Latest news with #Mach
The Sun
7 days ago
- Entertainment
- The Sun
Superman soars, DC reboots
THERE has not been a film that DC Studios and Warner Bros Pictures desperately need to succeed more than James Gunn's Superman. It has to fly faster than a bullet, hit harder than a train and more importantly, be more human than its colder predecessors. Despite the relatively low bar thanks to the previous decade of middling DC Comics films, Superman surpasses expectations. Hovering right across the pitfall of subjecting the audience to another origin story, Gunn's film drops viewers into the third year of Clark Kent (David Corenswet) already donning the red underwear and blue suit. In a world full of metahumans, Superman is firmly established as being the strongest among his costumed super-peers, which draws questions from pundits, politicians and defense agencies on the alien immigrant's beliefs, politics and agenda on earth. After stopping the invasion of the fictional country of Jarhanpur by the more powerful Boravia, an ally to the US, Superman finds himself in the crosshairs of not only the US, but also Lex Luthor (Nicholas Hoult) and his girlfriend Lois Lane (Rachel Brosnahan). This geopolitical intervention by Superman serves as the catalyst for the events in the film. Humanity in focus amid cosmic chaos The very on-the-nose Israel-Palestine parallels with Boravia-Jarhanpur aside, Superman has a strong story, at least in terms of comic book films that serve the role as a jumping-off point role in a potential 'cinematic universe', but it does come at a cost. By dropping the audience into an already developed world with existing superheroes, supervillains, aliens, pocket dimensions, nanotechnology and cloning, this can be exhausting for those more accustomed to standard superhero origin films, because from the opening sequence, Superman 's pacing is all gas, no brakes at Mach 10 speed. Having said that, everything the film introduces at breakneck speed is entertaining, particularly due to the focus Gunn puts on the individual in the centre of Superman, which is Kent and his humanity. Bright, colourful, sometimes goofy, most times charming, Gunn's writing, aided by a solid performance by Corenswet, nails what makes Superman who he is: a boy scout raised in rural America that sees only the good in everyone and will not hesitate to save them. From sequences such as the interview Superman has with Lois over his interference in the Boravia-Jarhanpur conflict being due to simply how 'people were going to die', to how Superman repeatedly goes out of his way to rescue and protect innocent bystanders, Superman proudly wears Clark's heart and love for humankind on its sleeves. Hoult's Lex Luthor is another standout in the film, being the most comic-accurate version of the character ever put to live action film. Long past the quirkiness and silly wigs worn by Gene Hackman and Jesse Eisenberg in their iterations of the character, this screen incarnation of Luthor is an actual menace and danger, not just to Superman, but the entire world. An extremely smart technocrat, calculative deceitful, viciously petty and narcissistic, Hoult brings his A-game to carry out Gunn's script to perfection. The same extends to Lois, who spends the entire film being a journalist rather than Superman's girlfriend, along with the other supporting characters, such as the Justice Gang's Guy Gardner/Green Lantern (Nathan Fillion), Mister Terrific (Edi Gathegi), Hawkgirl (Isabela Merced), and even Jimmy Olsen (Skyler Gisondo). Second shot at legacy Criticising the now-dead DC Extended Universe and the mostly maligned films under that umbrella is a low-hanging fruit at this point, but it has to be done, as Gunn's Superman is Warner Bros's second, latest attempt to kickstart their own cinematic universe, similar to what Zack Snyder did in 2013 with Man of Steel. Developed by the new DC Studios – led by Gunn and Peter Safran – Superman comes across as a more natural superhero film, with a plan already in place for the new DC Universe (DCU), a goal in mind and what would come next. However, chronologically, the DCU started with Creature Commandos last year, but that was an animated series and as great as it was, it did not firmly establish what Superman does in terms of world-building or in introducing the bigger universe that Gunn and Safran are bringing to the table. Based on the certain appearance of another popular character in the Superman family towards the end of the film, there is certainly expectation on how the next films in the DCU will carry not only the momentum, but also the hope of something better that has been started by Superman.
