Category: 3. Business

Recent political developments in Venezuela have created significant interest regarding potential opportunities in the country’s mining and petroleum sectors. Norton Rose Fulbright (NRF) and our local partners in Venezuela, including the internationally recognized firm of Ponte Andrade Casanova (PAC), are ideally positioned to advise clients seeking to evaluate and pursue these opportunities as the situation evolves.

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Our experience and legacy in Venezuela

NRF has deep historical roots in Venezuela, having maintained a dedicated office in Caracas for decades. During our tenure in the Venezuelan market, our practice was consistently ranked Band 1 by Chambers Latin America across multiple disciplines, including energy and natural resources. 

While market conditions led to the closure of our Caracas office in 2019, the institutional knowledge and practical experience acquired during that period remain integral to our firm’s Latin America practice. In conjunction with the law firm of PAC (that includes previous NRF partners) we possess first-hand understanding of the Venezuelan legal and regulatory framework governing hydrocarbons and mining, as well as the commercial realities of operating in that jurisdiction.

Our key strengths

Established Local Relationships

Our years of operating on the ground in Venezuela enabled us to develop strong relationships with leading Venezuelan legal counsel (including PAC) and professional services providers.

We maintain contact with experienced local law firms capable of providing in-country legal support, as well as established relationships with engineering and construction firms, environmental consultants, and other technical advisors essential to natural resources projects.

Broader Latin America Platform

NRF maintains one of the most comprehensive Latin America practices among international law firms, with offices in São Paulo, Mexico City, and connections across the region.

Our regional footprint provides significant competitive advantages, including an understanding of how transactions involving Venezuela intersect with neighbouring jurisdictions, expertise in structuring investments and financing arrangements for projects across multiple Latin American countries, and established relationships with regional regulators, development finance institutions, and industry participants.

Navigating sanctions and regulatory issues

Any foreign company considering opportunities in Venezuela must carefully navigate the sanctions regime imposed including those of Canada and the United States.
NRF’s Canadian sanctions and trade compliance lawyers are well-versed in advising clients on the scope of Canadian sanctions applicable to Venezuela, structuring transactions to comply with regulatory prohibitions and available exceptions, preparing applications for ministerial permits where required, and coordinating with U.S. counsel on the interaction between Canadian and U.S. sanctions regimes.

Looking Ahead

We recognize that while political developments in Venezuela have generated renewed interest in the country’s natural resources, foreign companies must exercise caution. 
Uncertainty surrounding governance, infrastructure, rule of law, and the application of sanctions regimes means that immediate investment decisions may be premature. However, forward-thinking companies are already positioning themselves to act when conditions stabilize.

NRF stands ready to support clients as they monitor developments, assess risks, and evaluate opportunities in Venezuela. Our combination of historical presence, established local relationships, regional capabilities, and sanctions expertise makes us the natural choice for Canadian companies seeking to engage with this market.

CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa, Feb. 20, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Collins Aerospace, an RTX (NYSE: RTX) business, showcased its Sidekick mission autonomy software in a successful test flight of a YFQ-42A, an uncrewed jet developed by General Atomics Aeronautical Systems, Inc. for the U.S. Air Force’s Collaborative Combat Aircraft (CCA) program. The flight test paired uncrewed aircraft with crewed fighter jets to enhance sensor range, increase weapon effectiveness, and improve overall mission success.

During the flight test, autonomy mode was engaged to enable a four-hour autonomous flight managed by a human operator on the ground. The successful test showcased seamless integration between Collins’ autonomy software and the YFQ-42A’s mission systems, ensuring precise piloting commands. This marks a significant step forward in support of the U.S. Air Force’s efforts to advance its CCA program.

“The rapid integration of Sidekick onto this platform to perform various combat-relevant tasks highlight the strength and adaptability of Collins’ open systems approach,” said Ryan Bunge, vice president and general manager for Strategic Defense Solutions, Collins Aerospace. “The autonomy capabilities showcased in this flight highlight nearly a decade of dedicated investment and close collaboration with our customers to advance collaborative mission autonomy.”

Collins’ collaborative mission autonomy solution, called Sidekick, enables open systems collaboration between human teams and autonomous platforms. Designed for combat-related air operations, the software is intuitive, adjusting to the pilot’s working style and mission specifics.

