TDC Agrees on $6.7 B Takeover Offer, Heineken Margin Growth Target Lowered

Sarla Buch
12 Feb, 2018
New York City

Carl Zeiss profit declined but the medical devices maker lifted operating margin forecast. Heineken net surged but lowered operating margin estimates. PUMA net soared. TDC agreed to $6.7 billion takeover offer from Australia-based Macquarie and three domestic pension funds.

[R]4:00 PM Frankfurt – Carl Zeiss profit declined but the medical devices maker lifted operating margin forecast. Heineken net surged but lowered operating margin estimates. PUMA net soared. TDC agreed to $6.7 billion takeover offer from Australia-based Macquarie and three domestic pension funds.[/R]

In London trading, FTSE 100 index jumped 74.50 or 1.1% to 7,169.17 and in Frankfurt the DAX index soared 181.88 or 1.5% to 12,287.74.

In Paris, CAC 40 index advanced 66.48 or 1.3% to 5,145.69.

Carl Zeiss Meditec AG gained 0.6% to €49.68 after Germany-based medical technology and device provider said revenues in the first-quarter ending in December jumped 5.3% from a year ago to €294.7 million.

Net profit in the quarter declined 7.8% to €28.5 million from €30.9 million in a year ago period and diluted earnings per share fell to €0.32 from €0.38.

The medical technology and device provider said revenues in ophthalmic devices business advanced 4.2% to €216.3 million from €207.6 million in a year ago period.

Carl Zeiss forecasted fiscal 2018 operating margin in the range of 14% to 16%.

Heineken N.V dropped 2.5% to €81.76 after Germany-based brewing and beer maker reported revenues in the year ending in December advanced 5.4% from a year ago to €21.9 billion.

Net profit in the year surged 25.6% to €1.9 billion from €1.5 billion in a year ago period and diluted earnings per share increased to €3.94 from €3.68.

The brewer said growth in beer volume rose 3% in all the regions but margin growth is estimated to increase by 25 basis points in 2018 from the estimated margin of 40 basis points per year between 2014 and 2017.

PUMA SE slipped 1.2% to €321 after Germany-based athletic and casual footwear, apparel and accessories maker reported revenues in the year ending in December soared 14% from a year ago to €4.1 billion.

Net profit in the year more than doubled to €135.8 million from €62.4 million in a year ago period and diluted earnings per share jumped to €9.09 from €4.17.

PUMA forecasted fiscal 2017 sales to increase 10% and operating profit in the range of €305 million to €325 million compared to €244.6 million and gross profit margin to improve slightly from the 47.3% in fiscal 2017.

TDC A/S surged 13.4% to 49.46 Danish krone after Denmark-based telecom services provider agreed to a takeover offer of 50.25 krone per share or $6.65 billion in cash from the consortium led by Australia-based Macquarie and three domestic pension funds PFA, PKA and ATP.

The telecom services provider plans to withdraw its bid to acquire the Nordic TV business of Swedish media conglomerate Modern Times Group in a deal valued at about €2 billion or $2.4 billion.