EU Company News

Latest European company news from EUbusiness.com, with business commentary and analysis on companies in Europe.

EU clears Warren Buffett's takeover of Heinz — 03 June 2013, 16:16 CET

The European Commission cleared Monday the $28-billion takeover of iconic US ketchup maker Heinz by billionaire Warren Buffett's investment powerhouse Berkshire Hathaway and Brazilian-led 3G Capital.

Hellenic Bank posts EUR 31 m loss in Q1 — 31 May 2013, 15:33 CET

Cyprus's Hellenic Bank on Friday posted a 31.68 million euro loss in the first quarter of 2013 compared to a post-tax profit of 8.06 million during the same period last year.

EADS posts profit leap as Airbus orders soar — 14 May 2013, 12:15 CET

European aerospace giant EADS said Tuesday its first quarter profits soared 91 percent from a year ago to 241 million euros ($316 million) amid solid demand for its commercial aircraft.

EU clears Volvo, Dongfeng trucks tie-up — 08 May 2013, 16:29 CET

The European Commission approved Wednesday a tie-up between Sweden's Volvo Trucks and China's Dongfeng Motor which will create the world's biggest lorry maker ahead of Germany's Daimler.

Euro Disney cuts loss, cautious about outlook — 07 May 2013, 15:42 CET

Euro Disney, the theme park and hotel group east of Paris, reduced its net loss in the first six months of its financial year after refinancing its debt, but was cautious about the outlook for the full year owing to the "difficult" economic climate.

EU probes state aid to Peugeot — 02 May 2013, 17:44 CET

The European Commission has opened an inquiry on whether restructuring by PSA Peugeot Citroen, Europe's second biggest car maker after Volkswagen, complies with European Union rules on state aid.

LBG bank announces collapse of deal to sell branches — 24 April 2013, 21:10 CET

Britain's part-nationalised Lloyds Banking Group on Wednesday said a deal agreed last year to sell 632 branches at a loss to The Co-operative Group had collapsed, adding that it would now float the so-called Project Verde division on the stock market.

EU probes Greek airlines merger — 23 April 2013, 19:27 CET

EU anti-trust authorities said Tuesday they had opened a full probe into the planned takeover of Greece's Olympic Air by Aegean Airlines.

Penguin to change e-books strategy to end EU competition probe — 20 April 2013, 20:04 CET

The European Commission says book giant Penguin has offered commitments designed to end a probe into price fixing in the booming electronic publishing business.

Latvia's airBaltic reports EUR 27 m loss — 18 April 2013, 17:06 CET

Latvian flag-carrier airBaltic on Thursday reported a loss of 19 million lats (27 million euros, $35 million) for 2012, but insisted the figure showed a management turnaround plan was working.

Google, EU near deal on search probe: report — 13 April 2013, 13:33 CET

US Internet giant Google is preparing changes to its dominant search system to satisfy EU anti-trust authorities, the Financial Times said on Saturday.

Six European countries move against Google over privacy — 03 April 2013, 11:36 CET

Six European countries, including France and Britain, have launched joint action against Google to get the US Internet giant to scale back on new monitoring powers that watchdogs believe violate EU privacy protection rules.

Slovakia close to deal with U.S. Steel: PM Fico — 26 March 2013, 02:02 CET

Slovakia's Prime Minister Robert Fico said Monday he was close to a deal with U.S. Steel that would see this eurozone country's largest single employer keep its mill in the eastern industrial hub of Kosice.

EU 'looking at' Apple practices following queries — 23 March 2013, 20:39 CET

European Union competition watchdogs said Friday they were "looking into" potential anti-trust issues at iPad and iPhone giant Apple, following queries raised by telecommunications operators.

Crisis not over, Bundesbank warns as it ups risk provisions — 12 March 2013, 15:46 CET

The eurozone debt crisis is not yet over, even if calm appears to have returned to the financial markets, the Bundesbank warned on Tuesday as it set aside billions of euros in new risk provisions.

Bundesbank 2012 profits stall on higher risk provisions — 12 March 2013, 11:38 CET

The Bundesbank said on Tuesday that its net profit for last year rose only slightly from a year earlier, owing to a steep increase in risk provisions.

Ryanair to buy up to 200 Boeing planes: report — 12 March 2013, 11:06 CET

Irish no-frills airline Ryanair has placed an order for up to 200 Boeing planes worth 13.8 billion euros at list prices, the Irish Independent said on Tuesday.

Telecom Italia posts EUR 1.6 bn loss for 2012 — 07 March 2013, 22:04 CET

Telecom Italia posted Thursday a net loss of 1.627 billion euros ($2.1 billion) for 2012, hit by an asset write-down of more than 4.4 billion euros in part on investments in Brazil.

EU fines Microsoft EUR 561 m for web browser choice — 06 March 2013, 16:30 CET

The EU has fined Microsoft 561 million euros for failing to provide customers with a choice of Internet browser, as promised, but ran into criticism it has allowed the US giant to monitor its own commitments.

Bank of Ireland slumps into EUR 1.8 bn annual loss — 04 March 2013, 18:02 CET

State-rescued Bank of Ireland said on Monday that it plunged into the red in 2012 after it was hit by a soaring level of bad debts.

Japan cosmetics giant Shiseido ditches animal testing — 01 March 2013, 19:22 CET

Japan's Shiseido on Friday said it was mostly dropping animal-tested cosmetics, as the European Union gets set to finalise a sweeping ban on the sale of such products later this month.

Ryanair says will appeal against EU takeover decision — 27 February 2013, 16:31 CET

Irish low-cost airline Ryanair on Wednesday said it would appeal against the European Commission's decision to block its third attempt to take over rival carrier Aer Lingus, which welcomed the rejection.

EU turns down Ryanair again on Aer Lingus takeover — 27 February 2013, 17:20 CET

The European Commission on Wednesday barred a third attempt by low-cost airline pioneer Ryanair to take over its Irish rival Aer Lingus, citing concerns passengers would lose out badly.

ECB says net profit up in 2012 — 21 February 2013, 20:23 CET

The European Central Bank said Thursday that its net profit rose strongly last year, not least as a result of interest earned on its portfolio of sovereign bonds from crisis-ridden countries.

Accor posts 599-mn-euro loss tied to sale of Motel 6 chain — 20 February 2013, 11:28 CET

The French hotel group Accor said on Wednesday it had suffered a net loss of 599 million euros last year owing to the sale of the US budget chain Motel 6, and said it would seek to generate 100 million euros in savings over the next two years to remain competitive.