The business was selected by the U.S. Air Force to support development and testing for the Collaborative Combat Aircraft, Increment 1 program.

About Collins Aerospace 
Collins Aerospace, an RTX business, is a leader in integrated and intelligent solutions for the global aerospace and defense industry. Our 80,000 employees are dedicated to delivering future-focused technologies to advance sustainable and connected aviation, passenger safety and comfort, mission success, space exploration, and more. 

About RTX
With more than 180,000 global employees, we push the limits of technology and science to redefine how we connect and protect our world. With industry-leading capabilities, we advance aviation, engineer integrated defense systems for operational success, and develop next-generation technology solutions and manufacturing to help global customers address their most critical challenges. The company, with 2025 sales of more than $88 billion, is headquartered in Arlington, Virginia.

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

SOURCE RTX

PHILADELPHIA, PA / ACCESS Newswire / February 20, 2026 / Datavault AI Inc. (NASDAQ:DVLT) (“Datavault AI” or the “Company”), a leader in data monetization, credentialing, digital engagement and real-world asset (RWA) tokenization technologies announced today the anticipated launch of the Josh Gibson Stablecoin and dedicated Josh Gibson Name, Image, and Likeness (NIL) strategies for its forthcoming sports and entertainment focused NIL digital asset exchange. This initiative builds directly on Major League Baseball’s (MLB’s) historic integration of Negro Leagues (1920-1948) statistics into the official major league record and celebrates Black History Month by honoring the legacy of baseball icon Josh Gibson.

As outlined in the MLB’s May 2024 press release, the statistics of the Negro Leagues have officially entered the major league record, recognizing the achievements of thousands of black players previously excluded from MLB. Josh Gibson, widely regarded as one of the greatest catchers and hitters in baseball history, now holds multiple all-time MLB records, including career batting average (.372), slugging percentage (.718), and on-base plus slugging (OPS 1.177), as well as several single-season marks. These updates affirm Gibson’s status among the game’s all-time greats.

Leveraging Datavault AI’s patented Information Data Exchange^® (IDE), Data Vault^®, DataScore^®, and DataValue^® AI technologies, the Josh Gibson Stablecoin will build on the Company’s established stablecoin frameworks, including its patented Data Vault platform in alignment with emerging regulations such as the GENIUS Act and Stable Coin Act. The Josh Gibson Stablecoin will be a digital asset designed to support legacy preservation, fan engagement, and tokenized revenue opportunities tied to Gibson’s enduring brand and historical significance.

In parallel, Datavault AI will develop targeted Josh Gibson NIL strategies for its proprietary NIL exchange platform, currently being developed in exploratory collaboration with Sports Illustrated and targeted for commercial launch in the second half of 2026. These strategies will enable secure tokenization of digital twins, licensing, trading, and monetization of Gibson’s name, image, and likeness rights, creating new avenues for collectors, brands, and the broader community to engage with and support Negro Leagues history.

Sean Gibson, Josh Gibson’s great grandson and Executive Director of the Josh Gibson Foundation, stated: “My family is incredibly proud to see my great grandfather’s legacy honored in this innovative way. With MLB now officially recognizing the Negro Leagues’ statistics and Josh’s place among baseball’s all-time greats, Datavault AI’s Josh Gibson Stablecoin and NIL strategies will bring his story to new generations through Web 3.0 technology. This is a powerful tribute during Black History Month that preserves black excellence in sports while creating real economic opportunities for the future. We look forward to working together to make his achievements accessible to fans worldwide.”

“Josh Gibson was not only one of the greatest players in baseball history, he was a trailblazer whose excellence was denied its rightful place for decades. With MLB now officially integrating the Negro Leagues statistics, we are proud to launch the Josh Gibson Stablecoin and develop comprehensive NIL strategies on our forthcoming exchange. This initiative perfectly demonstrates how Datavault AI’s tokenization technology, AI platforms, and Information Data Exchange^® can preserve cultural legacies while creating real economic opportunities. We are especially excited to celebrate Black History Month and we anticipate that we will distribute a special commemorative Josh Gibson meme coin to our shareholders in the near term. We will announce the record date for any such distribution once it has been approved by our board of directors. We anticipate that the distribution will be on the basis of one coin for every one share of Datavault AI common stock, rewarding our investors as we bridge sports history with the future of Web3.”

