 protection in Texas. Ambipar stated that it filed the documents after "discovering evidence of irregularities of the Finance Department in contracting swap operations and the sudden resignation of the previous Chief Financial Officer." Joao De Arruda, former CFO of Ambipar, resigned from the position last month after just a little over a year. Ambipar stated that during his tenure, swap contracts were "transferred from Bank of America and Deutsche Bank, then amended with a new rule which introduced a speculative component." Arruda’s lawyer did not respond immediately to a comment request. Ambipar's filing for bankruptcy adds to the corporate debt problems that have rattled the market over the past few weeks. These include the bankruptcies by auto parts retailer First Brands, and subprime lending company Tricolor. Investor sentiment is fragile, even though several analysts have characterized the cases as idiosyncratic or arising from lapses of risk controls. Jamie Dimon, CEO of JPMorgan Chase, said that the market for credit is likely to have more "cockroaches", referring to auto bankruptcies. He also warned that further problems may be ahead. The central bank has kept its benchmark interest rate at 15% despite growing fiscal concerns. This is increasing pressure on Brazilian companies. Ambipar stated that its bankruptcy protection was urgently needed after Deutsche Bank, which is a counterparty to currency swaps and a subsidiary on certain loans with the company, asked for more loan guarantees. This prompted other creditors, including banks, to demand early repayment. According to a source with knowledge of the matter, Ambipar's bankruptcy filing in Brazil declared a total debt amounting to 10.48 billion Reis ($1.94billion). According to the filings, Ambipar has approximately $1.05billion in outstanding principal for its 2031 and 2033 Green Bonds. Bank of New York Mellon listed $328 million in unsecured bondholder claims. Source: The swaps made with Deutsche Bank were to hedge these bonds. Deutsche Bank and Bank of New York Mellon both declined to comment. The filings reveal that holders of green bonds formed a group of noteholders and were represented by Davis Polk & Wardwell LLP as legal counsel and Houlihan & Lokey as financial advisor. FTI Consulting was retained by Ambipar's counsel to conduct a forensic audit of Ambipar. Davis Polk, Houlihan Lokey, and FTI representatives did not respond immediately. The firm that manages waste had previously obtained an injunction to prevent creditors from requesting accelerated payments. As the company said, such demands could create a "financial gap of more than 10 billion reals" ($1.85billion), since one creditor demanding repayment immediately could cause a domino-effect. Due to issues with governance, Ambipar's stock, which has lost 96% of its market value this year, has been removed from the indexes at B3, the operator of Sao Paulo's stock exchange. The stock fell around 30% on Tuesday in Brazil. UBS analysts in a report published late September said that the company, which was pursuing international expansion at the time, had struggled to manage its increasing financial complexity and integrate newly acquired assets amid management turnover. UBS said that recent events had exposed the weaknesses in UBS' governance and balance sheet strength. As of 2023, according to Ambipar, 57% (or its net revenue) came from Brazil. 15% of the bank's revenues came from Latin America as a whole, 25% of them from North America, and only 3% of it from Europe. Reporting by Luciana Magialhaes, Ananya Palyekar, Manya Saini, and Tatiana Bautzer, in Sao Paulo; Additional reporting by Dietrich Knauth, Editing by Brad Haynes and Hugh Lawson; Michelle Price, Nick Zieminski, Andrea Ricci, and Brad Haynes.
