logo
Bridgepoint Said to Sell Vermaat to Compass in €1.5 Billion Deal

Bridgepoint Said to Sell Vermaat to Compass in €1.5 Billion Deal

Bloomberg2 days ago
Bridgepoint Group Plc is selling a majority stake in Vermaat Groep BV to Compass Group Plc in a transaction that values the Dutch caterer at about €1.5 billion ($1.8 billion), according to people familiar with the matter.
Bridgepoint will fully exit its holding through the deal, the people said, who asked not to be identified as the information is private.
Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

South Korea Weighs US Investment Pledge to Trim Auto Tariff
South Korea Weighs US Investment Pledge to Trim Auto Tariff

Yahoo

time23 minutes ago

  • Yahoo

South Korea Weighs US Investment Pledge to Trim Auto Tariff

(Bloomberg) -- The US and South Korea have discussed creating a fund to invest in American projects as part of a trade deal, similar to an agreement Japan struck Tuesday with President Donald Trump, people familiar with the matter said. Trump Awards $1.26 Billion Contract to Build Biggest Immigrant Detention Center in US Why the Federal Reserve's Building Renovation Costs $2.5 Billion The High Costs of Trump's 'Big Beautiful' New Car Loan Deduction Salt Lake City Turns Winter Olympic Bid Into Statewide Bond Boom The scope of the discussions was not immediately clear, but the US has been seeking pledges totaling hundreds of billions of dollars. The talks remain fluid, the people said, speaking on condition of anonymity to discuss details of the negotiations. Japan's deal saw the country agree to backstop a $550 billion fund in exchange for dropping a threatened 25% tariff to 15%. The discount also applied to automobiles, an important export for the Asian country's economy. The South Korea talks are similarly focused on reaching a 15% tariff rate, including for autos, one of the people said. The deal may also include a pledge by South Korea to purchase more goods in key sectors, one of the people said, again echoing the Japan pact, which included an agreement to purchase Boeing Co. planes and agriculture products. The White House declined to comment. The South Korean trade ministry also declined to comment. Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick said he would meet with South Korean officials on Thursday. In a CNBC interview, Lutnick argued Tokyo's agreement put pressure on Seoul to accept similar terms. 'You could hear the expletives out of Korea when they read the Japanese deal,' Lutnick said. 'The Koreans, like the Europeans, very much want to make a deal.' Trump has threatened to impose a higher general tariff of 25% starting Aug. 1, in addition to the existing levies on vehicles, vehicle parts and steel that are straining ties between Seoul and Washington. A Korean trade delegation is in Washington this week for talks, according to the Asian nation's finance ministry, and Trade Minister Yeo Han-koo is set to meet with US Trade Representative Jamieson Greer as part of those discussions. However, a planned '2+2' dialogue that was scheduled for July 25 with Yeo and Finance Minister Koo Yoon-cheol alongside Greer and Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent was postponed and will be rescheduled, the Korean side said. Lutnick has suggested a $400 billion figure in talks with South Korea, one of the people said. Lutnick presented that same number to Trump as part of talks with Japan but the US president eventually negotiated the fund up to $550 billion. South Korea is preparing to propose at least $100 billion in US investment pledges, Yonhap News reported, citing unidentified sources. The funds were secured through consultations with the nation's conglomerates, including Samsung Electronics Co., SK, Hyundai Motor Co. and LG Electronics Inc., and could grow if government support is added. Seoul had planned to unveil a $100 billion offer during the now-postponed July 25 talks, according to Yonhap. While smaller than Japan's pledges, South Korea's economy, at less than half the size of Japan's, makes matching the same dollar-value pledges a significant challenge for Seoul. Some South Korean companies have already made significant investment pledges in the US. The chairman of Hyundai visited the White House in March to announce a $21 billion investment plan that includes an expansion of vehicle production in Georgia and a new steel plant in Louisiana. The deal with Japan threatens to create a competitive advantage for that country's automakers if Seoul is unable to reach a similar agreement. 'This really puts a lot of pressure on South Korea. If they can get 15%, I'm sure they'd be thrilled but they are in a different position than Japan,' said William Chou, deputy director of the Japan Chair at the Hudson Institute, a conservative think tank. That notion was echoed by the White House on Wednesday. 'We're in a situation where, for example, German cars, are going to be at a disadvantage now, to Japanese cars, because it's a 25% tariff on German. Same thing with Hyundais from South Korea,' White House trade adviser Peter Navarro said Wednesday on Bloomberg Television. Navarro said the Japanese deal was best interpreted as the president 'doing a synergistic whole deal with the rest of the world.' 'This is just one part of that chess game,' he said. Trump, speaking at an artificial intelligence event earlier Wednesday, suggested that he would not go below 15% as he sets so-called reciprocal tariff rates — while also indicating he would reward nations that removed trade barriers on US exports. 'The tariff is very important, but the opening of a country, I think, can be more important if our businesses do the job that they're supposed to be doing,' Trump said. 'Such openings are worthy of many points in tariffs.' --With assistance from Heesu Lee, Jennifer A. Dlouhy, Derek Wallbank and Yuko Takeo. (Updates to include Lutnick comments starting in sixth paragraph) Burning Man Is Burning Through Cash Elon Musk's Empire Is Creaking Under the Strain of Elon Musk It's Not Just Tokyo and Kyoto: Tourists Descend on Rural Japan A Rebel Army Is Building a Rare-Earth Empire on China's Border What the Tough Job Market for New College Grads Says About the Economy ©2025 Bloomberg L.P. Sign in to access your portfolio