To celebrate Black History Month and Josh Gibson’s monumental contributions to baseball and American history, Datavault AI anticipates that it will distribute a special commemorative Josh Gibson meme coin to its shareholders on the basis of one commemorative meme coin for every one share of Datavault AI common stock held, subject to board approval, setting of a record date and standard distribution terms, in each case which Datavault AI will announce at a later date. The commemorative meme coin will be intended as a digital collectible with potential trading availability on the IDE following distribution of the coin and launch of the IDE. This distribution continues Datavault AI’s tradition of delivering innovative, culturally significant digital assets directly to shareholders, similar to its recent Dream Bowl Meme Coin II initiative.

As part of this collaboration, Datavault will host a private, invitation-only event at its Philadelphia headquarters to honor the legacy of Josh Gibson in observance of Black History Month. The event will convene select media, stakeholders, and community representatives and will include demonstrations of the Company’s acoustic and data technologies.

About Datavault AI Inc.

Datavault AI TM (Nasdaq:DVLT) is leading the way in AI driven data experiences, valuation and monetization of assets in the Web 3.0 environment. The Company’s cloud-based platform provides comprehensive solutions with a collaborative focus in its Acoustic Science and Data Science Divisions. Datavault AI’s Acoustic Science Division features WiSA^® , ADIO^® and Sumerian^® patented technologies and industry-first foundational spatial and multichannel wireless HD sound transmission technologies with IP covering audio timing, synchronization and multi-channel interference cancellation. The Data Science Division leverages the power of Web 3.0 and high-performance computing to provide solutions for experiential data perception, valuation and secure monetization. Datavault AI’s cloud-based platform provides comprehensive solutions serving multiple industries, including HPC software licensing for sports & entertainment, events & venues, biotech, education, fintech, real estate, healthcare, energy and more. The Information Data Exchange^® (IDE) enables Digital Twins, licensing of name, image and likeness (NIL) by securely attaching physical real-world objects to immutable metadata objects, fostering responsible AI with integrity. Datavault AI’s technology suite is completely customizable and offers AI and Machine Learning (ML) automation, third-party integration, detailed analytics and data, marketing automation and advertising monitoring. The Company is headquartered in Philadelphia, PA. Learn more about Datavault AI at www.dvlt.ai.

About The Josh Gibson Foundation

The Josh Gibson Foundation believes in the endless possibilities for potential in today’s youth. By providing academic and athletic programs that foster leadership and scholarship, we create the skills necessary for tomorrow’s successes today. Our goal is to carry on the legacy of greatness and accomplishment embodied by Josh Gibson, by developing programs that help children of every ability level reach their potential. We also aim to create opportunities that set The Josh Gibson Foundation apart from other organizations and provide value for our communities. Learn more at joshgibson.org

Forward-Looking Statements

This press release contains “forward-looking statements” (within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, as amended, and other securities laws) about Datavault AI Inc. (“Datavault AI,” the “Company,” “us,” “our,” or “we”) and our industry that involve risks and uncertainties. In some cases, you can identify forward-looking statements because they contain words, such as “may,” “might,” “will,” “shall,” “should,” “expects,” “plans,” “anticipates,” “could,” “intends,” “target,” “projects,” “contemplates,” “believes,” “estimates,” “predicts,” “potential,” “goal,” “objective,” “seeks,” “likely” or “continue” or the negative of these words or other similar terms or expressions that concern our expectations, strategy, plans or intentions. The absence of these words does not mean that a statement is not forward-looking. Such forward-looking statements, including, but not limited to, statements regarding future events, the expected operational, technical and commercial outcomes of the Company’s commercial strategy, including the potential launch of the IDE in the second half of 2026, statements regarding our declaration and/or payment of distributions to our shareholders, and our expectations regarding the terms and/or timing of the potential distribution of a special commemorative Josh Gibson meme coin to our shareholders, including whether we will proceed with such distribution, are necessarily based upon estimates and assumptions that, while considered reasonable by the Company and its management, are inherently uncertain. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these and other forward-looking statements contained herein.

