Best Mart 360 Holdings Stock (OTC: BMTHF)

Latest news for Best Mart 360 Holdings (OTC:BMTHF) Stock

Best Mart 360 Holdings Ltd is a leisure food retailer operating a chain of retail stores under its stores Best Mart 360 and FoodVille. The company is engaged in retail sales of food and beverage, confectioneries, packaged bakery products and snacks, nuts and dried fruits, grain and other miscellaneous food products, and household, and personal care products in Hong Kong, Macau, and Mainland China. The company generates the majority of its revenue from Hong Kong.

BEST MART 360 HLDGS LTD by BEST MART 360 HLDGS LTD.

Best Mart 360 Holdings Ltd

A &#8220;supermajority&#8221; of workers at BlueOval SK battery plant in Kentucky has filed a petition with the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) for a vote to form their union with the United Auto Workers (UAW), the union said on Wednesday.
What Happened: The petition was filed on Tuesday, UAW said, without clarifying the percentage of workers who supported it. BlueOval SK is a joint venture of Ford Motor Co. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/F#NYSE">F</a>) and South Korea&#8217;s SK On.
In November, a <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/24/11/42104199/supermajority-of-workers-at-fords-jv-battery-plant-sign-union-authorization-cards-says-uaw">majority of workers at&nbsp;BlueOval SK signed cards</a> showcasing their support for UAW. However, the company hired anti-union consultants in a bid to stop the workers from organizing, UAW said. 
While companies can voluntarily recognize workers once a majority sign cards supporting unionization, in case they don&#8217;t, there is an election overseen by NLRB where workers must vote in the majority to form a union.
Why It Matters:&nbsp;In September, workers at Ultium's battery plant in Spring Hill, Tennessee&nbsp;<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/24/09/40724845/gm-lg-ultium-cells-jv-agrees-to-union-recognition-at-tennessee-battery-plant-says-uaw" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">formed their union</a>. Ultium is a joint venture between General Motors and LG Energy Solution that makes batteries for the former's electric vehicles.
Workers at BlueOval SK held a town hall with UAW members from Ultium Cells in December to discuss the perks of organizing, the UAW said. 
Last year, UAW pledged<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/24/02/37255447/can-40m-secure-unionization-from-tesla-to-toyota-uaw-pledges-big-to-help-non-union-auto-workers-orga" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">&nbsp;$40 million to support the organizing efforts&nbsp;</a>of non-union autoworkers and battery workers in the U.S. under the banner of major manufacturers such as&nbsp;Mercedes-Benz Group,&nbsp;Tesla Inc,&nbsp;and&nbsp;Toyota&nbsp;Motor Corp, among others.
Check out more of Benzinga's Future Of Mobility coverage by&nbsp;<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/topic/mobility" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">following this link.</a>
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Photo courtesy: Shutterstock

News

Tech

Workers At Ford JV In Kentucky Petition NLRB For Vote To Form Union

<h3>Companies Reporting Before The Bell</h3>
<h3>Companies Reporting After The Bell</h3>
• Accolade (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/ACCD#NASDAQ">ACCD</a>) is likely to report quarterly loss at $0.16 per share on revenue of $105.99 million. 
This article was generated by Benzinga's automated content engine and reviewed by an editor.

