1 00:00:00,800 --> 00:00:04,040 Speaker 1: Welcome to the Bloomberg Markets Podcast. I'm Paul Sweeney, alongside 2 00:00:04,040 --> 00:00:06,920 Speaker 1: my co host Matt Miller. Every business day we bring 3 00:00:06,960 --> 00:00:11,520 Speaker 1: you interviews from CEOs, market pros, and Bloomberg experts, along 4 00:00:11,560 --> 00:00:15,600 Speaker 1: with essential market moving news. Find the Bloomberg Markets Podcast 5 00:00:15,600 --> 00:00:18,479 Speaker 1: on Apple Podcasts or wherever you listen to podcasts, and 6 00:00:18,480 --> 00:00:21,400 Speaker 1: at Bloomberg dot com slash podcast. Well. One of the 7 00:00:21,400 --> 00:00:23,239 Speaker 1: things we try to do here in Bloomberg Radio, particularly 8 00:00:23,320 --> 00:00:27,200 Speaker 1: during this pandemic, is to talk to CEOs from different 9 00:00:27,240 --> 00:00:29,440 Speaker 1: parts of the economy, different parts of the world to 10 00:00:29,440 --> 00:00:34,240 Speaker 1: see how their businesses have been impacted by COVID UH 11 00:00:34,240 --> 00:00:36,720 Speaker 1: and how they're adapting. Today, we're going to chat with 12 00:00:36,840 --> 00:00:39,520 Speaker 1: Ronan Samuel. He's the CEO of corn It Digital, based 13 00:00:39,520 --> 00:00:43,600 Speaker 1: in Israel. Corner Digital manufacturers digital inkjet printers. The printers 14 00:00:43,600 --> 00:00:46,840 Speaker 1: are used by the textile industry to print directly on 15 00:00:47,040 --> 00:00:49,159 Speaker 1: to cloth thrown and thanks so much for joining us 16 00:00:49,200 --> 00:00:53,000 Speaker 1: here again. You know, years, like I'm sure many other 17 00:00:53,040 --> 00:00:56,280 Speaker 1: businesses around the world have been really impacted by COVID. 18 00:00:56,320 --> 00:00:58,960 Speaker 1: I'd love to get a sense of how it impacted 19 00:00:59,000 --> 00:01:01,520 Speaker 1: your company and and kind of how your positions here 20 00:01:01,600 --> 00:01:06,800 Speaker 1: as the world begins to reopen. First of all, pleasure 21 00:01:06,840 --> 00:01:09,960 Speaker 1: to be to be with all of you. UM. So UM, 22 00:01:10,000 --> 00:01:11,520 Speaker 1: you know we have we are playing in the UH. 23 00:01:11,680 --> 00:01:13,880 Speaker 1: In the textile industry and the technical industry is the 24 00:01:14,319 --> 00:01:17,480 Speaker 1: second most polluted industry in the world after the oil industry. 25 00:01:18,080 --> 00:01:21,680 Speaker 1: It's actually there's a huge consumption of water UM. And 26 00:01:21,760 --> 00:01:25,959 Speaker 1: there's about thirty percent of four that are being produced 27 00:01:26,040 --> 00:01:29,400 Speaker 1: never been sold, which creates twenty one million tons of 28 00:01:29,480 --> 00:01:32,080 Speaker 1: text and are being on the way and about twenty 29 00:01:32,120 --> 00:01:38,080 Speaker 1: eight trillion little water that being consumed. UH. This is huge, UM, 30 00:01:38,160 --> 00:01:41,520 Speaker 1: and the textile industry has to move into most sustainable 31 00:01:41,560 --> 00:01:46,080 Speaker 1: way of production. Now. The COVID erupted there like March 32 00:01:46,440 --> 00:01:49,040 Speaker 1: last year, UM, and it was kind of a shock 33 00:01:49,120 --> 00:01:53,800 Speaker 1: for the industry because the retail UM really stopped UM 34 00:01:54,000 --> 00:01:58,440 Speaker 1: and the consumer went and ordering online UM and through 35 00:01:58,480 --> 00:02:01,280 Speaker 1: the e commerce and the ecommerce today is representing like 36 00:02:01,360 --> 00:02:05,400 Speaker 1: thirty percent of that being solved for the e commerce UH. 37 00:02:05,400 --> 00:02:08,480 Speaker 1: And the focus that in twenty twenty four will be 38 00:02:08,520 --> 00:02:13,440 Speaker 1: about six older girl being sold in e commerce, which 39 00:02:13,560 --> 00:02:17,960 Speaker 1: really fueling the need for own demand manufacturing. Yeah, and 40 00:02:18,200 --> 00:02:21,359 Speaker 1: I mean it's not just e commerce, right Runnan. We 41 00:02:21,440 --> 00:02:25,800 Speaker 1: expect to get what we order tomorrow. You know, Amazon 42 00:02:25,919 --> 00:02:30,480 Speaker 1: has spoiled consumers into wanting something within twenty four hours. 43 00:02:30,480 --> 00:02:34,880 Speaker 1: So if I order UM UH tank top T shirt, 44 00:02:35,400 --> 00:02:37,520 Speaker 1: it can't really be made in Taiwan because it has 45 00:02:37,600 --> 00:02:40,320 Speaker 1: to be here right away. Does that mean we're gonna 46 00:02:40,400 --> 00:02:46,720 Speaker 1: see UM supply chains spread out over the globe? Yeah, 47 00:02:46,760 --> 00:02:49,520 Speaker 1: so you're absolutely right. So the e commerce has to 48 00:02:49,600 --> 00:02:53,760 Speaker 1: adopt the supply chain to meet the consumer needs. And 49 00:02:53,800 --> 00:02:57,400 Speaker 1: what the consumer needs is immediate gratification. They would like 50 00:02:57,440 --> 00:02:59,480 Speaker 1: to have the same experience as going to a retail 51 00:02:59,480 --> 00:03:01,079 Speaker 1: shop and get think the products. They would like to 52 00:03:01,120 --> 00:03:03,840 Speaker 1: get their products within twenty four hours. But they also 53 00:03:03,880 --> 00:03:07,520 Speaker 1: would like to choose to choose a variety of products. 