Actual results may differ materially from those indicated by these forward-looking statements as a result of various risks and uncertainties including, but not limited to, the following: risks related to the ability of Datavault AI to successfully implement its commercial partnerships, collaborations and/or strategies; changes in market demand for Datavault AI’s services and products; changes in economic, market, or regulatory conditions; risks relating to evolving regulatory frameworks applicable to tokenized assets; risks associated with technological development and integration; and other risks and uncertainties as more fully described in Datavault AI’s filings with the SEC, including its Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2024 and other filings that Datavault AI makes from time to time with the SEC, which are available on the SEC’s website at www.sec.gov, and could cause actual results to vary from expectations.

The forward-looking statements made in this press release relate only to events as of the date on which the statements are made. Datavault AI undertakes no obligation to update any forward-looking statements made in this press release to reflect events or circumstances after the date of this press release or to reflect new information or the occurrence of unanticipated events, except as required by law. Datavault AI may not actually achieve the plans, intentions or expectations disclosed in its forward-looking statements, and you should not place undue reliance on such forward-looking statements. Datavault AI’s forward-looking statements do not reflect the potential impact of any future acquisitions, mergers, dispositions, joint ventures or investments it may make.

Media Inquiries
marketing@dvlt.ai

Investor Contact
ir@dvlt.ai

Josh Gibson’s License Contact:
Ed Schauder
917-907-1404

SOURCE: Datavault AI Inc

View the original press release on ACCESS Newswire

Released February 20, 2026

Aston Martin has again warned its profits will be lower than expected and sold its permanent naming rights to its Formula One team, as the struggling British carmaker battles to stabilise its finances.

The luxury carmaker, majority-owned by the Canadian billionaire Lawrence Stroll, said its earnings for 2025 would be worse than City forecasts, its fifth profit warning since September 2024.

Analysts had been expecting the struggling company to post a loss of £184m at its annual results, due to be published next Wednesday.

Aston Martin delivered nearly 10% fewer cars last year than in 2024 – 5,448 in total – as US trade tariffs battered sales and the company fell short on lucrative special edition deliveries. Shares fell as much as 4% on Friday morning before recovering some ground, down 2%.

Since taking control in 2020, Stroll has tried to turn around the manufacturer, which is best known for featuring in the James Bond franchise, by introducing new models and repeatedly raising cash.

But the succession of profit warnings has battered the company’s shares, which have lost about half their value over the past year.

Cash reserves are about £250m, roughly stable compared with six months ago but down from £360m at the start of 2025. The carmaker’s debt pile has also soared 70% since the start of 2024.

In a fresh attempt to shore up its balance sheet, Aston Martin will permanently sell the right to use its name in Formula One to its own F1 team for £50m, it said on Friday. The team is operated by AMR GP Holdings, a separate company also controlled by Stroll – meaning the deal is effectively an extra injection of funds from the owner.

Because the billionaire, who owns 32% of the carmaker, sits on both sides of the deal, it requires approval from shareholders. However, that appears to be a formality; investors representing just over half of the company, including Stroll’s investment vehicle, plus Geely and Mercedes-Benz, have already committed to vote in favour.

Aston Martin did a similar deal in 2024 that gave the F1 team naming rights until 2055.

Despite the gloom, the company said on Friday that about 500 of its new Valhalla models would be delivered in 2026 in a boost for its prospect. Priced at £850,000 each, only 999 will ever be made. More than half have already been sold.

It is the latest twist in a painful five-year turnaround marked by perennial heavy losses, a dealer inventory crisis and persistent production challenges. Donald Trump’s US tariff war, launched last year, compounded its difficulties.

Trump imposed a 25% tariff on car imports last April, adding significant costs to Aston Martin’s cars in one of its key markets. A subsequent UK-US tariff agreement, struck in May 2025, capped duties on 100,000 British-made cars at 10% from the end of June, offering some relief.

In October, Aston Martin slashed £300m from its investment plans and cut spending on developing new cars, citing the impact of tariffs and extremely subdued Chinese demand.

It also called for “more proactive support” from British ministers at the time, in the face of tariffs, urging them to “protect the interests of small-volume manufacturers, like Aston Martin, who provide thousands of jobs”.

Military budgets are growing, especially in larger economies. In 2024, global military spending totalled U$2.7 trillion¹, a 9.4% increase in real terms over the previous year, according to the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI), a think tank specializing in conflict, peace and weapons. Just two countries, China and the United States, accounted for almost half of the total.