Business Wire
10-07-2025
- Business
- Business Wire
Mach Natural Resources LP Announces Transformative Acquisitions in the Permian Basin and San Juan Basin
OKLAHOMA CITY--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Mach Natural Resources LP (NYSE: MNR) ('Mach' or the 'Company') today announced it has entered into two separate definitive agreements: one to acquire certain oil and gas assets from Sabinal Energy, LLC ('Sabinal'), and another to acquire entities owning oil and gas assets managed by IKAV Energy Inc (collectively 'IKAV San Juan'). The combined consideration for both transactions is approximately $1.3 billion, subject to customary terms, conditions, and closing price adjustments (collectively, the 'Transactions'). The Transactions are expected to close during the third quarter of 2025, each with an effective date of April 1, 2025. A conference call and webcast are planned for 8:00 a.m. CT, Thursday, July 10, 2025. Participation details can be found within this press release. Key Highlights Attractively Priced and Immediately Accretive to Cash Available for Distribution $1.3 billion aggregate purchase price represents a discount to PDP PV-10 Immediately accretive to cash available for distribution, while pro forma Mach maintains low leverage and a reinvestment rate below 50% Increases Scale with Permian Basin and San Juan Basin Entry Nearly doubles Mach's production, increasing from 81 Mboe/d to approximately 152 Mboe/d 1 Increases pro forma natural gas exposure from 53% to 66% Adds approximately 700,000 net acres—growing total acreage by 33% to 2.8 million acres Diversifies Asset Base Across Three Prolific Basins Establishes presence in the Permian and San Juan Basins, complementing Mach's existing Mid-Continent operations Creates a balanced production portfolio with approximately 55% exposure to the Mid-Continent and approximately 45% to the Permian and San Juan Basins Enhances capital allocation flexibility—supporting free cash flow optimization—across commodity cycles Opportunity to deploy a rig in the San Juan Dry Gas Mancos Shale in Spring 2026 based on pricing environment Enhances Strategic Growth Platform Increased scale strengthens Mach's operational reach and ability to pursue future accretive acquisitions Positions Mach as a natural consolidator in multiple basins—materially expanding the number of compelling acquisition opportunities Supports a more flexible approach to future acquisitions—which aligns with Mach's long-term commitment to value creation and unitholder returns ____________________________ 1 For pro forma production calculation, see table in the 'Pro Forma Mach' section of this press release. Expand Tom L. Ward, Chief Executive Officer of Mach, noted, 'These acquisitions are transformative for Mach. They not only strengthen our asset base but also advance the core pillars on which we've built the Company since our founding. With this step, we significantly enhance our scale and gain strategic multi-basin positioning, all while maintaining a resilient balance sheet. Most importantly, the transactions are expected to be immediately accretive to our cash available for distribution, underscoring our commitment to delivering long-term value to our unitholders.' Mark Teshoian, Co-Managing Partner of Kayne's Energy Private Equity practice, stated, 'We are excited to partner with Tom and the Mach team on this transformative transaction. Our firms share a common vision of aggregating shallow-decline, free cash flowing assets and creating value through a strong commitment to equity distributions. We believe the addition of the Sabinal assets to the Mach platform will significantly enhance its long-term success and position the Company for continued consolidation in the Permian.' Constantin von Wasserschleben, Chairman of IKAV, noted, 'We are excited to transition IKAV's San Juan assets into Mach Natural Resources and to become a significant shareholder of the Company. Mach's strong industrial logic aligns with our long-term vision for this exceptional asset and beyond. The return of a public Company to the basin underscores the deep value and long-term potential of the asset. With our outstanding local team and the strength of Mach's management team, we believe we can unlock even greater value in the basin. IKAV remains firmly committed to the belief that the world needs access to affordable and reliable energy.' Mach Chairman, Founder and Managing Partner of Bayou City Energy, William W. McMullen, commented, 'With these two transactions, we grew Mach's production by 88% and we will continue to look for consolidation opportunities given our conservative balance sheet.' William W. McMullen added, 'These acquisitions strengthen what is already the most attractive yield in the oil and gas space, and among the strongest yields available across the entire economy. We also welcome the partnerships with Kayne and