Category: 3. Business

LAS VEGAS, Oct. 15, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — Pratt & Whitney Canada’s PW800 engine has exceeded 600,000 hours of flight powering aircraft from two of the business jet industry’s leading OEMs. The PW800-powered Gulfstream G500 entered into service in 2018, the G600 in 2019, and the Dassault Falcon 6X in 2023. Pratt & Whitney is an RTX (NYSE: RTX) business.

“With over 700 engines in service for 250 operators around the world benefitting from the exceptional performance and operating advantages of the PW800 engine, it delivers unmatched efficiency, lower emissions, and a quieter, more comfortable cabin experience,” said Andrew Waterston, vice president, Sales and Marketing, Business Aviation, Pratt & Whitney Canada. “Surpassing 600,000 flying hours in just a few years is a testament to the confidence our customers have in this engine and underscores how the PW800 continues to raise the bar for innovation, dependability and value for operators worldwide.”

The engine family is the most modern and efficient engine in its class. It offers double-digit improvements in fuel burn and noise as compared to the current generation of engines. It can also fly on a 50% blend of jet fuel A (kerosene) and synthetic alternative fuel (SAF). With a dispatch reliability exceeding 99.98%, the PW800 engine delivers a flawless experience and unmatched customer satisfaction, requiring 40% less scheduled maintenance and 20% fewer inspections than other engines in its class.

Pratt & Whitney Canada’s PW800 Eagle Service Plan offering is a pay-per-hour engine maintenance program that both protects and enhances asset and resale value. It increases aircraft availablity and provides a predictive and preventive maintenance environment with advanced analytics for tailored “on-condition” management.

In 2025, Pratt & Whitney Canada expanded its PW800 MRO capabilities by bringing online MTU Maintenance’s new PW800 shop in Berlin-Brandenburg, adding a high-speed MRO line in Burlington, Vermont, and continuing to operate its established facility in Bridgeport, West Virginia.

About Pratt & Whitney 
Pratt & Whitney, an RTX business, is a world leader in the design, manufacture and service of aircraft engines and auxiliary power units for military, commercial and civil aviation customers. Since 1925, our engineers have pioneered the development of revolutionary aircraft propulsion technologies, and today we support more than 90,000 in-service engines through our global network of maintenance, repair and overhaul facilities.

About RTX
RTX is the world’s largest aerospace and defense company. With more than 185,000 global employees, we push the limits of technology and science to redefine how we connect and protect our world. Through industry-leading businesses – Collins Aerospace, Pratt & Whitney, and Raytheon – we are advancing aviation, engineering integrated defense systems for operational success, and developing next-generation technology solutions and manufacturing to help global customers address their most critical challenges. The company, with 2024 sales of more than $80 billion, is headquartered in Arlington, Virginia.

For questions or to schedule an interview, please contact [email protected].

SOURCE RTX

Cognitus to further strengthen IBM’s SAP capabilities in complex and regulated industries, including Aerospace and Defense, Energy and Utilities and Manufacturing

Oct 15, 2025

ARMONK, N.Y., Oct. 15, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — IBM (NYSE: IBM) today announced that it has signed a definitive agreement to acquire Cognitus, a leading SAP S/4HANA services provider, with industry-specific, AI-powered solutions. Cognitus will bring mission-critical SAP skills, including in RISE and GROW with SAP, as well as an extensive portfolio of software assets. This combination of services, software and industry expertise, aligns with IBM’s asset-based approach to digital transformation, driving increased productivity and operational efficiency for clients around the world.

Founded in 2002 and headquartered in Dallas, Texas, Cognitus brings more than 20 years of SAP expertise, helping enterprise clients with end-to-end SAP S/4HANA implementations and application maintenance services. As an SAP Gold & Co-innovation partner, Cognitus has been recognized for pioneering industry-tailored SAP services and solutions that empower the data-driven enterprise and fuel sustainable growth.

Cognitus’ services capabilities are boosted by its suite of proprietary, SAP-endorsed and AI-enabled software assets. These assets include Cognitus CIS-GovCon which supports end-to-end government contracting requirements; Cognitus CLM, an AI-powered contract lifecycle management solution built specifically for government contractors; Cognitus Data Migration, a low-code, AI solution that simplifies the migration of data from legacy systems to SAP S/4HANA; and Cognitus Real-Time Billing, which accelerates high-volume, project-based billing by processing transactions in real time.

Cognitus’ services and software capabilities throughout the entire project lifecycle of SAP transformation projects enable faster decision-making, reduce risk, and support compliance. This helps organizations in complex and regulated industries simplify operations and achieve greater consistency with a single provider.

