DIRS.INFO The most relevant business & tech news

Michael Regan, the administrator of the EPA, speaks onstage with Daniel Yergin, the vice chairman of S&P Global, during the CERAWeek energy conference in Houston, Texas, U.S., March 9, 2023. The Community Change Grants are the single largest investment in environmental justice that has been made by an administration, and a key measure to achieve the administration's goal of ensuring that 40% of federal clean energy investment benefits flow to disadvantaged communities. The Biden administration's spending on climate and environmental justice measures has been under scrutiny by Republican lawmakers seeking to undercut the president's climate agenda. "This historic, unprecedented funding has the promise to turn disadvantaged and overburdened areas into healthy, resilient, and thriving communities for current and future generations,” EPA Administrator Michael Regan said. The EPA will review applications on a rolling basis and encouraged applicants to apply as early as possible.

Persons: Michael Regan, Daniel Yergin, Callaghan O'Hare, Valerie Volcovici, Franklin Paul Organizations: P Global, REUTERS, Rights, Biden, Republican, EPA, Virgin, Franklin Paul Our, Thomson Locations: Houston , Texas, U.S, Alaska, Puerto Rico, Virgin Islands, Guam, Mexico

☆ Germany freezes new spending commitments as budget woes deepen
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-21 | by ( Holger Hansen | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

Chancellor Olaf Scholz speaks next to Finance Minister Christian Lindner and Economy and Climate Minister Robert Habeck during a hearing at Germany’s lower house of parliament Bundestag in Berlin, Germany, November 15, 2023. The finance ministry has frozen future spending pledges across almost the entire federal budget, a letter by the budget state secretary showed, in a sign of how seriously it was taking the potential fallout to its finances. "The step reflects the necessity of the situation," an economy ministry spokesperson said about the budget freeze. That could include planned chip factories, the expansion of the battery supply chain and the decarbonisation of steel, government sources said on Monday. ($1 = 0.9168 euros)Additional reporting by Andreas Rinke; writing by Matthias Williams and Sharon SingletonOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: Olaf Scholz, Christian Lindner, Robert Habeck, Annegret, Freeze, Olaf Scholz's, Kevin Kuehnert, that's, Kuehnert, Volker Wissing, Wissing, Andreas Rinke, Matthias Williams, Sharon Singleton Organizations: Finance, Climate, REUTERS, BERLIN, Free Democrats, Democrats, CDU, Scholz's Social Democrats, Greens, Digital, Thomson Locations: Berlin, Germany, Ukraine

☆ Sony facing $7.9 bln mass lawsuit over PlayStation Store prices
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-21 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

REUTERS/Issei Kato/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsCompanies Sony Group Corp FollowLONDON, Nov 21 (Reuters) - Sony (6758.T) must face a mass lawsuit worth up to 6.3 billion pounds ($7.9 billion) over claims the PlayStation maker abused its dominant position leading to unfair prices for customers, a London tribunal ruled on Tuesday. Sony Interactive Entertainment (SIE) was sued last year on behalf of nearly nine million people in the United Kingdom who had bought digital games or add-on content through Sony's PlayStation Store. Alex Neill, a consumer advocate who has worked on previous campaigns, is bringing the case against Sony. She says the company abused its dominant position by requiring digital games and add-ons to be bought and sold only via the PlayStation Store, which charges a 30% commission to developers and publishers. The claim alleges customers have therefore paid higher prices for games and add-on content than they would have done.

Persons: Issei Kato, Alex Neill, Neill, they're, Sam Tobin, Aurora Ellis Organizations: Sony, REUTERS, Sony Group, Sony Interactive Entertainment, PlayStation, Thomson Locations: Tokyo, Japan, London, United Kingdom

MPS shares were down 7.8% at 2.83 euros by 1145 GMT on Tuesday, reflecting the impact of the sale. EU COMMITMENTSBofA Securities, Jefferies and UBS Europe coordinated the accelerated bookbuilding for the stake sale, the Treasury said in a statement. Commitments Italy agreed with European Union competition authorities at the time of the bailout bind Rome to eventually sell its entire stake in the bank. Two years ago heavyweight UniCredit (CRDI.MI) sank the government's privatisation efforts, forcing Rome to seek more time from the EU. The stake sale is seen as giving Italy more flexibility to pursue a long-term solution for MPS via a merger with a rival, after negotiations with UniCredit were complicated by an impending re-privatisation deadline.