IKAV as we continue to generate significant returns for all of our unitholders.' Permian Basin Entry Mach has agreed to acquire Sabinal's assets for an unadjusted purchase price of $500 million, subject to customary terms, conditions, and closing adjustments. Mach expects to fund the transaction with Sabinal with $300 million of equity consideration in the form of Mach common units, with the balance to be funded through a combination of cash on hand and borrowings under its Revolving Credit Facility. The acquired Sabinal assets include approximately 130,000 net acres. First quarter 2025 average production was approximately 11 Mboe/d, of which 98% was liquids, 2% was natural gas. San Juan Basin Entry Mach has agreed to purchase IKAV San Juan for an unadjusted purchase price of $787 million, subject to customary terms, conditions, and closing adjustments. Mach expects to fund the transaction with IKAV San Juan with $462 million of equity consideration in the form of Mach common units, with the balance to be funded through a combination of cash on hand and borrowings under its Revolving Credit Facility. IKAV San Juan's assets include approximately 570,000 net acres. First quarter 2025 average production was approximately 60 Mboe/d, of which 6% liquids, 94% was natural gas. Pro Forma Mach Pro forma Mach will operate across three distinct regions – the Mid-Continent, Permian and San Juan basins. The combined Company will have a diversified production base of approximately 152 Mboe/d2, in addition to a total of 2.8 million net acres which will support development activity for the foreseeable future. The standalone Mach figures below represent actual reported results for the three-month period ended March 31, 2025. Figures for Sabinal and IKAV San Juan represent actual results for the three-month period ended March 31, 2025. Details regarding the Transactions' impact to Mach's 2025 capital and volume guidance will be provided after closing. Standalone Mach Sabinal IKAV San Juan Pro Forma Mach Oil (MBbls/d) 20 10 - 30 NGLs (MBbls/d) 18 - 4 22 Natural Gas (MMcf/d) 258 2 336 596 Total Production (Mboe/d) 81 11 60 152 Commodity Mix 47% liquids / 53% gas 98% liquids / 2% gas 6% liquids / 94% gas 34% liquids / 66% gas Expand Financing Total consideration for the Transactions is $1.3 billion, subject to customary terms, conditions, and closing price adjustments. Mach plans to fund the Transactions through an aggregate combination of $762 million in Mach common units and $525 million from cash on hand and borrowings under its Revolving Credit Facility. Concurrently with closing, Mach expects its credit facility borrowing base and elected commitment will expand. Conference Call and Webcast Information Mach will host a conference call and webcast at 8:00 a.m. Central (9:00 a.m. Eastern) on Thursday, July 10, 2025, to discuss its announcement. Supplemental slides will be posted to the Company's website. Participants can access the conference call by dialing 877-407-2984. A webcast link to the conference call will be provided on the Company's website at A replay will also be available on the Company's website following the call. ____________________________ 2 For pro forma production calculation, see table in the 'Pro Forma Mach' section of this press release. Expand Advisors Moelis & Company and Truist Securities are serving as financial advisors and Kirkland & Ellis is serving as legal advisor on Sabinal for Mach. Moelis & Company is serving as financial advisor and Vinson & Elkins is serving as legal advisor on IKAV San Juan for Mach. Wells Fargo is serving as financial advisor and Haynes and Boone, LLP is serving as legal advisor for IKAV Energy Inc. RBC Capital Markets is serving as financial advisor and Vinson & Elkins is serving as legal advisor for Sabinal Energy, LLC. About Mach Natural Resources LP Mach Natural Resources LP is an independent upstream oil and gas Company focused on the acquisition, development and production of oil, natural gas and NGL reserves in the Anadarko Basin region of Western Oklahoma, Southern Kansas and the panhandle of Texas. For more information, please visit Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements Certain statements in this press release concerning future opportunities for the Company, future financial performance and condition, guidance and any other statements regarding the Company's future expectations, beliefs, plans, objectives, financial conditions, returns to unitholders assumptions or future events or performance that are not historical facts are 'forward-looking' statements based on assumptions currently believed to be valid. Forward-looking statements are all statements other than statements of historical facts. The words 'anticipate,' 'believe,' 'ensure,' 'expect,' 'if,' 'intend,' 'estimate,' 'probable,' 'project,' 'forecasts,' 'predict,' 'outlook,' 'aim,' 'will,' 'could,' 'should,' 'would,' 