LONDON: Wayve and Uber Technologies Inc. announced plans Tuesday to develop and test Level 4 autonomous vehicles on public roads in London, marking the largest market where Uber has proposed such a pilot. The collaboration combines Wayve’s AI-driven autonomous vehicle platform with Uber’s global ride-hailing network, advancing efforts to deploy self-driving cars at scale in Europe….
Oxford Instruments to sell its NanoScience business to Quantum Design International
LONDON: Oxford Instruments plc, a leading provider of high technology products and services to industry and scientific research communities, today announced that it has entered into a binding agreement to sell its quantum-focused business Oxford Instruments NanoScience to Quantum Design, International Inc. for a £60 million total cash consideration, including up to £3m of deferred…
Vantage Data Centers raises €720 million in European securitization deal
U.S. data center operator Vantage Data Centers has secured €720 million ($821.4 million) in Europe’s first euro-denominated asset-backed securitization (ABS) deal involving data center assets, the company announced Tuesday. The transaction, backed by four of Vantage’s German facilities—two in Berlin and two in Frankfurt—marks a milestone in European data center financing. The bonds issued carry an average…
VinaCapital sells stake in Vietnam’s leading private healthcare network
HANOI: VinaCapital Vietnam Opportunity Fund (VOF), a London-listed closed-end fund managed by VinaCapital, has sold its stake in Tam Tri Medical Joint Stock Company (TTMC), Vietnam’s leading private healthcare network, to a prominent healthcare-focused private equity firm in South and Southeast Asia. Financial terms of the deal were not disclosed. VOF initially invested in TTMC in 2018…
Lords Group has acquired CMO Group Limited
LONDON: Lords Group Trading, one of the UK’s largest specialist distributors of building materials, has acquired the trade and assets of CMO Group Limited (CMO), the UK’s largest online-only retailer of construction products following a CMO pre-pack administration process. The acquisition brings together Lords’ infrastructure and merchanting expertise with CMO’s digital-first online model and reflects Lords’…
Warner Bros. Discovery to split into two public companies in tax-free separation
LOS ANGELES: Warner Bros. Discovery announced Monday it will separate into two independent, publicly traded companies in a tax-free transaction aimed at maximizing growth potential for its streaming and studio division and its global networks business. The move, expected to be completed by mid-2026, will create Streaming & Studios, housing major entertainment brands like Warner Bros. Television, Warner Bros. Motion Picture Group,…
IonQ to acquire Oxford Ionics in $1.075 billion deal to advance quantum computing
OXFORD: IonQ (NYSE: IONQ), a leader in quantum computing, announced Monday it has entered a definitive agreement to acquire Oxford Ionics in a deal valued at $1.075 billion, combining cash and stock to accelerate the development of high-performance quantum systems. The transaction includes $1.065 billion in IonQ common stock and approximately $10 million in cash, subject to…
L’Oréal to acquire majority stake in British skincare brand Medik8
PARIS: L’Oréal Group announced Monday that it has signed an agreement to acquire a majority stake in British skincare brand Medik8, which will join its Luxe Division. According to a statement, Private equity firm Inflexion will retain a minority stake in Medik8, while founder Elliot Isaacs will remain on the board. The current management team will also stay…
Galantas Gold enters joint venture for Omagh Gold project in Northern Ireland
TORONTO: Galantas Gold Corporation (TSX-V & AIM: GAL; OTCQB: GALKF) has signed a binding term sheet with Ocean Partners UK Limited to form a joint venture for the high-grade Omagh Gold Project in County Tyrone, Northern Ireland, the company announced. Under the agreement, Ocean Partners will exchange approximately $14 million (GBP £10.3 million) in existing…
Rome Resources discovers new tin zone at Bisie North Project in DRC
KINSHASA: Rome Resources Plc (AIM: RMR), a tin and base metals explorer focused on the Democratic Republic of the Congo, announced Monday the discovery of a new tin zone on the eastern flank of its Mont Agoma prospect at the Bisie North project in North Kivu Province. Key Findings: Details: Drill hole MADD030, northeast of known…
Qualcomm to acquire Alphawave IP Group in $2.4 billion deal
LONDON: Qualcomm Incorporated has agreed to acquire Alphawave IP Group in a recommended cash deal worth approximately $2.4 billion, the companies announced Tuesday. Chip stock Alphawave soars on Qualcomm takeover Aqua Acquisition Sub LLC, an indirect wholly-owned subsidiary of Qualcomm, will acquire all issued and future ordinary shares of Alphawave under a scheme of arrangement…
Mark Read, CEO of WPP Plc to retire
LONDON: WPP plc announced Thursday that CEO Mark Read will retire from the board and step down as chief executive on Dec. 31, 2025, concluding more than 30 years with the global advertising and marketing company, including the last seven as its leader. The board has begun the process of finding a successor, WPP said…