Persons: Jennifer Lorenzini, Luigi Lovaglio, Giancarlo Giorgetti, Giorgia Meloni, Valentina Za, Lincoln, Richard Chang, Mark Potter Organizations: Monte, REUTERS, Treasury, MPS, BofA Securities, Jefferies, UBS Europe, European Union, Reuters, Economy, Banco, BPER Banca, EU, Thomson Locations: Monte dei, Siena, Italy, MILAN, Rome

☆ World Bank and kin head for a $100 bln cash call
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-20 | by ( Hugo Dixon | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +7 min

World Bank President Ajay Banga arrives for a signing ceremony with Thailand to host the 2026 International Monetary Fund and the World Bank annual meetings on the last day of this year's meeting, following last month's deadly earthquake, in Marrakech, Morocco, October 15, 2023. REUTERS/Susana Vera Acquire Licensing RightsLONDON, Nov 20 (Reuters Breakingviews) - The World Bank and its fellow institutions are heading for a cash call. The World Bank and its regional peers, such as the African Development Bank and the Asian Development Bank, are well placed to help developing countries craft strategies to develop in a green way. Donald Trump may seem an unlikely supporter of the World Bank if he wins. The People’s Republic, for its part, will want to increase its stake in the World Bank as part of any capital increase.

Persons: Ajay Banga, Susana Vera, Fitch don’t, Chris Humphrey, Janet Yellen, Joe Biden, Donald Trump, There’s, David Cameron, Peter Thal Larsen, Thomas Shum Organizations: Monetary Fund, World Bank, REUTERS, Reuters, African Development Bank, Asian Development Bank, Group, FIRST, AAA, Bank, Moody’s, European Bank for Reconstruction, U.S, Thomson Locations: Thailand, Marrakech, Morocco, Washington, United States, China, Britain, Ukraine, U.S, Israel, Republic, United Kingdom, France

☆ Figma reviewing EU's objections against $20 bln Adobe buyout bid
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-17 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

Adobe logo is displayed on a smartphone screen in front of a stock graph in this illustration taken, June 13, 2022. REUTERS/Dado Ruvic/Illustration Acquire Licensing RightsNov 17 (Reuters) - Figma said on Friday it was carefully reviewing the EU competition watchdog's statement of objections related to Photoshop maker Adobe's (ADBE.O) proposed $20 billion bid to buy out the cloud-based designer platform. The transaction could create a dominant player of interactive product design tools by combining Figma, a clear market leader, and one of its largest competitors Adobe, the commission said. Adobe's chief counsel Dana Rao told Reuters on Wednesday that the company is open to proposing remedies to resolve regulatory concerns. Reporting by Bhanvi Satija in Bengaluru; Editing by Shilpi MajumdarOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: Dado Ruvic, Figma, Dana Rao, Bhanvi, Shilpi Majumdar Organizations: REUTERS, EU, Big Tech, European Commission, Adobe, Video Communications, Reuters, Thomson Locations: San Francisco, Bengaluru

"Coal in North Macedonia represents 40% of the energy source, so it's very big, it's very important," EBRD President Odile Renaud-Basso told Reuters. Both of its coal-fired plants are ageing, outdated and run on lignite, the most polluting type of coal. An IFC spokesperson said the green transition, including in North Macedonia, was one of its key priorities, but that it was not in a position to confirm any plan details. "The world's richest countries need to work with the multilateral development banks to find effective, structural ways to channel significantly scaled up energy transition finance," he said. North Macedonia joined the Powering Past Coal Alliance, a group of countries committed to phasing out coal-fired power, in 2021.