54 00:03:07,520 --> 00:03:11,200 Speaker 1: A self expression is very important. Nobody wants to wear 55 00:03:11,240 --> 00:03:14,840 Speaker 1: the same tissuts that anyone else next to him wearing UM, 56 00:03:15,000 --> 00:03:18,359 Speaker 1: So they want to add a variety of products uh 57 00:03:18,440 --> 00:03:21,320 Speaker 1: and and to go to the e commerce and having 58 00:03:21,360 --> 00:03:25,079 Speaker 1: a variety of products and keeping the inventory offer a 59 00:03:25,360 --> 00:03:29,240 Speaker 1: large sp use of products is almost impossible. So you 60 00:03:29,320 --> 00:03:33,120 Speaker 1: have to change the supply chain into on demand manufacturing 61 00:03:33,360 --> 00:03:36,160 Speaker 1: and you move you have to move the manufacturing from 62 00:03:36,280 --> 00:03:40,000 Speaker 1: offshore to on shore or near shore next to the 63 00:03:40,040 --> 00:03:43,040 Speaker 1: consumer and next to the main cities, like what Amazon 64 00:03:43,160 --> 00:03:47,120 Speaker 1: is doing leveraging our technology or many other companies. So 65 00:03:47,520 --> 00:03:52,640 Speaker 1: core Net is enabling on the main sustainable manufacturing, on 66 00:03:52,880 --> 00:03:56,960 Speaker 1: shore manufacturing, and really changing the entire supply chain of 67 00:03:57,000 --> 00:04:00,720 Speaker 1: the textile market. Ron Interest real quickly seconds give us 68 00:04:00,760 --> 00:04:04,240 Speaker 1: a sense of how the industry can reduce its footprint 69 00:04:04,280 --> 00:04:07,720 Speaker 1: in terms of the ecological harm it does. Yeah. So 70 00:04:07,800 --> 00:04:11,320 Speaker 1: if you if you produce on demand, UH, and you 71 00:04:11,440 --> 00:04:15,160 Speaker 1: produced to an order, So actually everything you produce being 72 00:04:15,200 --> 00:04:19,880 Speaker 1: consumed today, thirty percent of the product are being produced, 73 00:04:19,960 --> 00:04:23,480 Speaker 1: never being consumed, and you're throwing it away. This creates 74 00:04:23,520 --> 00:04:29,359 Speaker 1: a huge amount of waste of materials, of water, um 75 00:04:29,520 --> 00:04:33,159 Speaker 1: and a huge amount of pollution. So just by changing 76 00:04:33,200 --> 00:04:36,080 Speaker 1: the supply chain to on show, on demand, this is 77 00:04:36,279 --> 00:04:40,000 Speaker 1: a huge benefit for the globe and we are very 78 00:04:40,040 --> 00:04:44,240 Speaker 1: happy to take a major part and a leadership in that. Ronan, 79 00:04:44,279 --> 00:04:46,159 Speaker 1: thank you so much for joining us. We really appreciate 80 00:04:46,320 --> 00:04:49,680 Speaker 1: you getting on from Israel and sharing the story of 81 00:04:49,760 --> 00:04:52,120 Speaker 1: your company. Ronan Samuel, he's the CEO of corn It 82 00:04:52,240 --> 00:04:56,880 Speaker 1: Digital again a big player in the global textiles industry. UH. 83 00:04:57,120 --> 00:05:00,440 Speaker 1: Navigating this pandemic, navigating the reopening and trying to do 84 00:05:00,480 --> 00:05:03,760 Speaker 1: it in a more sustainable way given some of the 85 00:05:03,839 --> 00:05:07,839 Speaker 1: challenges that that industry deals with as in terms of 86 00:05:08,080 --> 00:05:15,000 Speaker 1: the sustainability issues. Let's bring in Laura Davison, Bloomberg Tax reporter. Lara, 87 00:05:15,000 --> 00:05:16,279 Speaker 1: thanks so much for joining us, And what do we 88 00:05:16,279 --> 00:05:19,279 Speaker 1: know about this plan here? So, yeah, this is basically 89 00:05:19,320 --> 00:05:22,520 Speaker 1: Biden reverting to a different part of his American Jobs Plan. 90 00:05:22,680 --> 00:05:26,520 Speaker 1: This is a a minimum tax on financial profits for 91 00:05:26,520 --> 00:05:31,400 Speaker 1: for financial accounting purposes. This would basically affect companies like Amazon, 92 00:05:32,080 --> 00:05:34,240 Speaker 1: like Netflix that has been able in the past to 93 00:05:34,440 --> 00:05:37,000 Speaker 1: use legal tax breaks for research and development, for stock 94 00:05:37,040 --> 00:05:39,599 Speaker 1: options to cut down their tax bills too, you know, 95 00:05:39,760 --> 00:05:42,680 Speaker 1: zero percent or very low rate. So what what the 96 00:05:42,680 --> 00:05:45,000 Speaker 1: Biden plan would say here and say, Okay, you know, 97 00:05:45,080 --> 00:05:46,960 Speaker 1: even if you do have all these credits andtroductions, you 98 00:05:47,000 --> 00:05:50,120 Speaker 1: have to pay at least fifteen percent on your on 99 00:05:50,160 --> 00:05:53,200 Speaker 1: your financial statement profits. Um. This is basically a negotiating 100 00:05:53,400 --> 00:05:55,720 Speaker 1: tactic that the Biden U is bringing up here, as 101 00:05:55,800 --> 00:05:58,440 Speaker 1: as the Washington Post reported, um and saying Okay, we're 102 00:05:58,440 --> 00:06:00,080 Speaker 1: not going to raise the tax rate, but we're going 103 00:06:00,120 --> 00:06:02,320 Speaker 1: to make sure that at least a minimum amount of 104 00:06:02,400 --> 00:06:05,800 Speaker 1: tax would be paid. It's very interesting. I wonder how 105 00:06:06,120 --> 00:06:09,760 Speaker 1: corporate America will react to this. I mean, on the 106 00:06:09,760 --> 00:06:12,520 Speaker 1: one hand, um, surely they don't want to see rates 107 00:06:12,640 --> 00:06:15,279 Speaker 1: rise at