Kira-Yan Meta ( META ) is preparing to unwind its acquisition of AI startup Manus after China blocked the deal on national security grounds, according to a Wall Street Journal report that cites people with knowledge of the matter. China's National Development and Reform Commission issued a brief order on Monday prohibiting the acquisition and requiring Meta's ( META ) unwind of the $2B plus acquis...
Kira-Yan Meta ( META ) is preparing to unwind its acquisition of AI startup Manus after China blocked the deal on national security grounds, according to a Wall Street Journal report that cites people with knowledge of the matter. China's National Development and Reform Commission issued a brief order on Monday prohibiting the acquisition and requiring Meta's ( META ) unwind of the $2B plus acquisition of Manus, as Beijing intensifies oversight of U.S. investment in domestic startups building frontier technologies. Investors in the Singapore-based AI startup, including venture firm Benchmark , have already realized returns on their holdings. Separately, several former Manus backers in Asia—such as Tencent , HSG , and ZhenFund are preparing to coordinate if Meta Platforms moves ahead with unwinding the deal, the report added. Beijing has given a deadline of several weeks to unwind the transaction and restore Manus’s Chinese assets, including removing transferred data or tech. The Chinese authorities may also impose penalties on Manus and Meta Platforms ( META ) if the transaction if the deal cannot be fully reversed. Meta ( META ) announced the purchase of Singapore-based Manus in December 2025, after the startup—founded by Chinese engineers and relocated from China in 2025—hit $100M in annualized revenue with its general AI agent technology. The deal aimed to bolster Meta's ( META ) AI capabilities amid competition. The cancellation could give a serious blow to Meta's ( META ) ambitions in the fast-moving AI agents space. While the move signals tighter Chinese scrutiny on U.S. investments in AI, potentially chilling cross-border deals and isolating China's tech sector from foreign capital. More on Meta Meta Q1: AI Ad Thesis Getting Stronger Meta's Stock May Plunge Following Results Meta Vs. Google: In The Age Of AI, The Ad Crown Is Up For Grabs Meta partners with Overview Energy to use solar space energy to power AI China blocks Meta’s $2B takeover of AI firm Manus
Novartis ( NVS ) reported Q1 core EPS declined -15% (CC, -13% USD) to $1.99, missing consensus by $0.08. Net sales declined -1% Y/Y, -5% cc to $13.11B, missing consensus by $0.37B. Free cash flow 1 was $3.3 billion. Full-year 2026 guidance reaffirmed: Net sales expected to grow low single-digit and core operating income expected to decline low single-digit More on Novartis Novartis: Buy Thesis Fad...
Novartis ( NVS ) reported Q1 core EPS declined -15% (CC, -13% USD) to $1.99, missing consensus by $0.08. Net sales declined -1% Y/Y, -5% cc to $13.11B, missing consensus by $0.37B. Free cash flow 1 was $3.3 billion. Full-year 2026 guidance reaffirmed: Net sales expected to grow low single-digit and core operating income expected to decline low single-digit More on Novartis Novartis: Buy Thesis Fades Into Q1 2026 Results (Rating Downgrade) Novartis Promises Growth Despite 'Historic' Patent Cliffs - I Broadly Agree Novartis: Synnovation Deal And 8% Full-Year 2025 Sales Growth Novartis Q1 2026 Earnings Preview Novartis pulls bid to expand Pluvicto label for prostate cancer in EU
Luis Alvarez Match Group ( MTCH ) , owner of apps like Hinge, Tinder, and Match.com, will invest $100M in Sniffies , potentially setting up a takeover, the company said on Monday. Match said t he investment represents a significant minority ownership stake and includes the option to acquire the remaining equity in the future. The company has applied this approach in prior investments, including Hi...
Luis Alvarez Match Group ( MTCH ) , owner of apps like Hinge, Tinder, and Match.com, will invest $100M in Sniffies , potentially setting up a takeover, the company said on Monday. Match said t he investment represents a significant minority ownership stake and includes the option to acquire the remaining equity in the future. The company has applied this approach in prior investments, including Hinge, where it first invested in 2017 before acquiring the business in late 2018, and now with its investment in Sniffies. Sniffies will continue to operate independently and remain founder-led, Match ( MTCH ) said. Sniffies has grown to an estimated 3M monthly active users globally, with over 20M messages sent daily. Its real-time, map-based experience offers a more dynamic way for men to discover and connect with other men, "reflecting evolving user behavior and a growing demand for more flexible, low-pressure interactions." Sniffies, currently a web-only platform, having been removed from Apple Inc.’s ( AAPL ) App Store last year due to what Sniffies described as content restrictions. LGBTQ+ dating app Grindr ( GRND ) last year ended talks on a $3.46B take-private deal by its two largest shareholders due to uncertainty over financing. More on Match Group Match Group Is Significantly Undervalued For A Stable, High-Margin Business Tinder Vs. Bumble: A Turnaround Duel Of Dating Giants Match Group, Inc. (MTCH) Discusses Upcoming Feature Updates and Innovation Roadmap for Leading Dating App Prepared Remarks Transcript FTC sues Match Group over unauthorized sharing of OkCupid data Match Group paints optimistic turnaround picture, posts Q4 results beat; shares rise