LONDON: Tandem Group plc (AIM: TND), a UK-based designer and distributor of sports, leisure and mobility equipment, reported a 14.3% rise in revenue to £11.2 million for the six months ended June 30, 2025, driven by improved inventory management, cost controls and favourable foreign exchange movements. Tandem Group plc is a designer, developer, distributor and…
OLX Group to acquire La Centrale, a leading French autos classifieds platform, EUR 1.1 billion
LONDON: OLX Group (OLX), a global online classifieds leader wholly-owned by Prosus, today announced it has entered into an agreement to acquire La Centrale, a leading French autos classifieds platform, from Providence Equity Partners L.L.C. for EUR1.1 billion. Closing is expected by year-end, subject to a customary employee consultation process. OLX operates fast-growing and highly…
Factory Inc. announces Droids’ AI development agents; Secures $50 million in Series B funding
SAN FRANCISCO: Factory Inc. announced Tuesday the release of Droids, a new class of AI software development agents, following the product’s top ranking on the Terminal Bench, a standard industry benchmark. The company also announced it has raised $50 million in a Series B funding round led by NEA and Sequoia Capital, with participation from…
Easy Mile Fitness acquires 17 Planet Fitness Clubs, expands reach in Pacific Northwest
PORTLAND: Easy Mile Fitness, a privately held Planet Fitness franchisee, has acquired 17 new locations from Bravo Fit Franchise Group, expanding its footprint across Oregon and Alaska. The acquisition includes 15 clubs in Oregon—spanning Portland, Bend, Medford and Yakima—and two in Anchorage, Alaska. With the deal, Easy Mile Fitness becomes the largest Planet Fitness operator…
Association Analytics acquired by Theatre and Trajectory Capital
ARLINGTON: Association Analytics (“A2”), a leading provider of data and analytical software for trade and professional associations, announced today the sale of its key assets to Theatre Capital and Trajectory Capital. The investment firms have partnered with the existing A2 management team, including CEO Alex DeBarr, to accelerate the growth of the company’s platforms. The…
Fiserv acquires Smith Consulting Group to strengthen advisory services for community financial institutions
BROOKFIELD: Fiserv, Inc. (NYSE: FI), a leading global provider of payments and financial services technology, has acquired Smith Consulting Group (SCG), an operational consulting firm serving community banks and credit unions. The terms of the transaction were not disclosed. The acquisition, announced Tuesday, is intended to deepen the in-house expertise Fiserv can offer its clients….
Perseus, SODA.Auto forge alliance to develop AI-powered vehicle interface
LONDON: Perseus Motor Corporation, Europe’s first AI-native electric vehicle brand, announced a strategic alliance Tuesday with software-defined vehicle leader SODA.Auto to co-develop what they term the world’s most advanced artificial intelligence-powered Human-Machine Interface (HMI). The partnership aims to create a vehicle that learns and adapts to its driver’s habits and emotional state, moving beyond traditional…
Goldman Sachs-backed Petershill Partners to delist from London at £3.4bn valuation
LONDON Investment firm Petershill Partners (PHLL.L), backed by Goldman Sachs (GS.N), said on Friday it plans to delist from the London Stock Exchange, becoming the latest company to quit the city’s equity market in a deal valuing it at about £3.4 billion. The FTSE 250 group, which provides retail investors access to private equity and…
Starbucks to close stores, cut jobs in $1 billion restructuring push
Key Points: Starbucks announced a major restructuring plan on Thursday that includes shuttering underperforming stores in North America and cutting 900 jobs, as Chief Executive Brian Niccol presses ahead with his strategy to streamline the coffee chain and reignite growth. The $1 billion effort comes as Starbucks grapples with six straight quarters of sales decline…
EU car sales rise in August; Chinese brands gain ground as Tesla slips
BRUSSELS: Car sales across the European Union, Britain and the European Free Trade Association rose 4.7% in August to 800,000 units, according to data released Thursday by the European Automobile Manufacturers’ Association (ACEA). Volkswagen and Renault posted year-on-year gains of 4.8% and 7.8%, respectively, while Stellantis saw a 2.2% increase — its first growth since…
Handgards LLC acquires Albany Packaging USA to expand foodservice offerings
EL PASO: Handgards, LLC, a leading distributor of foodservice products and a portfolio company of Wynnchurch Capital, L.P., announced Thursday it has acquired Albany Packaging USA, a Florida-based distributor of paper-based foodservice packaging. Albany Packaging, headquartered in Deerfield Beach, specializes in paper folding cartons and other packaging solutions sold to supermarkets, bakeries, restaurants and convenience…
Fingrid to raise grid service fees by 8% in 2026 amid clean energy investments
HELSINKI: The transmission system operator Fingrid will raise grid service fees by 8% at the start of 2026. Key factors behind the increase are a substantial investment programme that anticipates future customer needs and the rising costs of the expanding electricity system. Grid connection fees will also be increased to reflect cost developments. In recent…