'potential,' 'may,' 'might,' 'anticipate,' 'likely' 'plan,' 'positioned,' 'strategy,' and similar expressions or other words of similar meaning, and the negatives thereof, are intended to identify forward-looking statements. Specific forward-looking statements include statements regarding the Company's plans and expectations with respect to the Transactions and the anticipated impact of the Transactions on the Company's results of operations, financial position, growth opportunities, reserve estimates and competitive position. The forward-looking statements are intended to be subject to the safe harbor provided by Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These forward-looking statements are based on management's current belief, based on currently available information as to the outcome and timing of future events at the time such statement was made. Such statements are subject to a number of assumptions, risk and uncertainties, many of which are beyond the control of the Company. These include, but are not limited to, the satisfaction of conditions to the closing of the Transactions, the Company's future financial condition, results of operations, strategy and plans; the ability of the Company to realize anticipated synergies related to the Transactions in the timeframe expected or at all; changes in capital markets and the ability of the Company to finance operations in the manner expected; the effects of commodity prices; and the risks of oil and gas activities. Additionally, risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those anticipated also include: commodity price volatility; the impact of epidemics, outbreaks or other public health events, and the related effects on financial markets, worldwide economic activity and our operations; uncertainties about our estimated oil, natural gas and natural gas liquids reserves, including the impact of commodity price declines on the economic producibility of such reserves, and in projecting future rates of production; the concentration of our operations in the Anadarko Basin; difficult and adverse conditions in the domestic and global capital and credit markets; lack of transportation and storage capacity as a result of oversupply, government regulations or other factors; lack of availability of drilling and production equipment and services; potential financial losses or earnings reductions resulting from our commodity price risk management program or any inability to manage our commodity risks; failure to realize expected value creation from property acquisitions and trades; access to capital and the timing of development expenditures; environmental, weather, drilling and other operating risks; regulatory changes, including potential shut-ins or production curtailments mandated by the Railroad Commission of Texas, the Oklahoma Corporation Commission and/or the Kansas Corporation Commission; competition in the oil and natural gas industry; loss of production and leasehold rights due to mechanical failure or depletion of wells and our inability to re-establish their production; our ability to service our indebtedness; any downgrades in our credit ratings that could negatively impact our cost of and ability to access capital; cost inflation; the potential for significant new tariffs and their impact on global oil, natural gas and NGL markets; political and economic conditions and events in foreign oil and natural gas producing countries, including embargoes, continued hostilities in the Middle East and other sustained military campaigns, the war in Ukraine and associated economic sanctions on Russia, conditions in South America, Central America, China and Russia, and acts of terrorism or sabotage; evolving cybersecurity risks such as those involving unauthorized access, denial-of-service attacks, malicious software, data privacy breaches by employees, insiders or others with authorized access, cyber or phishing-attacks, ransomware, social engineering, physical breaches or other actions; and risks related to our ability to expand our business, including through the recruitment and retention of qualified personnel. Please read the Company's filings with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (the 'SEC'), including 'Risk Factors' in the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K and any additional subsequent reports and other documents on file with the SEC, for a discussion of risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ from those in such forward-looking statements. As a result, these forward-looking statements are not a guarantee of our performance, and you should not place undue reliance on such statements. Any forward-looking statement speaks only as of the date on which such statement is made, and the Company undertakes no obligation to correct or update any forward-looking statement, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.
