DIRS.INFO The most relevant business & tech news

Lebanese authorities have said that the devices used in the attacks were Gold Apollo Rugged Pager AR-924 pagers and ICOM IC-V82 walkie-talkies. The logo of Taiwanese company Gold Apollo is seen outside its office in New Taipei City on September 18, 2024. Yan Zhao/AFP/Getty ImagesThe chairman and founder of Taiwan-based Gold Apollo, Hsu Ching-kuang, was questioned by Taiwanese prosecutors last Thursday before being released. On its YouTube channel and website, Apollo Systems HK said that it had acquired the “sole distribution rights” to Gold Apollo pager systems. Hsu Ching-kuang (L), head of Taiwanese company Gold Apollo, speaks to the media outside the company's office in New Taipei City on September 18, 2024.

Persons: Budapest CNN — Israel, Yoav Gallant, “, Shin, Israel, Sean Moorhouse, ” Moorhouse, Mohamed Azakir, –, Gold, ICOM, Yan Zhao, Hsu Ching, Hsu, Teresa, Teresa Wu, Wu, Jakub Porzycki, Cristiana, Arcidiacono, ’, DANS, Dimitar Glavchev, Rinson Jose, Jose, Hassan Nasrallah, ” Nasrallah, ”, Hassan Ammar, Volker Türk, Pallabi Munsi, Katie Polglase, Tara John, Eyad Kourdi, Avery Schmitz Organizations: Budapest CNN, Getty, Israel, CNN, British Army, American University of, American University of Beirut Medical Center, Reuters, United Nations, UN Security, UN, International, New York Times, Consulting, Budapest, Gold, Prosecutors, BAC Consulting, Apollo Systems Ltd, Taiwan’s International Trade Administration, Apollo Systems, Apollo Systems HK, YouTube, Apollo, AA, ”, NBC News, Norta Global, Norta, Norwegian Police Security Service, Security, “ Authorities Locations: Beirut, New Taipei City, Budapest, Lebanon, Beirut's, AFP, American University of Beirut, Taiwan, Hungary, Taipei, Taipei City, Hong Kong, United States, Australia, Europe, Bulgaria, Norway, Anadolu, pagers, Sofia, Norwegian, Gaza

☆ How pagers turned into explosive devices in Lebanon
▼ + stars: | 2024-09-20 | by ( Bruna Horvath | Bruna Horvath Is An Intern On Nbc News' Tech Team. | ) www.nbcnews.com time to read: +6 min

Pagers, devices that are used every day as a crucial form of communication for health care professionals, became a deadly weapon Tuesday as thousands of them simultaneously exploded in Lebanon, killing 37 people and injuring thousands. The explosions targeted the militant and political group Hezbollah, after the devices had reportedly begun beeping and heating up. Pagers are wireless communication devices that receive radio signals from short- or long-range paging networks. The pagers that exploded in Lebanon were made to appear as if they were Gold Apollo’s AR-924 pagers, but The New York Times reported that they were actually created by Israeli intelligence workers. Following the explosions on Tuesday, Hezbollah told Al Jazeera that the “treacherous and criminal enemy will certainly be punished for this aggressive act.”How did the pagers explode?

Persons: Al Jazeera, ” Israel, Mohamed Azakir, Amer Al Sabaileh, Matthew Pines, ” “, John Brennan, ” Brennan, Muhammad Mahdi, Firas Abiad, Mojtaba Amani Organizations: Hezbollah, New York Times, Consulting KFT, Consulting, NBC News, ”, American University of, American University of Beirut Medical Center, Strategic Advisory, CIA, National News Agency, Lebanese, Cross, American University of Beirut Medical Locations: Lebanon, Israel, Hungarian, Hungary, American University of Beirut, Syria

A photo taken on September 18, 2024, in Beirut's southern suburbs shows the remains of exploded pagers on display at an undisclosed location. “The design and manufacturing of the products are solely the responsibility of BAC,” Gold Apollo said. The allegations raise further questions as to who manufactured the devices and just how they made their way into Hezbollah’s pockets. Hungarian authorities denied Gold Apollo’s suggestion, saying that the Budapest-registered company “is a trading intermediary” with no manufacturing sites in the country. CNN has attempted to reach BAC at the address listed for its office, located in a residential area of Budapest.

