Europe Movers: Burberry, Montupet, Repsol, Syngenta, Tesco, WH Smith

Nigel Thomas
15 Oct, 2015
New York City

Unilever revenues soared 9.4%. Repsol plans to sell assets worth about

[R]4:00 PM Frankfurt – Unilever revenues soared 9.4%. Repsol plans to sell assets worth about €6.2 billion. Burberry plunged on flat revenues. Montupet revenues surged and received cash tender offer from Canada-based rival Linamar. Tesco sold fourteen Spenhill development sites in London.[/R]

In London trading, FTSE 100 index increased 76.79 or 1.2% to 6,345.89 and in Frankfurt the DAX index gained 167.99 or 1.7% to 10,083.84.

In Paris, CAC 40 index jumped 73.87 or 1.6% to 4,682.87.

Burberry Group Plc plunged 8.3% to 1,302 pence after the luxury goods retailer reported total revenues in the first-half ending in September was nearly flat from a year ago to £1.10 billion and forecasted pre-tax profit in the range of £434 million to £461 million.

Retail revenues in the period jumped 3% to £774 million while revenues in the wholesales segment declined 4% to £305 million from a year ago period.

The retailer said sales in the Asia Pacific region dropped 2% but sales in the American region soared 6%.

Montupet SA was halted at €61.93 after the France-based aluminum auto parts maker said revenues in the third-quarter ending in September surged 19% from a year ago to €119.9 million but declined 14.2% from €139.8 in the second-quarter.

Separately, the company today received cash tender offer from Canada-based rival Linamar Corp for €71.53 per share that valued €771 million or $915 million, a 15.5% premium compared to the closing price of October 14.

Repsol SA slumped 3% to €11.80 after the Spain-based oil and gas producer plans to sell assets worth about €6.2 billion or $7.1 billion between 2016 and 2020 and reduce the exploration and production investments for about 40% in the next five-years.

The energy explorer plans to use proceeds to repay the debt.

Syngenta AG gained 1.2% to 301.70 after the Swiss francs after the Switzerland-based crop protection products maker said total group sales in the third-quarter ending in September plunged 12% from a year ago to $2.62 billion.

The company said sales in the crop protection business dropped 9% to $2.17 billion and sales in the seeds division tumbled 31% to $329 million.

Separately, the company today signs an agreement with KWS and Limagrain and their joint ventures AgReliant and Genective to provide worldwide rights to its current and future genetically modified corn traits business for $200 million upfront payment and future royalty for 20-years.

Tesco Plc fell 0.1% to 192.25 pence and the U.K.-based retailer agreed to sell of fourteen Spenhill development sites in London, the South East and Bath to a fund and clients advised by Meyer Bergman for about £250 million for mixed-use and residential development.

Unilever Plc jumped 3.4% to 2,884 pence after the U.K.-based food, home and personal care products maker reported revenues in the third-quarter ending in September soared 9.4% from a year ago to €13.4 billion.

The company’s sales in personal care products jumped 5.1% and sales in food segment advanced 3.1%. Sales in refreshment business increased 2.7% while homecare sales rose 2.5%.

WH Smith Plc soared 4.1% to 1,604 pence after the U.K.-based book retailer said travel store sales in the year ending in August jumped 9% but high street sales dropped 4%.

The books and stationery retailer reported sales in the year rose 1% from a year ago to £1.18 billion and pre-tax profit in the year soared 8% to £121 million from £112 million.

WH Smith said it will buy back up to £50 million of shares.