Private Equity-Backed VeloBank Eyes Polish M&As After Citi Deal
'Any assets that will help our strategy to expand our scale may be potentially interesting for us and our investors,' VeloBank Chief Executive Officer Adam Marciniak said in an interview. He declined to name any specific targets but said 'our cooperation with Cerberus is optimal.'
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
15 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Night Sky: How noctilucent clouds are made and Wales' space progress
This week saw a wonderful display of noctilucent clouds across the region as last Sunday evening's skies took on a dramatic and eerie appearance. Nick Edwards managed to capture the event over Newport, as the sun's rays reaching out from far below the horizon lit up tiny frozen water droplets high up in the Earth's atmosphere, creating the shimmering effect of wispy white clouds tinged with blue. Taken from the Latin for 'night-shining', we can expect further activity throughout the summer. We have a full moon on Thursday, July 10. This particular full moon is often referred to as a 'Buck Moon' because of the emergence of antlers on a deer buck's forehead during this part of the season. In Celtic folklore, terms such as 'Mead' or 'Herb' Moon can be found, with the Anglo-Saxons referring to it as a 'Hay Moon.' Space news and the proposed cuts to NASA's budget by the Trump administration will more than likely impact Europe's ExoMars rover mission which is already behind schedule. With the aim of placing a rover to explore the surface of Mars, it would seem the European Space Agency, (ESA), may have to go it alone. Recently, the Snowdonia Space Centre opened its Space Test and Training Centre, (STTC), with a day of demonstrations including rocket launches and the upward despatching of a high-altitude balloon. In a move to stay competitive with the rest of the UK and indeed Europe, the day signified Wales' intent to be at the forefront of enabling those interested in having their high-tech payloads delivered into space via rockets. It's a bold and innovative concept which is slowly gathering momentum but for those who lived during a Wales that was sustained by the coal industry and in more recent times the steel industry, a stark reminder that the shift in economic focus now lies firmly with the likes of such technology as 'microgravity manufacturing.' Attended by Rebecca Evans, MS, Welsh Government cabinet secretary for economy, energy, and planning, the new centre has received £820,000 of funding from the UK Space Agency with Matt Archer, its launch director, also in attendance. All told, with other financial contributions, £1.3 million has been invested with a view to boost the local economy and employment opportunities. With six other such Spaceports at sites including Argyll in western Scotland and Newquay in Cornwall, there has to be an exercise in caution following the announcement last week that the SaxaVord Spaceport in Lamba Ness, Shetlands Islands, (which appears to be further down the operational line than others), has delayed its first satellite launch from 2025 to 2026. Finally this week, the Earth's rotation during July and August is set to speed up with Wednesday, July 9, expected to be 1.30 milliseconds shorter than the usual length of a day. The speeding up over the two months is down to several factors, including sea levels, bucking the trend that overall rotation of the Earth is slowly down. Send your astrophotography pictures to: thenightsky@
Skift
2 hours ago
- Skift
Onboard IndiGo's Long-Haul Debut: The Start of a Global Ramp-Up
IndiGo is making a bold pivot from budget regional dominance to global player. Its 'fit-for-purpose' approach may not rival full-service carriers yet, but its pricing and partnerships could redefine value on Indo-Europe routes. Earlier this week, IndiGo turned a new page in its almost 19-year history. On July 1, its first long-haul flight established connectivity between Mumbai and Manchester. The next day, it touched down in continental Europe, flying from Mumbai to Amsterdam for the first time. The carrier will now operate on alternate days between the two routes, three times weekly. Don't be fooled by the modest start – something much bigger is in the works. IndiGo has been plotting global dominance for some time. Rahul Bhatia – CEO of parent company InterGlobe – brought former KLM chief Pieter Elbers on board in 2022. The brief was to lead the organization in its shift from a domestic and regional carrier to a true long-haul operator. The airline has ordered more than 60 Airbus A321 XLR aircraft, which are scheduled to join the fleet later this year. It also ordered 30 widebody A350-900s in 2024, later doubling the order to 60 jets. But these plans go beyond planes. Last year, the airline launched a series of initiatives including a loyalty program and a domestic business class product. IndiGo has also confirmed that the upcoming XLRs will have 12 factory-fitted business class seats on board. Already India's largest airline, IndiGo was not going to wait for 2027 to enter its widebody long-haul flying era. The carrier gained familiarization with larger aircraft through a leasing deal with Turkish Airlines. The Boeing 777s have a dense configuration with just seven business class seats and an incredible 531 economy class seats. IndiGo has now contracted Norse Atlantic Airways to wet-lease six of their Boeing 787-9 aircraft for up to 18 months. The first arrived in February and was flown on the busy route between Delhi and Bangkok for three months. As of this week, the aircraft are being put to better use on European services. Shaking off its No Frills Roots With the introduction of Dreamliner jets, IndiGo comes closer to a full-service airline. It is offering a new product and service offerings on these intercontinental flights, which are a taste of what passengers can expect when the A350s arrive. Elbers has been vocal that the onboard product needs to be 'fit-for-purpose' and not just a copy of whatever already exists. This was apparent at the launch of the domestic IndiGo Stretch product, where the airline offers no lounge access or hot meals, which it feels are unnecessary for short-haul flights. IndiGo now has a different mindset at play. Still anchored in its 'fit-for-purpose' mentality, the airline decided to offer hot meals on board its new long-haul flights. The airline is also integrating with Delta, Virgin Atlantic, and Air France-KLM to offer easy transfers