Persons: Hsu Ching, kuang, Hsu, Gold, International Communication Zoltan Kovacs, Kovacs, ” Organizations: Getty, Consulting, ”, International Communication, CNN Locations: Beirut's, AFP, Lebanon, Budapest, Hungarian, Hungary, ” Hungary’s

Images of the destroyed pagers showed that they bore stickers from Taiwan-based Gold Apollo, Reuters reported. In a statement, Gold Apollo identified the other company as the Hungary-based BAC. Reached by phone on Wednesday, a spokesperson for Gold Apollo declined to comment further, citing the ongoing investigation. The explosions on Tuesday come amid rising concern that tensions between Israel and Lebanon could spiral into all-out war. Hsu of Gold Apollo said he also felt he had been victimized and was considering filing a lawsuit.

Persons: Hsu Ching, kuang, ” Hsu, ”, “, Mohamed Azakir, Jeanine Hennis, Matthew Miller, Muhammad Mahdi, Ali Ammar, Hsu, Gold Apollo Organizations: Reuters, of Economic Affairs, NBC News, Hamas, . Security, American University of, American University of Beirut Medical Center, U.S . Locations: HONG KONG, Taiwan, Lebanon, Iran, Israel, Europe, New Taipei, Hungary, Beijing, United States, Gaza, Israeli, American University of Beirut, U.S

CNN has attempted to reach BAC through the website that Gold Apollo gave to reporters. Later, the company told Gold Apollo it wished to make its own pagers and asked for the right to use its brand, he added. Taipei has no record of Gold Apollo pagers being shipped to Lebanon, the ministry said in a statement, adding it will continue to investigate. The logo of Taiwanese company Gold Apollo is seen outside its office in New Taipei City on September 18. Hsu founded Gold Apollo with 100 million New Taiwan dollars ($3.1 million) in capital in 1995, according to Taiwan’s corporate registry.

Persons: Hsu Ching, kuang, ” Hsu, “ I’ve, Apollo’s pagers, Hsu, Johnson Lai, Gold Apollo, Gold, ”, Yan Zhao, Hassan Nasrallah, pagers Organizations: New, Hong Kong CNN, New York Times, CNN, Consulting, BAC, Taiwan’s Ministry of Economic Affairs, Getty, Taiwan’s Commonwealth Magazine, FBI Locations: New Taipei City, Hong Kong, Lebanon, Israel, Taiwan, Europe, Budapest, United States, Australia, Taipei, AFP, Iran

☆ Sony and Apollo’s Plan for Paramount: Break It Up
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-08 | by ( Benjamin Mullin | Lauren Hirsch | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

Shari Redstone helped build Paramount Global into a sprawling media empire, but if Sony Pictures Entertainment and private-equity giant Apollo Global Management succeed in acquiring it, they plan to break it all up, according to three people familiar with the matter. Paramount Pictures — home to blockbusters like “The Godfather,” “Top Gun” and the “Mission Impossible” franchise — would be combined with Sony’s existing business. They have not yet outlined this plan to Paramount or its advisers. CBS and Paramount have been controlled by the Redstone family for decades, since the media mogul Sumner Redstone assembled the sprawling conglomerate in a series of audacious deals. His daughter, Shari Redstone, championed a 2019 deal to reunite it through a merger with CBS, and remains Paramount’s controlling shareholder.

Persons: Shari Redstone, SpongeBob, Sumner Redstone Organizations: Paramount, Sony Pictures Entertainment, Apollo Global Management, CBS, MTV, Paramount Pictures, Sony

Paramount’s proposed merger with Skydance has been the most tumultuous media deal in years. Now it has taken yet another turn after the exclusivity period for negotiations expired without an agreement in hand. Paramount shareholders grumbled that granting exclusivity was a mistake, and that the company should have engaged with Apollo instead. This week, the special committee told Skydance that it was letting the exclusivity period lapse. But it does allow Paramount to open up negotiations with Apollo and Sony Pictures Entertainment, which joined Apollo’s bid.

