Halister News

Link to Statement:{NSN ONZ4PV0C3G1S } See {ULVR LN Equity CN RNS } for company news. See {UNA NA Equity CN RNS } for company news. RNS Newswire press release is accessible under the following industry codes: {NI 8901 RNS } (News by Industry, Category or Region) {NI ?18309659 RNS } (News by Industry, Category or Region) {NI BFWEU RNS } (News by Industry, Category or Region) {NI FILINGS RNS } (News by Industry, Category or Region) {NI UK RNS } (News by Industry, Category or Region)

(Bloomberg) -- Danske Bank’s management was made aware of the FSA’s concerns regarding anti-money laundering compliance issues in an Estonian unit in early 2013, Berlingske reports, citing an internal email obtained by the newspaper.

• Danske CEO Thomas Borgen told FinansWatch the bank’s management reacted “constructively” after discovering potential AML breaches “in 2014”
• Link to article in Danish: http://bit.ly/2oG6Rmz (password protected)

(Bloomberg) -- Here’s a roundup of Indian co. debt-rating changes.

• To get this story sent to your inbox real-time, run NI INRATINGS , click on Display & Edit, then Set Alert Delivery

UPGRADES

• Besto Mining
  • Term loan raised to B+ from B at ICRA
  • Cites successful commissioning of operations, steady growth in revenues

• Shiv Naresh Sports
  • Fund-based limits raised to BB from BB- at ICRA
  • Cites steady, diversified growth in company’s garment business

(Bloomberg) -- Becle upgraded one notch to BBB+ from BBB to reflect co.’s stronger financial profile and business after IPO, Fitch analysts led by Rogelio Gonzalez write in report.

• NOTE: BBB+ is 3 notches above speculative grade
• Upgrade also reflects merger of Proximo Spirits
• Co. expected to use “improved financial flexibility” for acquisitions to boost geographic, product diversification
• Ratings constrained by:
  • Co.’s revenue concentration in tequila
  • Strong competition among alcoholic beverage peers
  • Risks related to changes in U.S. trade policies
  • Agave price volatility
• NOTE, March 29: S&P affirms its BBB rating on Becle
• NOTE, Feb. 8: Jose Cuervo Said to Raise $790M in Biggest Mexico IPO Since 2013

(Bloomberg) -- Cardinal Health is nearing deal to acquire Medtronic’s medical supplies business for close to $6b, Reuters reports, citing unidentified people familiar with the matter.

• Deal could be announced later this month; cos. have entered exclusive talks over the sale
• Medtronic and Cardinal Health declined to comment: Reuters
• MDT rises as much as 1.9% post-mkt on 76k shrs
• NOTE: Medtronic’s $5b Unit Said to Get Interest From Cardinal