
U-Blox says it is in talks with suitor Advent over a takeover
"Whether a transaction will materialize is open at this stage," the company said in a statement.
Bloomberg earlier reported on the talks over an acquisition deal that could value U-Blox at more than 1 billion Swiss francs ($1.24 billion).
The shares were up 19% at 1422 GMT at a three-year high, for a total market value of about 1 billion Swiss francs
The Swiss technology group, which went public in 2007, said last week it cut its first-half loss before interest and tax to 7.7 million francs from a loss of 28 million a year earlier.
It cited cost cuts and higher revenues that jumped 32% to 123.4 million francs.
Earlier this year, the company sold a unit making cellular modules for wireless communication to focus on fast-growing navigation and positioning technology used in cars, robots and farm equipment.
Advent did not immediately respond to requests for comment.
($1 = 0.8048 Swiss francs)
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Reuters
18 minutes ago
- Reuters
WEF clears founder Schwab of wrongdoing; appoints interim co-chairs
Aug 15 (Reuters) - The World Economic Forum closed an investigation on its founder Klaus Schwab on Friday, clearing him of any wrongdoing, and appointed BlackRock (BLK.N), opens new tab CEO Larry Fink and Roche Holding's (ROG.S), opens new tab vice-chair Andre Hoffmann as interim co-chairs of its board. The Geneva-based organisation had launched an investigation in April into 87-year-old Schwab following a whistleblower letter alleging misconduct. The probe was announced a day after Schwab resigned as chairman. The forum at that time did not say why he was quitting. For decades, Schwab has been the face of the WEF's annual gathering of business and political leaders in the Swiss mountain resort of Davos, which has become a symbol of globalisation. The WEF said on Friday that its board had completed an investigation into allegations raised by anonymous whistleblowers against Schwab and found there was no evidence of material wrongdoing by him. WEF also did not find any misconduct by Schwab's wife and former assistant, Hilde Schwab. "Minor irregularities, stemming from blurred lines between personal contributions and forum operations, reflect deep commitment rather than intent of misconduct," WEF said. The Wall Street Journal, which first reported the probe in April, had said an anonymous letter raised concerns about the WEF's governance and workplace culture, including allegations that the Schwab family mixed their personal affairs with the forum's resources without proper oversight. In May, a spokesperson for Schwab informed Reuters that he had filed a criminal complaint against the whistleblowers. The Schwab family denied all the allegations in the whistleblower complaint to the Journal. Following the conclusion of the probe, a spokesman for Schwab told WSJ on Friday that he intends to drop his lawsuitspokesmanthe WEF and a separate legal action against anonymous whistleblowers. The WEF also said Peter Brabeck-Letmathe had stepped down as interim chairman following the investigation's conclusion. In a statement posted on the WEF website, newly appointed co-chairs Fink and Hoffman said they were honored to take on the leadership role on an interim basis and looked forward to reinventing and strengthening the organisation. WEF's Davos gathering has in recent years drawn criticism from opponents on both left and right as an elitist talking shop detached from lives of ordinary people.


