Share to Twitter Share to Linkedin In a surprise announcement, online jeweler Blue Nile said Monday that it has entered into an agreement to be acquired by an investor group comprised of funds managed by Bain Capital Private Equity and Bow Street LLC . The all-cash deal is valued at $500 million. The announcement came at the same time the Seattle-based company released its third quarter earnings report that disclosed a 4.3 percent drop in net sales. The report was issued without comment and a conference call scheduled for Monday was abruptly canceled. Bain Capital and Bow Street will acquire 100 percent of the outstanding shares of Blue Nile common stock. Blue Nile stockholders will receive $40.75 in cash per share, representing a premium of approximately 34 percent over Blue Nile's closing price on November 4. The deal, which requires customary closing conditions, including the approval of Blue Nile's stockholders and regulatory approvals, is expected … [Read more...] about Blue Nile To Be Acquired By Bain Capital and Bow Street, Goes Private, Q3 Sales Down 4.3%
Boots sales
US State Dep’t approves potential sale of Javelin missiles to Brazil
FILE PHOTO: A U.S. soldier from Dragon Troop of the 3rd Cavalry Regiment fires a Javelin missile system during training exercise near operating base Gamberi in the Laghman province of Afghanistan January 1, 2015. REUTERS/Lucas Jackson/File Photo WASHINGTON — The U.S. State Department approved a potential $74 million sale of Javelin anti-tank missiles to Brazil that had been stalled for months by senior lawmakers, according to a formal notification sent to the U.S. Congress on Tuesday. The State Department gave the package of 222 Javelins its final endorsement after what multiple sources said was a Democratic-led effort to hold it up due to concerns about far-right President Jair Bolsonaro, including his attacks on Brazil’s electoral system. The Pentagon’s Defense Security Cooperation Agency (DSCA) said it informed Congress of the possible sale of the cutting-edge missiles, which have won fame for their effective use by Ukrainian forces against Russian armor. They are produced … [Read more...] about US State Dep’t approves potential sale of Javelin missiles to Brazil
Biden Administration Pauses Controversial Arms Sales To Saudi Arabia And UAE
Share to Twitter Share to Linkedin Topline President Joe Biden is temporarily freezing weapons sales to Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates, pledging to review a set of controversial arms deals former President Donald Trump struck with the two U.S. allies in the waning days of his administration. Key Facts This freeze will temporarily hold up at least two deals crafted by Trump in recent months to sell fighter jets and bombs to the UAE and Saudi Arabia respectively, the Wall Street Journal and Bloomberg first reported on Wednesday, citing unnamed sources. The Biden administration plans on reviewing some of those deals, a State Department spokesperson told Forbes , a move it characterized as a routine action for a new administration. At least one defense contractor expected a pause: Raytheon CEO Greg Hayes told investors Tuesday the company was preparing for Biden to halt an arms deal with an unnamed “customer in the … [Read more...] about Biden Administration Pauses Controversial Arms Sales To Saudi Arabia And UAE
Better Solutions For Rx Problems
Share to Twitter Share to Linkedin The reconciliation bill Democrats in Congress are about to pass will impose price controls on prescription drugs for Medicare beneficiaries (although they are couched in terms of price negotiation). Critics note that the measure would lead to fewer new drugs , fewer cures, more avoidable deaths, and higher drug prices for the private sector. University of Chicago economist Tom Philipson estimates that because of the price controls there will be 135 fewer new drugs in the next two decades – causing a loss of 331.5 million life-years in the U.S. That is a reduction in life spans about 31 times as large as from Covid-19 to date! Still, public opinion polls show high approval for the proposal. Why is that? In all likelihood it’s because voters realize there are problems that need solving. Here are some better solutions. Give Medicare enrollees access to rational insurance. In a proper insurance … [Read more...] about Better Solutions For Rx Problems
This is what fashion looks like when queerness is at the center
This story is part of Fast Company’s Most Creative People in Business 2022 . Explore the full list of innovators who broke through this year—and had an impact on the world around us. advertisement advertisement “In everything that we do, one of the first questions I ask is, ‘What’s the intention of this?'” says Kingsley Gbadegesin of his queer-focused fashion brand K.ngsley . The Brooklyn-based, Nigerian-American designer worked in sales and marketing for Versace, Celine, and Loewe before spinning out his own company in 2020 with a line of cut-out tank tops inspired by a DIY club look he once made with a pair of scissors and a white tank top. His tops are now carried by Nordstrom, Ssense, The Culture Edit, and Moda Operandi, and have been worn by celebrities that include Lil Nas X, Jack Harlow, and Zaya Wade. Last year, Gbadegesin expanded K.ngsley into a full-fledged fashion brand with the launch of a ready-to-wear collection of genderless … [Read more...] about This is what fashion looks like when queerness is at the center
Indonesia lawmakers call for tougher rules to avert another coal crisis