Persons: Odile Renaud, Basso, COP27, REK, Renaud, Leo Roberts, E3G, Kate Abnett, Kirsten Donovan, Louise Heavens Organizations: European Bank for Reconstruction, World Bank, Reuters, Investment, United Nations, Climate Investment Funds, International Finance Corporation, IFC, Bank, Past Coal Alliance, Union, Thomson Locations: Dubai, wean, Macedonia, North Macedonia, South Africa, Indonesia, Vietnam, Senegal, North, Skopje, Europe, Macedonian, Pakistan, Colombia, Ukraine

☆ Amazon eyes $20 bln exports by 2025 from India, says company official
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-17 | by ( Manoj Kumar | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

[1/2] Smartphone with Amazon logo is seen in front of displayed Indian flag in this illustration taken, July 30, 2021. REUTERS/Dado Ruvic/Illustration/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsNEW DELHI, Nov 17 (Reuters) - Amazon (AMZN.O) is targeting merchandise exports worth $20 billion from India by 2025 by adding thousands of small sellers to its e-commerce platform, a company official said on Friday. Launched in 2015 with a handful of sellers, Amazon Global Trade, the business to consumers (B2C) exports platform of the e-commerce giant, is gaining traction in India. "Some of the sellers are first time exporters, including those who left their corporate jobs to start e-commerce exports," he said. On the e-commerce platform, the highest growth was seen in categories like beauty, apparels, home, kitchen, furniture, and toys.

Persons: Dado Ruvic, Wakankar, Manoj Kumar, Robert Birsel Organizations: REUTERS, Amazon, Reuters, Amazon Global Trade, Amazon Prime, Thomson Locations: DELHI, India, United States, Britain, Canada, Australia, Germany

The deal, which is expected to be announced at the COP28 climate talks in Dubai beginning on Nov. 30, will lay out a plan to close the country's two coal power plants and replace them with 1.7 gigawatts of renewable energy. "Coal in North Macedonia represents 40% of the energy source, so it's very big, it's very important," EBRD President Odile Renaud-Basso told Reuters. Both of its coal-fired plants are ageing, outdated and run on lignite, the most polluting type of coal. An IFC spokesperson said the green transition, including in North Macedonia, was one of its key priorities, but that it was not in a position to confirm any plan details. North Macedonia joined the Powering Past Coal Alliance, a group of countries committed to phasing out coal-fired power, in 2021.

Persons: Odile Renaud, Basso, REK, Renaud, Kate Abnett, Kirsten Donovan Organizations: European Bank for Reconstruction, World Bank, Reuters, Investment, United Nations, Investment Funds, International Finance Corporation, IFC, Bank, Past Coal Alliance, Union, Thomson Locations: Dubai, wean, Macedonia, North Macedonia, South Africa, Indonesia, Vietnam, Senegal, North, Skopje, Europe, Macedonian, Ukraine

☆ EU official channels gloom over Russia's war in Ukraine
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-17 | by ( Gabriela Baczynska | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

"Leaders... were realizing it's quite expensive," said the official, who is involved in preparing a Dec.14-15 summit in Brussels of the EU 27 member states' national leaders. But it's not easy," said the official, who spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss talks between EU leaders held behind closed doors. While Hungary was openly calling for a new EU strategy on Russia's war in Ukraine, the official said others in the bloc were also increasingly asking questions about the future of the war following failed hopes for Ukraine's counteroffensive. "Will we continue to support Ukraine financially, military? The consensus is to continue to provide support to Ukraine, but some of those questions are coming."

Persons: it's, Gabriela Baczynska, William Maclean Organizations: Union, Kyiv, European Commission, EU, Ukraine's, Thomson Locations: BRUSSELS, Ukraine, Kyiv, Brussels, Hungary, EU, U.S

☆ Alibaba’s U-turn casts dark clouds over China tech
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-17 | by ( Anshuman Daga | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

Alibaba (9988.HK) scrapped the spinoff of its prized cloud computing business, blaming U.S. curbs on advanced chips. The U-turn dashes market expectations of stability among technology companies after the end of Beijing’s years-long regulatory crackdown. Add in so-so results from Alibaba’s main businesses, also reported on Thursday, and it is hard to see a silver lining in the dark clouds gathering over China’s technology sector. The technology giant reported revenue of 224.8 billion yuan ($31 bln) in the three months to September, up 9% year-on-year, and in line with market estimates. Alibaba posted a net profit attributable to shareholders of 27.7 billion yuan versus a net loss of 20.6 billion yuan, due to an increase in the value of its equity investments.