twenty eight percent. But let's face it, Laura, 108 00:06:15,360 --> 00:06:19,520 Speaker 1: even if rates rise to nominally, a lot of companies 109 00:06:19,560 --> 00:06:22,280 Speaker 1: are still gonna pay nothing, right. Yeah. And the important 110 00:06:22,279 --> 00:06:23,720 Speaker 1: thing to remember here too is this is part of 111 00:06:23,720 --> 00:06:27,520 Speaker 1: the negotiations happening with the publicans. Um. You know, Biden 112 00:06:27,640 --> 00:06:30,000 Speaker 1: and several center Republicans are working on trying to come 113 00:06:30,080 --> 00:06:32,760 Speaker 1: up with some sort of bipartisan infrastructure deal, and this 114 00:06:32,880 --> 00:06:34,400 Speaker 1: is one of the ways he's trying to kind of 115 00:06:34,520 --> 00:06:37,200 Speaker 1: find ways to to pay for that plan. Democrats can 116 00:06:37,240 --> 00:06:38,960 Speaker 1: still even if they do a bipartisan deal, or if 117 00:06:38,960 --> 00:06:41,240 Speaker 1: they don't do something with Republicans can still go and 118 00:06:41,279 --> 00:06:43,719 Speaker 1: are likely to do a separate tax deal later in 119 00:06:43,720 --> 00:06:45,360 Speaker 1: the year that would raise the corporate rate. So this 120 00:06:45,400 --> 00:06:48,159 Speaker 1: doesn't really take the rate off the table, It just 121 00:06:48,200 --> 00:06:50,440 Speaker 1: puts it in a different bill than it might have 122 00:06:50,520 --> 00:06:52,880 Speaker 1: been otherwise. Um. So that's one thing that's important to 123 00:06:52,880 --> 00:06:55,600 Speaker 1: remember as well. As you know, even if the rate, 124 00:06:55,640 --> 00:06:57,960 Speaker 1: the headline rate is percent, there are still lots of 125 00:06:58,000 --> 00:07:00,839 Speaker 1: other deductions, credits, other tax breaks in the tax cod 126 00:07:00,880 --> 00:07:03,240 Speaker 1: I mean that many companies pay far, far less because 127 00:07:03,279 --> 00:07:06,160 Speaker 1: whatever the headline tax rate is. Yeah, Laura, what is 128 00:07:06,400 --> 00:07:09,960 Speaker 1: there a sense about any kind of support for a 129 00:07:10,040 --> 00:07:13,440 Speaker 1: tax floor, whether it's fift or something else. Is there 130 00:07:13,760 --> 00:07:16,800 Speaker 1: bipartisan support for that? This is something that that Republicans 131 00:07:16,840 --> 00:07:20,880 Speaker 1: have pushed back on Democrats. Um like the idea, uh, largely, 132 00:07:20,920 --> 00:07:23,680 Speaker 1: but there's been some It's it's not universally seen as 133 00:07:23,760 --> 00:07:25,720 Speaker 1: as a good idea. It's a little bit harder to implement. 134 00:07:26,040 --> 00:07:28,560 Speaker 1: It's also, um, you know, a lot of economists say 135 00:07:28,560 --> 00:07:30,400 Speaker 1: this is sort of a kind of roundabout way to 136 00:07:30,400 --> 00:07:32,720 Speaker 1: go about this. If Congress doesn't want companies taking all 137 00:07:32,760 --> 00:07:35,119 Speaker 1: these tax credits, introductions, getting rid of the tax credits 138 00:07:35,120 --> 00:07:38,080 Speaker 1: and inductions, don't put some sort of minimum tax after 139 00:07:38,120 --> 00:07:40,120 Speaker 1: giving people tax breaks and then taking them away, it's 140 00:07:40,160 --> 00:07:43,080 Speaker 1: sort of a economically inefficient way to go about it. 141 00:07:43,320 --> 00:07:46,360 Speaker 1: I mean, we've already seen Congress telling the banks they 142 00:07:46,360 --> 00:07:49,280 Speaker 1: don't want them lending to two oil businesses that are 143 00:07:49,320 --> 00:07:52,960 Speaker 1: perfectly legal operating in the United States. Um. I think 144 00:07:53,080 --> 00:07:56,040 Speaker 1: we're not gonna understand how Congress works, but to me, 145 00:07:56,200 --> 00:08:00,160 Speaker 1: it seems like Laura Um companies would prefer to have 146 00:08:00,320 --> 00:08:06,160 Speaker 1: a percent top rate to a fifteen percent minimum, you know, 147 00:08:06,240 --> 00:08:07,800 Speaker 1: And then it probably depends a little bit on the 148 00:08:07,800 --> 00:08:10,080 Speaker 1: profile of your of your company. If you're someone like 149 00:08:10,080 --> 00:08:12,480 Speaker 1: a tech company that has a ton of you know, 150 00:08:12,680 --> 00:08:15,040 Speaker 1: research and development costs and things that can really cut 151 00:08:15,080 --> 00:08:18,360 Speaker 1: down your UM your tax bill, having a minimum tax 152 00:08:18,400 --> 00:08:20,200 Speaker 1: it's certainly not helpful. And having a little bit of 153 00:08:20,200 --> 00:08:22,520 Speaker 1: a higher tax um, you know, isn't It wouldn't be 154 00:08:22,560 --> 00:08:24,600 Speaker 1: as big of a deal if you have fewer of 155 00:08:24,640 --> 00:08:27,000 Speaker 1: those credits and productions. If you're already paying you know, 156 00:08:27,040 --> 00:08:29,800 Speaker 1: somewhere above fift it doesn't affect you as much. But 157 00:08:30,120 --> 00:08:32,600 Speaker 1: this is something that you can imagine Corporate America is 158 00:08:32,600 --> 00:08:35,280 Speaker 1: is galvanizing behind right now. And uh, you know, the 159 00:08:35,400 --> 00:08:37,760 Speaker 1: US Chamber of Commerce and Business Roundtable they're figuring out, 160 00:08:37,760 --> 00:08:39,560 Speaker 1: you know, running the numbers and how will this affect 161 00:08:39,840 --> 00:08:44,760 Speaker 1: you know, large companies in the country. Matt, this is 162 00:08:44,880 --> 00:08:48,360 Speaker 1: my fifth fourth week coming back to the office full 163 00:08:48,400 --> 00:08:51,800 Speaker 1: time to Bloomberg's HQ at seven thirty one Lexington Avenue. 