“SAP is the foundation for so many digital transformations around the world. Clients are turning to trusted partners that know their industries inside and out and can deploy AI-powered solutions to their enterprise operations,” said Neil Dhar, Managing Partner, IBM Consulting Americas. “Cognitus brings deep industry expertise and proprietary AI technology that improves the efficiency of SAP implementations and will extend the functionality of tools across our SAP portfolio.”

IBM has extensive skills in SAP technology and transformations, complemented by its AI-led delivery platform, IBM Consulting Advantage. The acquisition of Cognitus strengthens IBM’s industry expertise, portfolio of AI solutions, and capabilities in RISE and GROW with SAP, bolstering its ability to deliver modern SAP solutions faster and more effectively for global clients.

“Becoming part of IBM enables Cognitus to amplify what we do best – accelerating SAP transformation through innovation,” said Pat Sathi, CEO of Cognitus. “It creates new opportunities for our people while strengthening how we serve our customers. Our clients will continue to benefit from our proven SAP-Endorsed solutions and accelerators, backed by Cognitus’ deep industry expertise in regulated industries and now supported by IBM’s global scale and advanced technology capabilities.”

Nitin Khanna, Managing Director, and Amit Baid, President, at Cognitus, added, “Our software-first approach has always been central to how we deliver value. With IBM, we’ll be able to accelerate software innovation, enhance our portfolio, and expand these capabilities to serve an even broader global customer base.”

The acquisition of Cognitus strengthens IBM’s SAP portfolio and represents IBM’s continued investment in skills for strategic partners like AWS, Microsoft, Oracle, Palo Alto Networks, SAP, and more.

Financial details of the transaction were not disclosed, and IBM’s acquisition of Cognitus is subject to customary closing conditions and regulatory approvals.

About Cognitus

Cognitus, an SAP Gold and Co-Innovation Partner, is a recognized leader in delivering GROW with SAP and RISE with SAP programs for complex and regulated industries. The company combines deep industry expertise with a portfolio of SAP-Endorsed Apps and industry accelerators that extend SAP Cloud ERP to meet compliance and operational requirements. With proven experience across Aerospace and Defense, Utilities, Manufacturing, Consumer Products, Professional Services, Wholesale Distribution, and more, Cognitus enables rapid, fit-to-standard SAP implementations that help customers modernize with confidence and achieve measurable value.

About IBM

IBM is a leading provider of global hybrid cloud and AI, and consulting expertise. We help clients in more than 175 countries capitalize on insights from their data, streamline business processes, reduce costs and gain the competitive edge in their industries. Thousands of government and corporate entities in critical infrastructure areas such as financial services, telecommunications and healthcare rely on IBM’s hybrid cloud platform and Red Hat OpenShift to affect their digital transformations quickly, efficiently and securely. IBM’s breakthrough innovations in AI, quantum computing, industry-specific cloud solutions and consulting deliver open and flexible options to our clients. All of this is backed by IBM’s legendary commitment to trust, transparency, responsibility, inclusivity and service. Visit www.ibm.com for more information.

Media Contact:

Elizabeth Brophy

Elizabeth.Brophy@ibm.com

SOURCE IBM

Lexington, MA and Bristol, CT– October 15, 2025 – Leading into Breast Cancer Awareness Month, FUJIFILM Healthcare Americas Corporation, a leading provider of medical imaging and informatics solutions, and Beekley Medical^®, a leading supplier of niche medical products, hosted its second annual Breast Imaging Education Summit at Fujifilm’s Valhalla, NY headquarters on September 20- 21. The complimentary event was well attended and convened radiologic technologists specializing in breast imaging and industry leaders within the field, with attendees earning 13 CE (Continuing Education) credits.

More than 40 technologists attended the educational forum designed with an emphasis on learning, collaboration, and professional growth. The goal was to engage technologists on the frontlines of women’s healthcare about the latest advances in imaging technologies and screening best practices through interactive conversations and hands-on training with the latest imaging systems and clinical images.

The program included more than 10 presentations from experts in the women’s health space including several radiologists from renowned institutions like MD Anderson Cancer Center and University of Pittsburgh Medical Center. Topics ran the gamut from new technologies in breast imaging to breast density communication and reporting, from contrast-enhanced mammography to understanding the patient’s journey after breast cancer diagnosis, and more.

In addition, Mammography Educators provided attendees with an instructional live, hands-on breast positioning workshop with Fujifilm’s ASPIRE Cristalle 3D mammography system and Beekley Medical’s Bella Blankets® Protective Coverlets.