Earnings

ACCD

Earnings Scheduled For January 9, 2025

Multiple bets tied to the ongoing fire disaster in Los Angeles have surfaced on cryptocurrency-based prediction platform Polymarket, raising ethical concerns about such money-making opportunities.
What Happened: More than 30,000 people had to evacuate the Pacific Palisades neighborhood of Los Angeles as a catastrophic wildfire raged, endangering life and property.
In response, as many as 8 separate betting contracts came up on Polymarket, a Polygon (CRYPTO: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/">POL</a>)-based forecasting market that allows users to use cryptocurrencies to predict the outcome of events and make money.
One notable betting <a href="https://polymarket.com/event/will-the-palisades-fire-be-contained-by-friday">question</a> on the platform was, &#8220;Will&nbsp;the Palisades fire be contained&nbsp;by Friday?&#8221; on which about $87,000 has already been wagered. Bettors saw just a 2% possibility of this happening.
Another <a href="https://polymarket.com/event/will-palisades-fire-spread-to-santa-monica-by-sunday?tid=1736406268506">bet </a>was titled, &#8220;Will Palisades wildfire spread to Santa Monica by Sunday?&#8221; About 66% odds were in favor as of this writing.
These gambles sparked strong reactions from the public. Jacob R. Adkins, an X user, asked, &#8220;It says a lot about a society when we've resorted to entertaining ourselves by betting on how much worse a natural disaster could get.&#8221;
<figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"> 
<div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">It says a lot about a society when we've resorted to entertaining ourselves by betting on how much worse a natural disaster could get.
&mdash; Jacob R. Adkins (@JacobRAdkins3) <a href="https://twitter.com/JacobRAdkins3/status/1877056992998555711?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 8, 2025</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>
</figure>
Another user, going by the pseudonym corp_liberation, called the betting &#8220;immoral.&#8221;
&#8220;Why do you even have such a line?? These are people&#8217;s homes and lives. This is NOT a game!&#8221;
<figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"> 
<div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">Betting on the spread of a fire is immoral. Why do you even have such a line?? These are people&#39;s homes and lives. This is NOT a game!
&mdash; corp_liberation (@corp_liberation) <a href="https://twitter.com/corp_liberation/status/1877135639860121700?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 8, 2025</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>
</figure>
See Also:<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/24/12/42735744/pharma-bro-martin-shkreli-predicts-doom-for-michael-saylors-microstrategy-as-stock-dips-below-300-in-after-hours-trading"> </a><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/cryptocurrency/25/01/42890745/us-government-granted-permission-to-liquidate-65-billion-in-bitcoin-seized-from-silk-road-case-report">US Government Silk Road Bitcoin Holdings Drop To 0 Amid Report DOJ Approved To Sell $6.5 Billion Worth Of Crypto</a>
Polymarket has attached a disclaimer for all its wildfire-related bets, stating that the idea was to provide factual, real-time news to those impacted by the calamity.
Note that Polymarket is not available to<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/24/11/41838037/will-polymarket-return-to-the-us-after-getting-trump-victory-right-ceo-says-its-part-of-the-plan" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener"> U.S. residents </a>due to regulatory hurdles. The federally regulated prediction platform Kalshi didn&#8217;t have any such <a href="https://kalshi.com/markets/kxfema/states-that-declare-natural-disasters">bets </a>as yet.
Bettors <a href="https://polymarket.com/event/when-will-the-palisades-fire-be-fully-contained?tid=1736409008879" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">saw </a>a 65% possibility of the calamity getting fully contained by Jan. 31, according to the odds for the contract titled, "When will the Palisades wildfire be fully contained?""
Why It Matters: This isn&#8217;t the first time Polymarket has been in the spotlight for its betting markets on sensitive issues. 
Last year, the platform faced criticism for facilitating bets on the Israel-Hezbollah conflict. 
Ethereum (CRYPTO: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/eth/usd">ETH</a>)&nbsp;co-founder Vitalik Buterin defended Polymarket, highlighting its role in <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/cryptocurrency/24/10/41110897/ethereum-creator-vitalik-buterin-bats-for-polymarkets-model-amid-concerns-over-betting-on-">providing accurate information and preventing misinformation</a>. 
It&#8217;s worth noting that Buterin has skin in the game, having participated in Polymarket&#8217;s $70 million funding round in May of last year.
Read Next:&nbsp;
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Disclaimer:&nbsp;This content was partially produced with the help of&nbsp;<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/author/benzinga-neuro" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Benzinga Neuro</a>&nbsp;and was reviewed and published by Benzinga editors.
Representative Image. Photo Courtesy: Wikimedia

General

$ETH

$POL

Los Angeles Wildfires Will Be Tamed By This Day, Predict Polymarket Users — Observers Raise Ethical Question

The Tender Offer is for the outstanding notes listed in the table below (collectively, the "Notes" and each a "Series" of Notes), in the order of priority shown in the table below, and subject to the 2027 Notes Tender Cap set forth in the table below.
<figure class="table"> 
<table>
<tbody>
<tr>
<td colspan="1" rowspan="1">Title of Security</td>
<td colspan="1" rowspan="1">CUSIP(1)</td>
<td colspan="1" rowspan="1">Issuer</td>
<td colspan="1" rowspan="1">Aggregate Principal Amount Outstanding</td>
<td colspan="1" rowspan="1">2027 Notes Tender Cap(2) (in millions)</td>
<td colspan="1" rowspan="1">Acceptance Priority Level(3)</td>
<td colspan="1" rowspan="1">Reference U.S. Treasury Security</td>
<td colspan="1" rowspan="1">Early Tender Premium(4)</td>
<td colspan="1" rowspan="1">Fixed spread (basis points)</td>
<td colspan="1" rowspan="1">Bloomberg Reference Page(5)</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td colspan="1" rowspan="1">
6.375% Senior Notes due 2027
(the "2027 Notes")&#x2A;
</td>
<td colspan="1" rowspan="1">
403949 AK6
U4322C AD5
403949 AP5
</td>
<td colspan="1" rowspan="1">HF Sinclair</td>
<td colspan="1" rowspan="1">$399,875,000</td>
<td colspan="1" rowspan="1">$150,000,000</td>
<td colspan="1" rowspan="1">1</td>
<td colspan="1" rowspan="1">2.625% U.S.T. due 4/15/25</td>
<td colspan="1" rowspan="1">$30.00</td>
<td colspan="1" rowspan="1">50 bps</td>
<td colspan="1" rowspan="1">FIT3</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td colspan="1" rowspan="1">5.875% Senior Notes due 2026&#x2A;</td>
<td colspan="1" rowspan="1">
403949 AF7
U4322C AB9
403949 AB6
</td>
<td colspan="1" rowspan="1">HF Sinclair</td>
<td colspan="1" rowspan="1">$797,100,000</td>
<td colspan="1" rowspan="1">N/A.</td>
<td colspan="1" rowspan="1">2</td>
<td colspan="1" rowspan="1">4.250% U.S.T. due 12/31/25</td>
<td colspan="1" rowspan="1">$30.00</td>
<td colspan="1" rowspan="1">50 bps</td>
<td colspan="1" rowspan="1">FIT4</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td colspan="1" rowspan="1">5.875% Senior Notes due 2026&#x2A;</td>
<td colspan="1" rowspan="1">436106AA6</td>
<td colspan="1" rowspan="1">HollyFrontier</td>
<td colspan="1" rowspan="1">$202,900,000</td>
<td colspan="1" rowspan="1">N/A.</td>
<td colspan="1" rowspan="1">3</td>
<td colspan="1" rowspan="1">4.250% U.S.T. due 12/31/25</td>
<td colspan="1" rowspan="1">$30.00</td>
<td colspan="1" rowspan="1">50 bps</td>
<td colspan="1" rowspan="1">FIT4</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
</figure>