164 00:08:51,800 --> 00:08:53,800 Speaker 1: How do you like it? I love it, love being back, 165 00:08:54,000 --> 00:08:57,280 Speaker 1: um and uh, you know, and what I'm noticing Matt is. 166 00:08:57,360 --> 00:09:00,199 Speaker 1: You know, every week it's getting a little bit more 167 00:09:00,440 --> 00:09:04,200 Speaker 1: people here in our headquarters. But I just wonder what's 168 00:09:04,200 --> 00:09:06,440 Speaker 1: gonna what's happening with other businesses, you see, I don't 169 00:09:06,480 --> 00:09:09,120 Speaker 1: really see a consensus on hey, let's get everybody back 170 00:09:09,280 --> 00:09:12,200 Speaker 1: or let's be all remote or hybrid. Is just a 171 00:09:12,320 --> 00:09:16,480 Speaker 1: lot of feeling out, I think along from corporate America, 172 00:09:16,800 --> 00:09:18,800 Speaker 1: and that raises a lot of questions. But one of 173 00:09:18,800 --> 00:09:21,520 Speaker 1: the questions is what does that mean for commercial real estate, 174 00:09:21,600 --> 00:09:24,240 Speaker 1: not just in New York but around the country. Kevin Thorpe, 175 00:09:24,400 --> 00:09:26,600 Speaker 1: he's the chief economist and head of global research for 176 00:09:26,760 --> 00:09:29,439 Speaker 1: Cushman and Wakefield. They know where thing or two about 177 00:09:29,440 --> 00:09:32,080 Speaker 1: commercial real estate. Kevin, thanks so much for joining us here. 178 00:09:32,480 --> 00:09:35,160 Speaker 1: So again, you know, it's my fourth week back in 179 00:09:35,320 --> 00:09:38,360 Speaker 1: Manhattan working, doing the commute, doing all that kind of thing. 180 00:09:39,000 --> 00:09:43,000 Speaker 1: Um what is your sense as to how commercial real 181 00:09:43,120 --> 00:09:47,920 Speaker 1: estate and vacancies and corporate America will come back to work? Yeah, well, 182 00:09:47,960 --> 00:09:49,800 Speaker 1: thanks for having a good do with you. Glad to 183 00:09:49,840 --> 00:09:52,520 Speaker 1: hear you're back at the office. Um, So I have 184 00:09:52,520 --> 00:09:55,080 Speaker 1: a prediction for you, and here it is when when 185 00:09:55,080 --> 00:09:59,600 Speaker 1: most people will be back, going to be Tuesday, September seven, 186 00:10:00,720 --> 00:10:04,679 Speaker 1: I am, and so there's the day after labor Day. 187 00:10:05,240 --> 00:10:07,240 Speaker 1: It's it's when we expect most of me back and 188 00:10:07,240 --> 00:10:09,719 Speaker 1: I left an extra seven minutes for people to get 189 00:10:09,760 --> 00:10:13,240 Speaker 1: their coffee. Um, I think really, look, I think virtually 190 00:10:13,240 --> 00:10:17,120 Speaker 1: every survey conducted does suggest that employers and employees are 191 00:10:17,200 --> 00:10:21,520 Speaker 1: anxious to get back to the office, obviously with more flexibility, 192 00:10:21,520 --> 00:10:24,520 Speaker 1: but they want to go back, right. We're social creatures. 193 00:10:24,559 --> 00:10:27,120 Speaker 1: We know that we can make one close one equal 194 00:10:27,200 --> 00:10:30,680 Speaker 1: three in the office, and we know that that happy 195 00:10:30,720 --> 00:10:34,760 Speaker 1: hours by yourself after work is not really a very 196 00:10:34,760 --> 00:10:37,080 Speaker 1: happy hour. So, uh, you know, I think it's gonna 197 00:10:37,080 --> 00:10:39,320 Speaker 1: be case by case, but um, for sure, I think 198 00:10:39,360 --> 00:10:41,800 Speaker 1: the August September time frame is when most are penciling it. 199 00:10:41,960 --> 00:10:44,400 Speaker 1: I don't know. I mean, I say so. I love 200 00:10:44,520 --> 00:10:47,240 Speaker 1: being in the office. I've never worked a day from home, 201 00:10:47,320 --> 00:10:50,280 Speaker 1: and to me it sounds nightmarish. But I also lived 202 00:10:50,320 --> 00:10:54,640 Speaker 1: two blocks from my studio here were I in you know, Bronxville, 203 00:10:54,880 --> 00:10:58,400 Speaker 1: making an hour commute each way or worse, New Jersey. 204 00:10:58,520 --> 00:11:01,160 Speaker 1: Having to deal with Penn Station. New Jersey is awesome, 205 00:11:01,200 --> 00:11:04,920 Speaker 1: but you know I wouldn't want Penn Station is nasty. Um. 206 00:11:05,760 --> 00:11:07,880 Speaker 1: I feel like they're probably a lot of people who 207 00:11:07,960 --> 00:11:12,360 Speaker 1: still would be happy working from Summit rather than um 208 00:11:12,360 --> 00:11:16,040 Speaker 1: coming into the big Apple, and you're likely going to 209 00:11:16,080 --> 00:11:19,160 Speaker 1: see a little pushback there, Kevin. Yeah, I think it'll 210 00:11:19,160 --> 00:11:21,720 Speaker 1: be a mix, right. I think we learned from this 211 00:11:21,800 --> 00:11:25,800 Speaker 1: sort of first forced work from home experiment that it 212 00:11:25,880 --> 00:11:28,480 Speaker 1: actually worked pretty well. I mean, people are a good 213 00:11:28,520 --> 00:11:32,240 Speaker 1: portion of the workforce was largely productive, um and so 214 00:11:32,280 --> 