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UPS adds air conditioning to delivery trucks in the hottest US zones
According to United Parcel Service and Teamsters Union, which represents its drivers, the company will retrofit 5,000 boxy brown trucks with air conditioners in areas where it is hotter. UPS has committed to adding 28,000 air-conditioned trucks in its national contract. Teamsters announced late Monday that the 5,000 retrofits would help speed up this process and provide drivers with some relief from scorching heat in summer. By June 1, 2026, the first 2,000 vehicles to be retrofitted under this agreement will have been prepared. The union announced that all 5,000 Teamsters delivery trucks will have air conditioning by June 1, 2027. These trucks will then be dispatched to Teamsters' hot delivery areas, mainly in the South and Southwest. A new pilot program will evaluate heat relief strategies and upgrade 100 package cars with air conditioning venting into the cargo area. "We're eager to begin testing A/C for the cargo compartment. It is inarguably the hottest area of package cars," said Karla Shumann, secretary and treasurer of Teamsters Local 104, Phoenix, as well as chair of the heat committee. (Reporting and editing by Aurora Ellis in Los Angeles, Lisa Baertlein from Los Angeles)
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-Palliser calls on LG Chem's board to be refreshed, saying that it could boost shares
Palliser Capital urges LG Chem to buy back its shares and refresh its board. It argues that these changes and others could increase the share price by more than twofold. James Smith, founder and chief investment officer of Palliser, said that investors view the South Korean chemical firm as a struggling company in petrochemicals, and dismiss its battery business. This was stated at the 13D Monitor Active Passive Investment Summit held in New York. LG Chem's shares, despite their strengths, have fallen 20% in the past 12 months. They have also lagged behind its peers. Smith said, "This is insane, crazy, ridiculously cheap." Smith cites a lack in trust and alignment with LG Chem's shareholders as well as poor allocation of capital for the steep gap between its current $14 billion valuation and what it could be at $53billion. Investors also criticised its 2020 decision of spinning off its battery business to a new company named LG Energy Solutions. Some analysts claimed that this had a negative impact on the Korean Capital Markets more generally. Smith has praised the recent steps taken, such as the sale of water filters and a non-core polarizers business in the past two years. However, he believes that they are not sufficient. It is time to refresh the board with new experts who have experience in LG Chem's advanced materials, electric vehicle and life sciences sectors. He said that the current directors lack experience in capital allocation and business management. Smith also urges the company to continue monitoring and maintaining appropriate levels of net-debt as well as to purchase back shares. Smith has made previous investments in Japan, including real estate company Tokyo Tatemono, and rail company Keisei Electric Railway. (Reporting and editing by Margueritachoy)
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Russia sends first oil to Georgia's new refinery, Urals Diffs steady
According to LSEG data and industry sources, the differential between Urals crude oil and other grades was unchanged on Tuesday. Meanwhile, Russia delivered a first cargo of oil to the newly constructed Kulevi oil refining plant in Georgia earlier this month. According to LSEG, and a trader the tanker Kayseri transported 105,340 metric tonnes of Siberian Light Oil grade from the Russian Black Sea Port of Novorossiisk, to the Kulevi Oil Terminal, on October 6, 2006. The Danube Refinery of MOL, a Hungarian oil-and-gas company, is gradually reopening its units following an early Monday morning fire in one of the crude unit's. PLATTS WINDOW There were no bids or offers reported on Tuesday in the Platts window for Urals, Azeri BTC Blend or CPC blend crude. The Kazakhstan Chevron Tengiz Oilfield, which is the largest in the country, has undergone maintenance, and it will be finished on October 24, said Energy Minister Erlan Akenzhenov on Tuesday. Viktor Orban, Hungary's prime minister, said that he had held discussions with MOL leaders after an overnight fire at MOL’s Danube Refinery. He added that the fuel supply of Hungary was secured. (Reporting and Editing by Susan Fenton, Krishna Chandra Eluri).