DINO

Reported Earlier, HF Sinclair Upsizes Cash Tender Offer To $1.05B For Outstanding Debt Securities

NYMT

Reported Earlier, New York Mortgage Trust Prices $75M 9.125% Senior Notes Due 2030 With Nasdaq Listing Planned

Recent Highlights &amp; Accomplishments
<ul>
<li>Generated preliminary unaudited fourth quarter revenue of approximately&nbsp;$8.3 million, and preliminary unaudited full year 2024 total revenue of approximately&nbsp;$22.5 million</li>
<li>Received FDA approval for Eversense&#xAE; 365 Continuous Glucose Monitoring system and launched Eversense 365 with commercial partner, Ascensia.</li>
<li>Patient base increased 56% in 2024 over 2023 to approximately 6,000 global patients</li>
<li>Reached a milestone of over a 1,000 annual U.S. Eversense prescribers during 2024</li>
<li>Continued strong interest in Eversense 365, as evidenced by the following early U.S. launch performance indicators:
<ul>
<li>Direct to Consumer (DTC) leads have doubled in Q4 compared to the pre-launch third quarter</li>
<li>New patient shipments of approximately 600 in December were the highest monthly total in the Company's history</li>
<li>The number of patients switching to Eversense from competitive CGM's has increased 49% since Eversense 365 launch</li>
<li>118% increase in patient referrals from physicians since launch</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>Following recent appreciation in Company's share price, determined not to proceed with previously announced Special Meeting of stockholders to consider reverse stock split.</li>
</ul>
 &nbsp;

SENS

Reported Earlier, Senseonics Reports $22.5M Preliminary 2024 Revenue With $8.4M In Q4, 56% YoY Patient Growth, And Milestone Eversense 365 Launch Success

