Castles Technology Expands Presence in Latin America With New Mexico City Office
Castles Technology, leader in Android payment acceptance solutions, today announced the opening of its new office in Mexico City. This expansion strengthens the company’s presence in Latin America and enhances its ability to support customers with greater proximity, flexibility, and regional expertise. The new office represents one of Castles Technology’s largest team bases, reflecting the strong momentum and long term growth opportunities across the region.
The opening of the Mexico office follows the company’s recent expansion in Australia and reinforces Castles Technology’s strategy to establish strong regional hubs that provide responsive local service and direct access to global expertise.
The new Mexico City office will host an initial team of sales, technical support, project management, and operations. The space has been designed to scale as the company’s footprint grows, and as the demand for secure, reliable, and future-ready payment solutions continues to rise across Latin America.
Jean Philippe Niedergang, Chief Commercial Officer and CEO for EMEA Pacific LATAM at Castles Technology, said: “Opening our office in Mexico City is a significant milestone in Castles Technology’s global expansion. Latin America is a dynamic and rapidly evolving payments market, and having a permanent local presence allows us to support our customers with greater agility, innovation, and confidence. This investment demonstrates our long term commitment to the region and strengthens our ability to deliver trusted, future ready technology to partners across Latin America.”
Bruno Pirtouscheg, Senior Vice President for LATAM at Castles Technology, added: “This new office enhances our ability to serve customers in Mexico and throughout Latin America. With a dedicated and growing local team, we are better positioned to deliver personalized support, faster deployments, and flexible solutions tailored to the needs of banks, acquirers, fintechs, ISVs, and merchants. We are proud to deepen our presence in the region and to help advance payment technology across Latin America.”
Castles Technology has more than 30 years of global payments experience, operates in over 150 countries, and has deployed millions of payment devices worldwide. The company is known for its secure, durable, and innovative Android and Linux based payment terminals and its partner driven approach, built on values that include agility, trust, innovation, respect, and teamwork.
The Mexico City office marks an important step in Castles Technology’s continued growth and reinforces its commitment to building strong relationships with customers, partners, and stakeholders throughout the region.
To learn more, visit: https://www.castlestech.com/
About Castles Technology
Castles Technology is a global leader in payment acceptance solutions, providing cutting-edge terminals, innovative solutions, and exceptional services to empower the payment ecosystem. Castles Technology partners with over thousands of customers including banks, merchants, FinTechs, acquirers, ISVs, and PSPs, deploying millions of POS terminals worldwide for retailers of all sizes.
As the foremost Android payment acceptance, Castles Technology offers secure, reliable, and seamless solutions with global and local reach. With over 30 years of experience, the company’s dedicated community of experts is committed to anticipating and shaping the future of commerce worldwide, while their powerful devices, secure payment solutions, and top-notch services ensure unparalleled quality and performance.
The company believes in the importance of innovation and sustainability and is committed to making a positive impact on the world through our products, services, and operations. Website: https://www.castlestech.com/
View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20251209762495/en/
Contact
Scott Girling-Heathcote, SkyParlour for Castles Technology
scott@skyparlour.com
+44 (0)330 043 1315
Abstract
Castles Technology opens a Mexico City hub to enhance local expertise and support growing LATAM demand.
UK for UNHCR Reveals That Music Warms the UK’s Heart This Winter ― as 73% of People Say That Music Unites Us
A survey commissioned by UK for UNHCR explores how music brings people together across cultures, inspired by recent historical research led by Royal College of Music Research Fellow Norbert Meyn. The survey reveals fascinating insights into music’s role in helping to form social bonds, build community and develop understanding across cultures in the UK. The study forms part of the ‘Hope on Repeat’ campaign, launched by the UN Refugee Agency’s UK charity partner, to raise awareness of the hardship facing people forced to flee their homes in Afghanistan, Syria and Ukraine this winter.
This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20251210148651/en/
Music connects us all
Questioned on music’s role in UK society, 73% of respondents see music as a way to build better relationships between people from different backgrounds1. The survey revealed:
- Over a third (36%) cite music as a universal language
- 30% see music as a source of unity
- More than a quarter (26%) think music breaks down social barriers
- 26% value music’s ability to start conversations
The survey also reports that 60% of people in the UK believe that listening to music from different parts of the world builds connection and understanding with people from different cultures 2― six times the number who disagree.
As well as making people feel closer to others, it’s clear that music helps respondents to feel more positive: well over half (57%) state that they have go-to songs that lift their spirits, make them feel hopeful and inspired; and close to half (49%) turn to music to help them through difficult times.
Music as a safe space
The results of the survey underline music’s role in building communities and solidarity with others.
Royal College of Music Research Fellow, Norbert Meyn, whose research inspired the survey said, “Music travels easily across borders and does not need a passport. When people move, music moves with them, and music can also travel through sheet music and recordings. UK for UNHCR’s survey findings show that we not only turn to music as a source of hope and identity for ourselves, but we also see it as a way to actively connect with others. When shared, music can help us feel emotional warmth and human connection. Music drives a sense of community and togetherness like few other mediums.”
Streaming and social media broaden perspectives
Responses also show that the ways we now access music, across platforms ― such as Spotify, TikTok and YouTube ― help to broaden perspectives. 70% of respondents aged 18-34 believe that streaming and social media have introduced them to music from cultures they might not have heard before.