TechCrunch
17-06-2025
- Business
- TechCrunch
Two-year-old defense tech Mach Industries confirms $100M raise led by Khosla, Bedrock
Rising-star defense tech Mach Industries has announced a new $100 million round of funding at a $470 million valuation. TechCrunch first reported that this deal was in the works last month. New investor Keith Rabois from Khosla Ventures joins existing investor Geoff Lewis of Bedrock Capital to lead the round. Existing investor Sequoia also participated. The fresh funding brings the startup's total raised to about $185 million to date. The round represents a modest step up from the company's previous valuation. When Mach announced its Series A funding in October 2023, investors assigned the company a $335 million post-money valuation. This means the latest round's $470 million post-money to pre-money valuation is essentially flat, representing just $35 million in additional value over the past year and a half. Mach Industries' rise in the defense tech world has been nothing short of meteoric, even if its latest funding round suggests investor enthusiasm is cautious. It was founded in 2023 by then 19-year-old CEO Ethan Thornton, who dropped out of MIT to work full time on the company. In June 2023, he landed Sequoia's Stephanie Zhan and Shaun Maguire as investors who led Mach's $5.7 million seed round. Geoff Lewis, founder of Bedrock Capital, led Mach's $79 million Series A a few months later. Within the last year, Mach has grown from about 20 employees to 140, Thornton tells TechCrunch. The startup has designed three weapons systems: a super light jet-powered vertical takeoff and landing unmanned aerial vehicle called Viper that requires no runway; a high-altitude glider plane that can strike targets from miles away at the edge of the atmosphere, named Glide; and Stratos an in-air satellite with sensors and communication capabilities that can operate at extreme altitudes. The company has also secured significant contracts and infrastructure investments. Earlier this year, Mach was selected by the Army Applications Laboratory to develop a vertical takeoff precision cruise missile and announced plans for its first factory — a 115,000-square foot facility in Huntington Beach, California. Techcrunch event Save $200+ on your TechCrunch All Stage pass Build smarter. Scale faster. Connect deeper. Join visionaries from Precursor Ventures, NEA, Index Ventures, Underscore VC, and beyond for a day packed with strategies, workshops, and meaningful connections. Save $200+ on your TechCrunch All Stage pass Build smarter. Scale faster. Connect deeper. Join visionaries from Precursor Ventures, NEA, Index Ventures, Underscore VC, and beyond for a day packed with strategies, workshops, and meaningful connections. Boston, MA | REGISTER NOW Mach's goal is to create weapons with 'the ability to carry out strikes at very long ranges,' Thornton said. But the fast-growth of his young company has been an whirlwind experience. He remembers moving into the company's first office in Cambridge, Mass., just two years ago, when the company was so pinched for cash that he and founding team member Ashton Bennett hand-built the office furniture, college-dorm style. 'Like, we went to Home Depot, bought a bunch of plywood, bought a bunch of 2x4s, and built all the furniture ourselves,' he told TechCrunch via video conference from a room that now features commercial office furniture. 'I'd say we're still equally scrappy, but now it's very, very exciting to have a full factory and a team [that's] equal parts industry veterans who've done this before' and those new to the defense industry. The founder also says he's aware of the gravity of building weapons during a time of unprecedented advances in AI and global political unrest. He points to Ukraine's drone 'Spider Web' attack on Russian bombers as an example of the new kind of pinpointed, AI-powered warfare that has already arrived. Thornton believes that his company, along with other young defense tech contenders, are building weapons for this new reality more affordably than traditional defense contractor offerings. He emphasizes that his work is done in conjunction with layers of national defense decision makers. 'The work we do is done in direct contact with the State Department, with the Department of Defense, with Congressional members,' he says. Moving forward, Mach will use the new funding to build out manufacturing capabilities and develop several new products in R&D that Thornton won't publicly discuss yet, including some kind of new propulsion engine.
Campaign ME
12-06-2025
- Business
- Campaign ME
What are the biggest ‘campaign worries' for UAE B2B marketers?