SEALSQ and Wecan Highlight Strategic Advantages of Quantum Readiness to Empower Swiss Banks and Insurers
SEALSQ and Wecan Highlight Strategic Advantages of Quantum Readiness to Empower Swiss Banks and Insurers

Yahoo

time23 minutes ago

  • Yahoo

SEALSQ and Wecan Highlight Strategic Advantages of Quantum Readiness to Empower Swiss Banks and Insurers

Geneva, Switzerland, July 24, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- SEALSQ Corp (NASDAQ: LAES) ("SEALSQ" or "Company"), a company that focuses on developing and selling Semiconductors, PKI, and Post-Quantum technology hardware and software products, today announced the strategic advantages that Swiss financial institutions can gain by adopting quantum technologies early, particularly through SEALSQ's ongoing cooperation with Wecan, a Swiss-based provider of secure digital infrastructure for financial institutions. Quantum computing is rapidly emerging as a foundational technology poised to reshape and transform the global financial system. As traditional systems reach their computational limits in areas such as risk modeling, option pricing, and fraud detection, quantum algorithms are expected to deliver exponential improvements in processing speed and analytical power. Swiss banks and insurance firms, long respected for their precision and security standards, are uniquely positioned to leverage these advances. 'Swiss banks and insurers operate at the highest global standards, and quantum technologies will help them stay there,' said Carlos Moreira, CEO of SEALSQ. 'Our partnership with Wecan ensures that the foundations of trust, privacy, and compliance are not only preserved but significantly strengthened in a post-quantum era.' 'Quantum is no longer a distant concept, it's a near-future infrastructure opportunity,' said Vince Pignon, CEO of Wecan. By investing now, Swiss institutions can secure first-mover advantages, redefine how risk is managed, and enhance their cyber-resilience in the face of increasingly complex threats.' One of the most promising areas is stochastic simulation, where quantum computing can dramatically accelerate calculations used to price derivatives, measure value at risk, and forecast liquidity needs. These tasks, which require vast computational power when uncertainty is multidimensional, can be optimized with Quantum Monte Carlo methods and Quantum Amplitude Estimation. In parallel, financial fraud is evolving into dynamic, adaptive behavior patterns spread across vast transaction networks. Traditional models are struggling to keep up. Quantum machine learning techniques offer the ability to map this data into high-dimensional spaces, uncovering anomalies that often are undetectable by classical systems. To support this evolution, SEALSQ is working closely with Wecan to develop quantum-ready cybersecurity solutions that secure critical infrastructure and ensure regulatory compliance. Wecan's secure communication and compliance platforms, already trusted by over 100 financial institutions, are being integrated with SEALSQ's post-quantum cryptographic chips, paving the way for a secure transition into the quantum era. As part of this transformation, Wecan is also advancing tokenized compliance frameworks through the Wecan Token, a decentralized credential system designed to streamline auditability, identity, and permissions across financial ecosystems. By embedding quantum-resilient security standards from SEALSQ at the core of the Wecan processes, both companies are enabling a next-generation layer of digital trust for the financial industry and beyond. 'The Wecan Token is our response to the financial industry's need for secure, programmable compliance,' said Mr. Moreira. 'By combining the optimization of KYC and KYB compliance processes with post-quantum security, we're not just preparing for the future, we're helping financial institutions own it.' About WecanWecan is a Swiss-based technology provider offering secure data sharing, messaging, and compliance solutions. Its platform is used by private banks, independent asset managers, and trustees across Switzerland and Europe, delivering digital trust across highly regulated industries. About SEALSQ:SEALSQ is a leading innovator in Post-Quantum Technology hardware and software solutions. Our technology seamlessly integrates Semiconductors, PKI (Public Key Infrastructure), and Provisioning Services, with a strategic emphasis on developing state-of-the-art Quantum Resistant Cryptography and Semiconductors designed to address the urgent security challenges posed by quantum computing. As quantum computers advance, traditional cryptographic methods like RSA and Elliptic Curve Cryptography (ECC) are increasingly vulnerable. SEALSQ is pioneering the development of Post-Quantum Semiconductors that provide robust, future-proof protection for sensitive data across a wide range of applications, including Multi-Factor Authentication tokens, Smart Energy, Medical and Healthcare Systems, Defense, IT Network Infrastructure, Automotive, and Industrial Automation and Control Systems. By embedding Post-Quantum Cryptography into our semiconductor solutions, SEALSQ ensures that organizations stay protected against quantum threats. Our products are engineered to safeguard critical systems, enhancing resilience and security across diverse industries. For more information on our Post-Quantum Semiconductors and security solutions, please visit Forward-Looking StatementsThis communication expressly or implicitly contains certain forward-looking statements concerning SEALSQ Corp and its businesses. Forward-looking statements include statements regarding our business strategy, financial performance, results of operations, market data, events or developments that we expect or anticipate will occur in the future, as well as any other statements which are not historical facts. Although we believe that the expectations reflected in such forward-looking statements are reasonable, no assurance can be given that such expectations will prove to have been correct. These statements involve known and unknown risks and are based upon a number of assumptions and estimates which are inherently subject to significant uncertainties and contingencies, many of which are beyond our control. Actual results may differ materially from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Important factors that, in our view, could cause actual results to differ materially from those discussed in the forward-looking statements include SEALSQ's ability to continue beneficial transactions with material parties, including a limited number of significant customers; market demand and semiconductor industry conditions; and the risks discussed in SEALSQ's filings with the SEC. Risks and uncertainties are further described in reports filed by SEALSQ with the SEC. SEALSQ Corp is providing this communication as of this date and does not undertake to update any forward-looking statements contained herein as a result of new information, future events or otherwise. SEALSQ MoreiraChairman & CEOTel: +41 22 594 3000info@ SEALSQ Investor Relations (US)The Equity Group CatiTel: +1 212 836-9611 lcati@ in to access your portfolio