Indonesia coal benchmark price COAL-HBA-ID has stayed above US$70 per tonne level since January 2021 but surged to a record US$321.59 per tonne this month, as the war in Ukraine exacerbated the energy supply crunch. - A + A JAKARTA (Aug 9): Indonesian legislators on Tuesday pressed the government to tighten rules on domestic coal sales, amid concern that miners will choose to pay fines instead of meeting a requirement to sell a quarter of their output to local power generators. The parliamentary energy committee met during recess on Tuesday, fearing the world's biggest thermal coal exporter was headed for a repeat of a domestic supply crisis late last year that saw exports banned for a few weeks in January, triggering panic among foreign buyers. Indonesia imposes a so-called Domestic Market Obligation (DMO) where miners must sell 25% of their output onshore, at prices capped at US$70 per tonne for power generators and US$90 per tonne for local industry. Though … [Read more...] about Indonesia lawmakers call for tougher rules to avert another coal crisis
Lagenda Properties to acquire 422-acre land in Perak for RM92m cash
- A + A KUALA LUMPUR (Aug 9): Lagenda Properties Bhd on Tuesday (Aug 9) announced it is acquiring a 422-acre land in Perak for RM92.4 million cash. Taraf Nusantara Sdn Bhd — a wholly owned subsidiary of Blossom Eastland Sdn Bhd, which is in turn wholly owned by Lagenda — entered into a conditional sale and purchase agreement with Ladang Awana Sdn Bhd in relation to the proposed acquisition. The exercise involves 42 block titles of development and agricultural land, all located within Mukim Durian Sebatang, in the Hilir Perak district of Perak. In a Bursa Malaysia filing, Lagenda said the land is adjoining Lagenda Teluk Intan, a master planned ongoing affordable township development by the group, and is strategically located about 4km off West Coast Expressway (WCE) to its west. Geographically, the Teluk Intan town centre is located approximately 7km due north of Lagenda Teluk Intan. “The proposed acquisition is undertaken to acquire the subject lands which are … [Read more...] about Lagenda Properties to acquire 422-acre land in Perak for RM92m cash
Malaysia’s unemployment rate down to 3.8% in June, lowest since Covid-19 pandemic struck
According to Mustapa, the number of unemployed decreased to 630,600 in June, from 637,700 people the previous month. (Photo by Zahid Izzani Mohd Said/The Edge) - A + A KUALA LUMPUR (Aug 9): The unemployment rate continued to show a downward trend, recording 3.8% in June — the lowest since the Covid-19 pandemic hit the country — said Minister in the Prime Minister's Department (Economy) Datuk Seri Mustapa Mohamed. He said the number of unemployed decreased to 630,600 in June, from 637,700 people the previous month. Citing the June 2022 Malaysian Labour Force Statistics published by the Department of Statistics Malaysia on Tuesday (Aug 9), Mustapa said the country had reached full employment since April, in terms of the unemployment rate being below 4% as defined by the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development. Therefore, he said the position of the labour force was more stable following an increase in the number of workers of 0.2% to 16.57 million … [Read more...] about Malaysia’s unemployment rate down to 3.8% in June, lowest since Covid-19 pandemic struck
Bibek Debroy writes: India’s economy is better placed than its peers, other economies around the world
Representative image Impostor syndrome seems to be more common than actually thought, though at a collective level. People may often feel that the groups they are affiliated with may be underperforming in comparison to other groups. Although this self-critical approach may work in certain cases, it may also overlook the positives, and decrease the morale of those affiliated with the group. Many in India seem to have a collective/national-level impostor syndrome. While the Indian economy is much better placed than its peers in the emerging markets, and other economies, the government is being criticised on the economic front. The criticism comes when the fundamentals of the Indian economy are robust, despite the exogenous shocks caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, supply chain disruptions, monetary policy tightening by the US Federal Reserve, the Ukraine-Russia conflict, and inflated crude oil prices. India's macroeconomic health remains robust despite external pressures, and ongoing … [Read more...] about Bibek Debroy writes: India’s economy is better placed than its peers, other economies around the world
Moneycontrol Pro Weekender | Shaktikanta Das refuses to pivot
RBI Governor Shaktikanta Das. (File photo) Dear Reader , A day before the monetary policy announcement, the yield on the 10-year bond fell sharply on a media report that the MPC would signal a pause after Friday’s hike. Thankfully, the MPC held firm, refusing to oblige the bond markets. Not only did it increase the repo rate by 50 basis points, but also the MPC signalled more rate hikes in future by refusing to tone down its ‘withdrawal of accommodation’ stance. Much is being made of the fact that the policy rate is now at the pre-pandemic level. At 5.4 percent, the repo rate is now back to where it was in September 2019. But that is no big deal. GDP growth was a measly 3.7 percent in 2019-20 compared to RBI’s projection of 7.2 percent in 2022-23; retail inflation was a much lower 4.8 percent in 2019-20, compared to a projected 6.7 percent for 2022-23; the current account deficit was a comfortable 0.9 percent of GDP in 2019-20 as against projections of around 3 percent … [Read more...] about Moneycontrol Pro Weekender | Shaktikanta Das refuses to pivot