Persons: Lisi Niesner, Daniel Zhang, Zhang, Alibaba, Francesco Guerrera, Thomas Shum Organizations: IFA, REUTERS, Rights, Reuters, HK, Thomson Locations: Berlin, Germany, Rights SINGAPORE, Hong Kong, U.S, China

☆ Senior EU Official Channels Increasing Gloom Over Russia's War in Ukraine
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-17 | by ( Nov. | At A.M. | ) www.usnews.com time to read: +3 min

Persons: Gabriela Baczynska BRUSSELS, it's, Gabriela Baczynska, William Maclean Organizations: Union, Kyiv, European Commission, EU, Ukraine's Locations: Ukraine, Kyiv, Brussels, Hungary, EU, U.S

☆ Blackstone, Macquarie deny ASPI sale report, pledge commitment
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-17 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

Signage is seen outside the Blackstone Group headquarters in New York City, U.S., January 18, 2023. REUTERS/Jeenah Moon/File Photo/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsMILAN, Nov 17 (Reuters) - Blackstone and Macquarie on Friday dismissed as "completely false" an Italian newspaper report about possible ownership changes at Autostrade per l'Italia (ASPI), pledging their commitment as investors in the motorway operator. Following the 2022 deal, ASPI is controlled by state-lender CDP with funds Blackstone (BX.N) and Australia's Macquarie (MQG.AX). Under JPMorgan's plan ASTM would transfer its assets to ASPI whose shareholders would be CDP, Gavio group and Blackstone. In denying the report, Macquarie said it was committed to the "ongoing delivery of ASPI's multi-billion euro investment programme".

Persons: JP Morgan, Italy's, ASPI, Australia's Macquarie, Macquarie, Blackstone, Matteo Salvini, Elisa Anzolin, Giuseppe Fonte, Valentina Za Organizations: Blackstone Group, REUTERS, Blackstone, La Stampa, ASTM, Benetton, Shareholders, Reuters, Thomson Locations: New York City, U.S, Macquarie, Ardian, Milan, Rome

A sign is pictured outside an Eli Lilly and Company pharmaceutical manufacturing plant at 50 ImClone Drive in Branchburg, New Jersey, March 5, 2021. Incretins are peptide-based drugs such as Mounjaro that mimic gut hormones to suppress appetite and stimulate insulin secretion. Lilly said it had announced investments of more than $11 billion in global manufacturing in the past three years. Major production sites that Lilly runs outside of its U.S. home market are in Ireland, France, Spain, Italy and China. The new Alzey site will employ up to 1,000 highly skilled workers such as engineers, technicians and scientists, said Lilly.

Persons: Eli Lilly, Mike Segar, Lilly, Karl Lauterbach, Lauterbach, generics, Patrick Wingrove, Matthias Williams, Jason Neely, David Evans Organizations: Company, REUTERS, Rights, Reuters, U.S ., Novo Nordisk, European Union, pharma, The U.S ., Thomson Locations: Branchburg , New Jersey, Germany, Alzey, U.S, United States, Danish, Berlin, Fegersheim, France, European, Indiana , North Carolina, Limerick, Ireland, Spain, Italy, China, The U.S

The drop, potentially its biggest one-day fall in more than a year, wiped about $20 billion off the Chinese tech giant's market value. It was the first market reaction in Asia since the stunning strategy reversal was announced late on Thursday. "The cancellation of a full spin-off of AliCloud is a negative surprise," said Nomura analyst Shi Jialong in a note. The company said it will press ahead with a listing of Alibaba's logistics arm, Cainiao, which applied for a Hong Kong initial public offering in September. Reporting By Donny Kwok and Josh Ye in Hong Kong, Casey Hall and Gu Li in Shanghai; Writing by Anne Marie Roantree and Brenda Goh; Editing by Muralikumar AnantharamanOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: Aly, Group's, Nomura, Shi Jialong, Alibaba, Jack Ma, Kenneth Fong, Joseph Tsai, Bo Pei, Eddie Wu, Donny Kwok, Josh Ye, Casey Hall, Gu Li, Anne Marie Roantree, Brenda Goh, Muralikumar Organizations: Artificial Intelligence, REUTERS, Hong, Tencent Holdings, HK, UBS, Tiger Research, Thomson Locations: Shanghai, China, HONG KONG, SHANGHAI, HK, Hong Kong, Asia, AliCloud, Washington, U.S, Hangzhou, Alibaba