“Beekley Medical and FUJIFILM Healthcare Americas Corporation share the same mission – to improve women’s health by expanding access to breast health education and mammography services for every woman who needs it,” said Henry Izawa, president and chief executive officer, FUJIFILM Healthcare Americas Corporation. “Technologists perform approximately 40 million mammograms in the U.S. every year— they are literally at the forefront of saving lives. And because they are on the frontlines, techs are also in a unique position to educate women about the importance of annual screenings and early diagnosis. This event was created to help techs expand their professional knowledge while also paying tribute to the critical work they do every day.”

“Beekley Medical is honored to partner with FUJIFILM Healthcare Americas Corporation for the annual Breast Imaging Education Summit,” said Maureen O. Gallo, President of Beekley Corporation. “Not only do our companies share a legacy of 91 years in business, but we also share a deep commitment to excellence. That commitment is reflected in the caliber of radiologists who participate in this prestigious event, generously sharing their expertise with attendees. This program empowers technologists with the latest knowledge and hands-on experience in breast imaging. Through this collaboration, we’re helping to elevate the standard of care for women everywhere.”

For technologists who could not attend the event, a recorded webinar of key topics addressed during the second annual Breast Imaging Education Summit will be available on Nov. 8^th at 8:00 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. to celebrate National Radiologic Technology Week. Participating technologists will earn 6.0 CEU credits. To register, click here.

The European Commission has fined Gucci, Chloé, and Loewe over 157 million euros for anti-competitive pricing practices

MILAN — MILAN (AP) — The European Commission has fined luxury fashion houses Gucci, Chloé and Loewe over 157 million euros (nearly $183 million) for anti-competitive practices restricting independent retailers’ ability to set prices for their luxury goods.

The commission said the companies’ fixing of resale prices breached the bloc’s competition rules, and harmed consumers.

“The decision sends a strong signal to the fashion industry and beyond that we will not tolerate this kind of practice in Europe, and that fair competition and consumer protection apply to everyone, equally,’’ Commission Vice President Teresa Ribera said in a statement on Tuesday.

Gucci owner Kering acknowledged the decision “related to past commercial practices” and said in a statement that “a cooperative procedure” allowed “for a swifter resolution of the case.” Gucci’s fine was cut in half to nearly 120 million euros for its cooperation revealing additional breaches, the commission said. Kering said funds were set aside for the fine in the first-half of 2025.

Chloé owner Richemont and Loewe owner LVMH did not immediately respond to requests for comment. Loewe’s fine was halved to 18 million euros for its cooperation and Chloé’s fine was reduced by 15% to nearly 20 million euros.

The commission said that the three brands restricted the ability of independent retailers to set their own prices for high-end apparel, leather goods, footwear and accessories sold both online and in physical stores.

The brands required the retailers to stick to recommended retail prices, set maximum discount rates as well as periods for sales, mirroring practices in the brands’ own direct sales channels.

The practices “deprived the retailers of their pricing independence and reduced competition between them,” the commission said.

UK regulators will speed up bonus payouts for high-earning bankers, watering down another key change introduced in the wake of the 2008 financial crisis.

Since 2015 senior bankers have had to wait eight years before receiving their full bonuses to ensure individuals could be held financially accountable for any wrongdoing that came to light years later, or even after they left the bank.

On Wednesday the Bank of England and the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) said they were halving that to four years.

The watchdogs also went further than a previous consultation, saying they would now require a much smaller proportion of bonuses to be withheld from high-earning staff over the period. From Thursday, only 60% of the payout that falls above £660,000 will have to be deferred.

The decision, which will be welcomed by the City, marks yet another rollback of post-financial crisis rules after the UK formally scrapped a banker bonus cap two years ago that limited bonuses to two times bankers’ salaries.

The FCA and the Bank’s Prudential Regulation Authority, which have argued that the reduced deferral periods still provide enough time for any problems to surface, said the change would bring the UK “more closely in line with many other major jurisdictions”. In the EU, bankers’ bonuses are typically deferred for three to five years, while the US has no such restrictions.

The PRA’s chief executive, Sam Woods, said: “These new rules will cut red tape without encouraging the reckless pay structures that contributed to the 2008 financial crisis. These changes are the latest example of our commitment to boosting UK competitiveness.”

Deferred bonus rules have been used to punish high-profile cases of wrongdoing in the City. Barclays froze and later cancelled £18m worth of pay and bonuses for its former chief executive Jes Staley, who resigned in 2021 after the FCA launched an investigation into his links to Jeffrey Epstein. Staley was later found to have misled the watchdog over his relationship to the former financier and sex offender.

