Capital Markets

Memphis – October 16, 2026 -- International Paper confirmed it is in discussions with potential bidders for its EMEA Packaging Business while it continues to prepare a spin-off of the unit through a London listing.

The company (NYSE: IP; LSE: IPC) said it is evaluating unsolicited inbound inquiries for the business. It described the sale process as early-stage and said there is no certainty that any sale will be agreed or completed. The statement followed recent movement in International Paper's share price and press speculation about a sale.

International Paper runs spin-off and sale evaluation in parallel

The company is progressing the spin-off and assessing the potential sale at the same time. It said it cannot provide assurance on the ultimate timing or structure of the separation of the EMEA unit.

Tianjin -- Taoping Inc. (Nasdaq: TAOP) has until October 15, 2026, to lift its share price back to US$1.00 after Nasdaq notified the company on October 15, 2026, that it fails the minimum bid price requirement under Listing Rule 5550(a)(2).

Nasdaq based the notice on the closing bid price of Taoping's ordinary shares over the 30 consecutive business days from October 15, 2026 through October 15, 2026. Under Listing Rule 5810(c)(3)(A), a deficiency lasting 30 consecutive business days constitutes a failure to meet the requirement. Taoping disclosed the letter under Listing Rule 5810(b), which requires prompt disclosure.

Taoping must close at US$1.00 or higher for ten consecutive business days to regain compliance

The company has a 180-calendar-day compliance period. If the closing bid price reaches at least US$1.00 for a minimum of ten consecutive business days within that window, Nasdaq will confirm compliance in writing and close the matter.

Punta Cana – October 15, 2026 -- CLERHP, the Spanish engineering and real estate group listed on BME Growth, projects $784 million in revenue, $252 million in EBITDA and $162 million in net income over 2026–28 under a new business plan, and will start paying dividends in 2027.

The Board of Directors approved the plan on September 30. It formalizes CLERHP's shift from an engineering-focused company into a vertically integrated group spanning the real estate value chain. The Dominican Republic becomes the group's primary strategic market.

Larimar City sales reach $400 million, about half of three-year revenue target

The Larimar City & Resort development in Punta Cana has booked $400 million in sales, roughly 50% of projected 2026–28 revenue. The project is designed as a destination city combining housing, infrastructure, commercial space, leisure and services.

Los Angeles – October 15, 2026 -- FF EAI Robotics Ecosystem Inc. (NASDAQ: FFR) signed definitive agreements to acquire the full robotics business of Faraday Future Intelligent Electric Inc. (NASDAQ: FFAI) in an all-stock transaction. The deal values the FFAI robotics unit at about $200 million and FFR at about $60 million on a fully diluted basis.

FFR issues shares at $2.246, a roughly 50% premium to market

FFR will issue shares to FFAI at $2.246 each. That is about 50% above FFR's $1.50 close on the October 12 signing date and about 55% above its $1.45 close on October 13. The parties expect all closings by the end of October 2026.

Memphis – October 14, 2026 -- International Paper's EMEA Packaging Business will hold a Capital Markets Day in London on November 3, 2026, from 13:00 to 17:00 GMT, as the company advances plans to spin the unit off as an independent, publicly traded company named DS Smith plc.

DS Smith leadership to present business model and financial outlook

Tim Nicholls, future Chief Executive Officer of DS Smith plc, and Vincent Bonnot, its future Chief Financial Officer, will host the event with other senior EMEA leaders. They will present the business model, growth strategy and post-separation financial outlook. International Paper says the new company will be an enhanced pure-play packaging leader in the European market.

The event will be webcast, and a recording will be posted on DS Smith's website afterward. In-person attendance is available on request.

New York – October 14, 2026 -- Harbour Island Acquisition Corp. I priced its initial public offering of 10,000,000 units at $10.00 per unit, raising $100 million for a blank check vehicle that targets the supply chain behind semiconductors, AI and defense technology.

Units begin trading on Nasdaq Global Market on October 14 under HRIAU

The units are expected to be listed on the Global Market tier of The Nasdaq Stock Market and to start trading on October 14, 2026. The offering is expected to close on October 14, 2026, subject to customary closing conditions.

Each unit consists of one Class A ordinary share and one redeemable warrant. Each warrant entitles its holder to buy one Class A ordinary share at an exercise price of $11.50, subject to certain adjustments. Once the components begin separate trading, the shares and warrants are expected to trade under the symbols HRIA and HRIAW, respectively.

Johannesburg – October 13, 2026 -- Kholo Capital Mezzanine Debt Fund I has provided R275 million (US$17 million) in mezzanine debt to DCC Holdings Proprietary Limited, a South African information and communications technology (ICT) distributor. The funding will refinance DCC's existing debt and support its long-term growth strategy.

Kholo Capital enters DCC's capital structure alongside Kleoss Capital

DCC's shareholders are senior management and private equity investor Kleoss Capital. DCC CEO Carlos Ferreira said the shareholders are introducing Kholo Capital into the group's capital structure. He said DCC has grown steadily by adding key brands and expanding its footprint within established vendor relationships.

Kleoss Managing Partner Hale Matsipa described the deal as a collaboration with a fellow private markets investor and evidence of positive momentum in South Africa's private markets.

Mexico City – October 13, 2026 -- NEXT Properties (Trust 2401) has amended its exchange offers for four series of outstanding notes, making each offer conditional on the issuance of at least US$450,000,000 in new notes, following feedback from large institutional holders.

NEXT Properties sets two US$450 million floors for new 2036 and 2056 notes

The exchange offers, launched on October 13, 2026, cover any and all of the Trust's 7.700% Senior Sustainability-Linked Notes due 2032, 7.375% Senior Green Notes due 2034, 6.950% Senior Notes due 2044 and 6.390% Senior Notes due 2050.

Holders of the 2032 and 2034 notes can exchange into new Senior Sustainability-Linked Notes due 2036. Holders of the 2044 and 2050 notes can exchange into new Senior Sustainability-Linked Notes due 2056.

New York – October 13, 2026 -- Diraq will deploy up to $300 million to support independent verification and validation of its quantum computing solution after the U.S. Defense Research Projects Agency selected it to advance to the final stage of its Quantum Benchmarking Initiative.

Diraq targets first shared-data-center silicon spin quantum computer by end of 2026

The company says it will deploy the world's first silicon spin quantum computer to operate in a shared commercial data center before the end of 2026. The item was part of the New York Stock Exchange's pre-market update on October 12, delivered by Kristen Scholer from the NYSE Trading Floor.

Earnings season and inflation reports drive the week's market agenda

The NYSE flagged earnings season and inflation reports as the headline market events this week.

Amsterdam – October 12, 2026 -- Euronext Amsterdam-listed SWI Group (SWICH) has raised €800 million from institutional investors at a final valuation of €6.1 billion, lifting total equity raised since March 2026 to more than €1 billion.

New share series lift capital base to 558,399,385 ordinary shares

SWICH is issuing the new ordinary shares in several series. The total share capital rises to 558,399,385 ordinary shares after the transaction.

Proceeds fund data center and AI compute build-out in Europe and the US

The company will use the proceeds to develop and scale its data center and AI compute capacity. Spending covers power infrastructure, compute deployments and its development pipeline on both sides of the Atlantic. SWI describes the raise as a step in consolidating its transatlantic digital infrastructure and AI compute platform.