☆ UK's Octopus Energy launches $3.7 bln offshore wind fund with Tokyo Gas
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-17 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

Britain's Prime Minister Boris Johnson poses for photographs with a branded electric taxi as he visits the headquarters of Octopus Energy, in London, Britain October 5, 2020. The Octopus Energy Offshore Wind fund, set up with a 190 million pound cornerstone investment from Tokyo Gas, will invest in offshore wind farms as well as companies creating new offshore wind capacity, with a focus on Europe, Octopus said. The fund will look at both traditional offshore wind turbines and floating turbines. "The potential to make a positive impact, boost energy security and reduce fossil fuels dependence is massive with offshore wind," said Octopus Energy Generation Chief Executive Zoisa North-Bond. Octopus Energy Generation has said it plans to invest $20 billion in offshore wind by 2030, with an aim to boost energy security and reduce dependence on fossil fuels.

Persons: Boris Johnson, Leon Neal, Octopus, Zoisa, Sachin Ravikumar, Mark Potter Organizations: Britain's, Octopus Energy, Rights Companies Tokyo Gas Co, Energy, Gas, Tokyo Gas, Bond, Thomson Locations: London, Britain, Tokyo, Europe

☆ Eli Lilly plans to invest 2 bln euros in new German plant -source
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-16 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

An Eli Lilly and Company pharmaceutical manufacturing plant is pictured at 50 ImClone Drive in Branchburg, New Jersey, March 5, 2021. REUTERS/Mike Segar/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsCompanies Eli Lilly and Co FollowBERLIN, Nov 16 (Reuters) - U.S. pharma company Eli Lilly (LLY.N) plans to invest 2 billion euros ($2.17 billion) in a new plant in Alzey, western Germany, a source close to the negotiations told Reuters on Thursday. Separately, people familiar with the plans told Reuters that at least 1,000 jobs would be created. Reuters had reported on Wednesday that the pharma group intended to invest in Germany after Eli Lilly called a news conference for Friday but few details were available. ($1 = 0.9217 euros)Reporting by Andreas Rinke and Rene Wagner Writing by Madeline Chambers Editing by Kirsti Knolle and Miranda MurrayOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: Eli Lilly, Mike Segar, Andreas Rinke, Rene Wagner, Madeline Chambers, Kirsti Knolle, Miranda Murray Organizations: Company, REUTERS, . pharma, Reuters, pharma, Thomson Locations: Branchburg , New Jersey, Alzey, Germany

☆ Colombia creates biodiversity fund aiming to manage nearly $1 bln
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-16 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

[1/2] An aerial view of the Amazon river, before the signing of a document by Colombia's President Juan Manuel Santos that will allow for the conservation of the Tarapoto wetland complex in Amazonas, Colombia January 18, 2018. Colombia is one of the world's most biodiverse countries where swathes of Amazon rainforest and other jungles are deforested each year. Scientists say protecting rainforests like the Amazon is vital to curbing the effects of climate change. "We hope to mobilize resources and actors to achieve interventions that respond to the needs of ecosystems and communities (in rural areas) and generate sustainable changes over time," Muhamad said. ($1 = 4,077.44 Colombian pesos)Reporting by Oliver Griffin; Editing by Marguerita ChoyOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: Juan Manuel Santos, Jaime Saldarriaga, Susana Muhamad, Muhamad, Oliver Griffin, Marguerita Choy Organizations: REUTERS, Rights, for Life, Thomson Locations: Amazonas, Colombia, Rights BOGOTA

☆ Indonesia says Exxon Mobil plans to invest up to $15 bln in the country
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-16 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

