Category: Mergers & Acquisitions

Analysis, BioTech, Commodities, Diversified Tech, Finance, Global Equity, Mergers & Acquisitions, Semiconductors, Services Sector, Software, software, Tech IPO

ConocoPhillips Makes Progress on Portfolio Transition

ConocoPhillips COP reported first-quarter earnings that indicated its shift to higher-margin assets continues at a healthy pace. Specifically, production from the Eagle Ford, Bakken and Permian was 182 mboe/d in the first quarter, a 42% increase over last year. The increase in production for these plays along with increased oil sands production in Canada shifted ConocoPhillips’ North American oil exposure (excluding Alaska) to 51% from … Continue reading ConocoPhillips Makes Progress on Portfolio Transition

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Analysis, BioTech, Commodities, Diversified Tech, Finance, Global Equity, Mergers & Acquisitions, Semiconductors, Services Sector, Software, software, Tech IPO

RBS` recovery is on track, but its exposure to Ireland will continue to mean heavy loan losses.

Morningstar’s credit rating of BBB+ for Royal Bank of Scotland reflects the bank’s large balance of nonperforming loans but is bolstered by the recent improvements in the bank’s operating performance. Through acquisitions, Royal Bank of Scotland has become a global bank, with operations in 50 countries. RBS is primarily a business bank and is dominated by its global banking and markets division, which has historically … Continue reading RBS` recovery is on track, but its exposure to Ireland will continue to mean heavy loan losses.

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Analysis, BioTech, Commodities, Diversified Tech, Finance, Global Equity, Mergers & Acquisitions, Semiconductors, Services Sector, Software, software, Tech IPO

Santander`s First-Quarter Profit Benefits Lower Provisions

In the first quarter of the year, Spain’s largest bank, Grupo Santander SAN , earned EUR 1,205 million, up significantly from the EUR 401 million it earned in the trailing quarter. Most of this increase was due to the non-recurrence of special loan loss provisions in the fourth quarter; excluding this, earnings were up 18% sequentially, but down 26% from the year-ago quarter because of … Continue reading Santander`s First-Quarter Profit Benefits Lower Provisions

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Analysis, BioTech, Commodities, Diversified Tech, Finance, Global Equity, Mergers & Acquisitions, Semiconductors, Services Sector, Software, software, Tech IPO

BASF`s Crop Protection Products Help Boost Results in First Quarter

In the first quarter, BASF BAS continued to rely on its diversified product mix in what has been a challenging market environment for chemical producers. BASF’s agriculture and oil and gas businesses propped up sales in the first quarter, as revenues increased 4.8% year over year. On a geographic basis, management noted that growth in China was below the firm’s expectations during the quarter. Excluding … Continue reading BASF`s Crop Protection Products Help Boost Results in First Quarter

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Analysis, BioTech, Commodities, Diversified Tech, Finance, Global Equity, Mergers & Acquisitions, Semiconductors, Services Sector, Software, software, Tech IPO

Credit Suisse Reports a Strong First Quarter

Credit Suisse CS earned CHF 1,026 million (CHF 0.76 per diluted share) in the first quarter compared with CHF 41 million in the year-ago quarter and CHF 221 million in the trailing quarter on better trading results and lower expenses. This quarter’s reported profit, which included CHF 80 million of noncash own-debt losses, amounted to an 11% return on equity. On a management-provided underlying basis, … Continue reading Credit Suisse Reports a Strong First Quarter

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Analysis, BioTech, Commodities, Diversified Tech, Finance, Global Equity, Mergers & Acquisitions, Semiconductors, Services Sector, Software, software, Tech IPO

Kirby’s Coastal Operations Continue to Improve in the First Quarter

Kirby’s KEX first-quarter revenue fell 1% from last year. The decline was driven by anemic demand for United’s pressure pumping units, tempered by solid inland trends and improvement in coastal operations. The marine transportation business (75% of first-quarter sales) saw revenue increase 25%, thanks to persistent petrochemical and crude oil shipment demand, which is supporting 90%- plus inland-fleet utilization and favorable pricing. Market conditions in … Continue reading Kirby’s Coastal Operations Continue to Improve in the First Quarter

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