in the UK and the Netherlands. The goal is to provide passengers with straightforward connections into the U.S. and around Europe. A comprehensive codeshare deal is expected to go live shortly. More Perks Than Expected? The generous nature of its 'value-for-money' IndiGo Stretch product has surprised some. The Norse Atlantic aircraft only have recliner seats, but these come with a generous seat pitch. In practice, this allows IndiGo to offer something closer to business class, albeit without the lie-flat beds. The airline has 56 seats in the 787's Stretch cabin. IndiGo's premium cabin on the leased Boeing 787. credit: ajay awtaney IndiGo is also offering lounge access at both ends of the route – unusual for a carrier known for strict cost control, these upgrades signal a willingness to compete on comfort as well as price. Premium customers also have a large baggage allowance that mirrors legacy business class, and over 200 hours of in-flight entertainment. There are five meal choices (two international, two Indian, and one vegan) for Stretch customers, and unlimited beverages (including alcohol). Elbers confirmed that the airline won't be offering champagne and caviar, but the airline's catering, outsourced to Oberoi Flight Services, clearly punches above its weight. Elsewhere, there are no amenity kits, but there is an 'amenities basket', which features dental kits and compression socks. A plush pillow, with a map of the globe and a blue dot marking IndiGo's headquarters in Delhi NCR, is also available for Stretch passengers. IndiGo's long-haul premium product offers a range of legacy-style perks. credit: Ajay Awtaney In a nod to Elbers' KLM days, the airline is also offering warm overlays that it allows passengers to take away with them and reuse. There are 18 designs available, with customers encouraged to collect them all, just like KLM does with ceramic Delft houses. Further back on the aircraft, IndiGo is offering economy passengers two hot meals. Alcoholic drinks and the overlays are available for purchase. The airline is currently pricing its European flights around 30% cheaper than comparable one-stop options via the Middle East. There is no direct competition on the Mumbai to Manchester route, but KLM operates to Amsterdam. What's Ahead: U.S. Routes and A350 Intrigue When asked if this was the final product definition that would be mirrored on the new A350s, Elbers insisted this was not the case. He declined to elaborate further, but it leaves open the possibility that IndiGo may consider a three-cabin setup, with economy, premium economy, and business class. IndiGo representatives onboard the inaugural flight suggested to Skift that the airline will eventually look beyond Europe and is considering flights to the United States. Occupancy was low on the first flights, but IndiGo is not so worried. It knows that a new route can take time to warm up, especially since travel to Europe usually involves visas. The airline has already confirmed that bookings look stronger in the coming weeks, and as it plugs into its strategic tie-up with transatlantic partners such as Delta and KLM, a further lift is expected. While IndiGo's initial European routes do not directly challenge Air India's network, it remains to be seen how many people will switch from a legacy full-service product to a slightly lesser offering, in exchange for lower fares. Air India operates flights between Delhi (rather than Mumbai) and Amsterdam with the Boeing 787. However, this aircraft has seen its issues with common reports of non-functioning entertainment screens and an outdated cabin. As is customary for a legacy carrier, Air India offers a full package of meals and comfortable seats, but it doesn't offer the low fares found at IndiGo. It remains to be seen how the Middle Eastern carriers will react to the entry of IndiGo, and if the ambitious Indian operator will be able to chip away traffic as its network ramps up. Watch Pieter Elbers at the Skift India Forum 2025: recorded march 2025. What am I looking at? The performance of airline sector stocks within the ST200. The index includes companies publicly traded across global markets including network carriers, low-cost carriers, and other related companies. The Skift Travel 200 (ST200) combines the financial performance of nearly 200 travel companies worth more than a trillion dollars into a single number. See more airlines sector financial performance. Read the full methodology behind the Skift Travel 200.
Yahoo
2 hours ago
- Yahoo
Real Madrid promise their player bigger reward than Champions League if they win Club World Cup
According to a recent report from AS, Real Madrid president Florentino Perez has promised a massive reward for his players if they lift the FIFA Club World Cup trophy. Each player will receive a bonus of €1 million if they win the tournament. This is the biggest bonus Real Madrid have ever offered for such a short competition. The club wants to leave no doubt about how serious they are about winning this title, and the bonus shows just how much they value this tournament. Advertisement Perez made it clear to everyone at the club that the Club World Cup is not just another competition or a pre-season trip. For Real Madrid, this competition is almost as important as the Champions League. Perez's message has spread throughout the squad, motivating the players even more, especially after the recent change in manager, which has already shaken things up in the dressing room. Dominating on and off the field Florentino Perez is leaving no stones unturned. (Photo by) For what it is worth, this generous bonus is a clear sign of how important this trophy is for Real Madrid. It is not just about the money, but about sending a strong message of ambition. Advertisement The club sees the Club World Cup as a key part of their season and not a distraction. They want their players to give everything to bring the trophy back to Madrid. Financially, this bonus is well within the club's reach. Real Madrid have already earned €55.16 million from their progress so far in the competition, including qualifying and the round of 16 wins and there is much more to offer if they keep winning. Interestingly, the decision to offer such a big prize also highlights the club's tense relationship with UEFA. By offering a bonus on par with what they give for the Champions League, Real Madrid are making it clear how seriously they take this competition, regardless of what European football's governing body might think.