In today's high-stakes, highly complex B2B landscape, 91 per cent of B2B marketers surveyed in the UAE say that grabbing audience attention is their biggest campaign worry, while 66 per cent say that investing in video is imperative to not lose out to competitors, according to new research from LinkedIn. 66 per cent of B2B marketers say that investing in video is imperative to not lose out to competitors. The LinkedIn '2025 B2B Marketer Sentiment Research' that surveyed more than 3,000 B2B marketers across 13 countries – including the UAE, UK, USA, France, Germany, Netherlands Spain, Italy, Sweden, Brazil, Singapore, India, and Australia – reveals that 76 per cent of B2B marketers in the UAE, and 80 per cent globally feel they need to invest in creative strategies to stand out because it's more competitive these days. 76 per cent of B2B marketers in the UAE feel they need in invest in creative strategies. However, creativity still needs to make its case in the boardroom. Senior-level marketing leaders are clear that creative ideas and video will influence purchase decisions, but they're being forced to rely on more traditional and stale tactics over experimental ones, with 83 per cent of UAE CMOs and VPs saying their leadership is risk averse. 83 per cent of UAE CMOs and VPs saying their leadership is risk averse. Effective strategies to drive direct sales: B2B video and influencer marketing As B2B marketers continue to do more with less and face increasing pressure to demonstrate impact on the bottom line. Close to 97 per cent of B2B marketers in the UAE say video and 98 per cent say influencer marketing are among the most effective strategies to gain direct sales in the current landscape. Short-form video in B2B helps marketers build trust with audiences (72 per cent) and reach decision makers (72 per cent), and short-form influencer video content is emerging as the top investment priority for marketers. 66 per cent of B2B marketers say that their marketing strategy is incomplete today without influencer and creator partnerships. The research also uncovers that building authentic and credible brands is a top priority for B2B marketers, and influencer and creator partnerships can help achieve this. Approximately 66 per cent of B2B marketers say that their marketing strategy is incomplete today without influencer and creator partnerships, and 91 per cent are confident that influencer marketing campaigns will directly lead to sales by the end of the year. B2B buying is becoming more complex, and according to Forrester's 2025 B2B Marketing and Sales Predictions, younger B2B buyers are relying on 10 or more external sources – including social media and peer networks – when making purchase decisions. Jessica Machalani, Head of LinkedIn Marketing Solutions MENA, said, 'Today's B2B buyers, 71% of whom are Gen Z or millennials, are engaging with brands in entirely new ways. Video now plays a central role in how they discover, evaluate and connect.' Machalani added, 'To earn a spot on their shortlist, brands need to show up where it matters – in the content they watch, the creators they trust, and the stories that resonate. Earning their engagement means being more human and more relatable – connecting through meaningful touchpoints like compelling video, thought leadership, and credible, expert-driven influencer marketing.' To address the concerns stated by marketers, and to help them cut through the noise, LinkedIn recently expanded video advertising capabilities, introducing first impression ads, reserved ads, and expanded CTV ads capabilities. It has also teamed up with Adobe to make video ad creation easier.
Yahoo
05-06-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Developers propose affordable housing complex on Appleway Drive in Kalispell
Jun. 5—Kalispell may see a new workforce housing complex located alongside the Parkline Trail and within walking distance of downtown. Mach LLC, an affordable housing developer, is proposing a 24-unit apartment complex off Appleway Drive just south of U.S. 2. Known as the Outpost at Kalispell, the development will boast a mix of one- and two-bedroom apartments geared toward households making from 50% to 60% of the area median income, which is roughly $102,000, according to government-sponsored enterprise Fannie Mae. The apartments — one-bedroom units will encompass 714 square feet while two-bedroom units will come in at 954 square feet — will be rented at roughly 30% below the average market rate. "Really hitting the workforce income level," said Matt Belles of Mach. Three of the units will be set aside for veterans, victims of domestic violence or young people aging out of foster care, according to Mach. The apartments will be fitted with electric kitchen appliances, in-unit washer and dryers, and a balcony or patio. But before the development can come to fruition, Mach is asking for $8.5 million from the 2026 Montana Housing Tax Credit program, overseen by the Montana Board of Housing to support the construction or preservation of affordable homes. The awarding of the tax credits will be announced in October, according to Mach's Grant Schnell. The entire project is estimated at around $8.7 million. While the program is competitive, Schnell is optimistic. Mach is the only applicant in Flathead County. Other developments are proposed in Anaconda, Missoula and Billings. Mach and co-developer TE Miller are both behind previous developments in Kalispell but have never built affordable housing in the city. "Basically, our focus is on affordable housing in the state of Montana as well as the Mountain West," Schnell said. The Community Action Partnership of Northwest Montana is partnering with the developers on the project. The nonprofit connects individuals with community programs like heating and rental assistance. Partnering with a nonprofit ensures that rents remain affordable, and Director of Project Development Cassidy Kipp said that Community Action Partnership will engage residents with services it provides that promote self-sustainability. "We will do everything in our power to support responsible growth of affordable housing," she said. Kalispell is a tough place to develop in because of high construction and land costs, but workforce housing is a necessity in the Flathead Valley, Schnell said. He plans to go through the city approval process after the funds are awarded. "We want to be good stewards of the community and know we're going to need to be good neighbors as well," Belles said. Reporter Jack Underhill may be reached at 758-4407 and junderhill@