Vote for your Hope Hit
UK for UNHCR’s survey supports its ‘Hope on Repeat’ winter campaign. Hope on Repeat uses the medium of music to raise awareness of the hardship facing people forcibly displaced from their homes in Afghanistan, Syria and Ukraine at the coldest time of the year.
Everyone in the UK is invited to vote for their #HopeHit; the songs that bring joy, hope and inspire a sense of community. Nominations are building the UK’s definitive Hope on Repeat Playlist, a soundtrack of solidarity ― with the UK’s favourite #HopeHit announced in January 2026.
The Hope on Repeat Podcast also hears from people who have been forced to flee their homes, with the stories and soundtracks of their inspiring lives.
You can vote for your Hope Hit and listen to Hope on Repeat at https://unrefugees.org.uk/hope
Hope on Repeat guest, Syrian human rights advocate and dancer, Maysa, said, “As a dancer, I see the power of music to connect and unite every day. In a world that seems to be so divided, the UK’s belief in the power of music to unite is a real reason for hope.”
About the survey
UK for UNHCR commissioned the research conducted by Censuswide, who questioned over 2,000 people from across England, Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales in November this year. The data was collected between 17.11.2025 – 19.11.2025. Censuswide abides by and employs members of the Market Research Society and follows the MRS code of conduct and ESOMAR principles. Censuswide is also a member of the British Polling Council. Responses form a snapshot of UK attitudes to music’s role in building better cultural understanding and strengthening communities in 2025.
About UK for UNHCR
UK for UNHCR is the UN Refugee Agency’s national charity partner for the UK. We build solidarity, create partnerships and raise funds across the UK to help deliver global humanitarian relief for refugees through UNHCR’s work. unrefugees.org.uk
UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency, leads international action to protect people forced to flee their homes because of conflict and persecution. It delivers lifesaving assistance like shelter, food and water, helps safeguard fundamental human rights and develops solutions that ensure people have a safe place to call home where they can build a better future. UNHCR also works to ensure that stateless people are granted a nationality. www.unhcr.org
UK for UNHCR is a registered charity in England and Wales (registered charity number 1183415).
1 Combining responses ‘Yes – because music is a universal language’, ‘Yes – because shared music creates a sense of unity’, ‘Yes – because it breaks down social barriers’, ‘Yes – because it encourages conversation’, and ‘Yes – other, please specify’
2 Combining responses ‘Strongly agree’ and ‘Somewhat agree’
View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20251210148651/en/
Contact
For media enquiries, please contact:
Sanjiv Winayak | sanjiv@milkandhoneypr.com | +44 (0)777 336 270
Abstract
UK for UNHCR shows music builds solidarity as Hope on Repeat raises awareness of people forced to flee their homes in Syria, Ukraine and Afghanistan
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60% of people in the UK believe that listening to music from different parts of the world builds connection and understanding with people from different cultures
2025 Year in Live Experiences: UK Fans Travel Further Than Ever and Turn Live Events Into Global Moments
viagogo has released its annual Year in Live Experiences report, revealing how fans across the UK and worldwide celebrated live entertainment in 2025. The data shows fans are embracing live experiences like never before, traveling further, seeking out major global moments, and driving strong growth in live events across the entire year.
This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20251209028378/en/
Coldplay crowned 2025’s most popular act
Coldplay were the most in-demand artists of 2025, drawing more fans across the UK and worldwide than any other act. International audiences flocked to see them on their home turf, making Coldplay the year’s top live event for overseas fans.
Not even an Oasis nostalgia wave could knock them off the throne – the Gallagher brothers ultimately took second place on the 2025 leaderboard. Still, they can take comfort in strong home support, with demand for Oasis tickets notably higher in the north of England than in the south.
Most in-demand artists in the UK in 2025
- Coldplay
- Oasis
- Billie Eilish
- Sabrina Carpenter
- Lewis Capaldi
- Lana Del Rey
- Dua Lipa
- Teddy Swims
- Lady Gaga
- Beyoncé
Live Events Go Year-Round as Fans Break Away From the Summer Surge
According to viagogo’s 2025 monthly ticket-buying patterns, fans aren’t just purchasing tickets around the usual summer peak. In 2024, the five months from May to September accounted for half of all ticket sales. But in 2025, ticket purchases in the months outside the summer stretch rose by 10%, signaling fans are turning live events into an all-year-round experience.
This trend is notable heading into the holidays in the UK. November and December have emerged as two of the region’s more active months, with 26% more tickets sold compared to the same period in 2024 – suggesting that live event tickets may be finding their way under Christmas trees this year.
Fans Continue to Follow Artists and Sports Starts All Around the Globe
Travel played a major part in 2025’s live entertainment, with a 27% annual increase in UK fans buying tickets to international events. In fact, Oasis fanatics were most willing to travel globally to see the band, journeying thousands of miles to destinations like Buenos Aires, East Rutherford, Pasadena and Sydney.
However, it’s the 2025 sporting calendar that has inspired the most UK fans to travel abroad, with rugby, cricket, and the NFL dominating the top five most in-demand events. Ashes hopefuls chasing both winter sun and world-class competition helped make Australia the most visited destination for British travellers, with the Melbourne Test emerging as the single hottest sporting event of the year.
