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1. Barclays: Expects the Bank of Korea to raise interest rates by 25 basis points. The central bank governor has clearly stated that the central banks policy objectives are unusually aligned in one direction: raising interest rates. 2. Reuters poll: Expects the Bank of Korea to raise interest rates by 25 basis points. 28 out of 31 economists predict the Bank of Korea will raise its benchmark interest rate to 3.00% by the end of the year. 3. HSBC: Expects the Bank of Korea to raise interest rates by 25 basis points, as the won continues to face depreciation pressure, core inflation remains strong, and the outlook for South Korean economic growth has improved. 4. Bank of America: Expects the Bank of Korea to raise interest rates by 25 basis points. The banks stance on the won may be more crucial than the rate hike itself, as policymakers may focus on the wons continued weakness. 5. Scotiabank: Expects the Bank of Korea to raise interest rates by 25 basis points. The governor has previously given strong hints, and South Korean inflation continues to exceed the target, with the wons depreciation exacerbating imported inflation. 6. Citibank: Expects the Bank of Korea to raise interest rates by 25 basis points, and its governor will hint at 25 basis point increases every quarter in the second half of the year; further rate hikes are expected in July and October this year, and January and April next year. 7. KB Financial Group: Expects the Bank of Korea to raise interest rates by 25 basis points. The central bank may raise rates twice this year, but the probability of another rate hike in October is higher than consecutive rate hikes in July and August. 8. NH Investment & Securities: Expects the Bank of Korea to raise interest rates by 25 basis points. The central bank may not provide a specific timetable for further rate hikes to avoid the side effects of forward guidance. 9. Hanwha Investment & Securities: Expects the Bank of Korea to raise interest rates by 25 basis points. This meeting may have an overall hawkish tone. Whether economic growth forecasts are revised upwards and the guidance on the future pace of rate hikes will be key points to watch. 10. Crédit Agricole: Expects the Bank of Korea to raise interest rates by 25 basis points. As the central bank will not update its economic forecasts and forward guidance until August, and oil prices have fallen, the central bank is more likely to raise rates again in October. International Energy Agency Executive Director Fatih Birol: Markets are nervous about the renewed escalation of the conflict with Iran.July 16 – The U.S. government imposed sanctions on several individuals and entities on Wednesday, alleging they belong to an international network assisting Iran in procuring weapons. The U.S. Treasury Department said in a statement that the sanctions target Iranian and Russian nationals, as well as multiple entities located in Iran, Russia, and Nigeria. The Treasury Department stated that Wednesdays sanctions "fully illustrate how Iran uses foreign airlines and transport companies, financial channels, and travel coordinators to conceal the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps role in illicit procurement and the global movement of supplies and personnel."A Reuters poll shows that more than half of Japanese companies believe the weak yen is bad for their profits.A Reuters poll shows that nearly one-third of Japanese companies say the Bank of Japan’s interest rate hikes to date have hurt capital investment.

Bidders assess bids valuing Toshiba at $22 billion or more - sources

Charlie Brooks

Jun 23, 2022 11:27


According to three sources cited by Reuters, bidders for Toshiba (OTC:TOSYY) Corp are considering offering up to 7,000 yen ($51.41) a share to take the struggling Japanese conglomerate private, valuing the deal at over $22 billion.


Toshiba, which is assessing its strategic options, stated this month that it has received eight initial takeover proposals and two capital partnership proposals that would allow it to remain publicly listed.


According to the sources, the bidders are currently exploring an offer price range of up to 7,000 yen per share with Toshiba's shareholders. This is a 27 percent premium over Toshiba's closing share price of 5,501 yen per share on Wednesday.


According to a third source, there is a vast selection of offers with several stipulations attached.


On Thursday morning in Tokyo, Toshiba shares climbed by 5.3%, outpacing the Nikkei average gain of 0.8%.


The chips-to-nuclear-reactors conglomerate would be valued at a maximum of 3 trillion yen ($22 billion) if the bid price is completed.


Toshiba notified Reuters that it would not disclose the specifics of its strategy.


KKR & Co (NYSE:KKR) Inc, Baring Private Equity Asia, Blackstone (NYSE:BX) Inc, Bain Capital, Brookfield Asset Management, MBK Partners, Apollo Global Management (NYSE:APO), and CVC Capital have reportedly submitted first bids.


They said that some of the bidders may form consortiums.


Bain, Blackstone, Brookfield, Baring, CVC, KKR, and MBK all refused to comment. Apollo did not immediately respond to a request for comment.


According to individuals who declined to be identified because they were not authorized to speak to the media, domestic funds, most notably Japan Investment Corp (JIC), and a number of significant stakeholders are examining their participation in the transaction.


JIC declined to comment.

WEAK YEN

If completed, the sale of Toshiba would be the largest in Japan since a consortium led by Bain sold Kioxia for $18 billion in 2018.


The conversations are taking place at a time when a weak yen continues to afflict the Japanese economy, endangering the business plans of Japanese firms and making them attractive takeover targets for foreign bidders.


On Wednesday morning, the yen reached a new 24-year low against the dollar, falling to 136.71.


According to two sources, of all the potential bidders, Bain has been the most "aggressive" in pursuing a purchase.


Even at 6,500 yen per share, a Japanese investment banker with knowledge of the transaction remarked that Toshiba's valuation was "very expensive."


Ultimately, he noted, the price must reflect how investors see Toshiba's 40 percent stake in unlisted chip producer Kioxia.


According to him, this gave Bain an advantage over other bidders because the private equity company possessed a majority stake in Kioxia, meaning it would influence the fate of the chipmaker, impacting Toshiba's value.


In April, after shareholders rejected a restructuring proposal backed by management, Toshiba, which has been beset by accounting and governance problems since 2015, appointed a special committee to find answers.


The company previously announced it will shortlist bidders for due diligence following its annual shareholders' meeting on June 28.