00:11:35,319 Speaker 1: that that's very real. Stating on compute time is very real, 215 00:11:36,040 --> 00:11:39,240 Speaker 1: but that doesn't replace some people be able to kind 216 00:11:39,280 --> 00:11:41,720 Speaker 1: of work remotely for a long period of time. And 217 00:11:41,720 --> 00:11:46,040 Speaker 1: it hasn't gone remote, right, So it doesn't replace the 218 00:11:46,160 --> 00:11:49,360 Speaker 1: valleys that office brains. When it comes to collaboration, worker 219 00:11:49,440 --> 00:11:53,280 Speaker 1: productivity factors, now, it's still over factors, and these are 220 00:11:53,320 --> 00:11:56,800 Speaker 1: these are the same reasons that office buildings were created 221 00:11:56,800 --> 00:11:59,360 Speaker 1: in the first place, right, And so there's an economic 222 00:11:59,400 --> 00:12:01,840 Speaker 1: inseet of not to mention, you want to in general 223 00:12:01,920 --> 00:12:04,720 Speaker 1: be closer to your clients, right and a lot of 224 00:12:04,720 --> 00:12:08,200 Speaker 1: the major clients are slow located in the city centers. 225 00:12:08,200 --> 00:12:10,400 Speaker 1: So um, so yeah, I think there is going to 226 00:12:10,440 --> 00:12:13,760 Speaker 1: be Those are a strong incentive, but it'll be Kevin, 227 00:12:13,760 --> 00:12:16,960 Speaker 1: give us a sense of how the state, how the 228 00:12:17,000 --> 00:12:18,720 Speaker 1: city of New York is right now, because in terms 229 00:12:18,800 --> 00:12:22,560 Speaker 1: of vacancies and what the trends have been, what do 230 00:12:22,559 --> 00:12:24,520 Speaker 1: you need to do to get people back into office. 231 00:12:24,559 --> 00:12:27,160 Speaker 1: We've heard reports that people are you know, companies are 232 00:12:27,160 --> 00:12:30,120 Speaker 1: subleasing or trying to sublease some of their space. What 233 00:12:30,160 --> 00:12:33,360 Speaker 1: are you seeing in New York City? Yeah, so great, 234 00:12:33,400 --> 00:12:37,040 Speaker 1: great question. So New York, New York got hard, very hard. 235 00:12:37,080 --> 00:12:40,520 Speaker 1: But I mean virtually every big city San Francisco, La. 236 00:12:41,320 --> 00:12:43,640 Speaker 1: But New York in particular got hit very hard by 237 00:12:43,679 --> 00:12:47,800 Speaker 1: the pandemic. The fundamentals got got rocked. And right now 238 00:12:48,760 --> 00:12:54,800 Speaker 1: office vacancy in Manhattan is you know, overfitting, pushing certain spots, 239 00:12:55,240 --> 00:12:57,760 Speaker 1: and so it's a real challenge. It's absolutely a very 240 00:12:57,800 --> 00:13:02,360 Speaker 1: strong you know, uh tenant that there uh strong leverage 241 00:13:02,400 --> 00:13:04,640 Speaker 1: right now in the Manhattan market. One thing else say 242 00:13:04,640 --> 00:13:09,040 Speaker 1: about New York is there in economics there's something called 243 00:13:09,080 --> 00:13:13,280 Speaker 1: perfect substitutes. Right, So there's you know, Coca cola versus pepsi. 244 00:13:13,320 --> 00:13:15,079 Speaker 1: If you don't like coke, you can go to pepsi. 245 00:13:15,360 --> 00:13:18,240 Speaker 1: That kind of thing. There really isn't a perfect substitute 246 00:13:18,280 --> 00:13:21,720 Speaker 1: for a New York right A year of pandemic doesn't 247 00:13:21,800 --> 00:13:24,440 Speaker 1: change everything that New York has to offer in terms 248 00:13:24,440 --> 00:13:28,080 Speaker 1: of infrastructure and restaurants and art and labor talent. So 249 00:13:28,320 --> 00:13:31,160 Speaker 1: I'm confident New York is gonna bounce back and there 250 00:13:31,160 --> 00:13:33,760 Speaker 1: will be a return to the office, certainly in New York, 251 00:13:34,559 --> 00:13:37,120 Speaker 1: and it has. It's bounced back from every single recession 252 00:13:37,120 --> 00:13:39,760 Speaker 1: as far as data goes back, So I just think 253 00:13:39,800 --> 00:13:42,920 Speaker 1: it's gonna take it longer. We we've read that there 254 00:13:42,960 --> 00:13:47,120 Speaker 1: are some industries that are still kind of the bright 255 00:13:47,200 --> 00:13:51,360 Speaker 1: spots of commercial real estate, life sciences, for for example, um, 256 00:13:51,520 --> 00:13:56,239 Speaker 1: they need to work in the offices, in the labs. Um, 257 00:13:56,280 --> 00:13:59,080 Speaker 1: you know, they have to be there. Where do you 258 00:13:59,120 --> 00:14:02,439 Speaker 1: see the most trouble and where do you see the 259 00:14:02,800 --> 00:14:07,520 Speaker 1: least Yeah, So, just broadly speaking in commercial real estate, 260 00:14:07,600 --> 00:14:10,400 Speaker 1: and there's certain certain property types that are actually have 261 00:14:10,559 --> 00:14:13,439 Speaker 1: recovered swiftly, doing extremely well. You probably have covered this, 262 00:14:13,760 --> 00:14:18,160 Speaker 1: you know, throughout your time on the program. Industrial logistics 263 00:14:18,200 --> 00:14:23,280 Speaker 1: absolutely booming, warehouse based, the e commerce effect, data centers, 264 00:14:23,280 --> 00:14:26,720 Speaker 1: as you mentioned, life sciences, as you mentioned. I actually 265 00:14:26,720 --> 00:14:28,560 Speaker 1: think we're now at the point where we're going to 266 00:14:28,640 --> 00:14:31,800 Speaker 1: see these other property type that have