REUTERS/Dado Ruvic/Illustration/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsCompanies Exxon Mobil Corp FollowJAKARTA, Nov 16 (Reuters) - U.S. oil major Exxon Mobil (XOM.N) is planning to invest up to $15 billion in a petrochemical project and carbon capture and storage (CCS) facilities in Indonesia, President Joko Widodo said in a presidential palace statement on Thursday. The planned CCS facilities would be the biggest in Southeast Asia. Earlier this week, Indonesia signed an initial deal with an Exxon unit to explore investment in a petrochemical project in Indonesia to produce polymers. Exxon and Indonesian state energy company Pertamina also agreed to evaluate $2 billion in investments in CCS facilities using two underground basins in the Java Sea. "These large-scale opportunities could substantially boost industrial growth and decarbonisation in Indonesia, as well as the Asia Pacific region," said Carole Gall, president of Exxon Mobil Indonesia.

Persons: Dado Ruvic, Joko Widodo, Darren Woods, Pertamina, Carole Gall, Joe Biden, Fransiska Nangoy, Bernadette Christina, Muralikumar Anantharaman, Tom Hogue Organizations: ExxonMobil, REUTERS, Companies Exxon Mobil Corp, Exxon Mobil, Exxon, Asia, Economic Cooperation, Exxon Mobil Indonesia, CCS, U.S, APEC, Thomson Locations: JAKARTA, Indonesia, Southeast Asia, San Francisco, Asia, Washington

Carlyle, which started raising its sixth Asia-focused fund in mid-2022, has bagged less than $3 billion so far, two of the sources said. Investors in private equity companies, known as limited partners, typically reinvest after having booked returns from their previous investments. Private equity firms have made a total of $15.6 billion in exits in Asia, down 82% year-on-year, Dealogic data showed. Sources told Reuters last year Carlyle was aiming to raise $8.5 billion in the pan-Asia fund. Capital allocation to China had been bigger in Carlyle's previous Asia funds, different sources with knowledge of the matter have said.

Persons: Carlyle, Jack Ma's, Harvey Schwartz, Goldman Sachs, Patrick Siewert, Nina Gong, Herman Chang, Kane Wu, Sriram, Xie Yu, Sumeet Chatterjee, Miral Organizations: Carlyle, Investors, Reuters, Yes Bank, Thomson Locations: HONG KONG, MUMBAI, Asia, East, Europe, China, U.S, India, South Korea, Carlyle's, Beijing, Hong Kong, Greater China, Carlyle's Hong Kong, Mumbai

☆ Enovix Corp establishes $1.2 bln high-volume manufacturing facility in Malaysia
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-16 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

KUALA LUMPUR, Nov 16 (Reuters) - Enovix Corporation, a U.S.-based advanced silicon battery firm, will establish a 5.8 billion ringgit ($1.23 billion) high-volume manufacturing facility in Malaysia, the Malaysian Investment Development Authority (MIDA) said in a statement on Thursday. The investment, which will be spent over a period of 15 years, includes the first manufacturing line amounting to 315 million ringgit, MIDA said. The company's investment plan was disclosed to Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim during a meeting on the sidelines of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit in the United States, MIDA said. "Enovix's (investment)... promises significant local spillover impact, notably the creation of substantial high-quality job opportunities for Malaysians, and the enhancement of our nation's industrial landscape," Malaysia's Investment, Trade and Industry Ministry Tengku Zafrul Abdul Aziz said in the statement. ($1 = 4.7050 ringgit)Reporting by Rozanna LatiffOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: MIDA, Anwar Ibrahim, Industry Ministry Tengku Zafrul Abdul Aziz, Rozanna Organizations: Enovix Corporation, Malaysian Investment Development Authority, Economic Cooperation, Trade, Industry Ministry, Thomson Locations: KUALA LUMPUR, U.S, Malaysia, Asia, United States

☆ IMF approves $35 bln credit line for Mexico
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-16 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

[1/3] Employees work at a stall in an outdoor market dedicated to the sale of fruits and vegetables, in Ciudad Juarez, Mexico July 27, 2023. REUTERS/Jose Luis Gonzalez/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsMEXICO CITY, Nov 16 (Reuters) - The International Monetary Fund's executive board has approved a two-year, $35 billion flexible credit line for Mexico, it said in a statement on Thursday, noting the Latin American country's economy is undergoing a broad-based expansion. This is Mexico's tenth flexible credit line arrangement since 2009, and the country has reduced amounts of the lines granted in recent years, the IMF said. In 2017, the IMF granted Mexico a credit line worth around $88 billion, which by 2021 was reduced to $50 billion. Authorities will reassess the external risk outlook and their implications on access under the agreement in November 2024, the IMF added.