Persons: Paramount’s, Skydance, David Ellison — Organizations: Apollo Global Management, Paramount, Skydance, Apollo, Sony Pictures Entertainment

☆ Sony in Talks to Join a Bid to Buy Paramount
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-18 | by ( Benjamin Mullin | Lauren Hirsch | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

Even as Paramount, the home of the “Top Gun” movie franchise and “SpongeBob SquarePants,” continues its talks to merge with another media company, Skydance, a new suitor has emerged. Sony Pictures Entertainment and Apollo Global Management, an investment firm, have been in discussions about teaming up for a joint bid to acquire Paramount, two people familiar with the situation said Thursday. The two companies have not submitted an official bid, as Paramount is still in exclusive conversations with Skydance, said the people, who were granted anonymity to discuss delicate negotiations. Apollo previously reached out to Paramount about buying the company for at least $26 billion, including debt. A joint bid with Sony would almost certainly reduce those concerns, adding operational experience and additional capital to Apollo’s already significant war chest.

Persons: SpongeBob, ”, Skydance, Paramount’s Organizations: Paramount, Sony Pictures Entertainment, Apollo Global Management, Sony Locations: Apollo’s

As Paramount, the media company that’s the home of the “Top Gun” franchise and Nickelodeon, was preparing to enter exclusive talks to sell itself to the media company Skydance, another suitor emerged. Apollo Global Management, the investment firm, told Paramount over the weekend that it was interested in acquiring the entire company for more than $26 billion, including the value of Paramount’s debt, according to two people with knowledge of the matter. It had previously submitted an $11 billion offer to acquire just the Paramount movie studio. Paramount decided not to engage with Apollo’s overture, the people said, with one person explaining that doing so could have derailed its advancing negotiations with Skydance, which became exclusive this week. Apollo said in a letter to Paramount that it was interested in buying out all the company’s shareholders in cash, which could be enticing as the board seeks to strike a deal that not only pleases Shari Redstone, who controls Paramount, but also the company’s common shareholders.

Persons: Apollo’s, Apollo, Shari Redstone Organizations: Paramount, Nickelodeon, Apollo Global Management, CBS, Skydance

☆ From million-dollar private boxes to carpooling on private jets, here's how billionaires are doing the Super Bowl
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-09 | by ( Madeline Berg | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +6 min

The Super Bowl has always been a draw for billionaires and powerful executives. Elon Musk and Rupert Murdoch at the Super Bowl on Sunday. For an extra $10,000 to $250,000, Carrega arranges in-suite meet-and-greets, pre-game huddles, and photo ops with former Super Bowl champions or commentators. Kevin Mazur/Getty ImagesWhen it comes to accommodations, Vegas is proving easier than many other Super Bowl destinations, Brown said. Charter service VistaJet , whose private flights cost between $14,000 and $25,000 an hour, recorded a 25% increase in flight bookings over last year’s Super Bowl.

Persons: —, Taylor Swift, Hunt, Denise York, Elon Musk, Rupert Murdoch, ’ Michael Rubin's, Josh Harris, Robert Kraft, Goldman Sachs, David Solomon, Caitlin O’Hara, ” Elisabeth Brown, Barnabas Carrega, they're, Brown, “ Price, ” Carrega, Carrega, ” Brown, ” She’s, Savage, Kevin Mazur, Wynn, Leona Qi, you’re, ” Qi, “, ” Organizations: Service, Business, Chiefs, 49ers, Forbes, Patriots, Reuters, “, Knightsbridge, Super, Vegas, Davos Locations: Las Vegas, Sin City, Las, Tampa , Florida, Vegas, “

☆ Private-asset binge exposes insurance to new risks
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-30 | by ( John Foley | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +7 min

The concept is not new: Warren Buffett’s Berkshire Hathaway (BRKa.N) has used its insurance premiums to help fund everything from railways to cowboy-boot makers. The prospect of insurance companies buying risky loans or private equity investments has raised eyebrows. Many private credit assets, for example, rely on so-called private letter ratings based on confidential data. Given the private nature of private credit, it’s hard to see from the outside how big these risks are, or where they lurk. Besides, even if the share of life insurance assets that are mis-rated or undercapitalized is tiny, smaller insurers could carry more concentrated risk.