struggled throughout the 267 00:14:31,840 --> 00:14:35,320 Speaker 1: pandemic property types that really rely on bringing people together, 268 00:14:35,400 --> 00:14:38,280 Speaker 1: like office, like retail. I think we're now seeing the 269 00:14:38,320 --> 00:14:40,680 Speaker 1: green shoots and those those sectors are likely they joined 270 00:14:40,680 --> 00:14:43,160 Speaker 1: the party here. I think will bailing soon. All right, Kevin, 271 00:14:43,160 --> 00:14:45,080 Speaker 1: thanks so much for joining us. We appreciate getting that 272 00:14:45,200 --> 00:14:49,280 Speaker 1: update on commercial real estate. Kevin Thorpe, chief economists and 273 00:14:49,400 --> 00:14:53,960 Speaker 1: head of Global Research for Cushman and Wakefield. The economy 274 00:14:54,240 --> 00:14:56,560 Speaker 1: is opening up? Will people come back to their offices? 275 00:14:56,680 --> 00:15:02,840 Speaker 1: This is Bloomberg Bloomberg Opinion informed perspectives, an expert, data 276 00:15:02,920 --> 00:15:07,960 Speaker 1: driven commentary on breaking news. All Right, A m C 277 00:15:08,400 --> 00:15:12,000 Speaker 1: has been a wild ride, to say the least, and 278 00:15:12,080 --> 00:15:15,080 Speaker 1: if you owned it, um, you've gotten super rich. Over 279 00:15:15,120 --> 00:15:18,280 Speaker 1: the last couple of days, it was up well, it 280 00:15:18,400 --> 00:15:21,480 Speaker 1: was doubled yesterday, and it doubled the week before that. 281 00:15:21,640 --> 00:15:25,640 Speaker 1: It's up two thousand, eight hundred and fifty percent since 282 00:15:25,680 --> 00:15:29,440 Speaker 1: the beginning of this year alone. It's off twenty two today. 283 00:15:29,520 --> 00:15:32,440 Speaker 1: Maybe people are taking profits, maybe they're getting ready for 284 00:15:33,200 --> 00:15:36,160 Speaker 1: new shares um. In any case, we bring in Chris 285 00:15:36,200 --> 00:15:39,880 Speaker 1: Bryant from Bloomberg Opinion to tell us what exactly is happening. Chris, 286 00:15:40,120 --> 00:15:44,280 Speaker 1: had they just struck upon um an incredibly great business 287 00:15:44,320 --> 00:15:48,240 Speaker 1: strategy that nobody foresaw coming, and so share holders are 288 00:15:48,280 --> 00:15:51,840 Speaker 1: rushing to get in on this. Well not, I mean, 289 00:15:51,840 --> 00:15:54,680 Speaker 1: it continues to be an upolute, extraordinary story. The latest, 290 00:15:54,680 --> 00:15:56,680 Speaker 1: of course, we had this morning was that they are 291 00:15:57,120 --> 00:16:00,920 Speaker 1: announcing the intention to issue yet more stock, so up 292 00:16:00,960 --> 00:16:04,960 Speaker 1: to eleven million shares, and of course you know that 293 00:16:05,000 --> 00:16:09,120 Speaker 1: will inevitably further dilute shareholders a little bit. Of course, 294 00:16:09,200 --> 00:16:11,560 Speaker 1: they've done that previously and the stock has risen, so 295 00:16:11,680 --> 00:16:13,960 Speaker 1: you know, I'm not going to try and you know, 296 00:16:14,040 --> 00:16:16,320 Speaker 1: second guests the movements in the market today, but I 297 00:16:16,360 --> 00:16:19,800 Speaker 1: will say this. You know they didn't issue prospectus to 298 00:16:19,840 --> 00:16:23,680 Speaker 1: a company that announcement. We said the following. Under the circumstances, 299 00:16:23,760 --> 00:16:26,560 Speaker 1: given the volatility I'm just referred to, we cause you 300 00:16:26,640 --> 00:16:29,200 Speaker 1: against investing in our class A common stock unless you 301 00:16:29,200 --> 00:16:31,520 Speaker 1: are prepared to incur the risk of losing all or 302 00:16:31,680 --> 00:16:35,480 Speaker 1: a substantial portion of your investment. So that's UM. That's 303 00:16:35,480 --> 00:16:39,040 Speaker 1: straight from a mc UM. So clearly anybody who invested 304 00:16:39,360 --> 00:16:44,000 Speaker 1: at these value rations are you know, taking a big risk. Uh, 305 00:16:44,000 --> 00:16:46,160 Speaker 1: and they're well aware of it. I should hope with 306 00:16:46,240 --> 00:16:48,360 Speaker 1: the market cap now, I mean that's a risk for 307 00:16:48,400 --> 00:16:51,360 Speaker 1: anyone buying making an equity investment, right, They just don't 308 00:16:51,400 --> 00:16:55,600 Speaker 1: usually put it that clearly in the prospectives um for sure. 309 00:16:55,640 --> 00:16:57,960 Speaker 1: I mean, of course, you buying stock always entails risk. 310 00:16:58,040 --> 00:17:00,640 Speaker 1: But what they're saying here is because of the massive 311 00:17:00,720 --> 00:17:03,480 Speaker 1: volatility that we have had in our stock, which is 312 00:17:03,560 --> 00:17:06,840 Speaker 1: unrelated to the performance of our business, that obviously that 313 00:17:07,040 --> 00:17:11,040 Speaker 1: entails extra That's the key class. So, Chris, you know, 314 00:17:11,280 --> 00:17:15,240 Speaker 1: another aspect of this whole, you know, the deal with 315 00:17:15,440 --> 00:17:18,439 Speaker 1: AMC has been the role of the CEO, Adam Aaron. 