Top five most visited countries by Brits for live events
- Australia
- Italy
- Spain
- USA
- France
Top five international events UK fans bought tickets for in 2025
- Australia vs England Cricket Ashes Test, Melbourne
- Washington Commanders vs Miami Dolphins NFL, Madrid
- Australia vs England Cricket Ashes Test, Sydney (beginning January 4 2026)
- Wallabies vs Three Lions Rugby Tour, Sydney
- Italy vs Ireland Six Nations Rugby, Rome
Even as many Brits travelled abroad, London’s major concerts and iconic events like Wimbledon propelled the city to the top of Europe’s live-event scene, making it the most visited EU capital in 2025 with fans from 164 countries. Spain rounded out the top three, with Madrid and Barcelona taking second and third place.
Top five most visited cities for live events in Europe
- London, UK
- Madrid, Spain
- Barcelona, Spain
- Munich, Germany
- Amsterdam, Netherlands
Looking ahead: Mega-tours and global sporting moments already shaping 2026
Early indicators for 2026 point to soaring excitement around major world tours and marquee events. Fans are already searching and planning for Bon Jovi, Luke Combs, and Bad Bunny, currently the most in-demand UK shows for 2026, with three of Luke Combs’ dates landing in the top five. The UK’s appetite for nostalgia is also holding strong, with upcoming tours from Metallica and My Chemical Romance securing spots in the top 10 most sought-after shows of the year.
Rome is becoming a home away from home for many rugby fans as Italy vs England in the Six Nations is the most sought-after sporting event in 2026. Before that happens, the first day of England’s fifth Ashes Test in Sydney also holds a spot as one of the most in-demand events of 2026.
Most anticipated 2026 sports events
- Italy vs England, Rugby Six Nations
- Australia vs England Day 1, Cricket Ashes
- England vs Wales, Rugby Six Nations
- Australia vs England Day 2, Cricket Ashes
- Scotland vs England, Rugby Six Nations
“This has been a landmark year for live entertainment – fan enthusiasm is soaring. People are traveling farther, planning earlier, and embracing experiences year-round. Our mission is to make live events more accessible to fans everywhere, and our recent partnership with Booking.com is helping make event-going even more seamless.
“Fan appetite for entertainment does more than support artists and teams — it energizes cities, fills venues, strengthens local businesses, and drives the wider economy.”
– Hayley DiNaso, Partnerships Manager
NOTES TO EDITORS
Methodology
Insights are based on anonymised, aggregated global data from viagogo from January–November 2025, including ticket order volumes, event popularity indicators, travel patterns and year-on-year comparisons. Ranking based on cumulative ticket sales by UK-based fans on viagogo in 2025 as of November.
For more on the economic impact of the secondary ticketing market, ‘Ticket to thrive: UK secondary ticket market for live events contributes nearly three-quarters of a billion pounds (£733m) to local businesses according to new ‘Fanonomics’ Research.’
About viagogo
viagogo is the world’s leading marketplace to buy and sell tickets to any live event, anywhere. Through viagogo internationally and StubHub, our platform in North America, we service customers in 200 countries + territories in 33 languages and 48 available currencies. With more than 300 million tickets available to events around the world annually — from sports to music, comedy to dance, festivals to theater — viagogo offers the safest, most convenient way to buy or sell tickets to the most memorable live experiences.
As a marketplace, viagogo itself does not sell tickets, it provides a safe and regulated platform that helps fans experience the events they love.
View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20251209028378/en/
Contact
For further information please contact press@viagogo.com
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2025 Year in Live Experiences: UK fans travel further than ever and turn live events into global moments
Fanplayr Launches Verada AI Tags, a Breakthrough Innovation for Product Discovery and Personalization
Fanplayr, a global leader in AI-driven personalization and behavioral data intelligence, today announced the launch of Verada AI Tags, a transformative new capability that enriches e-commerce product catalogs with human-like understanding-dramatically improving product discovery, relevance, and revenue lift for e-commerce.
Verada AI Tags introduce a new intelligence layer that automatically interprets products the way a human shopper would. Instead of relying solely on traditional category structures or rigid attribute data, the system generates contextual, intuitive tags that reflect real shopper intent-for example:
- “Beach vacation outfit”
- “Minimalist home office”
- “Soft organic newborn essentials”
- “Running gear for cold weather”
These AI-generated tags help shoppers find what they want, not just what they explicitly search for, closing a major gap in product discovery-especially for retailers with large or complex catalogs.
Unlocking Discovery, Engagement, and Revenue
Powered by Fanplayr’s Verada AI infrastructure, Verada AI Tags deliver major benefits for brands:
Enhanced Product Discovery
- Surfaces products traditional hierarchies overlook
- Helps shoppers explore more intuitively
- Improves engagement and browsing depth
Revenue Acceleration
- Increases product findability → more add-to-cart events
- Enables scalable cross-sell and theme-based merchandising
- Grows average order value with more relevant recommendations
Merchandising at Scale
- No manual tagging or rules needed
- Instantly launch theme-based campaigns
- Provide rich analytics on tag coverage, impact, and shopper behavior
A Turnkey Upgrade for Retailers
Verada AI Tags work across global product catalogs, in any language, and integrate seamlessly with Fanplayr’s existing product recommendation and personalization suite. Retailers can deploy:
- Tag List Widget on product pages
- Tag Explorer Page, an entirely new browse paradigm
- Analytics dashboards for tag insights and performance
No new integration work is required beyond a standard product catalog feed.