Persons: Blackstone, Warren Buffett’s Berkshire Hathaway, Fitch, Kroll, Egan, Jones, DBRS Morningstar, Banks, SVB, Jonathan Guilford, Neil Unmack, Peter Thal Larsen, Oliver Taslic Organizations: Reuters, Apollo Global Management, KKR, Global Atlantic, Investments, National Association of Insurance, England’s Everton FC, Rivals, Reuters Graphics Reuters, Federal Reserve, Federal Deposit Insurance Corp, Athene, P Global, Insurance, SVB, Thomson Locations: Global, Delaware , New York, Iowa, New York, London

☆ Apollo Global’s CSO Talks About Knitting Sustainability Into the Culture
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-29 | by ( Rochelle Toplensky | ) www.wsj.com time to read: +9 min

A sustainability veteran with more than 24 years’ experience, Stangis has built sustainability teams at both Intel and Campbell Soup . WSJ Pro: Do you have a favorite sustainable product or service, that isn’t an Apollo company? In terms of our regulatory reporting, we made some great progress, but it’s also helping and building the tools for our portfolio companies. Stangis: We’ve got data from all of our portfolio companies from surveys of 100-plus questions every year. So our portfolio companies, they’re literally doing sustainability reporting to us, we’re compiling it and then making that public.

Persons: Dave Stangis, Stangis, Campbell, it’s, we’ve, I’ve, —, We’ve, they’re, we’re, Rochelle Toplensky Organizations: Apollo Global Management, Intel, Pro, Business, Campbell Soup Company, WSJ, Private Equity, Flagship Fund, Apollo, Rochelle, rochelle.toplensky@wsj.com Locations: Europe, Asia, Paris, Detroit, U.S, Russia, Ukraine, decarbonize, we’ve

☆ Hong Kong finance summit tiptoes around China
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-09 | by ( Peter Thal Larsen | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +7 min

HONG KONG, Nov 9 (Reuters Breakingviews) - Hong Kong in November enjoys a pleasant climate that some local managers dub “chairman weather”. Hong Kong is hardly a hot destination for financiers right now. Companies raised just $2.7 billion from initial public offerings in Hong Kong in the quarter, a fraction of previous years. Hong Kong officials including John Lee, the territory’s chief executive, have been sanctioned by the U.S.. Follow @peter_tl on XCONTEXT NEWSThe Global Financial Leaders’ Summit was held in Hong Kong from Nov. 6 to Nov. 8.

Persons: Marc Rowan, Colm Kelleher, Morgan Stanley, Goldman Sachs, David Solomon, Jane Fraser, Ken Griffin, Hong, John Lee, Eddie Yue, Kung, Zhang Qingsong, Bob Prince, Mark Wiedman, Apollo’s Rowan, UBS’s Kelleher, Joseph Yam, Una Galani, Thomas Shum Organizations: Reuters, Apollo Global Management, UBS, Monetary Fund, Companies, Citigroup, Citadel, Hong Kong Monetary Authority, Hong Kong’s HK, Exchange, People’s Bank of China, Bridgewater Associates, BlackRock, Goldman, Bank for International, Global, ’, Thomson Locations: HONG KONG, Hong Kong, Europe, U.S, China . Hong Kong, China, People’s Republic, Hong, British, Singapore, BLK.N, ”

☆ Private equity superstores overstock the shelves
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-08 | by ( Liam Proud | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +8 min

LONDON, Nov 8 (Reuters Breakingviews) - Private equity investors seem happier these days shopping for returns at specialty shops over supermarkets. U.S. private equity funds raised some $240 billion in the first nine months of 2023, according to research outfit PitchBook, 13% less than a year earlier. New York-based CD&R in August raised $26 billion for its 12th-generation private equity fund while Eurocentric CVC managed an even more eye-popping $29 billion in July. A better explanation, from the consultants who advise LPs on where to put their cash, is that private equity supermarkets may be cannibalising themselves. Until they can prove otherwise, the more scattered private equity superstores risk losing more ground to the specialists.

