Sophia Bennett

Just Eat Takeaway.com, a well-known player in the food delivery market, is actively embracing innovative technologies to enhance the quality of its services. Recently, the company announced the launch of food delivery via autonomous drones in Dublin in partnership with the Irish firm Manna Drones Ltd. This marks a significant step towards automation in an industry that has traditionally relied heavily on temporary workers.

Partnership with Manna Drones Ltd.

Just Eat has signed an international agreement with Manna Drones, enabling the company to deliver orders to customers in just three minutes after the loading process. This innovation drastically reduces delivery times, particularly during peak hours when traditional delivery methods face the greatest challenges.

Zhejiang Geely Holding Group Co., owned by billionaire Li Shufu, has secured a landmark three-year syndicated loan agreement worth €2.4 billion (approximately $2.5 billion). This move will allow the company to refinance loans related to its acquisition of a stake in Swedish automaker Volvo AB in 2018, marking a significant step for Geely in strengthening its position in the global market.

Terms of the Agreement

The agreement, signed on February 25, attracted more than 20 lenders, including leading financial institutions: BNP Paribas SA, HSBC Holdings Plc, Standard Chartered Plc. This reflects strong confidence from financial institutions in Geely and their willingness to support the company's ongoing efforts.

European online company Adevinta ASA $ADEVY is actively finalizing negotiations to sell its stake in the Austrian digital marketplace Willhaben. The involvement of heavyweight investment firms such as Blackstone Inc. $BX and Permira highlights the significance of this event for both the asset and the market as a whole.

Key Details of the Deal

According to reliable sources, Adevinta is in the final stages of agreeing on the terms of the sale of its share. The key parties in this agreement will be Styria Media Group and European investor Sprints. The expected value of the deal is approximately 500 million euros (or 519 million dollars). An official announcement regarding the sale may be made as soon as this coming Monday, adding further intrigue to this transaction.

Allianz SE $ALV.DE, one of the largest insurance and investment conglomerates in the world, recently announced its financial results for the fourth quarter, surpassing analysts' expectations. CEO Oliver Bäte revealed plans to return additional capital to investors, attracting attention to the company's strategy amid current market conditions.

Financial Performance

According to the official report, Allianz increased its operating profit by 11% to €4.17 billion ($4.33 billion). This growth was made possible by the successful development of its property management and accident insurance businesses, which contributed to the company's robust financial results.

Analysts had anticipated that the profit would be around €3.89 billion, highlighting the substantial outperformance of the actual results.

In recent years, the financial world has undergone significant changes with the rise in popularity of cryptocurrencies and stablecoins. One of the leaders in this field is PayPal Holdings Inc. $PYPL, which plans to expand the use of its stablecoin, PYUSD $PYUSD, across its products to better serve the needs of small and medium-sized businesses. PYUSD is a stablecoin pegged to the US dollar, allowing users to conduct transactions with minimal volatility risks. Stablecoins, by their nature, facilitate transactions between fiat currencies, making them more convenient and accessible for use.

Goals of Integrating PYUSD

According to Michelle Gill, PayPal's General Manager for Small Business and Financial Services, the primary objective is to create a unified platform for over 20 million small and medium-sized sellers. This will allow them to pay suppliers using a new bill payment product, significantly simplifying interactions.

Key Components of Integration

Prosus NV $PRX.AS, a leading investor in the technology sector, has reached a significant agreement to acquire Just Eat Takeaway.com NV $JET.L for €4.1 billion ($4.3 billion). This acquisition marks the largest in Prosus’s portfolio and emphasizes the company’s commitment to pursuing new growth opportunities in the expanding market.

Deal Terms

The recent acquisition agreement entails a cash payment of €20.30 per share, which represents a 49% premium over Just Eat Takeaway’s average share price over the past three months. For comparison, shares of the company closed at €12.43 on Friday, showcasing a substantial premium for shareholders.

Stellantis NV $STLA has announced the suspension of work on the next-generation Jeep Compass sports SUV, as well as all operations at its Brampton, Ontario assembly plant. This decision stems from the need to reassess the production strategy amid the rapidly changing automotive market.

Reasons for Suspension

Company spokesperson Jodi Tinson emphasized that Stellantis continues to adapt to current market conditions. The halt in operations will not affect the previously announced investment plans for the Canadian plant. A significant aspect to note is that an equipment modernization program is currently underway at the Brampton facility, aimed at producing electric vehicles and gas-powered cars for the Jeep brands.

HP Inc. $HPQ has announced a significant deal to acquire assets from Humane Inc., a startup known for its wearable artificial intelligence devices. The transaction is valued at $116 million and heralds new opportunities for both companies while emphasizing the growing interest in AI technologies.

Terms of the Deal

According to HP, the acquisition will involve:

• Core Team: The majority of Humane’s employees will be integrated into HP.

• Software Platforms and Intellectual Property: Key projects and technologies developed by Humane will be incorporated into HP’s portfolio.

Recent developments in the Australian financial market highlight ongoing concerns regarding the country's economic situation. Shares of Westpac Banking Corp $WBC.AX dropped sharply by 6% following the release of the bank's quarterly earnings report, which indicated a decline in profitability and overall returns. The high cost of living and its impact on customers' purchasing power were key factors emphasized by CEO Anthony Miller.

Financial Results

According to the unaudited financial statement, Westpac's net profit for the three months ending December 31 amounted to 1.7 billion Australian dollars (approximately 1.1 billion US dollars). This figure raises questions, as a combination of external economic factors and internal risks reflects instability within the banking sector.

Main Reasons for Profit Decline

Karman Holdings Inc., a prominent manufacturer of integrated systems for space and defense programs, has successfully completed its initial public offering (IPO), raising $506 million. Investors, including Trive Capital, valued the shares above the market rate, highlighting a growing interest in innovative technologies within the defense and aerospace sectors.

Financial Results of the Offering

Due to strong demand, the Huntington Beach, California-based company and its selling shareholders issued 23 million shares at a price of $22 each. It is noteworthy that the initial price range was set between $18 and $20. This successful sale of shares has established Karman's market capitalization at approximately $3 billion.

Impact on the IPO Market

For the first time in nearly two years, American aerospace giant Boeing $BA has delivered more aircraft than its European rival Airbus SE $AIR.PA. This milestone marks an encouraging shift for Boeing, a company that has grappled with prolonged strikes, logistical disruptions, and the lingering effects of the pandemic.

In January 2025, Boeing handed over 45 aircraft to customers, 40 of which were 737 Max models. By contrast, Airbus managed to deliver only 25 aircraft in the same month. This represents Boeing’s first monthly victory over Airbus since March 2023, signaling potential recovery in the highly competitive commercial aviation sector.

Boeing’s Path to Success

On Monday, shares of Chinese automaker Dongfeng Motor Group Co. $0489.HK experienced a dramatic rise on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange, soaring nearly 90%. This response came after the announcement of a restructuring plan by its parent company, Dongfeng Motor Corp., which investors perceive as a potential beginning of a consolidation wave within China's competitive automotive market.

Restructuring Plans and Their Impact

Dongfeng Motor Corp. has disclosed its intentions to restructure alongside other major state-owned enterprises. The company mentioned that such changes might affect the controlling shareholder's status, sparking investor interest immediately.

Changes at Chongqing Changan Automobile Co.