Palantir Technologies Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/PLTR#NYSE">PLTR</a>) Chief Technology Officer Shyam Sankar highlighted the limitations of automation in enterprise artificial intelligence, as the data analytics firm faces renewed scrutiny over its soaring valuation and recent institutional selling.
What Happened: &#8220;If all of the value is in automation, what have we been doing for the last 20 years with self-driving cars? We&#8217;ve been handling edge cases,&#8221; Sankar stated, emphasizing that automation&#8217;s effectiveness is constrained by exceptional scenarios that require human oversight.
<figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"> 
<div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">"[With LLMs], the value is in automation, and in enterprise autonomy. Maybe you can be 50% more productive with a copilot, but [unlocking] all of the economic value requires thinking about AI as a type of labor." Watch Palantir CTO <a href="https://twitter.com/ssankar?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@ssankar</a> explain why the most powerful… <a href="https://t.co/57bShrdI6v">pic.twitter.com/57bShrdI6v</a>
&mdash; Palantir (@PalantirTech) <a href="https://twitter.com/PalantirTech/status/1876991053842055327?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 8, 2025</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>
</figure>
The comments come as Cathie Wood&#8216;s ARK Invest sold 196,728 PLTR <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/trading-ideas/technicals/25/01/42843542/palantir-stock-the-ark-is-rocking-as-palantirs-rally-hits-resistance">shares worth approximately</a> $15 million across its flagship funds, including ARK Innovation ETF (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/ARKK#NYSE">ARKK</a>) and ARK Next Generation Internet ETF (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/ARKW#NYSE">ARKW</a>). 
The sale follows Morgan Stanley&#8216;s recent &#8220;underweight&#8221; rating and $60 price target, despite the stock&#8217;s remarkable 355% surge over the past year.
See Also: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/equities/25/01/42890496/cybertruck-was-my-hero-today-says-ross-gerber-after-teslas-truck-allowed-him-to-navigate-california-wildfires-in-safety">&#8216;Cybertruck Was My Hero Today,&#8217; Says Ross Gerber After Tesla&#8217;s Truck Allowed Him To Navigate California Wildfires In Safety</a>
Why It Matters: The institutional selling presents a stark contrast to CNBC host Jim Cramer&#8216;s bullish stance, who recently indicated interest in adding <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/equities/25/01/42806417/jim-cramer-works-sunday-brainstorm-on-buying-palantir-and-tesla-stock-calls-them-protective-intellectual-blankets">PLTR to his portfolio</a>. The stock has attracted increased <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/global/24/12/42331892/trump-eyes-shyam-sankar-for-pentagon-role-while-palantir-gains-from-border-crisis-contracts-analyst-says-this-is-a-win-for-the-stock">attention amid reports</a> that Sankar is being considered for a top Pentagon research position.
Wedbush Securities Managing Director Dan Ives identifies Palantir as a leader in <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/global/24/12/42331892/trump-eyes-shyam-sankar-for-pentagon-role-while-palantir-gains-from-border-crisis-contracts-analyst-says-this-is-a-win-for-the-stock">enterprise AI transformation</a>, though government revenue growth slowed to 10% in 2023 from over 20% in 2022.
Trading at a reported 80% premium compared to <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/analyst-ratings/analyst-color/25/01/42811388/palantir-trades-in-the-red-during-monday-premarket-as-morgan-stanley-assigns-underw">high-growth software peers</a>, PLTR closed at $68.23 on Wednesday, with <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/PLTR/analyst-ratings">analyst price targets</a> ranging widely from UBS&#8217;s $80 to Wolfe Research&#8217;s $7.50, reflecting the market&#8217;s divided outlook on the company&#8217;s valuation.
Read Next: 
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Image Via Shutterstock 
Disclaimer:&nbsp;This content was partially produced with the help of AI tools and was reviewed and published by Benzinga editors.

Equities

Markets

ARKK

ARKW

PLTR

Palantir CTO Shyam Sankar Challenges Automation's Potential As Selling Pressure Mounts: 'What Have We Been Doing For 20 Years?'

Avadel Pharmaceuticals (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/AVDL#NASDAQ">AVDL</a>) slipped by 25.63% in after-hours on Wednesday after it missed the fourth quarter sales estimate by 5.12%. Still, the sales of its narcolepsy drug, LUMRYZ rose by 150% on an annual basis.
What Happened: The preliminary earnings results for the fourth quarter pegged a 150% increase in net product revenue to $50 million, as compared to $19.5 million in the fourth quarter of 2023. This missed the consensus analyst estimate by 5.12%, which was <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/AVDL/earnings">expected </a>to be $52.7 million, according to <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/AVDL/earnings">Benzinga</a>.
The biopharmaceutical company is focused on treating cataplexy, excessive daytime sleepiness, and other sleep disorders in adults and children above seven.
The company reported a full-year net product revenue of approximately $169 million compared to $28 million in 2023. Its cash flow from operations stood at approximately $73 million for the quarter ended Dec. 31, 2024.
Greg Divis, CEO of Avadel Pharmaceuticals, highlighted 2024 as a pivotal year, emphasizing the consistent patient adoption of LUMRYZ and the overwhelmingly positive feedback from both patients and providers regarding the life-changing benefits of its once-nightly dosing regimen.
See Also: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/general/market-summary/25/01/42871340/regional-banks-can-thrive-despite-big-bank-dominance-truist-securities-highlights-three-key-paths-for-thriving-regional-banks">Regional Banks Can Thrive Despite Big Bank Dominance: Truist Securities Highlights Three Key Paths For Thriving Regional Banks</a>
Why It Matters: There was a 275% increase from 900 patients on LUMRYZ in 2023 to 2,500 in 2024. According to its press release, demand continued across all three patient segments in the fourth quarter, with 34% of patients being new to oxybates and 38% switching from first-generation oxybates.
The company expects the net product revenue for 2025 in the range of $240 million to $260 million, representing a 50% increase at the midpoint of guidance from 2024 and a positive cash flow of $20 million – $40 million.
Divis added that moving into 2025, the company is refining its strategy to increase LUMRYZ&#8217;s demand and aiming to drive uptake across all narcolepsy patient segments. &#8220;We&#8217;re well-positioned to lead in the sleep space and transform care for patients with sleep disorders.&#8221; he said.
Price Action: Avadel shares have fallen by 32.72% over the last six months, underperforming the Nasdaq Biotechnology Index, which fell by 5.07% in the same period. Furthermore, the exchange-traded fund tracking the index, iShares Biotechnology ETF (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/IBB#NASDAQ">IBB</a>) fell 2.9% over the last six months.
According to <a href="https://pro.benzinga.com/dashboard">Benzinga Pro</a> data, AVDL has a consensus price target of $20.9 per share, with a &#8216;buy&#8217; rating based on the ratings of 10 <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/SERV/analyst-ratings">analysts</a>. The highest price target out of all the analysts tracked by Benzinga is $30 issued by Oppenheimer as of Oct. 31, 2024. The lowest target price is $11 per share issued by Jefferies on Nov. 30, 2024.
The average price target between HC Wainwright &amp; Co., Needham, and Needham implies an 189.31% upside for AVDL.
<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/SERV/analyst-ratings"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="946" height="355" src="https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/09010640/AVDL-ANR.png" alt="" class="wp-image-725276" srcset="https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/09010640/AVDL-ANR.png 946w,https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/09010640/AVDL-ANR-300x113.png 300w,https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/09010640/AVDL-ANR-768x288.png 768w" sizes="(max-width: 946px) 100vw, 946px" /></a></figure>
Photo Courtesy: Pixabay.
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<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/general/market-summary/25/01/42867184/yield-curve-normalization-cheap-valuation-eps-growth-to-boost-banks-in-2025-truist-initiates-coverage-on-these-14-regional-names">Yield Curve Normalization, Cheap Valuation, EPS Growth To Boost Banks In 2025: Truist Initiates Coverage On These 14 Regional Names</a></li>
</ul>