316 00:17:18,600 --> 00:17:24,639 Speaker 1: He has really embraced these retail reddit investors um and 317 00:17:24,760 --> 00:17:27,359 Speaker 1: kind of egging them on a little bit. It feels 318 00:17:27,400 --> 00:17:30,000 Speaker 1: to me, what what do you make of it? Yeah, 319 00:17:30,040 --> 00:17:31,960 Speaker 1: I mean I read a Columnartier in the week where 320 00:17:31,960 --> 00:17:34,280 Speaker 1: I said that he was playing with fire, and I 321 00:17:34,280 --> 00:17:37,240 Speaker 1: think I stand behind that. I mean, ultimately, he's performed 322 00:17:37,240 --> 00:17:39,960 Speaker 1: an amazing service for his company and his shells in 323 00:17:39,960 --> 00:17:41,840 Speaker 1: the sense that you know, this company has been able 324 00:17:41,880 --> 00:17:44,120 Speaker 1: to raise a lot of capital to the company that 325 00:17:44,880 --> 00:17:47,359 Speaker 1: was on the verge of bankruptcy several times over the 326 00:17:47,400 --> 00:17:50,000 Speaker 1: past year or so. That's now off the table for 327 00:17:50,040 --> 00:17:53,359 Speaker 1: at least the next year. Or two because they've raised 328 00:17:53,359 --> 00:17:55,240 Speaker 1: so much money now, but they're simply not in danger 329 00:17:55,280 --> 00:17:59,000 Speaker 1: of running out of it anymore. Nevertheless, of course, by 330 00:17:59,119 --> 00:18:01,760 Speaker 1: you know, appealing to two retail investors, and he's done 331 00:18:01,760 --> 00:18:03,720 Speaker 1: an incredible job of that in terms of, you know, 332 00:18:03,760 --> 00:18:06,840 Speaker 1: giving YouTube interviews, in terms of you know, retweeting memes 333 00:18:06,840 --> 00:18:09,320 Speaker 1: and all these fun things that make him you know, 334 00:18:09,359 --> 00:18:11,720 Speaker 1: a friend to the to the retail investor, and the 335 00:18:11,800 --> 00:18:13,800 Speaker 1: latest of course yesterday saying you know, you can have 336 00:18:13,840 --> 00:18:16,680 Speaker 1: free popcorn. Um. All of this, of course, you know, 337 00:18:17,000 --> 00:18:20,200 Speaker 1: ultimately encouraged retail investors to buy the stock at ever 338 00:18:20,359 --> 00:18:23,080 Speaker 1: higher prices. And my concern, of course is that some 339 00:18:23,119 --> 00:18:26,720 Speaker 1: of these investors are relatively inexperienced, and the danger is 340 00:18:26,760 --> 00:18:29,040 Speaker 1: of course that they get a nasty surprise down the track, 341 00:18:29,600 --> 00:18:31,800 Speaker 1: although they're prepared. I mean, if you read through Wall 342 00:18:31,800 --> 00:18:36,119 Speaker 1: Street bets, um, those apes know that they're probably gonna 343 00:18:36,119 --> 00:18:41,000 Speaker 1: lose their nut eventually. Um, Aaron Adams, I'm looking at 344 00:18:41,000 --> 00:18:43,600 Speaker 1: the HDS function on the Bloomberg, which is Great Holdings 345 00:18:43,640 --> 00:18:47,720 Speaker 1: and obviously a huge portion of this stock is now 346 00:18:47,720 --> 00:18:51,280 Speaker 1: owned by retail, but he owned as of the last 347 00:18:51,320 --> 00:18:55,200 Speaker 1: reporting period seven orty eight thousand seven forty seven shares. 348 00:18:55,280 --> 00:18:58,280 Speaker 1: Most recent change, he domped half a million. I wonder 349 00:18:58,400 --> 00:19:01,960 Speaker 1: what his ownership stake looks like now. Those those shares 350 00:19:02,000 --> 00:19:05,480 Speaker 1: interesting that he's sold were actually given to his sons, 351 00:19:05,920 --> 00:19:09,080 Speaker 1: so that clearly they have done very nicely out of 352 00:19:09,160 --> 00:19:11,320 Speaker 1: that if they still hold this dog. Actually know, did 353 00:19:11,520 --> 00:19:15,800 Speaker 1: my column very interesting? A mc um had an executive 354 00:19:16,160 --> 00:19:19,640 Speaker 1: pay plan which was linked to the share price targets. 355 00:19:19,640 --> 00:19:22,480 Speaker 1: Those price targets were lowered last year because it was 356 00:19:22,520 --> 00:19:24,760 Speaker 1: thought that they wouldn't be able to achieve them, and 357 00:19:24,800 --> 00:19:27,720 Speaker 1: of course when the shares first took off in January 358 00:19:28,000 --> 00:19:30,600 Speaker 1: and then those targets were very quickly met thanks to Reddit. 359 00:19:30,720 --> 00:19:34,159 Speaker 1: So you know, Adam Aaron is you know, scratching the 360 00:19:34,200 --> 00:19:38,400 Speaker 1: backs of retail investors and you know, and that's been returned. 361 00:19:38,520 --> 00:19:40,440 Speaker 1: He of course is doing very well this He still 362 00:19:40,480 --> 00:19:44,440 Speaker 1: holds a substantial number of uh you know, shares already 363 00:19:44,480 --> 00:19:46,320 Speaker 1: and of course we will get further ones as a 364 00:19:46,520 --> 00:19:49,640 Speaker 1: result of his executive compensation, so you know, no doubt 365 00:19:49,680 --> 00:19:52,119 Speaker 1: at all he'll do well. Its shareholders do well. And 366 00:19:52,160 --> 00:19:54,360 Speaker 1: that's what he said time and again, I work for you. 367 00:19:55,119 --> 00:19:56,960 Speaker 1: Now that's the case, and he's done a good job 368 00:19:57,000 --> 00:19:59,600 Speaker 1: by raising money. The problem is now, is it can 369 00:19:59,640 --> 00:20:02,200 Speaker 1: they made saying that the price at these elevated levels, 370 00:20:02,200 --> 00:20:04,000 Speaker 1: that of course will be very difficult. I would. It's 371 00:20:04,000 --> 00:20:07,520 Speaker 1: a refreshing view though, right Chris. I mean you've researched 372 00:20:07,560 --> 