The smartphone maker wants news publishers to pitch in on a new Netflix-like app – but it’s driving a hard bargain, the WSJ has reported. Then again, its media partners need the help. Apple may also be capitalizing on the image problems of its rival Fa…
JAB’s bid to raise its stake in Coty to 60 pct has more than a whiff of opportunism, says John Foley. The investment firm masterminded a 2016 acquisition that weakened the perfume maker; eschewing a full takeover could allow it to use the company’s sto…
Feb 11 – T-Mobile US and Sprint tried to merge five years ago, but were knocked back by U.S. antitrust watchdogs. The latest attempt may have better luck thanks to America’s rivalry with China – but at the expense of domestic cellphone competition, as …
Feb 8 – Progressive U.S. Democrats are proposing to tackle climate change and provide healthcare and other benefits. The ambitious plan is vague and has no chance near term, but as Richard Beales explains, it will force a real debate about some of the …
Feb 7 – Two U.S. lenders are merging to create a $66 billion rival to the country’s biggest banks. BB&T and SunTrust’s deal looks decent for investors on both sides – and if the regulators approve, it could provide the spur for more tie-ups in a crowde…
Spotify is spending up to $500 mln on podcasts and non-music content, but this hot format is still unproven as a way of making money. With revenue growth slowing, the company has its work cut out in becoming an audio version of Netflix, as Jen Saba exp…
Feb 5 – Antony Currie takes stock of the independent advisory firm’s fourth-quarter earnings. Lazard’s stock is down over a quarter in the past year, but with asset management tough and M&A slowing down, it may just be ahead of now more vulnerable-look…
Pacific islanders are squaring off with China over debt and Taiwan. Tonga’s prime minister is worried about asset seizures; Nauru got into a verbal spat with Chinese diplomats at a recent forum. Chris Beddor and Pete Sweeney explain what the fuss is ab…
Antony Currie and Robert Cyran explain why regulatory fiat and a nonprofit competitor set up by disgruntled U.S. hospitals are making life hard for makers of generic medicine. That’s why Novartis is selling its unit on the cheap – and why other such de…
Medical tech company Theranos collapsed because its blood tests didn’t work. Its founder faces fraud charges. But it had one thing right: that patients shouldn’t have to wait and pay huge sums to know what’s wrong with them. That might be changing, as …