Earnings Misses

Broad U.S. Equity ETFs

Analyst Ratings

ETFs

Avadel Pharmaceuticals plc - American Depositary Shares each representing one Ordinary Share

AVDL

Avadel Pharmaceuticals Misses Earnings Estimates But Posts 150% Sales Increase From  Narcolepsy Drug LUMRYZ

Burak brings over 27 years of extensive international experience within the finance sector. Burak started his career with Xerox where he held a number of key financial positions in the USA and the UK in addition to serving as the General Manager of Xerox Turkey. More recently Burak has held the position of Chief Financial Officer within the global Digital Transformation, IT Solutions &amp; Cybersecurity space

VEON

VEON Appoints Burak Ozer As CFO, Effective January 9, 2025

Macro Economic Events

Econ #s

Economics

Germany Trade Balance For November 19.7B Vs. 14.7B	Est.; 13.4B Prior

Germany Industrial Production (MoM) For November 1.5% Vs. 0.5% Est.; -0.4% (Revised) Prior

Company Strengthens Long-term Strategy With Agile Adaptability in Rapidly Changing Business Environments

LGEJY

Reported Earlier, LG Electronics CEO William Cho Reveals 2025 Strategy To Build Structural Competitiveness And Drive Qualitative Growth

A major BlackRock Inc.&nbsp;(NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/BLK#NYSE">BLK</a>) fund is confronting a loss exceeding $600 million tied to its investment in the insurance outsourcing firm, Alacrity. This development emerges amid the company&#8217;s ongoing debt challenges.
What Happened: A consortium of private credit funds, including&nbsp;Antares Capital,&nbsp;Blue Owl Capital,&nbsp;KKR, and&nbsp;Goldman Sachs Asset Management, has&nbsp;agreed to take control of&nbsp;Alacrity. BlackRock had acquired a controlling interest in Alacrity&nbsp;in February 2023 through its&nbsp;$4.3 billion&nbsp;Long Term Private Capital strategy, purchasing it from private equity firm&nbsp;Kohlberg &amp; Co., Financial Times <a href="https://www.ft.com/content/26148be7-38de-40ea-8432-84bf947c1ba3">reported</a> on Thursday.
BlackRock&#8217;s equity investment in Alacrity, valued at over $600 million, will be eliminated&nbsp;as part of the restructuring,&nbsp;as reported by sources familiar with the situation. At the time of BlackRock&#8217;s investment, Alacrity had approximately $1 billion in senior debt and $500 million in junior debt, the latter provided by Goldman's asset management division.
The restructuring plan involves converting these debts into a new $450 million term loan and $250 million in preferred equity. Senior lenders will acquire 90% ownership of the company post-restructuring, while Goldman Sachs Asset Management will hold the remaining 10%.
BlackRock has yet to respond to<a href="https://pro.benzinga.com"> Benzinga</a>&#8216;s queries.
Why It Matters: The timing of this financial loss is critical for BlackRock as it prepares to release its fourth-quarter earnings on Jan. 15. Analysts anticipate the company will report earnings of $11.38 per share, a significant increase from $9.66 per share in the previous year. Revenue is projected to reach $5.63 billion, up from $4.63 billion a year earlier. This restructuring loss could impact investor sentiment and the company&#8217;s financial outlook.
Moreover, BlackRock&#8217;s recent definitive agreement to acquire&nbsp;<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/25/01/42888338/blackrock-earnings-are-imminent-these-most-accurate-analysts-revise-forecasts-ahead-of-earnings-call">HPS Investment Partners</a>&nbsp;for approximately $12 billion underscores its strategic moves to expand its investment capabilities. The Alacrity restructuring, however, highlights the risks inherent in such large-scale investments and the challenges of managing debt-laden assets.
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Disclaimer: This content was partially produced with the help of&nbsp;<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/author/benzinga-neuro" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Benzinga Neuro</a>&nbsp;and was reviewed and published by Benzinga editors.
Photo by rafapress on Shutterstock

