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44 minutes ago
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Syensqo Appoints Two New Board Members
Syensqo Appoints Two New Board Members Brussels, Belgium – July 17, 2025 - 17:30 CEST New Directors Bring Industry, Innovation and Leadership Experience to Advance Syensqo's Evolution to a Specialty Chemicals Company SYENSQO SA ('Syensqo' or 'the Company') is pleased to announce the appointment of Dr. Cynthia Arnold and Augusto Di Donfrancesco as new members of its Board of Directors, effective July 17, 2025. They replace Matti Lievonen and Nadine Leslie who are stepping down from the Board to pursue other opportunities. Dr. Cynthia Arnold brings more than 30 years of global leadership experience in technology and innovation within the materials and chemicals sectors. She previously served as Chief Technology Officer at Valspar Corporation and held senior roles at Sun Chemical, Eastman Chemical and General Electric. With extensive public company board experience, Dr. Arnold currently serves as an independent director on the boards of Cabot Corporation, Milliken & Company and Fluence Energy. She holds a PhD in Materials Science and Engineering from Virginia Polytechnic Institute and an MBA from the University of California,Berkeley. Augusto Di Donfrancesco held key leadership roles in research & innovation, operations and transformation during a more than 35-year career at Solvay. As President of Solvay's Specialty Polymers Global Business Unit, he led a period of significant organic growth, doubling net sales through customer-centric innovation. He was also a member of the Solvay Executive Leadership Team where he led group-wide strategic programs. Mr. Di Donfrancesco's deep sector knowledge and track record in operational excellence and capital allocation will further reinforce Syensqo's ongoing growth and transformation objectives. Mr. Di Donfrancesco holds a bachelor's degree in chemical engineering from Pisa University. Rosemary Thorne, Chair of the Board of Directors, said, 'On behalf of the Board, I would like to express our gratitude to Matti and Nadine for their contributions to the Board during Syensqo's formative period as an independent public company. As part of our Board succession planning, we are focused on maintaining the right mix of skills and expertise and are thrilled to welcome Cynthia and Augusto, who are proven leaders of the highest caliber and are poised to contribute their significant leadership, technology, innovation and operational experience to the Board. We look forward to benefiting from their respective knowledge and insights as we continue to focus on delivering shareholder value.' 'We are delighted to welcome Cynthia and Augusto to our Board,' said Dr. Ilham Kadri, Chief Executive Officer of Syensqo. 'Their perspectives will be invaluable as we continue to prioritize innovation and operational excellence to capitalize on the meaningful long-term growth and value creation opportunities ahead. I look forward to working with them.' Dr. Arnold said, 'Syensqo's commitment to scientific excellence and sustainability resonates deeply with me. I am excited to contribute to the Board's work to advance innovation and operational performance, and to help shape the Company's continued success in a rapidly evolving global landscape.' 'I am honored to join Syensqo's Board during this important period in the Company's evolution to a Specialty Chemicals Company' said Mr. Di Donfrancesco. 'Having spent my career driving transformation, innovation and growth within the specialty chemicals sector, I look forward to working with my fellow directors and the management team to help accelerate growth and unleash Syensqo's potential.' Link to Board members' bios Contacts Investors & Sherief Bakr Bisser Alexandrov Loïc Flament Robbin Moore- Randolph +44 7920 575 989 +33 607 635 28 +32 478 69 74 20+1 470 493 2433 Perrine MarchalLaetitia Schreiber +32 487 74 38 07+32 478 32 62 72 Safe harbor This press release may contain forward-looking information. Forward-looking statements describe expectations, plans, strategies, goals, future events or intentions. The achievement of forward-looking statements contained in this press release is subject to risks and uncertainties relating to a number of factors, including general economic factors, interest rate and foreign currency exchange rate fluctuations, changing market conditions, product competition, the nature of product development, impact of acquisitions and divestitures, restructurings, products withdrawals, regulatory approval processes, all-in scenario of R&I projects and other unusual items. Consequently, actual results or future events may differ materially from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Should known or unknown risks or uncertainties materialize, or should our assumptions prove inaccurate, actual results could vary materially from those anticipated. The Company undertakes no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements. About Syensqo Syensqo is a science company developing groundbreaking solutions that enhance the way we live, work, travel and play. Inspired by the scientific councils which Ernest Solvay initiated in 1911, we bring great minds together to push the limits of science and innovation for the benefit of our customers, with a diverse, global team of more than 13,000 associates. Our solutions contribute to safer, cleaner, and more sustainable products found in homes, food and consumer goods, planes, cars, batteries, smart devices and health care applications. Our innovation power enables us to deliver on the ambition of a circular economy and explore breakthrough technologies that advance humanity. Useful links Earnings materials Strategy Share information Credit information Separation documents Webcasts, podcasts and presentations Annual Integrated Report Subscribe to our distribution listError in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