At their two-day summit in June 2025, all but one of the 32 North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) member countries agreed to spend 5% of gross domestic product (GDP) on defence and security by 2035, in response to “profound security threats and challenges” — chiefly perceived threats from Russia and from terrorism. If achieved, this would be an enormous escalation in spending. UK military expenditure of 5% of GDP would amount to half of what the country spends on its National Health Service² (NHS).

But nations have considerable leeway to decide what falls under this umbrella, which can include research and development (R&D) funding. Spain, for example, which opted out of the 5% target, has called for a broader view of defence spending, to encompass areas such as quantum computing.

What research might be lost after the NIH’s cuts? Nature trained a bot to find out

What impact, if any, will defence-spending pledges have on research budgets? Some scholars who work on science funding, defence and peace, such as Lucy Suchman, a technology-focused sociologist at Lancaster University, UK, say that certain scientific fields could benefit (such as artificial intelligence) but others lose out (such as climate science) as funding priorities shift increasingly towards militarization.

One study of 183 countries between 1989 and 2022 found that higher defence spending was associated with fewer trademark applications and fewer people working on R&D³. In many countries, increased government spending on defence exists alongside lowered spending on other research. In the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) countries, public R&D spending on health declined by 11.5% from 2020 to 2024, while spending on defence R&D rose by 17%⁴. Government spending in the OECD on ‘general advancement of knowledge’ has also started to decline.

Nature’s careers team spoke to more than ten researchers working on science, peace and defence. They highlighted five interrelated themes that demonstrate changes to science — and to the careers researchers might expect to have — that could ensue in a more militarized world.

More nationalism, less collaboration

Evidence suggests that admitting more international graduate students leads to economic benefits, yet Canada, the United States, the United Kingdom and Australia are among those countries making it harder for international students to secure visas. China and the United States generate more influential research when they collaborate than when they do not, yet this collaboration is declining⁵. Overall, immigration controls, data-access restrictions and a focus on security are creating a more restricted environment for science.

On the basis of current trends, science is likely to become more constrained by ideas of national self-interest and scientific self-sufficiency, against a backdrop of increased military spending. “There’s been a rise of nationalism, and scientific cooperation has been influenced by that,” says Caroline Wagner, a public-policy researcher at Ohio State University in Columbus.

Nevia Vera, an international-relations researcher at the National University of the Center of Buenos Aires Province in Tandil, Argentina, dates this trend to 2018, when the United States launched its China Initiative to counter potential espionage in US laboratories and businesses. That year, China surpassed the United States as the largest source of peer-reviewed articles⁵, and publications authored jointly by Chinese and US authors started to decline from a peak of 16% of the total number from both countries. Sino–US co-authored papers in the main Web of Science databases dropped by more than 10% between 2018 and 2024, according to Li Tang, a science-policy researcher at Fudan University in Shanghai, China.

But the collaborations haven’t ended entirely, which echoes previous ups and downs in international research. In 1984, Bill Foster started working as a physicist at the Fermi National Accelerator Laboratory near Chicago, Illinois. Even during the cold war, Foster says, there were Russian physicists working well alongside US ones — even though “you always knew that there was a KGB person”, he adds. “You could tell: he was the guy … who didn’t really know the physics.”

Foster was elected to the US House of Representatives as a Democrat in 2013 and has co-sponsored a bipartisan bill in Congress that would allow some Russians working in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) to gain permanent residence in the United States. He argues that this “will simultaneously kick the legs out from under Russian President Vladimir Putin’s war effort — to lose some of the best and brightest” Russians — and “do something that will be of permanent value to the United States”.

The future of research collaborations involving Russia

Sylvia Schwaag Serger, an economic historian at Lund University in Sweden, thinks that it would take years, if not decades, to reverse the overall decline in international research collaborations. But she also speculates that international research career moves could lose some of their lustre in the longer term. “Whereas before, international experience often was generally considered positive,” she notices that in some countries, “researchers are reconsidering whether it’s actually helping their career”, she says.

Regional realignment

Although overall collaboration between scientists of different nations might decrease, some expect this to be more of a splintering effect, with researchers collaborating increasingly within regional blocs or geopolitical alliances. There is already growing collaboration in Europe, in Asia and among OECD countries, according to Schwaag Serger.