“Verada AI Tags represent a step-change in how retailers understand and present their products,” said Simon Yencken, CEO of Fanplayr. “For years, brands have been constrained by rigid categories and keyword-based search. With Verada AI Tags, we’re giving them a new intelligence layer that sees products the way real shoppers do-contextually, intuitively, and with nuance. This is one of the most impactful advancements in our platform, and we believe it will redefine product discovery and personalization for modern commerce.”
Availability
Verada AI Tags are now available globally to all Fanplayr customers. Existing clients can activate the feature through their Customer Success Manager.
About Fanplayr
Fanplayr is a global leader in AI-powered personalization, behavioral data analytics, and real-time customer experience optimization. Through its Verada AI platform, Fanplayr enables brands to deliver contextually relevant experiences that drive engagement, loyalty, and revenue across digital channels. Fanplayr operates in North America, Europe, Asia, and Latin America, supporting leading global retailers and e-commerce brands.
View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20251210829831/en/
Contact
Emma Tonge
Phone number: (+44) 7849 127037
Abstract
Fanplayr debuts Verada AI Tags, adding human-like product understanding to boost discovery, relevance, and revenue for global e-commerce brands.
BlackLine Expands in Saudi Arabia to Support Growing Customer Demand
BlackLine, Inc. (Nasdaq: BL), the future-ready platform for the Office of the CFO, today announced the expansion of its global cloud footprint to Saudi Arabia, with the availability of a locally hosted cloud region, delivered in partnership with Google Cloud Platform.
This new regional deployment provides organizations with a secure, locally hosted cloud environment that offers lower latency and meets data residency and security requirements. Blackline meets Saudi Arabia’s NCA Essential Cybersecurity Controls (ECC) and Cloud Cyber Security Controls (CCC) requirements, the regulatory standards mandating cybersecurity protections for providers operating in the Kingdom. Organizations in the Kingdom can now access BlackLine’s unified, secure, and AI-powered financial operations platform while keeping data within the region.
As Saudi Arabia undergoes a comprehensive economic diversification and modernization initiative, organizations are focused on building more efficient, controlled, and data-driven operations. With this expansion, BlackLine is positioned to partner more closely with Saudi enterprises, providing the critical tools needed to build trust, control, and visibility into their financial processes as they scale and modernize.
BlackLine’s expansion into the region is reinforced by its strong partner ecosystem. Key partners such as SAP, EY, and Deloitte maintain a significant local presence, creating a robust network for implementation and support. While BlackLine’s platform is ERP-agnostic, the company’s solutions are offered as an SAP Solution Extension. This strategic partnership is a key driver for the regional expansion and complements SAP’s own commitment to the region.
“Expanding our regional availability ensures we can support customers wherever they operate, particularly in markets with stringent data residency requirements,” said Owen Ryan, Chief Executive Officer of BlackLine. “This deployment underscores our commitment to delivering secure, intelligent, and future-ready financial operations for organizations across the globe.”
BlackLine’s Studio360 platform and Verity, its comprehensive AI suite, enable finance and accounting teams to unify data, automate complex processes, orchestrate workflows, and gain real-time visibility across mission-critical operations.
“Our focus is on enabling customer success across the Middle East region, and this expansion is a direct result of listening to their needs,” said Philippe Omer Decugis, Senior Vice President and General Manager, EMEA, at BlackLine. “By providing a local platform and working closely with our partners in Saudi Arabia, we can offer a new level of support to organizations in the Kingdom as they modernize their finance and accounting operations.”
The Saudi Arabia deployment expands BlackLine’s growing global availability and supports its mission to inspire, power, and guide digital finance transformation for organizations worldwide.
About BlackLine
BlackLine (Nasdaq: BL), the future-ready platform for the Office of the CFO, drives digital finance transformation by empowering organizations with accurate, efficient, and intelligent financial operations. Built on the Studio360 platform, BlackLine unifies data, streamlines processes, and delivers real-time insights through automation and intelligence powered by Verity — a comprehensive suite of embedded, auditable AI capabilities that provides finance and accounting teams with a new digital workforce.
With a proven, collaborative approach and a track record of innovation supported by industry-leading R&D investment and world-class security practices, more than 4,400 customers across multiple industries partner with BlackLine to lead their organizations into the future. For more information, visit blackline.com.
Safe Harbor
This document contains forward-looking statements. These statements may relate to, but are not limited to, expectations of future operating results or financial performance of BlackLine, Inc. (“BlackLine” or the “Company”), the calculation of certain key financial and operating metrics, capital expenditures, introduction of new solutions or products, expansion into new markets, regulatory compliance, plans for growth and future operations, technological capabilities, and strategic relationships, as well as assumptions relating to the foregoing. Forward-looking statements are inherently subject to risks and uncertainties, some of which cannot be predicted or quantified. In some cases, you can identify forward-looking statements by terminology such as “may,” “will,” “should,” “could,” “expect,” “plan,” anticipate,” “believe,” “estimate,” “predict,” “intend,” “potential,” “would,” “continue,” “ongoing” or the negative of these terms or other comparable terminology. You should not put undue reliance on any forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements should not be read as a guarantee of future performance or results, and will not necessarily be accurate indications of the times at, or by, which such performance or results will be achieved, if at all.
