Photo-Me International PLC (AIM:PHTM) said trading momentum continued to be better than expected in the fourth quarter and full-year sales will top forecasts and pre-tax profit will be at the upper end of previous guidance.
The operator of photobooths, digital printing kiosks, children’s rides and automated laundry machines continued to see recovery across most of its key markets.
SenSen Networks Ltd (ASX:SNS, OTCQB:SNNSF) has signed the first UK contract for its world-leading Sensor AI solutions with the Hippodrome Casino, London, following successful trials.
The contract will generate upfront and recurring revenues amounting to $430,000 over the initial three-year contract term.
Instagram’s chief executive officer, Adam Mosseri, faced intense scrutiny in the US Senate Commerce Committee over claims that the app has neglected the protection of its youngest users.
Facebook, which has recently rebranded to Meta Platforms Inc and owns Instagram, has faced global criticism following whistle-blower France Haugen’s allegations that the company continually valued profits of safety.
Meta Platforms Inc (NASDAQ:FB)’s WhatsApp will allow its US based customers to send crypto payments over the messaging app.
Users will be able to send Pax Dollars (USPD) to each other, a stable coin that is linked to the US dollar, supported by Novi, Meta’s digital wallet.
CloudCall Group PLC (AIM:CALL, OTCQX:CLLLF) has agreed to be taken over by Xplorer Capital Management for £39.9mln in cash.
Shareholders in CloudCall will be entitled to receive 81.5p per share, a 71.6% premium to the closing price on Wednesday and 43.8% to the average price for the preceding three months.
Bango PLC (AIM:BGO) agreed a strategic partnership with a Nasdaq-listed mobile media specialist to offer app developers more secure payment options for their end users.
The AIM-listed company said the multi-year, global agreement with Digital Turbine Inc (NASDAQ:APPS) commercially launches in the first quarter of next year.
Meta Platforms Inc (NASDAQ:FB) has announced the first parental controls for its Instagram social media app, following sustained pressure to protect its younger users.
Instagram boss Adam Mosseri said in a blog post that parents will be able to view their children’s usage and limit the time they spend on the app to prevent teenagers from overusing the product.
Intel Corporation (NASDAQ:INTC) intends to use the proceeds raised from the Mobileye initial public offering (IPO) towards funding more chip plants, according to chief executive Pat Gelsinger.
Gelsinger said in a conference call overnight that the company will retain a majority stake in the self-driving car subsidiary and that Intel will receive a “majority of the proceeds” from the IPO.
Blue Prism Group PLC (AIM:PRSM) said it continues to recommend the £1.24bn takeover offer from the hedge fund SS&C Technologies Holdings, Inc. (NASDAQ:SSNC) as rival bidder Vista failed to increase its offer by the deadline.
On 1 December, the robotic process automation software specialist withdrew its backing for Vista’s 1,250p per share offer and instead recommended the higher bid of 1,275p from SS&C.
Weibo Corp made a disappointing debut on the Hong Kong stock market after shares in the Chinese social media giant dropped 7.2% on the first day of trading.
Shares in the Chinese equivalent of Twitter closed at 253.20 Hong Kong dollars (£24.5) compared with the initial public offering price of 272.80 Hong Kong dollars.
AdEPT Technology Group PLC (AIM:ADT) said its Datrix business secured a "strategically important" contract with a leading global financial services business.
The managed services cyber security package is worth £1 million to AdEPT over the next three years and is the second international contract to be secured by the recently acquired business.
Blackbird PLC (AIM:BIRD, OTCQX:BBRDF), the cloud-based video editing platform operator, raised approximately £8mln via a placing at 28p a pop.
The placing represents around 7.8% of the enlarged issued share capital of the company.
Facebook is being sued for US$150bn by dozens of Rohingya refugees in the UK and US over its alleged conduct during the Myanmar genocide, which started in 2016.
The refugees, through lawyers in the UK and US allege that Facebook, which has recently rebranded to Meta, amplified hate speech towards the Muslim minority group and failed to invest in moderators and checkers.
Sports-focused data company 4GLOBAL PLC (AIM:4GBL) had a fairly warm welcome as it started trading on AIM today, with the shares rising 4%.
The company, which focuses on major sporting events and the promotion and measurement of physical activity, said it raised £4mln via its initial public offering (IPO), at a price of 91p per share, with the shares rising to 95p by midday.
Wall Street regulators have launched an investigation into Donald Trump’s social media company, which intends to merge with the Digital World special purpose acquisition company (SPAC).
The US Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) and the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) are investigating potential breaches of securities laws, including rules concerning the disclosure of information about the deal talks.
Uber and other taxi apps in the UK will have to increase prices after a legal ruling that all private hire taxi operators must make contracts with their customers.
The High Court in London rejected the claim from Uber Technologies Inc (NYSE:UBER) that it acts as a booking ‘agent’ for drivers and said all rideshare services must take legal responsibility for cab journeys booked via their platforms.
Intel Corporation (NASDAQ:INTC) plans to spin off its Mobileye self-driving business by the middle of next year via an initial public offering (IPO) in New York that is expected to value it at around US$50bn.
Intel currently owns 100% of Mobileye shares, after it purchased the Israeli company for US$15bn in 2017, and is expected to retain majority ownership following the completion of the IPO.
Bango PLC (AIM:BGO) has entered into a partnership with South Korea’s Kakao Pay, a lifestyle financial platform available through the Kakao Talk mobile messaging app.
Bango said merchants on its commerce platform can now reach tens of millions of users in South Korea to collect online payments and offer product bundles.
CentralNic Group PLC (AIM:CNIC) has acquired the domain name and brand protection business trading as NameAction for around US$1mln in cash from NameAction Inc.
The AIM-listed global internet company said the NameAction business is expected to contribute roughly US$2mln in recurring revenue to CentralNic and some US$200,000 in adjusted underlying earnings (EBITDA) to its online presence business segment.