00:20:12,000 Speaker 1: and written about CEO pay executive pay recently. I know, 373 00:20:12,200 --> 00:20:15,600 Speaker 1: and this is one share This is one CEO who 374 00:20:15,600 --> 00:20:18,879 Speaker 1: knows that he works for the owners. Yeah, that's true, 375 00:20:18,920 --> 00:20:21,440 Speaker 1: and um, you know, of course it's very difficult when 376 00:20:21,520 --> 00:20:25,200 Speaker 1: you've got a very diverse retail investor basis they do 377 00:20:25,320 --> 00:20:29,119 Speaker 1: now to speak directly to to those shareholders. There aren't 378 00:20:29,119 --> 00:20:31,640 Speaker 1: just you know twenty r so key institutional investors. He's 379 00:20:31,640 --> 00:20:33,040 Speaker 1: got to go and see now he has to speak 380 00:20:33,080 --> 00:20:35,119 Speaker 1: to them all. And I think it was quite smart 381 00:20:35,160 --> 00:20:38,119 Speaker 1: actually yesterday by saying, you know, everybody mocked it, you know, 382 00:20:38,200 --> 00:20:41,480 Speaker 1: free popcorn. But if if it encourages written investors to 383 00:20:41,520 --> 00:20:44,040 Speaker 1: engage more with the company by stigning up to their portal, 384 00:20:44,440 --> 00:20:46,879 Speaker 1: hopefully then they'll be able to get them to vote 385 00:20:47,040 --> 00:20:50,879 Speaker 1: in favor of you know, further expeditions if that is 386 00:20:50,920 --> 00:20:53,040 Speaker 1: required as expected. I think at some point they're going 387 00:20:53,080 --> 00:20:56,920 Speaker 1: to publish a new proxy statement which will detail any 388 00:20:56,960 --> 00:21:01,440 Speaker 1: possible further authorization for share issurans. But you know, for now, 389 00:21:01,440 --> 00:21:03,360 Speaker 1: they've got enough money in the door. I was even 390 00:21:03,359 --> 00:21:05,800 Speaker 1: talking about doing acquisitions or so forth yesterday. I think 391 00:21:05,800 --> 00:21:08,400 Speaker 1: the priority really should be paying down debt. They've got 392 00:21:08,400 --> 00:21:10,520 Speaker 1: a lot of debt still, and I've got a lot 393 00:21:10,560 --> 00:21:13,480 Speaker 1: of rent that they owe to landlords. So this money 394 00:21:13,640 --> 00:21:16,879 Speaker 1: can be good to good use. So, Chris, you know 395 00:21:17,160 --> 00:21:19,239 Speaker 1: Adam Aaron here, the CEO, he's kind of playing up 396 00:21:19,240 --> 00:21:22,320 Speaker 1: to his new shareholders, kind of reminds me of another 397 00:21:22,840 --> 00:21:24,800 Speaker 1: you know, uh ceo is a kind of a promoter, 398 00:21:25,000 --> 00:21:27,639 Speaker 1: and that's Elon Musk. I think about Elon Musk and 399 00:21:27,640 --> 00:21:29,760 Speaker 1: how he, you know, really promotes on social media and 400 00:21:29,800 --> 00:21:32,840 Speaker 1: other tesla as well as other assets like dog coin. 401 00:21:33,480 --> 00:21:36,240 Speaker 1: So maybe Adam Aaron's is following in the steps of 402 00:21:36,280 --> 00:21:39,160 Speaker 1: Elon Musk. Yeah, I think that's right. Look, I think 403 00:21:39,160 --> 00:21:42,399 Speaker 1: a lot of people who look at Masque's performance and 404 00:21:42,400 --> 00:21:44,400 Speaker 1: he's not everybody's cup of tea, but what he has 405 00:21:44,440 --> 00:21:48,879 Speaker 1: done is connected with this young retail base. Uh. You know, 406 00:21:49,040 --> 00:21:52,000 Speaker 1: Musk is able to direct the movement of cryptocurrencies and 407 00:21:52,119 --> 00:21:54,879 Speaker 1: stocks just with a single tweet. Uh. And you know, 408 00:21:54,960 --> 00:21:57,639 Speaker 1: clearly Adam Aaron is a you know, an older generation. 409 00:21:57,760 --> 00:22:00,440 Speaker 1: It's probably not. He's not natural And so for media. 410 00:22:00,520 --> 00:22:02,439 Speaker 1: You didn't tweet for a long time, I think. And 411 00:22:02,480 --> 00:22:06,080 Speaker 1: then you know, once he realized that retail investors could 412 00:22:06,119 --> 00:22:08,960 Speaker 1: be such a post and force and help for his company, 413 00:22:09,000 --> 00:22:12,359 Speaker 1: then he's re engaged and you know, he's taken good advice. Uh. 414 00:22:12,400 --> 00:22:15,600 Speaker 1: You know, he's naturally a sort of outspoken character. And 415 00:22:15,640 --> 00:22:19,080 Speaker 1: I think you know the retail investors who have warned him. 416 00:22:19,280 --> 00:22:21,520 Speaker 1: I will say this though, that one can take this 417 00:22:21,640 --> 00:22:23,679 Speaker 1: retail narrative a bit too far. At the end of 418 00:22:23,680 --> 00:22:26,040 Speaker 1: the day, ten billion of the stock has traded so 419 00:22:26,080 --> 00:22:28,960 Speaker 1: far today. It's not just retail investors buying the shat. 420 00:22:29,800 --> 00:22:32,919 Speaker 1: Thanks for listening to the Bloomberg Markets podcast. You can 421 00:22:32,960 --> 00:22:36,719 Speaker 1: subscribe and listen to interviews with Apple Podcasts or whatever 422 00:22:36,840 --> 00:22:40,479 Speaker 1: podcast platform you prefer. I'm Matt Miller. I'm on Twitter 423 00:22:40,760 --> 00:22:44,760 Speaker 1: at Matt Miller three. Boss Whinney, I'm on Twitter at 424 00:22:44,800 --> 00:22:47,639 Speaker 1: pt Sweeney. Before the podcast, you can always catch us 425 00:22:47,680 --> 00:22:49,080 Speaker 1: worldwide at Bloomberg Radio.