Forward-looking statements are based on information available at the time those statements are made and/or management’s good faith beliefs and assumptions as of that time with respect to future events, and are subject to risks and uncertainties that could cause actual performance or results to differ materially from those expressed in or suggested by the forward looking statements. In light of these risks and uncertainties, the forward-looking events and circumstances discussed in this presentation may not occur and actual results could differ materially from those anticipated or implied in the forward-looking statements. These risks and uncertainties are described in greater detail under the heading “Risk Factors” in the filings we make with the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) from time to time, which are available on our website at http://investors.BlackLine.com and on the SEC’s website at www.sec.gov. Except as required by law, BlackLine does not undertake any obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statement, whether as a result of new information, future developments or otherwise.
In addition, statements that “we believe” and similar statements reflect our beliefs and opinions on the relevant subject. These statements are based upon information available to us as of the date of this presentation, and while we believe such information forms a reasonable basis for such statements, such information may be limited or incomplete, and our statements should not be read to indicate that we have conducted an exhaustive inquiry into, or review of, all potentially available relevant information. These statements are inherently uncertain and investors are cautioned not to unduly rely upon these statements.
In addition to U.S. GAAP financials, this document includes certain non-GAAP financial measures, including non-GAAP revenue, gross profit, gross margin, free cash flow, sales and marketing expense, research and development expense, general and administrative expense, loss from operations and operating margin (loss). These non-GAAP measures are in addition to, not a substitute for or superior to, measures of financial performance prepared in accordance with U.S. GAAP. The non-GAAP financial measures we use may differ from the non-GAAP financial measures used by other companies.
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Contact
Media Contact:
Samantha Darilek
samantha.darilek@blackline.com
Terra Firma Energy Welcomes RWE’s Recent Analysis on the Essential Role of Flexible Generation in the UK
Terra Firma Energy (“TFE”), a leading developer, owner, and operator of flexible generation assets across the UK, today welcomed the recent RWE industry analysis highlighting the critical role that flexible gas-fired generation will continue to play in supporting Britain’s decarbonising electricity system.
This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20251209452585/en/
As the UK accelerates the deployment of renewable energy, new commentary from major UK generators underscores that flexible gas-fired plants remain essential for grid stability, resilience, and security of supply. While operating hours are projected to decrease over time, these strategically located assets provide rapid-response capacity, frequency support, and balancing services needed to manage intermittency in a renewables-led power system.
TFE Development Director, Zach Dodds-Brown said:
“The UK’s energy strategy is undergoing its most profound shift in generations. Renewables will lead the transition, but flexible generation remains the backbone that ensures homes and businesses can rely on a stable and resilient energy supply. Terra Firma Energy is proud to be at the forefront of delivering this critical infrastructure, enabling the UK to decarbonise without compromising security.”
The recent RWE article cites a national flexible gas fleet of more than 7 GW that continues to provide essential system services, quick-start capability, and operational flexibility, key attributes as the UK increases reliance on wind and solar generation. These findings align closely with TFE’s strategy to expand its portfolio of highly responsive, high-efficiency flexible generation plants, designed to run only when needed and to complement low-carbon generation.
The RWE article also notes NESO’s forecasts, which show that significant flexible gas capacity will still be required through the 2030s to maintain security of supply as renewable generation grows. Even with falling run hours, NESO expects flexible gas to remain essential during periods of low wind and system stress.
TFE is currently developing a significant portfolio of flexible generation projects, supported by long-term Capacity Market contracts that provide stable returns while ensuring system availability during periods of peak demand or renewable shortfall.
Zach added “Flexible generation is not a barrier to decarbonisation, it is an enabler. Our portfolio ensures that renewable energy can be integrated at scale while keeping the lights on.”
With increasing grid volatility and growing demand for fast-acting reserve capacity, TFE expects flexible generation to continue playing a pivotal role through the 2030s and beyond.
About Terra Firma Energy
Terra Firma Energy constructs, owns and operates flexible power generation plants across the UK. With three operational sites and additional sites under construction totalling 116MW, the company is expanding through development and acquisition to support the UK’s transition to a resilient, flexible, low-carbon energy system.
View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20251209452585/en/
Contact
Terra Firma Energy Limited
Helen Aletras
Head of PR and Communications
Tel: +44 (0)203 890 3116
Helen.aletras@terrafirmaenergy.com
Abstract
Terra Firma Energy Welcomes RWE’s Recent Analysis on the Essential Role of Flexible Generation in the UK
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Terra Firma Energy expects flexible generation to continue playing a pivotal role through the 2030s and beyond.
ServerDomes and Global Green Generation Announce Exclusive Global Partnership to Deliver the Next Generation of AI-Ready Data Centers
ServerDomes is partnering with Global Green Generation, a global engineering and construction management organization specializing in high-efficiency, AI-ready data center design and delivery, to design and build a new class of ultra-efficient, data centers engineered for the accelerating demands of artificial intelligence.