BlackRock Reportedly Faces $600 Million Loss In Alacrity Restructuring Ahead Of Earnings Report

Do Kwon, co-founder of disgraced Terraform Labs, will face trial in a year&#8217;s time for his alleged role in the $40 billion criminal fraud case involving the collapse of Terra Classic (CRYPTO: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/">LUNC</a>) and sister stablecoin TerraUSD (USTC), according to a report on Wednesday.
What Happened: U.S. District Judge Paul Engelmayer set a trial date for Jan. 26, 2026, in New York, <a href="https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2025-01-08/terraform-s-do-kwon-to-face-2026-trial-in-ny-on-us-fraud-charges">expected </a>to last for four to eight weeks, Bloomberg reported.
Kwon has been <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/global/25/01/42773042/terra-lunas-do-kwon-to-face-criminal-fraud-charges-in-us">accused of various counts of commodities fraud</a>, conspiracy, securities fraud, and wire fraud in connection with the collapse of LUNC and stablecoin TerraUSD in 2022, which caused an estimated $40 billion loss.
The drop had far-reaching consequences, undermining investor confidence and resulting in prolonged months of lower valuations, also known as a bear market.
See Also:<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/24/12/42735744/pharma-bro-martin-shkreli-predicts-doom-for-michael-saylors-microstrategy-as-stock-dips-below-300-in-after-hours-trading"> </a><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/25/01/42835979/ethereum-co-founder-vitalik-buterin-offloads-nearly-a-million-in-memecoins-to-benefit-charitiesdogecoins-sister-coin-neiro-plunges-3-after-sale">Ethereum Co-Founder Vitalik Buterin Offloads Nearly A Million In Memecoins To Benefit Charities — Dogecoin&#8217;s Sister Coin NEIRO Plunges 3% After Sale</a>
Kwon was extradited from Montenegro to face these charges in a U.S. court. He pleaded not guilty to these charges.
Do Kwon&#8217;s extradition <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/25/01/42758091/terra-classic-token-rallies-as-terraform-labs-do-kwon-extradited-to-the-us-from-montenegro">ended a legal tug-of-war</a> between the U.S. and South Korea, his native country, over competing extradition requests.
Price Action: At the time of writing, LUNC was exchanging hands at $0.0001036, down 2.77% in the last 24 hours, according to <a href="https://pro.benzinga.com/dashboard?_gl=1&#x2A;380nj0&#x2A;_ga&#x2A;MTEyOTAyOTcxMy4xNzEzMzY0NTYy&#x2A;_ga_V7ZK73W7N0&#x2A;MTcxNDk4MzIzMi42LjEuMTcxNDk4OTE0Ni4wLjAuMA.." target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">data from Benzinga Pro</a>. The coin has lost nearly 20% of its value in the last month.
Photo Courtesy: July Ko On Shutterstock.com
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</ul>

Coverage of Bitcoin, Etherum, Ripple and all the latest digital currencies.

Cryptocurrency

$LUNC

Terra Classic Sinks As Terraform Founder Do Kwon Set To Stand Trial In 2026 For Alleged $40 Billion Fraud