Indiegogo is getting acquired by Gamefound, a board game crowdfunding company
Indiegogo is getting acquired by Gamefound, a board game crowdfunding company

The Verge

time25 minutes ago

  • The Verge

Indiegogo is getting acquired by Gamefound, a board game crowdfunding company

Indiegogo is being acquired by the board game crowdfunding platform Gamefound, which plans on 'integrating Indiegogo's global community of 38 million members with Gamefound's state-of-the-art crowdfunding technology,' the companies announced this morning. Gamefound has built 'the best tech in crowdfunding, hands down,' Indiegogo CEO Julie dePontbriand tells The Verge . 'By joining forces, we're aligning with the strongest platform out there — so we can bring the very best tools, features, and experience to our creators.' Gamefound has become a huge player in crowdfunding for tabletop games, with six of the top 10 tabletop campaigns last year, according to Polygon . The threat of Trump's tariffs mean that now is a potentially vulnerable time for the tabletop industry, as many board game makers rely on manufacturing in China. (A group of tabletop game makers filed a lawsuit in April in an attempt to stop them.) While the current status of the tariffs remains fluid, people are still backing games. Per dePontbriand: 'Gamefound hasn't seen a drop in US backer activity or overall campaign funding.' As part of the acquisition, Indiegogo will change its pricing to be in line with Gamefound's, which is 'a flat 5 percent fee' and 'no additional fees for any promotional placements' on Indiegogo and its newsletters, dePontbriand says. That change will be going into effect 'immediately.' Indiegogo will also follow Gamefound's tipping policy, which gives 100 percent of tips directly to a creator 'outside of the checkout flow,' dePontbriand says. This change is in the works, and 'we'll provide an update on timing as soon as possible.' Both platforms will continue to exist separately, though Gamefound campaigns will be featured on both Gamefound and Indiegogo 'for added exposure,' per the press release. dePontbriand says she will remain the CEO of Indiegogo, while Gamefound CEO Marcin Świerkot will 'take on the role of Group CEO.' Follow topics and authors from this story to see more like this in your personalized homepage feed and to receive email updates. Jay Peters Posts from this author will be added to your daily email digest and your homepage feed. See All by Jay Peters Posts from this topic will be added to your daily email digest and your homepage feed. See All Exclusive Posts from this topic will be added to your daily email digest and your homepage feed. See All Gaming Posts from this topic will be added to your daily email digest and your homepage feed. See All News

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into a world of global content with local flavor? Download Daily8 app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store