Efforts to relax bonus rules are part of a wider drive to cut red tape across the City, with the chancellor, Rachel Reeves, having claimed in her Mansion House speech in July that regulations were acting like as a “boot on the neck” of businesses and risked “choking off” innovation.

She has put pressure on watchdogs, including the Bank and FCA, to further loosen rules in hopes of boosting economic growth.

• Initial data from the CLARITY study are first to compare acceptability and tolerability of single-dose cabotegravir (CAB) and lenacapavir (LEN) long-acting injections, in 63 HIV-negative adults
• Sixty-nine percent of individuals found CAB injections to be ‘totally or very acceptable’ versus 48% for LEN injections, and 90% of participants and 86% of healthcare providers preferred CAB injections over LEN
• Findings could help inform expectations and decision-making when initiating long-acting HIV injectables

GSK plc (LSE/NYSE: GSK) announced ViiV Healthcare, the global specialist HIV company majority owned by GSK, with Pfizer and Shionogi as shareholders, today announced data from the phase I CLARITY open-label, crossover study, showing clinically relevant differences in injection site reaction (ISR) acceptability and tolerability, with 69% of HIV-negative adults finding cabotegravir long-acting (CAB LA) injections to be “totally or very acceptable” vs 48% for lenacapavir (LEN) injections. Data presented at the 20^th European AIDS Conference (EACS) in Paris, France, also showed 90% of HIV-negative adults and 86% of healthcare providers (HCPs) preferred CAB LA injections over LEN injections after a single dose, and ISR events were more frequent and visible with LEN than with CAB LA.¹

Jean van Wyk, MBChB, MFPM, Chief Medical Officer at ViiV Healthcare, said: “We believe long-acting innovations will play a critical role in the global response to ending HIV and AIDS and understanding potential differences in acceptability and tolerability of options is an important consideration when choosing between long-acting injectables. The CLARITY study showed that after receiving a single dose of each, more individuals and healthcare professionals preferred cabotegravir over lenacapavir injections. These early findings provide valuable insights into long-acting injectable options to help empower individuals and their healthcare providers to make fully informed choices.”

In the open-label crossover study, 63 HIV-negative participants were randomised to receive one medicine at Day 1, followed by the other at Day 15 – either CAB LA (a single intramuscular injection) or LEN (two subcutaneous injections). The primary endpoint was local reaction acceptability assessed seven days after each injection, and results showed clinically relevant differences in ISR acceptability. After a single dose of CAB LA and LEN, 69% (n=42/61) of individuals found CAB injections to be “totally or very acceptable” vs 48% (n=29/60) for LEN injections, which was statistically significant in a post hoc analysis (p=0.019).

Key preference data from the study:

• Ninety percent (n=54/60) of healthy HIV-negative adults and 86% (n=6/7) of HCPs preferred CAB LA and 10% (n=6/60) and 14% (n=1/7) preferred LEN, respectively.
• The four most common reasons cited by participants for why they preferred CAB LA (n=54) were less pain during injection administration (n=40/54), less pain or soreness after injection administration (n=33/54), how long the injection nodules or swelling last (n=31/54), and the size of the injection nodules or swelling (n=30/54).
• The four most common reasons cited by participants for why they preferred LEN (n=6) were less pain or soreness after injection administration (n=5/6), how long the injection nodules or swelling last (n=3/6), the size of the injection nodules or swelling (n=3/6), and fewer number of side effects (n=3/6).
• The three most common rationales for HCP preference for CAB LA (n=6) included fewer number of reported side effects (5/6), less severe side effects (4/6), and less pain during injection (4/6). One HCP preferred LEN (n=1) due to ease of injection preparation.

Key ISR data from the study:

• Single doses of CAB LA were administered as one injection and single doses of LEN as two injections per product labeling, therefore 63 participants were administered a total of 124 LEN injections and 61 CAB injections during the study. Three participants received only one of the doses, all due to non drug-related reasons.
• Following administration of both injectables, 4.4 times more ISR events were observed with LEN (n=538) than with CAB LA (n=123) and more participants experienced visible ISR events with LEN (n=221 LEN; n=36 CAB LA).
• Pain was the most commonly reported ISR for LEN in 82% (n=51/62) of participants vs 80% (n=49/61) of participants receiving CAB LA (Relative Risk [RR] 0.98 [0.82, 1.16]).
• There was a significantly higher risk of palpable and/or visible ISRs with LEN versus CAB:
• Induration 87% (n=54) vs 18% (n=11) (RR 0.21 [0.12, 0.36])
• Nodules 74% (n=46) vs 33% (n=20) (RR 0.44 [0.30, 0.65])
• Erythema 57% (n=35) vs 12% (n=7) (RR 0.20 [0.10, 0.42])
• Swelling 58% (n=35) vs 34% (n=21) (RR 0.59 [0.40, 0.89])
• No serious adverse events or discontinuations due to drug-related adverse events were reported.

