Archives

Assured Robot Intelligence Joins Meta To Help Build The Future Of Humanoid Intelligence

By Amit Chowdhry ● Yesterday at 11:02 PM

Assured Robot Intelligence, a robotics startup focused on achieving physical artificial general intelligence, has joined Meta, with the team set to work within Meta Superintelligence Labs to advance the company's humanoid robotics ambitions. The announcement was made by ARI co-founder Xiaolong Wang on social media, approximately one year after the company was founded with the explicit mission of developing a truly general-purpose physical agent.

Turpaz Industries Acquires U.S. Flavor And Fragrance Company Phoenix For $95 Million

By Amit Chowdhry ● Yesterday at 11:00 PM

Turpaz Industries, a global developer and manufacturer of flavors, fragrances, and specialty fine ingredients operating in more than 90 countries, has signed and closed an agreement to acquire Phoenix Flavors & Fragrances Inc., a U.S.-based developer and manufacturer of fragrance and flavor extracts, for $95 million. The transaction, financed entirely from Turpaz's own resources, also includes up to $5 million in contingent consideration tied to Phoenix's performance during the second and third quarters of 2026.

Applied Materials Acquires NEXX Business From ASMPT

By Amit Chowdhry ● Yesterday at 10:34 PM

Applied Materials has entered into a definitive agreement with ASMPT Limited to acquire its NEXX business, a supplier of large-area advanced packaging deposition equipment for the semiconductor industry. The deal expands Applied Materials' panel-level advanced packaging technologies, which are designed to help chipmakers and systems companies build larger-body AI accelerators capable of higher energy-efficient performance. Financial terms of the transaction were not disclosed.

UCB To Acquire Candid Therapeutics For Up To $2.2 Billion

By Amit Chowdhry ● Yesterday at 10:33 PM

UCB, a global biopharmaceutical company, has signed a definitive agreement to acquire Candid Therapeutics, a privately held clinical-stage biotechnology company developing novel T-cell engagers for the treatment of autoimmune and inflammatory diseases, for up to $2.2 billion. The deal comprises $2 billion in upfront payments and up to $200 million in potential future milestone payments, and is expected to close by the end of the second quarter or early third quarter of 2026, pending antitrust clearance and other customary conditions.

Davis Polk Launches In Los Angeles, Welcoming Leading Litigator Jason Russell

By Amit Chowdhry ● Yesterday at 10:32 PM

Davis Polk has announced the opening of a Los Angeles office — its first in Southern California — led by prominent litigator Jason Russell, who joins the firm as a partner in the Civil Litigation practice. The office will also be home to partner Rob Morrison, who joined Davis Polk in 2025 to extend the firm's global finance practice to California. Permanent office space in Century City is expected to officially open in 2027, with further team buildout planned in the months ahead.

Torys Welcomes Two New Litigation Partners Alongside Planned Vancouver Office Opening

By Amit Chowdhry ● Yesterday at 10:31 PM

Torys has announced that Michael Feder, K.C. and Deborah Templer are joining the firm's Litigation and Dispute Resolution practice as partners, coinciding with the planned opening of a new Torys office in Vancouver. The additions strengthen the firm's national litigation platform at a time of increasing dispute complexity and growing class action activity across Canada.

Dentons Canada Welcomes Scott McLeman And Alexandra Fox As Partners In Calgary Banking And Finance Group

By Amit Chowdhry ● Yesterday at 10:30 PM

Dentons Canada has announced that Scott McLeman and Alexandra Fox are joining the firm as partners in the Banking and Finance group in Calgary, expanding the firm's transactional capabilities in one of Canada's most active financial and energy markets. The appointments were announced by John Cusano, Managing Partner of the Calgary office, who described the additions as representative of the kind of growth the firm is actively building toward.

VeraData And Avalon Consulting Join Forces, Expanding Integrated Fundraising Platform For Nonprofits

By Amit Chowdhry ● Yesterday at 10:30 PM

VeraData Holdings and Avalon Consulting have announced a merger that unites Avalon's deep strategic fundraising expertise with VeraData's data science and AI capabilities, creating a more integrated and comprehensive omnichannel fundraising enterprise for nonprofit organizations. Avalon, a woman-owned fundraising agency operating since 1997, joins the VeraData Group alongside Faircom New York and Teal Media, with the combined entity positioned to deliver a connected system spanning donor behavior analytics, creative strategy, and multi-channel media execution.

SightMD’s Dr. Eric Rosenberg Becomes First Surgeon To Perform Cataract Surgery Using Apple Vision Pro Mixed Reality

By Amit Chowdhry ● Yesterday at 10:29 PM

SightMD, a leading ophthalmology practice serving patients across the greater New England area and beyond, has announced a historic milestone in surgical innovation: Dr. Eric Rosenberg, DO, MSE, has become the first surgeon in the world to successfully perform cataract surgery using the Apple Vision Pro, powered by ScopeXR, a spatial computing surgical platform he co-developed. The initial procedure was completed in October 2025, and since then, Dr. Rosenberg and his team have performed hundreds of additional cases using the platform, demonstrating both its clinical scalability and real-world impact.