Persons: Clayton, Blackstone, Steve Schwarzman, Marc Rowan, don’t, Rowan, Rob Lucas, Blackstone’s, they’re, Lucas, Jeffrey Goldfarb, Thomas Shum Organizations: Reuters, Rice, CVC Capital Partners, Apollo Global Management, Blackstone Capital Partners IX, “, IX, CVC, Apollo, Blackstone, U.S, Thomson Locations: Dubilier, New York, Blackstone, Asia, Luxembourg, Europe, Americas

☆ Apollo may get noodle LBO thrown back in its face
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-12 | by ( Aimee Donnellan | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

The private equity firm has offered to buy Wagamama owner Restaurant Group (RTN.L) for 701 million pounds including debt. Restaurant Group is an obvious takeover target. And Restaurant Group itself reckons it can crank up its EBITDA margin by as much as 3.5 percentage points by 2026. Apollo could comfortably double its money, assuming it used debt of around 300 million pounds to buy the business, or 3 times 2024 EBITDA. The deal is being undertaken by a special purpose vehicle indirectly owned by Apollo Funds, managed by affiliates of Apollo Global Management.

Persons: Andy Hornby, Frankie, Jefferies, John Wood, Neil Unmack, Oliver Taslic Organizations: Reuters, Restaurant, Irenic Capital, Oasis Management, Apollo Group, Restaurant Group, Apollo Funds, Apollo Global Management, Thomson Locations: Britain

NEW YORK (AP) — In just four songs on his latest EP, “Live For Me,” Omar Apollo processes death, grief, acceptance and the lack of it — big, traumatic emotions — through intimate, lush sounds. The EP, out Friday, follows Apollo’s 2022 debut album “Ivory” and a 2023 Grammy nomination for best new artist. APOLLO: A lot of the songs I write are emotions that I dealt with or am dealing with at that time. APOLLO: The only thing I can hope for is for (fans) to be inspired in whatever way they choose. I’m up there trying my hardest, sweating, you know, out of breath, just trying to put on a good show.

Persons: ” Omar Apollo, ”, It’s, Sabrina Bahsoon, Daniel Caesar, Montell, “, Doron Langberg, I’ve, SZA, …, ’, you’ve, TESLA, Lil Yachty Organizations: —, Associated Press Locations: London, Indiana

☆ Apollo’s divergent path outshines Blackstone
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-28 | by ( Jonathan Guilford | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +7 min

NEW YORK, Sept 28 (Reuters Breakingviews) - Apollo Global Management (APO.N) and Blackstone (BX.N) both emerged from private equity’s primordial swamp. That spread comprised nearly three-quarters of Apollo’s $3.1 billion in profit available to be doled out to shareholders in 2022. That turbo-charged the fees Blackstone reaps from managing funds, which contributed 59% of $6.6 billion in profit available to shareholders last year. Apollo’s earnings from its insurance business are awarded an even more meager 10 times. This doesn’t form the closed loop like that between Athene, Apollo and its various specialist lenders.