Meta Platforms, Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/META#NASDAQ">META</a>) CEO Mark Zuckerberg's accusation of censorship has been firmly denied by the European Commission.
What Happened: On Wednesday, the European Commission dismissed claims by Meta that EU data laws censor social media, reported Reuters.
The Commission stated that their regulations only mandate the removal of illegal content. &#8220;We absolutely refute any claims of censorship,&#8221; said a Commission spokesperson.
See Also: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/equities/25/01/42837406/amid-nvidias-ces-2025-buzz-investors-overlooked-apple-supplier-foxconns-strong-q4-says-jim-cramer">Amid Nvidia's CES 2025 Buzz, Investors Overlooked Apple Supplier Foxconn's Strong Q4, Says Jim Cramer</a>
Zuckerberg had criticized European laws, stating they hinder innovation by institutionalizing censorship. In response, the Commission said that the Digital Services Act does not compel platforms to remove lawful content but targets harmful material.
Meta has decided to <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/25/01/42851889/meta-ditches-fact-checking-for-community-notes-zuckerberg-says-opportunity-to-restore-free-expression">eliminate fact-checkers</a> for its platforms in the U.S., opting for a &#8220;community notes&#8221; system similar to that used by Elon Musk's X.
The European Commission noted that for such a system to operate in the EU, platforms must conduct risk assessments and submit them to the EU executive.
Subscribe to the <a href="https://bztechtrends.beehiiv.com/subscribe">Benzinga Tech Trends newsletter</a> to get all the latest tech developments delivered to your inbox.
Why It Matters: The tension between Meta Platforms and the European Union is not new. In November 2024, the European Commission imposed an <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/government/regulations/24/11/41981957/meta-hit-with-841-million-eu-fine-over-antitrust-violations-tied-to-facebook-marketplace">$841 million fine</a> on Meta for antitrust violations related to Facebook Marketplace.
Later in December, Meta faced another setback when the Irish Data Protection Commission fined the company <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/24/12/42537434/meta-fined-264-million-over-2018-facebook-data-breach-in-europe">$264 million over a 2018 data breach</a>.&nbsp;
Price Action: Meta's stock closed Wednesday's trading session down 1.16%, finishing at $610.72. In after-hours trading, the shares dipped an additional 0.34%, according to <a href="https://pro.benzinga.com/dashboard">Benzinga Pro data</a>.
Check out more of Benzinga&#8217;s Consumer Tech coverage by <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/topic/consumer-tech">following this link</a>.
Photo Courtesy: Flickr.
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Disclaimer: This content was partially produced with the help of <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/author/benzinga-neuro">Benzinga Neuro</a> and was reviewed and published by Benzinga editors.

Social Media

Media

Mark Zuckerberg Accuses EU Of Censorship, Spokesperson Pushes Back On Meta's Allegations: 'We Absolutely Refute Any Claims'

Tesla Inc.&#8217;s (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/TSLA#NASDAQ">TSLA</a>) inventory in the U.S. now shows non-foundation series Cybertrucks listed together with the more premium foundation series of the vehicle.
What Happened: At the start of the week, Tesla had only foundation series Cybertrucks listed on its inventory. 
The foundation series refers to a limited and pricier edition of the Cybertruck with laser-etched foundation series badges and premium accessories.
Tesla made only the foundation series Cybertrucks for the first few months of deliveries. In October, Tesla started selling the regular version of Cybertruck priced about $20,000 lower than the foundation series.
Tesla&#8217;s inventory now shows multiple non-foundation series Cybertrucks, priced lower than the foundation series offerings. While the non-foundation series all-wheel drive variant of the Cybertruck has a starting price of $79,990, the non-foundation series Cyberbeast variant of the truck starts at $99,990. 
Why It Matters: Benzinga first noted the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/tech/24/12/42524912/teslas-99k-foundation-series-cybertrucks-still-available-a-sign-of-possible-demand-hurdles" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">foundation series Cybertrucks in Tesla's inventory</a>&nbsp;in mid-December. Tesla has, since then, added offers&nbsp;<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/tech/24/12/42712707/tesla-offers-free-lifetime-supercharging-with-foundation-series-cybertruck-as-it-looks-to-clear-inventory" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">including free supercharging</a>&nbsp;on the vehicle if the order is placed on or after Dec. 27. The offer, it then said, will only be available for a limited time.
However, a week later, there are still foundation-series Cybertrucks left in the inventory and the company is continuing to offer free supercharging during the period of initial ownership, hinting that potential customers might be unwilling to<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/tech/24/11/41873767/cybertruck-likely-wont-be-profitable-in-q4-says-tesla-researcher" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">&nbsp;pay a premium for the stainless steel truck.</a>
Check out more of Benzinga&#8217;s Future Of Mobility coverage by&nbsp;<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/topic/mobility" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">following this link.</a>
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Photo courtesy: Tesla

TSLA

Tesla's Inventory Now Includes Non-Foundation Series Cybertrucks

<ul>
<li>The VENTANA DP 600 slide scanner, part of Roche's Digital Pathology Dx system, is now cleared by the FDA to aid in clinical diagnosis, enabling pathologists to diagnose patients using digital images. &nbsp;</li>
<li>This 240-slide scanner produces excellent image quality of stained histology slides from patient tissue samples, while providing ease-of-use and workflow flexibility for the pathology lab. &nbsp;</li>
<li>Primary diagnosis in digital pathology helps enhance diagnostic accuracy, consistency, and speed by providing high-resolution images and advanced analysis tools.</li>
</ul>