Wolfspeed Announces Two Executive Appointments To Strengthen Legal Affairs And Communications Capabilities

By Amit Chowdhry ● Yesterday at 10:28 PM

Wolfspeed, a global leader in silicon carbide technology, has announced two executive appointments as the company accelerates global expansion and deepens engagement with policymakers, customers, and investors. Brad Kohn will rejoin the company as Executive Vice President, Chief Legal and Global Affairs Officer, effective May 11, 2026, while Sonja Burfeind has been appointed Vice President, Communications, effective July 1, 2026.

Lightspeed Commerce Divests Upserve U.S. Hospitality Product Line To Skyview Equity

By Amit Chowdhry ● Yesterday at 10:27 PM

Lightspeed Commerce has announced the sale of its non-core Upserve U.S. hospitality product line to Skyview Equity for total cash consideration of up to $81 million USD, with $37 million subject to an earnout tied to performance targets over 24 months. The divestiture is consistent with Lightspeed's strategy to streamline its portfolio and concentrate on its two core growth engines: retail in North America and hospitality in Europe.

DLA Piper Appoints Leading LNG Partner Nikki Van Der Meer In Perth

By Amit Chowdhry ● Yesterday at 10:26 PM

DLA Piper has appointed Nikki van der Meer as a Projects partner in its Perth office, effective June 2, 2026, strengthening the global law firm's Energy and Natural Resources team at a pivotal moment for the Australian LNG sector and the broader energy transition.

Spirit Airlines Collapse Strands Thousands Of Travelers As Budget Carrier Shuts Down Overnight

By Amit Chowdhry ● Yesterday at 10:25 PM

Spirit Airlines has halted all operations, stranding thousands of travelers midtrip or scrambling to rebook after the budget carrier shut down with little notice, leaving check-in counters empty, customer service lines unavailable and many passengers arriving at airports with no prior warning. The shutdown, which took effect immediately upon announcement, prompted a swift response from competing carriers and travel industry experts as the full scope of the disruption became clear.

GameStop Proposes To Buy eBay In $55.5 Billion Cash-And-Stock Deal

By Amit Chowdhry ● Yesterday at 9:22 PM

GameStop has submitted a non-binding proposal to acquire 100% of eBay Inc. at $125.00 per share in a combination of cash and stock, valuing the e-commerce giant at approximately $55.5 billion on an undiluted basis. The offer represents a 46% premium to eBay's unaffected closing price on February 4, 2026, the day GameStop began accumulating its position in the company. GameStop has since built a 5% economic stake in eBay through derivatives and beneficial ownership of common stock, and is filing a Schedule 13D and HSR notification concurrently with the proposal.

Inszone: Acquisition Of Mena Insurance Agency Expands Arkansas Presence

By Amit Chowdhry ● Yesterday at 8:27 PM

Inszone Insurance Services has acquired Mena Insurance Agency, a long-standing Arkansas-based insurance provider, as part of its strategy to expand its footprint in the state. The transaction brings a century-old agency with deep community roots into Inszone’s growing national platform.

Pappas Family Of Restaurants Acquires On The Border Mexican Grill & Cantina

By Amit Chowdhry ● Yesterday at 8:26 PM

Pappas Restaurants, one of the nation's largest family-owned and operated restaurant groups, has completed the acquisition of On The Border Mexican Grill & Cantina, uniting two Texas-born dining institutions under a single roof. The deal, which closed in May 2025, brings together brands with deep roots in Lone Star hospitality and a shared passion for bold Tex-Mex flavors.

Redwood AI Announces Enhanced AI Models, Increasing Evaluated Chemical Reactions

By Amit Chowdhry ● Yesterday at 8:25 PM

Redwood AI has announced preliminary results from a research initiative conducted in collaboration with Professor Jolene Reid at the University of British Columbia, aimed at significantly enhancing Reactosphere, the company's AI-driven chemical synthesis platform. The initiative has produced new models that expand the platform's evaluated chemical reaction universe from approximately 4 million training examples to more than 21 million — a 425% increase.

ŌURA Announces Hormonal Birth Control Support And Menopause Insights

By Amit Chowdhry ● Yesterday at 8:24 PM

ŌURA, maker of the world's leading smart ring, has announced two new experiences designed to help women navigate the hormonal shifts that shape most of their lives: Hormonal Birth Control support and Menopause Insights. The features, rolling out globally beginning May 6, mark the company's most significant expansion into hormonal health and reflect a broader commitment to building science-backed tools for life stages that have long been underserved by both medicine and technology.

ADB Launches $70 Billion Plan For Energy And Digital Infrastructure In Asia-Pacific

By Amit Chowdhry ● Yesterday at 8:24 PM

The Asian Development Bank has announced a $70 billion program to expand energy and digital infrastructure across the Asia-Pacific region by 2035, with the dual aim of strengthening power grid links and increasing broadband access across some of the world's most underserved communities. The announcement was made in Hanoi on Sunday, with ADB President Masato Kanda framing energy and digital connectivity as essential pillars of the region's long-term economic growth.