Persons: Marc Rowan, haven’t, dealmaking, Rowan, Blackstone, Steve Schwarzman, Athene, BREIT, Rich, reckons Bain, Schwarzman, Dealmaking, hasn’t, Lauren Silva Laughlin, Oliver Taslic Organizations: Reuters, Apollo Global Management, Blackstone, Apollo, Reuters Graphics Reuters, Barclays, Schwarzman, U.S . Federal, Industry, Life Insurance, Research Association, Thomson Locations: freefall, BREIT, Blackstone

☆ Meet Apollo, the ‘iPhone’ of humanoid robots
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-23 | by ( Ashley Strickland | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +9 min

The design for Apptronik’s latest humanoid robot, named Apollo, was unveiled on Wednesday. Apollo is Apptronik's latest humanoid robot. Rather than highly specialized robots that can only serve one purpose, Apptronik wanted Apollo to be the “iPhone of robots,” Cardenas said. Courtesy ApptronikBefore Apollo, Apptronik focused on what it called a Quick Development humanoid robot. To the moon and beyondApptronik serves as one of NASA’s partners that works on humanoid robot designs.

Persons: Argodesign, Apollo, “, ”, Jeff Cardenas, Bill Stafford, ” Cardenas, Shaun Azimi, NASA’s, Cardenas, Apptronik, Nick Paine, ” Paine, Paine, ” Azimi, Artemis VI, Azimi Organizations: Austin , Texas CNN, Austin, University of Texas, NASA, JSC, DARPA, Space Center, International Locations: Austin , Texas, Houston, Australia, uncrewed, Apptronik

☆ Metal detectorists find 2,000-year-old Iron Age gold treasure in Welsh first
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-15 | by ( Amarachi Orie | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +4 min

CNN —Gold coins dating back more than 2,000 years have been found by metal detectorists in Wales, making them the first hoard of Iron Age gold coins to have been discovered in the country. The precious metals were unearthed by three metal detectorists in a field between July 2021 and March 2022. ‘Rich archaeological landscape’The gold coins’ elaborate design derives from those of Philip II, who ruled the ancient kingdom of Macedonia from 359 BC to 336 BC. The gold coins' elaborate design derives from those of Philip II. The staters could also have been used as “offerings to the gods” to fulfill a vow, according to National Museum Wales.

Persons: Lloyd Roberts, ”, Museum Wales Roberts, Peter Cockton, Tim Watson, “, ” Watson, Watson, ‘, Philip II, Sean Derby Organizations: CNN, National Museum Wales, Amgueddfa Cymru, Museum Wales, Museum Wales Another, Gwynedd Archaeological, Environment, Oriel Locations: Wales, Anglesey, East Midlands, Macedonia, Gwynedd, North, West Wales

☆ Leon Black agrees to pay $62.5 million to avoid Jeffrey Epstein-related lawsuits in the US Virgin Islands
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-04 | by ( Samantha Delouya | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +3 min

CNN —Billionaire investor Leon Black struck a multi-million dollar settlement with the government of the US Virgin Islands to avoid any legal claims tied to a Jeffrey Epstein sex-trafficking investigation. According to a settlement document obtained by CNN, Black agreed in January to pay the Virgin Islands government $62.5 million in cash. In exchange, the Virgin Islands released Black from any current and future legal claims related to Jeffrey Epstein. There is no suggestion in the USVI settlement that Mr. Black was aware of or participated in any misconduct.”Black has faced a number of accusations and lawsuits over his ties to Jeffrey Epstein. Last month, the Virgin Islands government said it is seeking $190 million in penalties and disgorgement from JPMorgan Chase, alleging that the bank benefited financially from Epstein’s sex trafficking operation.

Persons: Leon Black, Jeffrey Epstein, Black, ” Whit Clay, ” Black, Epstein, Epstein —, —, ”, Clay, “, JPM Organizations: CNN — Billionaire, CNN, Virgin, Virgin Islands, New York Times, ”, Apollo Global Management, Apollo, ” Forbes, Finance, US, US Virgin Islands, JPMorgan Chase, JPMorgan Locations: U.S, US Virgin

☆ Homebuyers must ‘learn to live’ with near-7% mortgage rates, says RE/MAX chairman
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-14 | by ( Matt Egan | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +4 min

After all, he recalls the early 1980s when the Federal Reserve’s war on inflation briefly spiked mortgage rates above 18%. “Everyone has been spoiled by the past 15 years of low interest rates,” Liniger, now the chairman of RE/MAX, told CNN. Mortgage rates climbed to 6.96% during the week ending July 13, up from 6.81% the week before, Freddie Mac said Thursday. “We’re just going to have to learn to live with 6.5% or 7% mortgage rates for six to 18 months,” said Liniger. ‘This is the top’Lawrence Yun, chief economist at the National Association of Realtors, is more optimistic about the direction of mortgage rates.

