NEW YORK: Blackstone (NYSE: BX) announced Thursday that private equity funds affiliated with the firm have entered into a definitive agreement to acquire Shermco, a leading provider of full life-cycle electrical equipment services, from Gryphon Investors. The transaction values Shermco at approximately $1.6 billion. Founded in 1974, Shermco is one of the largest electrical testing…
Webjet Group accelerates business travel expansion with Locomote acquisition
MELBOURNE: Webjet Group Ltd. (ASX:WJL) announced Thursday it will acquire Melbourne-based business travel platform Locomote Holdings Pty Ltd for up to A$23 million, fast-tracking its corporate travel strategy and boosting long-term earnings. The deal includes A$17 million in upfront cash and a potential A$6 million earn-out tied to EBITDA targets. The acquisition enables Webjet to…
Stocks slide ahead of Powell speech; Dow Jones drops 225 points amid rate cut speculation
JACKSON HOLE: U.S. stocks fell broadly Thursday as investors braced for Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell’s pivotal speech at the central bank’s annual economic symposium. The S&P 500 declined for a fifth consecutive session, shedding 0.4%, while the Nasdaq Composite also lost 0.4%. The Dow Jones Industrial Average dropped 225 points, or 0.5%, weighed down…
Entegris commits $700 million to U.S. semiconductor R&D in partnership with Trump administration
NEW YORK: Entegris, Inc. (Nasdaq: ENTG), a global leader in advanced materials science, said on Thursday it will invest $700 million in domestic research and development over the next several years to accelerate semiconductor innovation, in collaboration with the Trump Administration. The investment spans Entegris’ Materials Solutions and Advanced Purity Solutions divisions and includes capital…
Aegon swings to profit in 1H 2025; Eyes U.S. relocation amid strong capital position
Company reported a net profit of €606 million for the first half of 2025 THE HAGUE: Aegon N.V. reported a net profit of €606 million for the first half of 2025, reversing a €65 million loss in the same period last year, as the Dutch insurer posted strong operating results and announced a strategic review…
Apple TV+ raises monthly subscription price to $12.99
Starting Thursday, Apple TV+ will cost $12.99 per month for subscribers in the U.S. and other countries, marking the tech giant’s first price hike since 2023. Apple confirmed the change will affect current subscribers 30 days after their next renewal date. The annual subscription fee remains unchanged, and new users will still receive a seven-day…
Walmart lifts FY26 outlook as eCommerce, advertising drive Q2 revenue growth
World’s largest retailer posted revenue of $177.4 billion for the quarter ended July 31 BENTONVILLE: Walmart Inc (NYSE: WMT) raised its full-year sales and earnings guidance on Thursday after reporting a 4.8% rise in second-quarter revenue, driven by strong performance in eCommerce and advertising across its global operations. The world’s largest retailer posted revenue of…
Shield Therapeutics reports strong H1 2025 results; Eyes cash flow positivity by year-end
LONDON: Shield Therapeutics plc (LSE: STX), a commercial-stage pharmaceutical company focused on iron deficiency, reported a sharp rise in revenues and prescription sales for the first half of 2025, as its flagship product ACCRUFeR® gained traction across key markets. Group revenues surged to $21.4 million, up 1.8 times from $12.1 million in H1 2024, driven…
Ikigai Ventures signs £67 million deal to acquire Dotlines Group and Audra Solutions
LONDON: Ikigai Ventures Limited (LSE: IKIV), a special purpose acquisition company targeting high-growth, scalable businesses, said Thursday it has entered into conditional, non-binding heads of terms to acquire Dotlines Global Plc and Audra Solutions Limited for approximately £67 million. The proposed acquisition, subject to due diligence and execution of definitive agreements, will be satisfied through…
Coral Bridge subsea cable links Egypt and Jordan, boosting regional digital infrastructure
AQABA: NaiTel, the telecom arm of Aqaba Digital Hub (ADH), and Telecom Egypt have completed the laying of the Coral Bridge subsea cable, the first direct digital link between Egypt and Jordan in more than 25 years. The 15-kilometer express cable, equipped with 48 fiber pairs, connects Taba, Egypt, to Aqaba, Jordan, across the Gulf…
Resource Minerals secures strategic foothold in Saudi Arabia with JV acquisition
PERTH: Resource Minerals International Ltd. (ASX:RMI) has acquired a 50% interest in a Saudi Arabian joint venture following the granting of the Shaib Marqan exploration licence, marking a significant expansion of its global mineral exploration portfolio. The licence, covering 91.8 square kilometers in the mineral-rich Ar Rayn Terrane, was granted on August 17 and is…
Community Management Holdings expands national footprint with acquisitions of HOAMCO and AMG
PHOENIX: Community Management Holdings (CMH) announced Thursday the acquisitions of HOAMCO, based in Phoenix, and Alamo Management Group (AMG), headquartered in San Antonio, marking a significant expansion of its national platform for community association management. The move follows CMH’s November 2024 acquisition of CCMC and brings the company’s reach to nearly 500,000 households across 1,000…