Pakistan’s federal cabinet has approved the Sustainable Investment (SI) Sukuk Framework, marking a significant step toward financing climate-resilient and socially impactful projects through Islamic bonds. The framework, introduced by the Ministry of Finance, enables the issuance of Green Sukuk, Social Sukuk, and Sustainability Sukuk, collectively known as SI Sukuk, to mobilize domestic capital for environmentally and socially beneficial…
True in talks to acquire stake in German Doner Kebab
LONDON: Investment firm True is in advanced discussions to acquire a major stake in German Doner Kebab (GDK), according to Sky News. GDK, led by Chief Executive Simon Wallis, is currently part of Hero Brands, a Glasgow-based incubator specializing in food and beverage concepts. While details of the potential deal remain undisclosed, several other bidders were reportedly engaged…
Chocolate prices surge 43% as extreme weather strikes cocoa-producing nations
LONDON: Chocolate lovers are paying significantly more for their favorite treat as global cocoa production struggles under extreme weather conditions, according to the latest inflation data. The price of chocolate has jumped 43% since 2022, according to an analysis of new figures from the Office for National Statistics (ONS) by the Energy and Climate Intelligence Unit (ECIU),…
Kosmos Energy announces first LNG cargo loaded from GTA project
HOUSTON: Kosmos Energy (NYSE/LSE: KOS) acknowledged the announcement Thursday from bp plc that the first cargo of liquefied natural gas (LNG) has been successfully loaded from the Greater Tortue Ahmeyim (GTA) LNG project, located offshore Mauritania and Senegal. The shipment was transferred to the LNG carrier “British Sponsor” from Golar LNG’s floating liquefied natural gas (FLNG) vessel,…
Capgemini acquires Netherlands-based Delta Capita BV for financial crime compliance services
PARIS: Capgemini has acquired Delta Capita BV and its subsidiary Delta Capita Academy BV, expanding its foothold in financial crime compliance (FCC) services. The Netherlands-based companies, part of Delta Capita Group Ltd., specialize in regulatory services including Know Your Customer (KYC), anti-bribery, and risk management frameworks. Capgemini announced the acquisition on April 16, marking its…
InPost acquires Yodel, becomes UK’s third-largest e-commerce logistics player
LONDON: European logistics giant InPost has expanded its presence in the United Kingdom with the acquisition of Yodel, one of the country’s largest parcel delivery companies. The move positions InPost as the third-largest agnostic e-commerce logistics provider in the UK, solidifying its foothold in the market. The acquisition integrates Yodel’s home delivery network with InPost’s…
Lyft is acquiring mobility platform FreeNow for $198.40 million
Lyft announced Wednesday that it is acquiring mobility platform FreeNow from German automotive companies BMW and Mercedes-Benz for €175 million ($198.40 million), marking the U.S. ride-hailing company’s expansion into the European market. The acquisition will increase Lyft’s potential market, granting access to major cities such as London, Frankfurt, Paris, and Milan. FreeNow operates in over…
Science in Sport Plc confirms possible acquisition offer from bd-capital
LONDON: The board of directors of Science in Sport Plc confirmed that the company has received an approach from bd-capital at a price of 34 pence per share, which may or may not lead to an offer for the entire issued and to-be-issued share capital of the company. An independent committee of the board evaluated the indicative…
AI startup Inephany secures $2.2 million pre-seed funding
LONDON: AI optimization startup Inephany Ltd has raised $2.2 million in a pre-seed funding round, aiming to transform how neural networks—including Large Language Models (LLMs)—are trained and fine-tuned. The round was led by Amadeus Capital Partners, with participation from Sure Valley Ventures (SVV) and AI pioneer Professor Steve Young, who joins Inephany as an angel…
M.P. Evans to acquire two Indonesian palm oil plantations for $34.2 million
JAKARTA: M.P. Evans Group, a producer of sustainable Indonesian palm oil, announced Wednesday that its subsidiary, PT Evans Indonesia, has agreed to acquire two Indonesian plantation companies in a $34.2 million deal. The company signed a conditional share purchase agreement to acquire the entire issued share capital of PT Setara Kilau Mas Adicita (SKMA) and…
Barratt Redrow reports strong Q1 performance amid integration progress
LONDON: Barratt Redrow plc reported solid trading results for its first quarter, driven by consistent homebuyer demand and the ongoing integration of Barratt and Redrow. The homebuilder posted a net private reservation rate of 0.621 for the 13 weeks ending March 30, a 1.6% increase from the previous year’s combined performance. Including multi-unit sales, the…
QMines to acquire Mount Mackenzie gold and silver project
BRISBANE: QMines Limited (ASX: QML) has announced a binding agreement to acquire 100% of the Mount Mackenzie Gold and Silver Project from Resources & Energy Group Limited (ASX: REZ) for $2.485 million. The deal includes a $1 million cash payment and 33 million QMines shares, voluntarily escrowed for 12 months. Key Highlights: – Resource Expansion:…