The partnership was formally unveiled this week at Data Centres Ireland, where Global Green Generation President & Group CEO David Keegan and ServerDomes CEO David Jackson appeared together and revealed a 4-foot 3D architectural model of the next-generation hybrid data centre to facilitate both traditional air-cooled solutions as well as AI technology.
This exclusive collaboration will begin with deployments across North American and Europe and then expand globally.
A New Paradigm for AI Infrastructure
As AI workloads surge globally, currently predicted to double every 7 months, both companies stressed the same reality: traditional data centers cannot keep pace with the explosive rise in compute demand, power scarcity, and water constraints in addition to issues around planning and permitting.
“The truth is nobody knows where AI is going — but we do know it’s creating a paradigm shift for mankind,” Keegan said. “Chip manufacturers are now talking about 1–2 megawatt racks, and that breaks traditional infrastructure. You physically cannot move enough air to cool that in a conventional building.”
ServerDomes’ nature-inspired architecture, hybrid cooling approach, and accelerated deployment schedule directly address these challenges.
“We use 93% less water, 27% less power, and we can fit 5 to 25 megawatts on a single acre,” said Jackson. “And we can deliver a fully commissioned facility within 12 months, compared to 18 to 30 months for traditional builds.”
Why This Partnership Matters
Through this exclusive agreement, Global Green Generation will design and build the full suite of ServerDome facilities globally, using a standardized and scalable architecture engineered for both current and future AI demands.
The companies are aligning on:
- Exclusive global design + build delivery
- Europe-first deployment focus
- Modular 5MW–50MW configurations
- Hybrid air + liquid/immersion cooling up to ~100kW per rack (with pathway to higher densities)
- 12-week structural erection and 12-month total delivery timeline
-
Ultra-low water usage: 0.14 L/kWh vs. 3–5 L/kWh in typical facilities
(validated through the Oregon (existing and proven operational data centre) deployment and modeling) - Dramatically reduced power requirements
- Optional behind-the-meter power solutions for markets facing grid delays
Both CEOs highlighted that grid and land constraints are becoming existential barriers in Europe and globally.
“We’re being told it will take three to five years to get modest power allocations delivered to certain sites — not even gigawatts, just 20 to 50MW,” Jackson said. “Most of our upcoming sites will move to off-grid, on-site generation because utilities cannot keep up.”
Designed for the AI Era — and for Communities
Unlike hyperscale “big sheds,” the ServerDome’s geodesic form was selected for physics, efficiency, speed, and community acceptance.
Heat rises naturally through the dome’s central exhaust path, enabling rapid heat evacuation without heavy mechanical cooling. Snow load, wind vortex behavior, airflow pathways, and construction sequencing all benefit from the geometry.
In addition to its performance, the building is inherently community-friendly.
“With a smaller, quieter, environmentally responsible building, communities aren’t rejecting it the way they do conventional hyperscale sites,” Jackson said. “It’s aesthetically pleasing. And when we generate our own power and use almost no community water, we remove the biggest sources of resistance.”
Keegan added that sustainability must now guide the industry:
“ESG and sustainability have to be at the forefront of everything we do — not just in data centers, but in how we live. The next generation needs to understand the impact this industry has on the planet. ServerDomes give us a way to scale compute without repeating the mistakes of the past.”
Built for Speed, Built for Flexibility
The partnership will allow customers to deploy capacity far faster than conventional builds. A ServerDome structure can reach watertight status within 12 weeks, and a fully commissioned data center can be delivered in 12 months.
This modular approach allows customers to:
- Deploy capacity now, not in years
- Mix air-cooled, liquid-cooled, and immersion-cooled zones
- A single ServerDome supports 5–25MW, with modular campuses scaling to 50MW and beyond.
- Use the same supply chain, designs, and engineering globally
“Speed to market is critical,” Keegan said. “With this partnership, we can deliver 25MW or 50MW in the time it takes most operators just to pour foundations.”
Quotes From Leadership
David Keegan, President & Group CEO, Global Green Generation
“AI is outpacing everything — and the industry is struggling to catch up. This partnership allows us to deliver sustainable, future-proofed digital infrastructure at the speed the market needs.”
David Jackson, CEO, ServerDomes
“We’re entering the AI gold rush, and data centers are the picks and shovels. The partnership with Global Green Generation gives us the ability to deploy smarter, faster, and with far less environmental impact. Together, we can build the next generation of compute infrastructure the right way — with efficiency, flexibility, and responsibility.”
About Global Green Generation
Global Green Generation is a global engineering and construction management organization specializing in high-efficiency, AI-ready data center design and delivery. The company have developed next-generation digital infrastructure through sustainable engineering, hybrid and flexible design, and rapid-deployment methodologies that support the world’s growing compute demands.
About ServerDomes
ServerDomes designs and builds ultra-efficient, nature-inspired data centers engineered for the AI era. Its patented geodesic dome architecture offers exceptional energy and water efficiency, rapid heat evacuation, high-density cooling, and significantly faster deployment timelines. ServerDomes facilities use up to 93% less water and 27% less power than traditional data centers, enabling operators to scale compute sustainably and responsibly.
