logo
US company set for takeover of Newry tech firm

US company set for takeover of Newry tech firm

Yahoo07-05-2025
[Google]
FD Technologies, the Newry-based technology firm, is on the brink of being taken over by a US company.
The firm's board of directors said it had received a number of proposals from TA Associates, a Boston-based private equity company.
The most recent offer was for £24.50 a share which compares to a closing market price of £19.30 a share yesterday.
The board said that should TA Associates make a firm offer at £24.50 it is "minded" to tell shareholders they should accept the deal.
Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

Medical debt returns to credit reports
Medical debt returns to credit reports

USA Today

time17 minutes ago

  • USA Today

Medical debt returns to credit reports

Good morning! It's Daniel de Visé with your Daily Money. Consumers were dealt a blow when a federal judge in Texas tossed out a Biden-era rule that would have banned the inclusion of medical debt on credit reports. In a move that arguably eliminates a vital consumer protection, U.S. District Judge Sean Jordan on July 11 granted a request from President Donald Trump's administration and industry groups to vacate the medical debt rule. Here's what it means for consumers. No more pizza at the office? If your company provides free office snacks or meals, that perk could be at risk due to President Trump's new tax law. A tax deduction offered to employers for takeout meals and company-provided cafeteria meals will expire at the end of this year, thanks to a provision in the so-called "Big Beautiful Bill", which became law earlier in July. Does that mean no more pizza on long work nights? 📰 More stories you shouldn't miss 📰 🍔 Today's Menu 🍔 An April Fool's joke made by a fast-food fan account wound up in a White House Press release on Monday. In a since-modified statement, the Trump administration touted recent changes made by major food and beverage companies in response to the administration's "Make America Healthy Again" initiative. Among the announcements: a bullet point claiming that California-based fast food chain In-N-Out "transitioned to 100% beef tallow." Alas, it was all a joke. About The Daily Money Each weekday, The Daily Money delivers the best consumer and financial news from USA TODAY, breaking down complex events, providing the TLDR version, and explaining how everything from Fed rate changes to bankruptcies impacts you. Daniel de Visé covers personal finance for USA Today.

LG Group unveils next-generation hybrid AI model
LG Group unveils next-generation hybrid AI model

UPI

time19 minutes ago

  • UPI

LG Group unveils next-generation hybrid AI model

LG Group has unveiled its own hybrid artificial intelligence model. Pictured is the company headquarters in Seoul. Photo courtesy of LG Group SEOUL, July 16 (UPI) -- LG Group, one of South Korea's major conglomerates, has unveiled a next-generation hybrid artificial intelligence model, EXAONE 4.0, in aiming to join the global AI race along with powerhouses in the United States and China. The Seoul-based group's unit, LG AI Research, said Tuesday that the new model integrates natural language processing capabilities with advanced reasoning skills, built on its large language model EXAONE Deep. "It inherits the step-by-step, thought-based problem-solving approach that EXAONE Deep implemented, and advances its reasoning capabilities to excel even in challenging fields such as math, science and coding," the firm said in a statement. "Starting with EXAONE 4.0, the free licensing previously granted for research and academic purposes has been extended to educational institutions," it added. As a result, primary and secondary schools, as well as universities, will be allowed to use EXAONE 4.0 for educational purposes without prior approval. The model is available through Hugging Face, a global AI open-source platform, according to LG. EXAONE 4.0 comes in two versions: one for experts and the other for the public. LG said that the expert model has passed national qualification exams in six areas, such as qualifying for physician and dentist licenses. The lighter on-device version is designed to run independently without having to connect to external servers. With the launch of EXAONE 4.0, LG could be poised to take on global AI leaders. "Only a few corporations have come up with competitive hybrid AI models, including Anthropic of the U.S. and Alibaba of China," Sogang University Professor Yoon Seok-bin told UPI in a phone interview. "LG was somewhat late in debuting its own hybrid AI model compared to its offshore rivals. But there is a long way to go in developing and refining AI technology. LG may yet be able to compete on the global stage," he saidOh, what is .

Verona Pharma plc (VRNA): A Bull Case Theory
Verona Pharma plc (VRNA): A Bull Case Theory

Yahoo

time30 minutes ago

  • Yahoo

Verona Pharma plc (VRNA): A Bull Case Theory

We came across a bullish thesis on Verona Pharma plc (VRNA) on Capital Employed's Substack by Patients Capital Management. In this article, we will summarize the bulls' thesis on VRNA. Verona Pharma plc (VRNA)'s share was trading at $91.53 as of 3rd July. A patient in a clinic, taking a medication dose from a nebulizer to treat a respiratory disease. Verona Pharma, a UK-based biopharmaceutical company, is advancing a standout therapeutic with its lead asset, Ohtuvayre, poised to redefine treatment for COPD and related respiratory diseases. The most compelling data point is patient feedback: individuals using Ohtuvayre report feeling noticeably better, which is critical in COPD where managing daily wellbeing matters most. Ohtuvayre's non-steroidal mechanism means it can be safely combined with all existing COPD medications, creating effectively zero competition and addressing a major unmet need by avoiding the downsides of chronic steroid therapies. Beyond COPD, Verona Pharma retains significant upside from potential indications in non-CF bronchiectasis and asthma, which remain largely unpriced in current valuations and could offer meaningful long-term growth—serving as optionality embedded in the investment thesis. Strategically, the company is positioning for partnerships by developing dry powder inhaler (DPI) and metered dose inhaler (MDI) formulations, creating a clear window for larger pharmaceutical companies to engage in due diligence or acquisition discussions. Importantly, Verona Pharma carries no near-term financing overhang, eliminating a common investor concern and making potential deal outcomes even more impactful. Despite a strong rally in the stock, the market still appears to underappreciate Verona Pharma's potential: analysts are currently modeling peak sales of around $2.5 billion, even though the nebulized version alone could realistically reach $4–5 billion. As sell-side estimates adjust quarterly to reflect this upside, the stock is likely to re‐rate. Looking ahead, growing investor conviction and evolving shareholder base could provide deeper support for higher valuation levels. With differentiated clinical efficacy, broad strategic optionality, strong balance sheet, and significant valuation mispricing, Verona Pharma offers a compelling multi-catalyst investment opportunity in respiratory therapeutics. Previously, we covered a on Teva Pharmaceutical Industries Limited (TEVA) by Kontra in May 2025, which highlighted the company's transformation under CEO Richard Francis, strong free cash flow growth, and rising contributions from innovative drugs like Austedo and Uzedy. The company's stock price has been stable with an approximate 0.7% gain since our coverage. This is because the thesis has yet to fully play out but remains valid given Teva's ongoing operational momentum and valuation support. Patients Capital Management shares a similar view on Verona Pharma but emphasizes a more targeted bet on a single asset, Ohtuvayre, with blockbuster potential and strategic optionality in respiratory therapeutics. VRNA isn't on our list of the 30 Most Popular Stocks Among Hedge Funds. While we acknowledge the risk and potential of VRNA as an investment, our conviction lies in the belief that some AI stocks hold greater promise for delivering higher returns and have limited downside risk. If you are looking for an extremely cheap AI stock that is also a major beneficiary of Trump tariffs and onshoring, see our free report on the best short-term AI stock. READ NEXT: 8 Best Wide Moat Stocks to Buy Now and 30 Most Important AI Stocks According to BlackRock. Disclosure: None. This article was originally published at Insider Monkey. 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

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