The Marzetti Company Completes Acquisition Of Bachan’s

By Amit Chowdhry ● Yesterday at 8:23 PM

The Marzetti Company has completed its acquisition of Bachan's, Inc., the fast-growing Japanese Barbecue Sauce brand known for its clean-label, family-recipe-inspired products, in a transaction valued at $400 million. The deal reinforces Marzetti's expanding position in the condiment and sauce category and is expected to create new opportunities through the company's retail and foodservice distribution network, supply chain capabilities, and culinary expertise.

Salesforce Launches Agentforce Operations To End Back-Office Bottlenecks

By Amit Chowdhry ● Yesterday at 12:08 PM

Salesforce has introduced Agentforce Operations, a new solution designed to transform slow, fragmented back-office processes into automated, agent-driven workflows that can cut cycle times by up to 70% and eliminate as much as 80% of manual tasks such as data entry, compliance checks, and approval routing. The launch marks a significant expansion of the company's Agentforce platform beyond customer-facing applications and into the internal operational systems that govern how businesses run day to day.

Ask.com Calls It Quits After Nearly Three Decades Online

By Amit Chowdhry ● Yesterday at 10:11 AM

Ask.com, the veteran search engine formerly known as Ask Jeeves that once stood among the most visited destinations on the early internet, has officially shut down its operations, closing the chapter on a platform that helped introduce millions of users to the possibilities of web-based search. The closure marks the end of a nearly 30-year run for a brand that, at its peak, was synonymous with accessible, conversational search at a time when navigating the internet was still a novel experience for most consumers.

Annex Brands Acquires Postal Connections To Surpass 800 Franchise Locations Across North America

By Amit Chowdhry ● Yesterday at 9:57 AM

Annex Brands, a leading franchisor in the packing, shipping, and office services industries, has acquired Postal Connections of America, franchisor of 34 Postal Connections packaging and shipping franchises across the United States.

Spring Health And Alma Complete Combination To Create First Lifelong Mental Health Platform

By Amit Chowdhry ● Yesterday at 9:56 AM

Spring Health, a global mental health company, has announced the successful closing of its acquisition of Alma, a membership-based platform that helps independent mental health clinicians accept insurance and build private practices. The combined company now supports more than 170 million lives globally across employers and health plans.

The Pete Store Acquires G.L. Sayre To Expand Mid-Atlantic Peterbilt Network Into Philadelphia And Wilmington

By Amit Chowdhry ● Yesterday at 9:53 AM

The Pete Store, a four-time Peterbilt North American Dealer of the Year and one of the largest privately owned Peterbilt dealer groups in North America, has acquired G.L. Sayre, a family-owned Peterbilt dealership with locations in Conshohocken, Pennsylvania and New Castle, Delaware.

Legacy Capital Appoints Chris Bradford To Advisory Board

By Amit Chowdhry ● Yesterday at 9:53 AM

Legacy Capital Advisors, a boutique sell-side advisory firm headquartered in Naples, Florida, specializing in business transitions and succession planning for closely-held middle-market companies, has appointed Chris Bradford to its Advisory Board. The addition strengthens the firm's bench of expertise as demand for sophisticated transition planning continues to grow among privately held businesses navigating generational ownership changes and evolving market conditions.

Gardiner Service Company Acquires IntelliTech Fire And Security To Expand Life Safety Capabilities In Northern Ohio

By Amit Chowdhry ● Yesterday at 9:52 AM

Gardiner Service Company, a leader in Northern Ohio for HVAC and building technology, has acquired IntelliTech Fire and Security, a Medina, Ohio-based full-service provider specializing in fire protection and building safety systems. Financial terms were not disclosed.

Kiely Family Of Companies Acquires M. O’Herron Company, A 123-Year-Old Utility Contractor

By Amit Chowdhry ● Yesterday at 9:50 AM

Kiely Family of Companies, a multi-discipline design-build enterprise with more than 2,200 team members across the United States and India, has acquired M. O'Herron Company, a family-owned utility contractor specializing in natural gas distribution throughout the Pittsburgh Metro area and West Virginia since 1903. Financial terms were not disclosed.

Barclays: Acquisition Of Best Egg Completed To Expand U.S. Personal Lending Platform

By Amit Chowdhry ● Yesterday at 9:48 AM

Barclays has completed its acquisition of Best Egg, a U.S.-based direct-to-consumer personal loan origination platform, marking a key milestone in the bank’s U.S. growth strategy. The transaction was carried out through Barclays Bank Delaware, its U.S. consumer banking subsidiary.

Green Cabbage: Launch Of Harvest AI Platform Advances Procurement Intelligence

By Amit Chowdhry ● Yesterday at 9:36 AM

Green Cabbage has launched Harvest, an agentic AI platform designed to enhance procurement intelligence and enable faster, more informed decision-making across organizations. The platform integrates market, supplier, and commercial data into a unified experience aimed at improving negotiation outcomes and cost efficiency.