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The weather balloon could be to blame for the cracked windshield of a United Airlines flight mid-flight
The National Transportation Safety Board chair said Tuesday that it is possible a weather balloon cracked the windshield of United Airlines' jet at 36,000 feet and caused an emergency landing. WindBorne Systems released a statement on Monday night stating that they believe one of their balloons hit United Flight 1093 (a Boeing 737 MAX) on Thursday, over Utah. Jennifer Homendy, Chair of the NTSB, said that the board has received the report and is reviewing it in the course of its investigation. She stated that the incident, "in the wrong circumstances could have been really disastrous for the aircraft and the people on board." The incident raised fears that damage may have been caused by debris from space. Previous government studies suggested that the risk of debris hitting jets while in flight was very low. The multi-layered structure of the aircraft windshields prevents cabin pressure loss in case it is damaged during flight. United reported last week that the flight from Denver, with 134 passengers on board and six crew members, declared an emergency. The flight was diverted to Salt Lake City safely. The passengers were transferred to Los Angeles on another plane later in the day. Homendy stated that the NTSB is currently reviewing technology which tells aircraft what objects are in flight. WindBorne has reported that it has launched more than 4,000 balloons and filed notice for each launch with the Federal Aviation Administration. The company stated that they are in close contact with the FAA regarding this issue. We immediately implemented changes to reduce time between 30,000-40,000 feet. The balloon company intends to use "live data flight to avoid planes autonomously, even if they are at an altitude that is not standard." We are actively developing new hardware to reduce the impact force and its concentration. Bill Berkrot and David Shepardson edited the report.
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Sources say that Iberdrola and Endesa have agreed to extend the Almaraz nuclear power plant.
Two people with knowledge of the process confirmed on Tuesday that Iberdrola Endesa Naturgy have agreed to request an extension to the Almaraz nuclear power plant's life and are working to submit a formal request for the Energy Ministry. The country's plans to shut down all its nuclear reactors in 2035 were re-ignited by a major blackout that occurred in April. According to the current plan, the phase out will begin in 2027 when the Almaraz plant (west Spain) closes its first reactor. The second reactor of the plant is scheduled to close in 2027. Three companies are the owners of Almaraz, with Iberdrola holding a 53% stake, Endesa 36%, and Naturgy 11%. All declined to comment. All three parties have previously expressed support for a review on the nuclear phase out calendar. Iberdrola & Endesa are owned by Enel (the Italian energy giant), with Naturgy & EDP owning minority stakes. Nuclear energy's fiscal framework has always been a major issue. The nuclear industry has urged policymakers repeatedly to lower taxes that they claim are preventing the plants from competing. The government set certain conditions for opening a discussion on the review. These include that it must guarantee security of supply and safety, as well as that it should not burden taxpayers.
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Ambipar bankruptcy filing in Brazil cites 'irregularities'
Ambipar, a Brazilian waste management firm, filed for bankruptcy late Monday night, citing signs that a former executive was engaging in irregular activities. This move added to the concerns on corporate debt markets. According to a regulatory filing made public on Tuesday, Ambipar filed its bankruptcy in Rio de Janeiro and its U.S. listed subsidiary Ambipar Emergency Response, filed for Chapter 11 in Texas. Ambipar stated that it filed the documents after "discovering evidence of irregularities of the Finance Department in contracting swap operations and the sudden resignation of the previous Chief Financial Officer." Joao De Arruda, former CFO of Ambipar, resigned from the position last month after just over a full year. Ambipar stated that during his tenure, swap contracts were "transferred from Bank of America and Deutsche Bank, then amended with a new rule which introduced a speculative component." The attorney for Arruda did not respond immediately to a comment request. Ambipar's bankruptcy adds to corporate debt problems Market rumble In recent weeks, the bankruptcy of auto parts retailer First Brands Subprime lenders Tricolor Investor sentiment is fragile, even though several analysts have characterized the cases as idiosyncratic or resulting from lapses of risk control. Jamie Dimon, CEO of JPMorgan Chase, said last week there were likely to be a number of changes. More "cockroaches", in the credit market In reference to auto bankruptcy, he warned that there may be more problems ahead. The central bank has maintained its benchmark interest rate at 15%, despite growing fiscal concerns. Ambipar stated that its bankruptcy protection was urgently needed after Deutsche Bank requested additional loan guarantees, prompting creditors to demand early repayment. In a Monday filing, Bank of New York Mellon (acting as trustee for bondholders) listed unsecured claims of approximately $328 million related to Ambipar's green bonds 2031 and 2033. Deutsche Bank and Bank of New York Mellon both declined to comment. The company that manages waste received an injunction to stop creditors from demanding payment sooner. As the company said, such demands could create a "financial gap of more than 10 billion reals" ($1.85billion), since one creditor requesting immediate repayment can set off a cascade effect. Due to issues with governance, Ambipar's stock, which has lost 96% of its market value this year, has been removed from the indexes at B3, the operator of Sao Paulo's stock exchange. The stock fell around 30% on Tuesday in Brazil. UBS analysts in a report published late September said that the company, which was pursuing international expansion at the time, had struggled to manage its increasing financial complexity and integrate newly acquired assets amid management turnover. UBS said that recent events had exposed the weaknesses in UBS' governance and balance sheet strength. As of 2023, according to Ambipar, 57% (or its net revenue) came from Brazil. Another 15% was from Latin America. 25% of Ambipar's revenues were from North America. Reporting by Luciana Magialhaes, in Sao Paulo; Ananya Palyekar, Manya Saini, and Tatiana Bautzer, in Bengaluru; and Hugh Lawson, Nick Zieminski, in New York.