Persons: Jose Luis Gonzalez, Gita Gopinath, Gopinath, Kylie Madry, Valentine Hilaire, Nick Zieminski Organizations: REUTERS, MEXICO CITY, Monetary Fund's, IMF, Thomson Locations: Ciudad Juarez, Mexico, MEXICO

An Eli Lilly and Company pharmaceutical manufacturing plant is pictured at 50 ImClone Drive in Branchburg, New Jersey, March 5, 2021. The company declined to comment on the plans but news conferences are planned in Alzey, where sources say the plant will be built, and Berlin on Friday. Other people familiar with the plans told Reuters that at least 1,000 jobs would be created. Eli Lilly said it would unveil "far-reaching investment plans" at Friday's news conference, which will be attended by Germany's economy and health ministers. Mounjaro's success helped Lilly post a 37% gain in third-quarter revenues to $9.5 billion, topping Wall Street estimates.

Persons: Eli Lilly, Mike Segar, Mounjaro, TSMC, Lilly's, Lilly, Rene Wagner, Klaus Lauer, Andreas Rinke, Ludwig Burger, Thomas Escritt, Madeline Chambers, Miranda Murray, Christina Fincher Organizations: Company, REUTERS, Basf, Reuters, BASF, U.S ., U.S, Intel, European Union, Novo Nordisk, U.S . Food, Drug Administration, Thomson Locations: Branchburg , New Jersey, BERLIN, Germany, Alzey, Berlin, U.S, Ukraine, European, Indianapolis, Danish, Eisai

☆ China's Moore Threads valued at $3.4 bln in funding before U.S. curbs - sources
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-16 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

The month before Moore Threads had raised roughly 1 billion yuan in a so-called "series B+" round, one of the sources said. Investors priced Moore at 24 billion yuan prior to the capital raise, and around 24.8 billion yuan after the injection of new capital, said the other source, who had been briefed about the fundraising progress in September. On Tuesday, updates to Moore Threads' company registration data on third-party database Qichacha showed it added new shareholders including a fund called Houxue Qingxin and venture investment firm Chenan Zhizhi alongside an increase in its registered capital. It was widely considered one of China's most prominent efforts to develop products capable of competing with those from market-dominating Nvidia. ($1 = 7.2482 Chinese yuan renminbi)Reporting by Beijing Newsroom; Editing by Jan HarveyOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: Florence Lo, Moore, Chenan, ByteDance, Jan Harvey Organizations: REUTERS, Rights, U.S, Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing, Reuters, Nvidia, AMD, China Mobile, Sequoia Capital, Beijing, Thomson Locations: China, Rights BEIJING, U.S, Sequoia Capital China

☆ Benko's Signa unit seeks $2.2 bln funding amid property crisis - Bloomberg News
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-15 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

REUTERS/Peter Nicholls Acquire Licensing RightsNov 15 (Reuters) - Property tycoon Rene Benko-founded Signa Group's Prime unit has approached investors to seek up to 2 billion euros ($2.17 billion) in funding, Bloomberg News reported on Wednesday, citing people familiar with the matter. Signa Prime, which co-owns the Selfridges department store in London, requires 500 million euros to meet obligations this year alone and will need another 1.5 billion euros of cash in the first half of 2024, the report said. Some of the investors have turned down the request, while others are still in the early stages of assessing it, according to Bloomberg News. Thailand's largest department store owner, Central Group, on Tuesday took control of Selfridges department stores after the real estate company brought it in a deal worth $5 billion in 2021. The funding request comes as Signa faces a property crisis in Europe exacerbated by a sharp rise in rates and building costs.

Persons: Peter Nicholls, Rene Benko, Signa, Arndt Geiwitz, Angela Christy M, Devika Organizations: REUTERS, Bloomberg, Bloomberg News, Central, Thomson Locations: Oxford, London, Britain, Austria, Europe

Search resuls for: "bln"

25 mentions found