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ServerDomes Public Relations
Press@ServerDomes.com
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ITA Group Expands Global Event Capabilities With Two European Acquisitions
ITA Group, a global leader in engagement solutions, is announcing the strategic acquisition of two award-winning European event agencies: C2events, based in West Yorkshire, England, and Daymakers, based in Utrecht, Netherlands. Effective October 31, 2025, these acquisitions significantly expand ITA Group’s local presence and event capabilities throughout Europe.
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The dual acquisitions strengthen ITA Group’s position as a global events leader, offering current and prospective clients immediate benefits, including:
- In-region event team members with in-time-zone and in-language support
- Comprehensive, culturally relevant solutions
- Access to cutting-edge event technology and attendee engagement tools
- Deeper healthcare and pharmaceutical event expertise, including enhanced compliance and global coordination
“As we continue our strategic global expansion, culture and expertise remain our top priorities,” said Brent Vander Waal, Chief Executive Officer, ITA Group. “C2events and Daymakers are exceptional organizations that share our longstanding commitment to service excellence and an ownership culture. These acquisitions help us better serve our global clients with immediate, localized support throughout Europe while delivering world-class event solutions across key industries.”
C2events is an employee-owned, award-winning events agency, specializing in healthcare, pharmaceutical and biotech events for over 20 years. With a strong U.K. presence and deep industry expertise, C2events complements ITA Group’s pharmaceutical events team to deliver seamless global event solutions, enhanced compliance capabilities, sustainability leadership, industry-leading processes and exceptional service delivery.
“ITA Group’s commitment to innovation and employee ownership aligns perfectly with our culture and vision for the future,” said Mark Saxby, Executive Director, C2events. “Together, with our incredible teams, we can deliver a broader range of services to our healthcare and pharmaceutical clients across Europe and beyond.”
Daymakers has designed live and digital experiences for over 40 years, blending content, platforms and technology to create events full of emotion. With expertise in immersive content, AR/VR capabilities and engagement tools like Reply.live, Daymakers brings innovative technology and creative approaches that enhance attendee engagement and deliver measurable results across Europe.
“Joining ITA Group represents an exciting opportunity to expand our impact while maintaining the values and client relationships we’ve built,” said Niels Janssen, CEO, Daymakers. “This partnership allows us to combine our creative and technological expertise with ITA Group’s global reach and resources, creating extraordinary experiences for clients throughout Europe and around the world.”
C2events and Daymakers will continue serving their clients with the same trusted teams and leadership in place. All team members will remain integral to operations and become part of ITA Group’s unique employee-ownership culture, reinforcing the commitment to their expertise and growth.
“These acquisitions represent a natural evolution in our growth strategy and our commitment to serving clients wherever they do business,” said Sarah Haines, President – Event Solutions, ITA Group. “With over 400 team members now dedicated to event solutions across multiple continents, we can inspire and motivate audiences in Europe and around the world through exceptional, locally managed experiences.”
The European expansion builds on ITA Group’s recent global growth initiatives, including the acquisitions of NKD in London (2022) and HTK in Ipswich (2023), as well as the addition of Sydney-based Performance Incentives (2024). ITA Group now comprises more than 1,200 team members, with offices in the United States, Australia, the United Kingdom, and the Netherlands, and strategic partnerships in Belgium and Singapore.
ITA Group expands global event capabilities with two European acquisitions.
About ITA Group
ITA Group helps leading brands around the world create connections, motivate audiences and drive purposeful change, resulting in increased sales, purchases, retention, referrals and alignment. Through events, incentives, recognition, loyalty, research and learning, ITA Group is transforming how business feels for employees, channel partners and customers. Founded in 1963, ITA Group is an employee-owned company. Learn more at www.itagroup.com.
About C2events
C2events is an employee-owned, award-winning event agency specializing in healthcare, pharmaceutical and biotech events. Based in West Yorkshire, England, C2events delivers exceptional service, sustainability leadership and industry-leading processes for complex, compliant events throughout the UK and Europe. Learn more at www.c2events.net.
About Daymakers
Daymakers helps organizations bring their story to life for employees, customers and decision-makers. The agency combines the power of events, content and technology into integrated business experiences that connect emotion to impact: from goosebump-inducing moments on site to measurable engagement online. The agency was formed in 2023 through the merger of FX Agency and D&B Eventmarketing and brings more than 40 years of experience in creating business experiences. More information: www.daymakers.nl
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Danielle West
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515.297.6263
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The dual acquisitions strengthen ITA Group’s position as a global events leader, offering current and prospective clients immediate benefits.
LRN Appoints Bob Lemmond as Chief Executive Office
LRN Corporation, a global leader in ethics and compliance technology and solutions, today appointed Bob Lemmond as Chief Executive Officer. Lemmond will also join the company’s Board of Directors.
For more than three decades, LRN has set the standard in ethics and compliance—shaping the category through unmatched expertise and technology. LRN focuses on inspiring principled performance, strengthening cultures, and elevating behavior for more than 2,500 organizations worldwide. Lemmond, who will be based in New York, will work closely with the Board of Directors and leadership team to advance LRN’s purpose-driven mission and guide the company into its next chapter of innovation and growth.