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Police say that a mass shooting at Atlanta Airport was averted.
Police said that on Tuesday, a Georgia man was arrested at Atlanta's airport after a tip-off from his family. The tip was that the man planned to "shootup" the terminal. Billy Joe Cagle (49), of Cartersville, Georgia about 50 miles north of Atlanta, was detained shortly before 10 am on Monday after he was spotted "checking out the crowd" at a busy terminal at Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport. Atlanta Police Chief Darin Shierbaum confirmed this. The airport is one of the busiest in the world. Cagle was stopped on his way back to the flatbed truck, where police claimed he was carrying an AR-15 assault weapon and ammunition. The truck was parked in front of the terminal. Schierbaum told a Monday press conference that "we did avoid a catastrophe". Schierbaum stated, "I believe he was heading back to his truck to get the weapon." "And it was very likely that he would use this weapon in the terminal, which is crowded." Schierbaum reported that Cagle's parents called the police on Monday morning, after he posted on Facebook that he would be heading to the airport to "shoot it up." Police said that Cagle's family had informed authorities of his mental health crisis. Cagle had already arrived at the airport, and was looking around when the police recognized him from his photo and arrested him. The suspect faces charges of making terroristic threat, criminal attempt at aggravated assault and possession of firearms during the commission or a crime. The police said that he had a prior drug conviction. Cagle was held in the Clayton County jail on Tuesday, without a bond. His first court date was set for Wednesday. There was no immediate information about whether he had an attorney.
Transnet, South Africa's infrastructure upgrader, plans to spend $7 billion
Transnet, the state-owned South African freight and logistics company, plans to invest 127 Billion Rand ($7.3 Billion) over five years into modernizing rail lines and upgrading port facilities. This was announced by its Chief executive Michelle Phillips on Tuesday.
Phillips, speaking at the South Africa Tomorrow Investor Conference, said that Transnet had budgeted 25 million rands for infrastructure this year.
Phillips stated that "we will go out to the market both for partners and for funding." He cited potential projects like the Richards Bay Dry-Bulk Terminal and the Pier 2 Container concession in Durban.
Transnet, South Africa's key logistics player, has been challenged by an aging infrastructure that has hampered exports of commodities like coal and iron ore.
Phillips announced that maintenance shutdowns were in progress, including the 10-day closure of an iron-ore line, to speed up repairs on coal, manganese and container lines. Phillips' goal was to increase reliability. Modernisation also includes port upgrades such as the installation new cranes at Durban.
Transnet seeks partnerships with mining companies and exporters to boost operations. It also pursues private-sector participation programs in order to attract strategic partners who have expertise and capital.
"We're currently working on a formal customer-collaboration policy that allows customers, because they've asked for it, to step in where we feel challenged," Phillips said. This included areas like funding and skills.
The future plans include finalising PSPs, issuing a statement on the updated rail network for 2025/26 and granting access to approved train operating companies.
(source: Reuters)