Persons: Dave Liniger, ” Liniger, Freddie Mac, That’s, Liniger, “ We’re, ”, Lawrence Yun, ” Yun, ” Torsten Slok, it’s, Yun, there’s Organizations: New, New York CNN, Federal, CNN, National Association of Realtors, Apollo Group Locations: New York, America

☆ Reddit users bombard site with John Oliver pictures in latest protest over new policy
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-23 | by ( Brian Fung | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +5 min

CNN —After staging a widespread blackout to protest Reddit’s plans for a controversial new pricing policy, some users are now trying a different tactic: flooding the social network with John Oliver pictures. There have been numerous pictures of Oliver posing in sharply tailored suits, and screenshots of humorous moments from his show. And an AI-generated image of Oliver as a “Game of Thrones” character (“John Oliver Snow”). More than 2,500 communities on Reddit remain blacked out nearly two weeks into the protest. Over the past week, many Reddit users have expressed hopes that Oliver might air a future segment about suddenly becoming the face of the revolt, and perhaps feature their content on his show.

Persons: John Oliver, Oliver, John Olive ”, “ John Oliver Snow ”, Tim Cook, Reddit didn’t, Reddit’s, Steve Huffman, Huffman, Elon Musk, Reddit, ” Organizations: CNN, Apple, Twitter Locations: “

☆ Wood Group’s non-deal requires a rapid Plan B
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-15 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

LONDON, May 15 (Reuters Breakingviews) - Ken Gilmartin needs a Plan B. The chief executive of $1.3 billion John Wood Group (WG.L) did little to encourage Apollo Global Management’s (APO.N) interest, despite the U.S. private equity house submitting no less than five separate bids for the UK infrastructure business. But now Apollo has ditched its most recent plan to buy Wood Group for 240 pence a share – and the target’s shares have slumped 35% back to 145 pence. Gilmartin and the Wood Group board reckon the company will be successful as a solo operation. But if investors were convinced, then Wood Group’s share price shouldn’t have plummeted back to around where it was when Apollo’s interest emerged in February.

☆ Willy Chavarria and Omar Apollo on Faith and Heartbreak
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-08 | by ( Juan A. Ramírez | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +2 min

Three days after his fall 2023 runway show in February, while on his way to meet Omar Apollo at a photographer’s house in Clinton Hill, Brooklyn, the 55-year-old fashion designer Willy Chavarria studied the 25-year-old musician’s Wikipedia page. What Chavarria lacked in detailed knowledge about Apollo’s career, he made up for with an immediate paternal tenderness. “And on all-Latino models,” Apollo says. And yet the pair saw eye to eye on more than just success. Some similarities were obvious: Both are gay and Mexican American, and both were born in small towns where dreams of artistic stardom seemed impossibly distant.

☆ Only the big will crack the $1 trln LBO code
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-12 | by ( Jonathan Guilford | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +9 min

Lenders will only tiptoe back, meaning deals need the big checks and extra elbow grease in credit markets that favor the largest private equity firms. Private equity firms depend on borrowed money to reduce how much of their own they use in any single deal and to magnify returns as a percentage of their initial investment. Imagine a private equity firm acquires a company for $1 billion, then flips it five years later for $1.5 billion. Though the private equity industry is awash in so-called dry powder, fundraising is increasingly tilting to the largest fund managers. Buyout firms are apt to keep their plans more conservative to garner higher ratings – meaning, again, less leverage and more upfront cash.

Search resuls for: "Apollo’s"

25 mentions found