SYDNEY: Australian pawnbroking and personal lender Cash Converters International Ltd said on Monday it is raising roughly A$25 million ($16.6 million) in an equity offering to help fund the proposed acquisition of a network of 29 franchise stores in the country. The company, listed on the Australian Securities Exchange (ASX: CCV), will conduct the raising…
Australian miner Lodestar Minerals to acquire Arizona rare earth project
SYDNEY: Australian explorer Lodestar Minerals Limited (ASX: LSR) has agreed to acquire the Virgin Mountain heavy rare earth project in Arizona, a site rich in heavy rare earth elements (HREEs) critical for defence, clean energy, and technology sectors, the company announced on Monday. The move comes as China, which dominates global rare earth production, further…
Novartis to buy Avidity Biosciences in $12 billion RNA therapeutics bet
ZURICH: Swiss drugmaker Novartis (NOVN.S) said on Sunday it has agreed to acquire U.S. biotech firm Avidity Biosciences (RNA.O) in a deal valued at approximately $12 billion, expanding its reach into the promising field of RNA therapeutics. Under the terms of the agreement, Novartis will pay $72 per share in cash for Avidity, representing a…
America’s Digital Dollar Gambit: How Stablecoins Became a Geopolitical Tool
A new report reveals the strategic use of private stablecoins to defend US economic hegemony, while experts warn of hidden risks mirroring the 2008 financial crisis. In the shadow of Bitcoin’s rise as “digital gold,” a quieter but more profound financial revolution is underway. Stablecoins—digital tokens pegged to traditional currencies like the US dollar—now account…
Grindr’s largest shareholders offer to take company private at $18 per share
WEST HOLLYWOOD: Dating and social networking app Grindr Inc. (NYSE: GRND), often called “the Global Gayborhood in Your Pocket™,” confirmed Friday it has received a non-binding, unsolicited proposal from its largest shareholders, Ray Zage and James Lu, to take the company private. The offer prices the company at $18.00 per share in cash, a premium…
Gravity acquires Cityspan to create unified government financial platform
TAMPA: Financial automation firm Gravity said on Thursday it has acquired grants management software provider Cityspan, a move that expands its product portfolio as it builds an all-in-one financial operations platform for government clients. The deal, terms of which were not disclosed, combines Gravity’s core disclosure and budgeting automation with Cityspan’s cloud-based systems for managing…
Electro-Mechanical LLC acquires Maryland based Powercon Corporation
BRISTOL: Electro-Mechanical, LLC, a leading U.S. manufacturer of medium voltage switchgear and electrical apparatus, announced Friday it has acquired Powercon Corporation, a Maryland-based provider of custom-designed power distribution systems. Founded in 1959, Powercon brings more than six decades of engineering expertise in medium voltage switchgear, e-houses, and modular substation power systems. The acquisition strengthens Electro-Mechanical’s…
NatWest lifts 2025 outlook on strong Q3 profit and lending growth
LONDON: British bank NatWest Group (NWG.L) upgraded its full-year income and profit guidance on Friday after higher lending and stable deposits helped it post a stronger-than-expected third-quarter attributable profit of £1.6 billion ($2.0 billion). The bank, one of Britain’s largest, reported a return on tangible equity (RoTE) – a key measure of profitability – of…
Revel Collective launches formal sale process amid financial struggles
LONDON: The Revel Collective plc, the operator behind Revolution Bars, Revolución de Cuba, and Peach Pubs, has launched a strategic review and formal sales process as it grapples with mounting financial pressures and a sharp decline in revenue. The company announced Thursday that it is exploring a range of options, including a potential sale of…
Signify lowers 2025 forecast amid challenging market conditions
EINDHOVEN: Signify, the world leader in lighting, reported a decline in third-quarter sales and profitability, prompting the company to lower its financial guidance for the full year due to a softer-than-expected U.S. market and ongoing challenges in its OEM component business. The company, known for its Philips lighting brands, announced third-quarter sales of 1.41 billion…
Japan’s Kondotec to acquire Suzutoh and RYUKYU BRIDGE LTD
TOKYO: Japanese construction materials firm Kondotec Inc said on Friday it will acquire all shares of Suzutoh Co., Ltd., making it a subsidiary as part of a strategy to strengthen its supply system and expand in growth areas. The acquisition, approved by Kondotec’s board on Friday, is scheduled to be completed on Nov. 27, the company…
Sweden’s MedCap posts strong quarterly profit on acquisitions and organic growth
STOCKHOLM: Swedish medical technology and life sciences investor MedCap AB on Friday reported a 32% rise in its third-quarter adjusted core earnings, driven by robust organic growth and contributions from recent acquisitions. The company, which buys and develops small- and medium-sized life science companies, said adjusted earnings before interest, taxes and amortisation (EBITA) rose to…