The Sun
18 minutes ago
- The Sun
Rachel Reeves tax grab for woke training & mobiles for migrants makes my teeth itch… here's what Govt SHOULD be doing
AS I'm sure you know, you are taxed on the money you earn. And you must pay more taxes every time you buy anything or go anywhere or fill your car up with fuel or buy a pint or get your hair cut or go on an aeroplane. 5 And if by some miracle you manage to die with a few savings in the bank, they even tax your kids on those. It's your money. You earned it. You paid tax on it. And then they tax it again. It makes my teeth itch. However, for many years, you have been able to pass money on to your children, tax free, providing you live for seven years after the gift is made. But now we are hearing they're even going to tax you on that. Yup. You want to help your kids get on the property ladder. Well you can't because that infernal woman, Rachel Reeves, has decided that it'd be better if you gave your money to her instead. I seriously doubt that. Let me give you an example of the problem. 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And this ridiculous attitude to people breaking idiotic 20mph limits is just the tip of the anti-car iceberg. It's now virtually impossible to get a driving test, and if by some miracle you do eventually get a licence, you won't want to buy a car because it bongs at you if you drive too quickly or stray out of lane or take your eyes off the road. I drove a Toyota recently which had a bonging paddy fit and flashed up a message saying, 'Sit up straight'. What's next? 'Clean your teeth'? So cars are annoying, you can't drive them at more than walking speed and now comes news that the drink-drive limit is being lowered to a point where you can't pop to the shops in your motor if you've had so much as a sherry trifle. Plus, unless you can see the bracelet Neil Armstrong left on the moon, your eyes aren't good enough, so you'll have to use the bus instead. Naturally, we are told this is all to save the NHS from the cost of patching up the victims of car accidents. But that's rubbish. 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Happily, he finished in time to welcome what for him is baby number three, and then our thoughts turned to a name. One of our mates suggested it should be named after the field he was harvesting when the call came through. Nice idea, except for one small detail. The field was called 'Deadman'. Despite the interruption, we did get the harvest finished. And thanks to the drought we've had this year, it was dismal. Seriously, you could fit all the grain we ended up with in a Hoover bag. And this, after the appalling wet weather of last year, which resulted in the country's second- worst harvest on record. A lot of farmers are going to be in a proper financial mess as a result. But at least we have a government which has their back. No, wait . . .


BreakingNews.ie
2 hours ago
- BreakingNews.ie
Dublin City Council refuse planning retention to 10 apartment Airbnb operator
Dublin City Council has refused planning retention to a significant Airbnb operator close to Dublin Castle and Temple Bar to continue offering its apartments for short-term letting to tourists. Dublin Castle Suites advertises its 10 apartments on the Airbnb platform and can earn up to €350 per night per apartment on busy weekends. Advertisement The owner of the apartments facing onto Parliament Street and Dame Street would earn only a fraction of its current rental income if the apartments are to be rented for long-term letting only. A question mark has now been put over the lucrative enterprise following the City Council's decision to refuse planning retention to allow the apartments to continue to be used for short-term letting. Applicants, Olympia Real Estate Limited, now have the option of appealing the decision to An Coimisiún Pleanála, which may reverse the council's planning refusal. However, in its decision, the city council pointed out that there is a general presumption in the Dublin City Council Development Plan against the provision of dedicated short-term tourist rental accommodation in the city due to the impact on the availability of housing stock. Advertisement In refusing planning permission, the Council stated that Olympia Real Estate Ltd has not provided a sufficient justification for the provision of short-lease apartments at this location. The Council found that the proposal to continue the apartments for short-term letting 'would create an undesirable precedent for similar type development and would devalue property in the vicinity'. The planners concluded that the proposed retention of short-term residential use is not compatible with the architectural character, historic fabric and special interests of the protected structure. The Council planning report which recommended a refusal concluded that the continued use of the apartments for tourist accommodation 'would result in existing residential stock being lost to the residential housing system, meaning less long-term and secure accommodation will be available to the growing number of families and people who need it'. Advertisement Olympia Real Estate Limited lodged the planning application after the Council issued it with a Warning Letter over the use of the apartments for short-term letting. Planning consultants for the applicants, Cunnane Stratton Reynolds (CSR) state that 'enabling housing as short-term let accommodation in this instance redirects such demand away from mainstream housing'. The consultants state that 'the proposed tourism accommodation will assist in the attractiveness of the area for tourists and will promote a continued busy and vibrant city centre'. CSR states that its client's ability to acoustically meet the standards of normal accommodation is not available, given the protected status of the subject premises. Advertisement They state, 'in a period of substantial housing crisis these units cannot remain vacant'. Objecting to the planned retention, Fiachra Brennan of Oakcourt Park, Dublin 20 and who works on Parliament Street, said that 'these are high-quality urban apartments which should be available on the long-term rental market'. He said: 'The applicant has pointed to issues with regards to soundproofing and insulation – this should not preclude the use of the property for its intended purpose. He added: 'I work on Parliament Street – it is a vibrant area with a range of commercial and hospitality businesses but is also an important urban, residential city neighbourhood. This status should be protected.'