Yahoo
3 hours ago
- Yahoo
Elon Musk's X Escapes EU Ruling--for Now
Tesla (NASDAQ:TSLA) CEO Elon Musk's X pauses its EU Digital Services Act probe as Brussels courts a U.S. trade truce. The European Commission shelved its investigation into Elon Musk's social media platform X after warning the final rulingpotentially a fine topping 6% of global revenuewill await the outcome of high?stakes trade talks with Washington. The hold comes amid escalating tariff threats. President Donald Trump has signaled 30% duties on EU exports starting August 1, rattling markets and prompting EU officials to tread carefully. Last year the commission accused X of opaque design practices and insufficient transparency, laying the groundwork for a major sanction under the DSA. By comparison, the EU collected 700 million in antitrust fines from Apple (NASDAQ:AAPL) and Meta (NASDAQ:META) this April under separate regimes, underscoring Brussels's willingness to enforce digital rules even as it negotiates trade concessions. Green Party lawmaker Anna Cavazzini blasted the delay as worrying and urged the commission not to trade away its rulebook. EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, meanwhile, insists the DSA remains nonnegotiable. X has pushed back, arguing it has implemented the required safeguards. With no fixed deadline for DSA probes, Brussels has room to stall its decision until after U.S. negotiators and EU trade chiefs finalize terms. This article first appeared on GuruFocus. Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
Yahoo
3 hours ago
- Yahoo
AM Best Affirms Credit Ratings of QBE Insurance Group Limited's Key Subsidiaries
LONDON, July 17, 2025--(BUSINESS WIRE)--AM Best has affirmed the Financial Strength Rating (FSR) of A (Excellent) and the Long-Term Issuer Credit Ratings (Long-Term ICRs) of "a+" (Excellent) of QBE Europe SA/NV (Belgium), QBE UK Limited (United Kingdom), QBE Capital (Global) Ltd. (Bermuda), QBE Capital Ltd. (Bermuda) and the pooled members of QBE North America Insurance Group (see list below). These companies are key operating subsidiaries of QBE Insurance Group Limited (QBE) (Australia) [ASX: QBE], the non-operating holding company of the QBE group of companies. The outlook of these Credit Ratings (ratings) is stable. The ratings reflect QBE's balance sheet strength, which AM Best assesses as very strong, as well as its strong operating performance, favourable business profile and appropriate enterprise risk management. QBE's balance sheet strength assessment is underpinned by risk-adjusted capitalisation at the strongest level as of year-end 2024, as measured by Best's Capital Adequacy Ratio (BCAR). Prospectively, AM Best expects QBE's risk-adjusted capitalisation to remain at least at the very strong level. QBE's balance sheet strength assessment is supported by the group's conservative investment portfolio and its appropriate reinsurance programme. In addition, as a regular capital markets participant, QBE benefits from strong financial flexibility and has demonstrated a trend of decreasing financial leverage in recent years. The group employs a prudent reserving approach, with a record of favourable prior-year reserve development in most years. The group's strong operating performance assessment reflects its record of robust underwriting performance, supported by its diverse earnings profile. Ongoing underwriting portfolio management has supported improved technical performance in recent years. The group's net/net combined ratio of 90.2% for 2024 represented a two percentage point improvement compared with 2023, as calculated by AM Best on an IFRS 17 basis. QBE's favourable business profile assessment reflects its excellent geographic diversification and strong competitive positions in its core markets, with an established focus on global commercial lines insurance. The FSR of A (Excellent) and the Long-Term ICRs of "a+" (Excellent) have been affirmed for the following pooled members of QBE North America Insurance Group: General Casualty Company of Wisconsin General Casualty Insurance Company NAU Country Insurance Company North Pointe Insurance Company Praetorian Insurance Company QBE Insurance Corporation QBE Reinsurance Corporation QBE Specialty Insurance Company Regent Insurance Company Southern Pilot Insurance Company Stonington Insurance Company This press release relates to Credit Ratings that have been published on AM Best's website. For all rating information relating to the release and pertinent disclosures, including details of the office responsible for issuing each of the individual ratings referenced in this release, please see AM Best's Recent Rating Activity web page. For additional information regarding the use and limitations of Credit Rating opinions, please view Guide to Best's Credit Ratings. For information on the proper use of Best's Credit Ratings, Best's Performance Assessments, Best's Preliminary Credit Assessments and AM Best press releases, please view Guide to Proper Use of Best's Ratings & Assessments. AM Best is a global credit rating agency, news publisher and data analytics provider specialising in the insurance industry. Headquartered in the United States, the company does business in over 100 countries with regional offices in London, Amsterdam, Dubai, Hong Kong, Singapore and Mexico City. For more information, visit Copyright © 2025 by A.M. Best Rating Services, Inc. and/or its affiliates. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. View source version on Contacts Kanika Thukral Associate Director, Analytics +44 20 7397 0327 Vicky Riggs Associate Director, Analytics +1 908 882 2273 Tim Prince Director, Analytics +44 20 7397 0320 Christopher Sharkey Associate Director, Public Relations +1 908 882 2310 Al Slavin Senior Public Relations Specialist +1 908 882 2318 Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data