How the invasion of Ukraine is affecting Russian expat researchers

For instance, while their country’s relationship with the United States has cooled in the past few years, Chinese researchers have increased their collaborations with colleagues in Africa, Asia and Latin America.

But overall, Tang emphasizes, “the decreasing collaboration between scientists in China and the US is not being compensated for by increased collaboration between China and other countries, such as India and Russia”.

Most countries have limited scope to manoeuvre around the big military spenders (the biggest spenders among which are the United States, China, Russia, Germany and India¹). Vera calls these countries’ influence “the trends of great powers”. Although the geopolitical situation is more complex now than during the cold war, scientists in many nations could again feel pressed to align with one set of countries or another.

More scientific inequality

Also widening is the technology gap between countries. A report by United Nations secretary-general António Guterres details how the R&D benefits of military spending tend to pool in a few countries⁶, disadvantaging low-income nations where the military spends little on R&D. “Technology advances so quickly that countries cannot catch up” to scientific superpowers such as the United States, the European Union and China, Vera thinks. Some AI researchers have warned that this type of technological–military competition could spill over into conflict⁷.

Although the United States and China will remain interested in parts of Latin America and Africa for minerals crucial to technological transition and rearmament, Vera worries about these relationships being extractive rather than genuine partnerships. The United States has embraced a transactional approach to security assistance, for instance, by supporting peace and security efforts in the Democratic Republic of the Congo in exchange for influence over mineral resources.

US brain drain: the scientists seeking jobs abroad amid Trump’s assault on research

Team Paraspeak was among four winners of Samsung Solve for Tomorrow 2025

The team’s Solve for Tomorrow winning idea gets YUVAi Global Youth Award at the summit

YUVAi Global Youth Award is a Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology, Government of India initiative

Pranet Khetan, one of the winners of Samsung India’s flagship innovation programme, Samsung Solve for Tomorrow 2025, has secured first prize at the ongoing India AI Impact Summit 2026.

 

The 16-year-old was among the four national winners of Samsung Solve for Tomorrow 2025, a pan-India innovation competition that empowers the youth to create tech-based solutions to solve real-world problems.

 

During Samsung Solve for Tomorrow 2025, Pranet showcased Paraspeak, a real-time, speaker-independent speech enhancement device that converts slurred speech (dysarthria) into clear communication using deep-learning algorithms, helping individuals communicate confidently.

 

Paraspeak got mentorship from Samsung experts and incubation at FITT, IIT Delhi’s incubation lab in 2025 during the programme.

 

At the ongoing AI Impact summit, Paraspeak won the YUVAi Global Youth Challenge, Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology, Government of India initiative, securing a prize of ₹15 lakh. The competition attracted more than 2,500 entries from 38 countries, highlighting strong global participation from young innovators developing solutions aligned with social and developmental priorities.

 

This achievement reflects the growing impact of emerging talent supported through Samsung’s innovation ecosystem. Samsung Solve for Tomorrow equips participants with mentorship, structured learning, and industry exposure, enabling them to transform ideas into practical, scalable solutions with real-world relevance.

 

During Samsung Solve for Tomorrow 2025, the top four winning teams — Percevia (Bengaluru), NextPlay.AI (Aurangabad), Prithvi Rakshak (Palamu) and Paraspeak (Gurugram)— received INR 1 crore in incubation grants and will continue to develop their prototypes into scalable real-world solutions with mentorship support at IIT Delhi’s FITT Labs.

 

The India AI Impact Summit held at New Delhi convened global policymakers, industry leaders, researchers, and innovators to showcase transformative AI solutions tackling global challenges.

Key takeaways  

• Primary percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) is a life-saving procedure that is used to restore blood flow following an acute myocardial infarction. 
• An analysis of data from 21 European countries did not reveal a significant association between increased numbers of primary PCI procedures and reduced mortality rates. 
• Subsequent analyses will assess additional factors including the timing of the procedure relative to symptom onset, operator experience and variations in practice between different centres and countries. 
• Data such as these inform efforts to improve the treatment of cardiovascular disease across Europe and highlight the need for more effective prevention strategies. 

