English | Financial news with a German perspective

With rising interest rates, heavily indebted German companies frequently find themselves in troubled waters. Often they are held by private equity firms. According to S&P, the highest debt burdens in the poorly rated "B-"category are found at Adler Group, Douglas (CVC), and Klöckner Pentaplast (Strategic Value Partners).

The debate over a ban on Huawei components in the 5G network illustrates how little Europe has learned from China. There are more creative ways to reduce dependencies.

Rodrigo Santos has been at the helm of Bayer CropScience since early 2022. During an event in Monheim, he passionately promoted the cause of sustainable agriculture.

Despite the loss reported by its subsidiary Siemens Energy, Siemens shareholders can still hope for a higher dividend. CFO Ralf Thomas is content with the business performance in the fourth quarter.

Unlike the US Federal Reserve and the Bank of England this week, the European Central Bank (ECB) raised its key interest rates last week. But what's next? In the interview, Pablo Hernández de Cos, Governor of the Bank of Spain, talks about this and other topics.

Unplanned maintenance of engines has resulted in aircraft remaining on the ground for extended periods. Airlines are now seeking financial compensation from engine manufacturer Pratt & Whitney, setting the stage for an interesting battle, as Lufthansa CEO Carsten Spohr believes.

Misdirected payments, excessive orders, purported urgent requests from the boss: the threat from economic criminals is omnipresent. Many perpetrators emerge from within the organization.

Deutsche Bank CEO Christian Sewing apologizes to customers for the Postbank debacle. The bank intends to fully resolve the issues by the end of the year.

The fact that women are underrepresented in the German and European startup ecosystems can also be attributed to the lack of diversity among investors, as demonstrated by a study. The industry does not expect quick progress in this regard.

No other football investor has recently garnered as much attention as Josh Wander of 777 Partners. His approach is characterized by careful planning, even though success can be a long journey with investments like Hertha BSC.

Last week, the ECB raised its key interest rates for the tenth time in a row. The big question is whether this marks the peak of interest rates. In the interview, Yannis Stournaras, Governor of the Bank of Greece, talks about the current situation and outlook.

Most banks have built up sufficient buffers to involve owners and shareholders in the costs of rescue in the event of a crisis. For the remaining banks, the deadline is approaching.

The stock market comeback of Arm is impressive, but it also raises serious doubts about the merits of the preceding going private, which had always been praised by financial investors.

High energy prices threaten the economic position of Germany. However, fragmented state interventions are not sufficient.

A pilot study is set to test the four-day workweek in Germany. Advocates are aiming for increased productivity and gender equality. However, the long-term effects remain unexplored. Meanwhile, the trade union IG Metall is backing away from its demand for shorter weekly working hours for the 2024 collective bargaining negotiations.

For the French security, tourism, and transportation industries, the Rugby World Cup serves as a kind of dress rehearsal for the 2024 Olympic Games. Moreover, it's also lucrative because rugby fans tend to spend significantly more money than football fans.

Investment bankers are hoping for an end to the M&A slump through private equity deals. "Financial investors are under enormous pressure to invest due to an estimated worldwide dry powder of more than 2 trillion dollars", says Sebastian Bladt, Germany's M&A chief at J.P. Morgan, to Börsen-Zeitung.

Villeroy & Boch is acquiring all the operational companies of its Belgian competitor, Ideal Standard, for a purchase price of 430 million euros, marking the largest acquisition in its 275-year corporate history. As a result, the group's revenue for 2022 on a pro forma basis would increase from just under 1 billion euros to approximately 1.7 billion euros.

The financial markets are awaiting a signal of clarity by the end of the year regarding the future of the EU fiscal rules. A timely agreement is becoming increasingly unlikely.

Statistically speaking, a cash machine explodes in Germany every day. Banks and savings banks are trying to counteract this with preventive measures such as fogging systems, security services, or reduced cash holdings.

How to get ahead of the curve through decisive monetary action is something ECB President Lagarde and her board could study in Mexico. Adding a touch more tequila could also benefit the monetary cocktail of the ECB.

BMW CEO Oliver Zipse will reach the in-house age limit of 60 years for board members in 2024. Hence, the decision regarding a succession plan is drawing closer.