Diageo Plc is considering options for its Chinese assets, including potential divestments, people familiar with the matter said, as the maker of Guinness and Johnnie Walker seeks to streamline its portfolio. Diageo is working with Goldman Sachs Group Inc. and UBS Group AG to review its operations, which include a more than 63% stake in Shanghai-listed Sichuan Swellfun Co. , the people said, asking...
Diageo Plc is considering options for its Chinese assets, including potential divestments, people familiar with the matter said, as the maker of Guinness and Johnnie Walker seeks to streamline its portfolio. Diageo is working with Goldman Sachs Group Inc. and UBS Group AG to review its operations, which include a more than 63% stake in Shanghai-listed Sichuan Swellfun Co. , the people said, asking not to be identified because the information isn’t public. The advisers have been sounding out initial interest from local strategic buyers and private equity firms, the people said. Shares in Sichuan Swellfun have dropped 14% in the past 12 months, giving the Chengdu-based company a market value of $2.7 billion. Considerations are preliminary and no final decisions have been made, the people said, adding that there’s no certainty that Diageo will decide to proceed with any deal. Representatives for Diageo, Goldman Sachs and UBS declined to comment. A representative for Sichuan Swellfun said the company hasn’t received any information about a stake sale. Diageo would join a cadre of global companies reviewing their assets in the world’s second-largest economy amid intensifying competition from domestic players, which have evolved into nimble and sophisticated rivals with deep connections to local consumers. In November, Starbucks Corp. agreed to sell a majority stake in its China business to private equity firm Boyu Capital at a $4 billion enterprise value, while Restaurant Brands International Inc. made a similar move with the local unit of its Burger King chain. Other potential disposals include GE Healthcare Technologies Inc. ’s China unit, people familiar with the matter have said . Diageo’s Strategy Diageo has been trimming its global holdings as falling alcohol consumption has impacted its attempts to get drinkers to trade up to pricier beverages. In December, it agreed to sell a majority stake in East African Breweries to Japan’s Asahi Group Holdings Ltd. for $2.3 b...
Premier Inn-owner Whitbread Plc expects a lower impact from the UK budget than previously feared, as the performance of the UK business shows signs of recovery. Whitbread expects a cost impact of around £35 million ($47 million) in fiscal year 2027 from the business rate changes in the UK budget, it said in a statement, lower than its previous estimate of as much as £50 million . The UK government...
Premier Inn-owner Whitbread Plc expects a lower impact from the UK budget than previously feared, as the performance of the UK business shows signs of recovery. Whitbread expects a cost impact of around £35 million ($47 million) in fiscal year 2027 from the business rate changes in the UK budget, it said in a statement, lower than its previous estimate of as much as £50 million . The UK government announced in November that retail, hospitality and leisure business with property values below £500,000 will enjoy permanently lower business rates, to be funded by higher rates on larger properties. Bernstein had double-downgraded Whitbread to a sell rating in the wake of this announcement, saying it would pose a “material hit to profitability.” The positive outlook could help ease activist pressure on Whitbread, after Corvex Management LP had called for a strategic review . The hotel owner is exploring options, with an update expected on April 30.
China–EU EV Conflict Nears Resolution As New Pricing Framework Emerges China and the EU took a significant step Monday toward easing their long-running electric vehicle trade dispute after Brussels released rules that could allow Chinese exporters to replace punitive tariffs with negotiated pricing commitments, according to the South China Morning Post . The European Commission said companies may ...
China–EU EV Conflict Nears Resolution As New Pricing Framework Emerges China and the EU took a significant step Monday toward easing their long-running electric vehicle trade dispute after Brussels released rules that could allow Chinese exporters to replace punitive tariffs with negotiated pricing commitments, according to the South China Morning Post . The European Commission said companies may submit price undertakings that must be “adequate to eliminate the injurious effects of the subsidies and provide equivalent effect to duties”. Exporters are encouraged to include shipment limits and future EU investments, with assessments conducted under WTO rules. If accepted, the EU would revise its existing regulations. The conflict dates back to the EU’s 2023 anti-subsidy probe, which resulted in 2024 duties of 7.8% to 35.3% for five years. China responded with investigations into European cognac, dairy and pork. While the tariffs technically remain, the new framework could replace them with minimum import prices. China’s Ministry of Commerce welcomed the move, saying “the progress fully reflects the spirit of dialogue and the outcomes of consultations between China and the EU.” It added: “It shows that both China and the EU have the ability and willingness to properly resolve differences through dialogue and consultation under the framework of WTO rules and maintain the stability of automotive industrial and supply chains in China, the EU and the whole world,” calling it “conducive not only to ensuring the healthy development of China-EU economic and trade relations, but also to safeguarding the rules-based international trade order.” SCMP writes that negotiations gained momentum after the EU began reviewing a price undertaking offer in December from Volkswagen’s Chinese joint venture. Economist Alicia Garcia-Herrero of Natixis called the potential shift from tariffs to price floors a major development. China’s chamber of commerce in the EU described the move as a “sof...
Two cases within a week involving foreign-registered cars receiving subsidised RON95 fuel have led to calls for Malaysia’s government to go after the vehicle owners as well rather than just the petrol station operators. The common view was that it was unfair for the operators to be the only party penalised while the vehicle owners were let off the hook. “Since there are no penalties, these culprit...
Two cases within a week involving foreign-registered cars receiving subsidised RON95 fuel have led to calls for Malaysia’s government to go after the vehicle owners as well rather than just the petrol station operators. The common view was that it was unfair for the operators to be the only party penalised while the vehicle owners were let off the hook. “Since there are no penalties, these culprits will try their luck,” said a cashier at a petrol station, who only wanted to be known as Lee. He...
(RTTNews) - AGRANA Beteiligungs-Aktiengesellschaft (AGR.VI), on Tuesday reaffirmed its full-year 2025 and 2026 outlook, expecting a significant increase in group EBIT and a moderate decline in revenue, after reporting broadly stable operating profit in the first three quarters.
(RTTNews) - AGRANA Beteiligungs-Aktiengesellschaft (AGR.VI), on Tuesday reaffirmed its full-year 2025 and 2026 outlook, expecting a significant increase in group EBIT and a moderate decline in revenue, after reporting broadly stable operating profit in the first three quarters.
(RTTNews) - Whitbread PLC (WTB.L, WTBDY, WTBCF), a British hotel company, reported Tuesday that its third-quarter total Group sales grew 2 percent from last year to 781 million pounds, while like -for-like or LFL sales increased 3 percent. The firm added that it remains confident
(RTTNews) - Whitbread PLC (WTB.L, WTBDY, WTBCF), a British hotel company, reported Tuesday that its third-quarter total Group sales grew 2 percent from last year to 781 million pounds, while like -for-like or LFL sales increased 3 percent. The firm added that it remains confident