 

Munich, Germany – 20 February 2026: An increase in the number of percutaneous coronary interventions does not appear to have resulted in reduced mortality rates, according to results presented today at the EAPCI Summit 2026.[1] The summit is a new event organised by the European Association of Percutaneous Cardiovascular Interventions (EAPCI), an association of the European Society of Cardiology (ESC). 

Primary percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) is a life-saving procedure used to restore blood flow as soon as possible after the onset of a heart attack (myocardial infarction [MI]). It involves unblocking the coronary arteries, often using a stent inserted via a catheter from the groin or wrist. 

Study presenter, Ali Malik from King’s College London, UK, noted that statistical analyses are ongoing to evaluate the impact of primary PCI procedures across Europe. “It is well established that primary PCI plays a pivotal role in reducing mortality after MI; however, significant variability exists at local, national and regional levels in the provision of primary PCI and associated patient outcomes,” he stated. 

The investigators analysed data from the ESC Atlas of Cardiology and the ESC Atlas in Interventional Cardiology,[2] which compile statistics on cardiovascular disease (CVD) burden, risk factors, outcomes and management practices to highlight current trends, gaps and disparities in the quality of care. ESC Atlas data were integrated with datasets from the World Health Organization, the Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation and from Eurostat, covering 21 European countries. The association between primary PCI procedures per million inhabitants and age-standardised acute MI mortality rates was assessed, adjusting for confounding variables including the prevalence of CVD and gross domestic product (GDP) per capita.  

Across the countries analysed, higher GDP per capita was associated with lower age-standardised MI mortality rates, demonstrating a moderate inverse correlation (population correlation coefficient=−0.54; p=0.004). Conversely, greater CVD prevalence was associated with higher age-standardised MI mortality rates (population correlation coefficient=+0.45; p=0.02). 

Following adjustment for GDP per capita and CVD prevalence, a moderate positive correlation emerged: higher rates of primary PCI were associated with increased age-standardised MI mortality (population correlation coefficient=+0.68; p<0.001). 

A weak inverse association was identified indicating that a greater number of primary PCI procedures performed per interventional cardiologist was associated with lower MI mortality rates (population correlation coefficient=−0.27; p=0.23). 

Co-investigator, Sukruth Pradeep Kundur, also from King’s College London, commented: “One would anticipate that increased provision of primary PCI would yield lower mortality rates; therefore, we will conduct additional analyses to elucidate why this trend is not evident in our preliminary findings. The observed association with procedural workload highlights the significance of operator expertise. In addition, system-level factors include inter-centre variability and the interval between symptom onset and access to primary PCI.” 

Senior author, Doctor Sanjay Sivalokanathan from the Mount Sinai Health System in New York, USA, concluded: “The global rise in cardiometabolic risk factors appears to play a meaningful role in the clinical complexity of patients presenting with acute coronary syndromes. As such, PCI may be challenging in certain settings, highlighting the importance of operator experience and advanced interventional strategies. These developments emphasise the need for collaborative, multidisciplinary approaches, while prevention remains the cornerstone of reducing the overall burden of cardiovascular disease and associated mortality.” 

ENDS  

 

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Deloitte provides industry-leading audit and assurance, tax and legal, consulting, financial advisory, and risk advisory services to nearly 90% of the Fortune Global 500® and thousands of private companies. Our people deliver measurable and lasting results that help reinforce public trust in capital markets, enable clients to transform and thrive, and lead the way toward a stronger economy, a more equitable society, and a sustainable world. Building on its 175-plus year history, Deloitte spans more than 150 countries and territories. Learn how Deloitte’s approximately 457,000 people worldwide make an impact that matters at www.deloitte.com.

Transaction marks Apollo’s fifth investment in Aldar and the region’s largest corporate hybrid private placement 

Builds on Apollo’s long-term strategic partnership with Aldar, with total transactions totalling approximately $2.9 billion to date

Investment to support Aldar’s transformational growth plans and capital structure optimization

NEW YORK, Feb. 20, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Apollo (NYSE: APO) today announced that Apollo-managed funds have invested $1 billion in subordinated hybrid notes issued by Aldar Properties PJSC (“Aldar”), a leading UAE based real estate developer and investment manager. The investment builds on Apollo’s long-term strategic partnership with Aldar and represents Apollo’s fifth investment in Aldar since 2022, bringing aggregate commitments to $2.9 billion to date.

