** Jefferies cuts Italy's Amplifon AMPF.MI and Denmark's GN Store Nord GN.CO to "hold" from "buy" after the former's deal to buy the latter's hearing business for 2.3 billion euros ($2.65 billion)
** The brokerage says the move would make Amplifon a less differentiated yet vertically integrated company with clear synergies to benefit from, but adds that share overhang and the challenge of absorbing a big acquisition will limit near‑term gains for the stock
** The deal provides for less predictability on GN, Jefferies adds, with the remaining entity more exposed to macroeconomic blows
** The brokerage also ups hearing aid maker Demant DEMANT.CO to "buy" on financial health and share price discount, while it cuts Sonova SOON.S to "underperform" on slower growth and expensive stock
COMPANY
NEW RATING
OLD RATING
NEW PT
OLD PT
Amplifon AMPF.MI
Hold
Buy
EUR 8.00
EUR 16.00
GN Store Nord GN.CO
Hold
Buy
DKK 111.00
no change
Demant DEMANT.CO
Buy
Hold
DKK 245.00
DKK 255.00
Sonova SOON.S
Underperform
Hold
CHF 155.00
CHF 215.00
($1 = 0.8666 euros)
(Reporting by Mirko Miorelli)
((Mirko.miorelli@thomsonreuters.com))