RHHBF

RHHBY

RHHVF

Roche's Digital Pathology Dx System Expands With FDA Approval Of High-Capacity VENTANA DP 600 Scanner

New Sarclisa subcutaneous formulation met co-primary endpoints in the IRAKLIA phase 3 study in multiple myeloma
<ul>
<li>Sarclisa SC formulation added to Pd for the treatment of R/R MM met the co-primary endpoints in the IRAKLIA phase 3 study, demonstrating non-inferiority compared to Sarclisa IV</li>
<li>IRAKLIA is the first global phase 3 study to evaluate the SC administration of a cancer treatment via an OBDS</li>
<li>OBDS is an alternative delivery method designed to improve the patient experience and currently available SC administration</li>
</ul>

Sanofi's Sarclisa Subcutaneous Formulation Achieves Co-Primary Endpoints In IRAKLIA Phase 3 Trial For Multiple Myeloma Treatment

The International Longshoremen&#8217;s Association and U.S. Maritime Alliance reached a tentative six-year master contract agreement on Wednesday, averting potential supply chain disruptions at East Coast and Gulf ports ahead of the Jan. 15 deadline.
The deal, which requires ratification from both parties, notably includes compromises on port automation while preserving labor protections. 
Sources familiar with the negotiations <a href="https://www.cnbc.com/2025/01/08/union-dockworkers-port-employers-announce-tentative-labor-deal-at-east-coast-and-gulf-ports.html">told</a> CNBC that while full automation was excluded, USMX members gained the flexibility to implement modernization technologies, with guaranteed ILA positions tied to new equipment deployments.
A technology committee, including ILA President Harold Daggett and other union and port representatives, will oversee future technological implementations. The arrangement aims to enhance port efficiency and capacity while maintaining strong labor relations through 2031.
Both organizations stated in a joint announcement that the agreement &#8220;creates ILA jobs, supports American consumers and businesses, and keeps the American economy the key hub of the global marketplace.&#8221; Specific terms remain undisclosed pending member review and ratification votes, for which dates have not been set.
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Image Via Shutterstock 
Disclaimer: This content was partially produced with the help of AI tools and was reviewed and published by Benzinga editors.

East Coast Ports Avoid Disruptions As Union, Maritime Alliance Reach 6-Year Deal On Automation, Labor Protections

Elon Musk&#8216;s rocket manufacturing company SpaceX said on Wednesday that it is preparing to launch its ambitious Starship launch vehicle on its seventh flight test as soon as Monday, Jan. 13. 
What Happened: The launch window opens at 4:00 p.m. CT on Monday. However, the company warned that the schedule is also likely to change. 
SpaceX has previously said that its Starship vehicle, currently undergoing testing and development, will launch from Starbase in Texas for its seventh flight test carrying 10 Starlink simulators which are similar in size and weight to the company&#8217;s next-generation Starlink satellites in a bid to demonstrate its capabilities in the satellite launch segment.
For the upcoming flight, SpaceX is looking to catch the two-stage vehicle's booster back at the launch pad at Starbase with the launch tower's metallic arms like on its fifth test flight in October. However, in case of any safety concerns, the company will splash it down in the Gulf of Mexico, it said.
The spacecraft, meanwhile, is slated to be splashed down in the Indian Ocean on the upcoming test.
While SpaceX has conducted 6 test flights of its ambitious launch vehicle to date, none of them carried any payload. The last test flight of Starship was in November.
Why It Matters:&nbsp;Starship is key to many big ambitions in the field of space exploration.
While NASA is looking forward to landing humans back on the surface of the Moon after a gap of over 50 years with the help of a&nbsp;<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/24/11/42108681/spacex-shows-off-conceptual-version-of-starship-which-will-help-humans-land-back-on-moon-in-over-50-yrs" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">custom version of the Starship</a>, Musk dreams of taking&nbsp;<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/24/09/40770222/elon-musk-sets-2026-for-starships-first-uncrewed-mars-mission-targeting-successful-landing" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">humans to the planet Mars</a>&nbsp;aboard the&nbsp;vehicle.
The last time humans set foot on the Moon was in 1972&nbsp;<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/24/01/36692749/just-a-worse-version-of-apollo-elon-musk-baffled-by-nasa-veterans-push-to-ditch-spacex-blue-origin-a" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">with Apollo 17</a>. Since then, no crew has traveled beyond low-Earth orbit.
In December, Musk pegged the seventh flight test of Starship for Jan. 10. However, earlier this week, Musk said the launch date has been <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/general/space/25/01/42866518/spacexs-starship-7th-test-flight-delayed-says-elon-musk-now-expected-next-week">pushed to next week</a>. The CEO did not provide any reasons for the delay. 
Check out more of Benzinga&#8217;s Future Of Mobility coverage by&nbsp;<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/topic/mobility" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">following this link.</a>
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Photo courtesy: SpaceX

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