SYDNEY: Viva Leisure Limited (ASX: VVA) has announced a strategic acquisition of a 25% equity stake in World Gym Australia (WGA) along with three corporate locations in Queensland. Valued at approximately $16.7 million, this acquisition marks a major milestone as the second-largest in Viva’s history. It is fully funded through existing cash reserves, banking facilities,…
Nuno Matos to succeed Shayne Elliott as ANZ CEO
SYDNEY: The ANZ Group Board has announced that Nuno Matos will take over as Chief Executive Officer on July 3, 2025, succeeding Shayne Elliott, who is retiring after nine years in the role. Matos will also join the boards of ANZ Group Holdings Limited and Australia and New Zealand Banking Group Limited as an Executive…
Brave Bison to acquire Engage Digital Partners for £10.6 million
LONDON: Brave Bison, the digital advertising and technology services company, has entered into an agreement to acquire the entire issued share capital of Engage Digital Partners Limited. Engage is a global sports marketing company that works with the world’s largest sports brands and federations including Formula 1, ICC, Real Madrid and New Zealand Rugby. Engage…
Pakistan may boost IT services exports to $10 billion with strategic interventions
Pakistan could potentially boost its IT services exports to $10 billion in the near future, according to a recent study by the Pakistan Institute of Development Economics (PIDE). However, the study emphasizes that “strategic policy interventions are essential across short and long-term horizons to propel the IT industry into a robust era of sustainable growth…
Camellia Plc sells shares in BF&M Limited to Bermuda Life for $100 million
LONDON: Camellia Plc sold its shares in BF&M Limited to Bermuda Life Insurance Company Limited for $100 million on 5 December. The sale resulted in a net profit of around £10.7 million for Camellia. The company plans to use the funds to grow its business by investing in its existing companies and exploring new opportunities….
Frasers Group to buy all the remaining shares in XXL ASA at NOK 10 per share
LONDON: Frasers Group plc is planning to buy all the remaining shares in XXL ASA that it doesn’t already own, offering NOK 10 per share in cash. This decision follows a recent shareholder vote against XXL’s proposed NOK 600 million rights issue. Frasers, which already holds 32.5% of XXL’s voting rights, opposes XXL’s alternative rights…
John Wood signs new engineering agreements with bp
LONDON: John Wood Group has entered into three major agreements with bp to provide engineering and project delivery services for their global capital projects. These agreements include a new master services agreement for engineering, procurement, and construction management (EPCm) services. Additionally, two existing long-term frameworks for conceptual engineering and Pre-FEED/FEED (front-end engineering and design) have…
Ryan Mahoney to succeed Peter Sharp as CEO of Michelmersh Brick Holdings
LONDON: Michelmersh Brick Holdings Plc (AIM: MBH), the specialist brick manufacturer, announces that Peter Sharp has informed the Board of his intention to retire as Chief Executive Officer (“CEO”) and a Director of the Company during 2025. As part of the Group’s ongoing succession planning, and following a third-party-led recruitment process involving both internal and…
FirstGroup acquires Grand Union Trains GWML Holdings Limited
LONDON: FirstGroup plc has announced the acquisition of Grand Union Trains GWML Holdings Limited, which holds track access rights for a new open-access rail service between Carmarthen and London Paddington. Additionally, FirstGroup has applied to the Office of Rail and Road (ORR) to expand this service with extra routes to Paignton, Devon. New Carmarthen to…
Warpaint London offers to acquire Brand Architekts Group for £13.88 million
LONDON: Warpaint London plc reached agreement on the terms and conditions of a recommended cash offer to acquire Brand Architekts Group plc. Under the terms, each Brand Architekts shareholder will be entitled to receive 48 pence in cash per share. The acquisition values Brand Architekts’ entire issued, and to be issued, ordinary share capital at…
Cardfactory has acquired Garven Holdings for $25 million
LONDON: cardfactory, the UK’s leading specialist retailer of greeting cards, gifts and celebration essentials, has acquired the entire issued share capital of Garven Holdings LLC and its subsidiaries. Garven trades as Garven Design and Cadence Packaging and is a leader in the design and wholesale of gifts and celebration essentials, based in Minnesota, USA. In…
Unibail-Rodamco-Westfield has acquired 38.9% stake in URW Germany GmbH
SYDNEY: Unibail-Rodamco-Westfield (URW) today has acquired a 38.9% stake in URW Germany GmbH (URWG) and its related entities from its joint venture partner Canada Pension Plan Investment Board(CPP). The acquisition is an off-market transaction, in the context of an existing shareholders’ agreement and increases URW’s stake in URWG to 89.9%. Both partners retain the option…