These findings underscore the importance of individual choice and informed decision-making in choice of long-acting injectable HIV therapy or prevention options. Further results and additional analyses from the study will be presented at a future medical congress.

About Apretude (cabotegravir long-acting)

Apretude is a medicine used for preventing sexually transmitted HIV-1 infection (pre-exposure prophylaxis or PrEP) in adults and adolescents weighing at least 35 kg who are at high risk of being infected. Individuals must have a negative HIV-1 test prior to initiating Apretude (with or without an oral lead-in with oral cabotegravir) for HIV-1 PrEP. It should be used in combination with safer sex practices, such as using condoms. Apretude contains the active substance cabotegravir.

Please consult the full Summary of Product Characteristics for all the safety information: Apretude 600 mg prolonged-release suspension for injection

Trademarks are owned by or licensed to the ViiV Healthcare group of companies.

About ViiV Healthcare

ViiV Healthcare is a global specialist HIV company established in November 2009 by GSK (LSE: GSK) and Pfizer (NYSE: PFE) dedicated to delivering advances in treatment and care for people living with HIV and for people who could benefit from HIV prevention. Shionogi became a ViiV shareholder in October 2012. The company’s aims are to take a deeper and broader interest in HIV and AIDS than any company has done before and take a new approach to deliver effective and innovative medicines for HIV treatment and prevention, as well as support communities affected by HIV. For more information on the company, its management, portfolio, pipeline, and commitment, please visit viivhealthcare.com. 

About GSK   

GSK is a global biopharma company with a purpose to unite science, technology, and talent to get ahead of disease together. Find out more at gsk.com.

Cautionary statement regarding forward-looking statements

GSK cautions investors that any forward-looking statements or projections made by GSK, including those made in this announcement, are subject to risks and uncertainties that may cause actual results to differ materially from those projected. Such factors include, but are not limited to, those described in the “Risk Factors” section in GSK’s Annual Report on Form 20-F for 2024, and GSK’s Q2 Results for 2025.

References

1. J. Boles, et al. Cabotegravir Injections Are More Acceptable Than Lenacapavir Injections Following a Single Dose: Results From CLARITY, a Randomized Crossover Study of Long-Acting Injectable Antiretrovirals. Presented at the European AIDS Conference (EACS 2025), 15-18 October, Paris, FR.

Join Watson Farley & Williams and SBR-net Consulting AG at our webinar on “The Future of Municipal Infrastructure – Cooperation, Partnerships and Investments in Fiber Optic Networks” on Thursday 6 November 2025.

The economic expansion and operation of high-performance fibre-optic networks is increasingly presenting municipal utilities with strategic, economic and structural challenges. Given the high investment costs, complex legal frameworks and limited scalability, it is becoming clear that independent expansion and operation by individual municipal utilities is no longer economically viable in many cases.

As a result, cooperation, partnerships and investment models are becoming increasingly important. They make it possible to share risks, leverage synergies and sustainably improve the profitability of fibre-optic projects. At the same time, such models place high demands on legal structuring, technical implementation and economic evaluation.

Against this backdrop, we would like to discuss current developments, challenges and possible solutions with you.

SPEAKERs:

• Christian R. Schindler, Partner at Watson Farley & Williams (Corporate/M&A, Hamburg);
• Rebecca Trampe-Berger, Counsel at Watson Farley & Williams (Regulatory, Düsseldorf); and
• Dr Ernst-Olav Ruhle, CEO at SBR-net Consulting AG.

We are delighted to welcome an experienced practitioner to the webinar: Dieter Lindauer, Managing Director of Stadtwerke Neustadt a. Rbge. GmbH, who will share insights into the challenges and experiences from a municipal utility’s perspective.

AGENDA:

• current market transactions – using Stadtwerke Neustadt a. Rbge. as an example;
• practical insights from a municipal utility’s perspective;
• legal structuring of transactions (share deal, asset deal);
• regulatory requirements depending on the business model;
• specifics of subsidised networks;
• economic evaluation and scalability potential of municipal infrastructures; and
• technical challenges and success factors in implementation and integration into existing utility structures.

Please note: the event will be held in German. We kindly ask you to register your interest via the ‘Register your interest’ button by 5 November 2025.

By registering for the webinar, your data will be shared with Watson Farley & Williams and SBR-net Consulting AG. Your data will be used exclusively for the purposes of this webinar.