“Organizations around the world are navigating increasing regulatory complexity, rising cultural expectations, and rapid technological change,” said Lemmond. “LRN’s mission—and its technology-enabled approach to inspiring ethical, values-based behavior—has never been more important. I am honored to join this remarkable company and look forward to partnering with our talented colleagues to expand our solutions, accelerate growth, and deepen the impact we deliver for our customers around the world.”
Lemmond succeeds Kevin Michielsen, who joined LRN as CEO in 2020 and led the company through a period of growth and expansion. Michielsen will transition into an advisory role supporting the Board of Directors.
“We are thrilled to welcome Bob at such a pivotal moment for LRN and we are confident he will guide our company into its next chapter of innovation, impact, and growth,” said LRN Founder and Chairman Dov Seidman. “Bob’s track record of driving sustained, profitable growth across governance, risk, data and analytics, and information-services businesses—combined with his commitment to purpose-led leadership—will strengthen LRN’s ability to serve organizations worldwide,” added Jacques Galante, Partner at Leeds Equity Partners.
Galante also noted: “We are also deeply grateful to Kevin Michielsen for his leadership over the past several years. His stewardship strengthened the business and positioned LRN for the opportunities ahead.”
Lemmond brings more than two decades of leadership experience scaling purpose-driven information services, data and analytics, and governance, risk, and compliance businesses.
Most recently, he co-founded Nexus Partners, an acquisitions investment platform, and served as a Board Director and Advisor to The Carlyle Group. He previously held senior executive roles at Institutional Shareholder Services and Clarivate, and was Chief Executive Officer of Wolters Kluwer’s Legal & Regulatory Division. Earlier in his career, he also held leadership positions at IHS Global Insight and Primark.
About LRN Corporation
For over 30 years, LRN has helped organizations foster ethical cultures, elevate behavior, and inspire principled performance. A pioneer of the modern Ethics & Compliance category, LRN provides education, technology, and advisory solutions to hundreds of the world’s leading organizations and today reaches more than 30 million learners worldwide. LRN is the trusted long-term partner to more than 2,500 organizations, including some of the most respected and successful businesses in the world. Recognized by Inc. as one of the Inc. 5000 Fastest-Growing Companies, LRN is headquartered in New York, with colleagues supporting clients globally.
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Bob Spoerl
lrn@bearicebox.com
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Bob’s track record of driving sustained, profitable growth across governance, risk, data and analytics, and information-services businesses…will strengthen LRN’s ability to serve organizations worldwide.
Finance Leaders Anticipate Rising Volatility but Reveal Uneven Preparedness as 2026 Approaches, Alpha Group Research Finds
Senior finance leaders are preparing for a year of heightened foreign exchange volatility and liquidity pressure in 2026, yet many acknowledge their organisations are not fully equipped to manage the challenges ahead, according to new research from Alpha Group, a Corpay, Inc. company.
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The report, Countdown to 2026 – Risk Management Insights, draws on the views of 200 senior finance professionals from mid- to large-sized companies. It reveals a growing divide between awareness of financial risk and the effectiveness of the systems, governance, and leadership support in place to mitigate it.
Almost two-thirds (63%) of respondents expect FX market volatility to increase next year, driven by ongoing uncertainty around inflation, interest-rate policy, and geopolitics. More than half (51%) of larger organisations identify liquidity and cash-flow risk as their top financial concern, suggesting the effects of volatility are now being felt well beyond the markets themselves.
Despite this, oversight of currency risk remains inconsistent. More than half (51%) of large companies do not have FX policy embedded at board level, and almost one in four medium-sized firms continue to manage exposures on an ad-hoc or reactive basis. Without stronger governance and board accountability, Alpha warns, many businesses could face avoidable exposure as conditions tighten. Indeed, just over half (53%) feel confident in their ability to manage future risks.
Leadership engagement also plays a decisive role. One in three respondents (33%) said limited buy-in or investment from senior management has a significant impact on the effectiveness of their company’s FX risk management. Technology and forecasting capabilities are another concern. Although ERP and treasury systems are increasingly adopted, 89% of organisations do not systematically stress-test their FX forecasts against potential market shocks. Many continue to rely on spreadsheets and manual processes, constrained by resource limits, lack of expertise, and system integration challenges.
David Swann, Global Director of Partnerships at Alpha Group said:
“The research highlights a clear pattern: finance leaders are aware of the growing risks, but many lack the structures and systems needed to respond with confidence.
When volatility builds, the organisations that will be best placed to handle it are those that treat risk management as strategic, embedding responsibility at board level and investing in the technology and data needed to make faster, better-informed decisions.”
Countdown to 2026 – Risk Management Insights is based on proprietary research conducted by Alpha Group, gathering responses from 200 CFOs, Treasurers, and Financial Controllers across companies employing between 50 and more than 1,000 people.
The full report is available to download at: https://www.alphagroup.com/countdown-to-2026-report/.
About Alpha
Alpha is an award-winning global provider of financial solutions, empowering some of the world’s most respected organisations. Combining deep expertise with cutting-edge technology, we help organisations around the world manage their financial market risks and banking activities more effectively and efficiently. Today we are proud to be part of Corpay, Inc. – a global Fortune 1000 company and S&P 500 member listed on the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE: CPAY).
Our specialist teams are available to support on all of the challenges raised in this report. To find out more, or speak to a member of the team, please visit www.alphagroup.com or email communications@alphagroup.com.
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