Proceeds from the investment are intended to support Aldar’s balance sheet flexibility and strength, as well as its growth agenda, which includes landbank replenishment, expansion of its develop-to-hold portfolio, and strategic acquisitions.

Apollo Partner Jamshid Ehsani said, “Completing our fifth investment with Aldar speaks directly to Apollo’s ability to structure flexible capital solutions that are responsive to the needs of both our corporate clients and our investors. Since our first transaction in 2022, Aldar has gone from strength to strength, with robust performance and portfolio expansion overseen by an experienced management team. This latest investment reflects Apollo’s continued commitment to Abu Dhabi and the broader region.”

Faisal Falaknaz, Group Chief Financial and Sustainability Officer at Aldar, said: “This transaction highlights the strength of our long-standing partnership with Apollo and the continued confidence of major institutional investors in Aldar’s strategy, financial management and growth trajectory. The issuance provides Aldar with long-term, flexible capital that enhances balance sheet resilience and supports our ability to capitalise on attractive opportunities across our core markets. Importantly, it elevates Aldar’s share of stable, recurring income generated by AIP’s high quality, diversified portfolio, which will continue to expand through acquisitions and our substantial develop-to-hold pipeline that is now valued at close to $5 billion.”

The transaction is among the largest-ever foreign direct investments in Abu Dhabi’s private sector and the largest corporate hybrid private placements in the region.

It also marks the latest transaction for Apollo’s High Grade Capital Solutions business, which serves as a capital partner to many leading global companies. Apollo believes its ability to provide customized, long-dated investments is reinforced by the number of its repeat clients, having provided multiple large-scale solutions for Aldar, BP, Sony, Vonovia, Air France and the Adani-backed Mumbai Airport.

About Apollo

Apollo is a high-growth, global alternative asset manager. In our asset management business, we seek to provide our clients excess return at every point along the risk-reward spectrum from investment grade credit to private equity. For more than three decades, our investing expertise across our fully integrated platform has served the financial return needs of our clients and provided businesses with innovative capital solutions for growth. Through Athene, our retirement services business, we specialize in helping clients achieve financial security by providing a suite of retirement savings products and acting as a solutions provider to institutions. Our patient, creative, and knowledgeable approach to investing aligns our clients, businesses we invest in, our employees, and the communities we impact, to expand opportunity and achieve positive outcomes. As of December 31, 2025, Apollo had approximately $938 billion of assets under management. To learn more, please visit www.apollo.com.

Apollo Contacts

Noah Gunn
Global Head of Investor Relations
Apollo Global Management, Inc.
(212) 822-0540
IR@apollo.com

Joanna Rose
Global Head of Corporate Communications
Apollo Global Management, Inc.
(212) 822-0491
Communications@apollo.com

About Aldar

Aldar is the leading real estate developer, manager, and investor in Abu Dhabi, with a growing presence across the United Arab Emirates, the Middle East North Africa, and Europe.

The company has two core business segments, Aldar Development and Aldar Investment.

Aldar Development is a master developer of a 60 million sqm strategic landbank, creating integrated and thriving communities across Abu Dhabi, Dubai, and Ras Al Khaimah’s most desirable destinations. The delivery of Aldar’s developments is managed by Aldar Projects, which is also a key partner of the Abu Dhabi government in delivering housing and infrastructure projects across the UAE’s capital. Internationally, Aldar Development wholly owns UK real estate developer London Square, as well as a majority stake in leading Egyptian real estate development company, SODIC.

Aldar Investment houses a core asset management business comprising a portfolio of more than AED 49 billion worth of investment grade and income-generating real estate assets diversified across retail, residential, commercial, logistics, and hospitality segments. It manages four core platforms: Aldar Investment Properties, Aldar Hospitality, Aldar Education, and Aldar Estates.

For more information on Aldar please visit www.aldar.com or follow us on:

https://www.instagram.com/aldar/?hl=en

https://www.linkedin.com/company/110553/admin/feed/posts/

https://x.com/aldartweets?lang=en

Aldar Contacts

Obaid Al Yammahi Aldar Properties +971 2 810 5555

Sarah Abdelbary Brunswick +971 2 234 4600 aldar@brunswickgroup.com