Brussels, 17 April 2025: CropLife International has on 16 April warmly welcomed the appointment of its President and CEO, Emily Rees, to the role of B20 Sustainable Food Systems & Agriculture Taskforce co-Chair under the South African Presidency of the G20. The Taskforce will provide the G20 Agriculture Ministers with strategic recommendations for endorsement by Heads of State in November, furthering its stated purpose of promoting sustainable agricultural practices, enhancing supply chain resilience, and ensuring equitable access to nutritious food.

Building upon the work of the Brazilian Presidency last year, the South African G20 in 2025 will continue to emphasize the food security imperative as it fosters global cooperation to address the world’s most pressing challenges. The promotion of sustainable productivity growth through access to and adoption of new technologies is central to CropLife International’s purpose as it represents the businesses at the forefront of R&D in agriculture and plant-science, and as such the Association is aptly placed to once again make a meaningful contribution to the Taskforce’s work.

Commenting upon her appointment, Emily Rees said “At a time when the fragility of our environment and geopolitical systems alike becomes ever more pressing, CropLife International is honoured to once again bring both its expertise and unswerving commitment to bear in the Taskforce’s work. Last year, under the able representation of our Chairman Livio Tedeschi as co-Chair, we saw the role of sustainable agricultural productivity in fostering resilient food systems as a central theme. This year, we have the opportunity to turn this declaration of intent into a catalyst for progress. I look forward to serving the Taskforce in driving tangible and implementable outcomes to improve food security and build more resilient food supply chains”.

Brands Including MLB, Netflix & DC Comics Enter the Futureverse Ecosystem Leading to a New Chapter of AI Powered Fan Experiences

GLOBAL (April 17, 2025) – Futureverse, the leader in revolutionary, generative AI and open gaming technologies, has announced its acquisition of Candy Digital, home to blue chip brands like Major League Baseball (MLB), Netflix, Getty Images, Warner Bros. Discovery, and DC Comics with the goal of bringing AI to the forefront in the next chapter of immersive experiences for brands and sports entertainment. 

In today’s modern media landscape, consumers already spend most of their time in front of screens—the digital world is where attention lives. Brands and IP are challenged with the constant question of what happens next in a fragmented sea of content?  Brands must find innovative ways to utilize emerging technology to break through to consumers and create  interesting experiences that people actually care about.

With the acquisition of Candy, Futureverse is setting out to help these brands break through the noise by injecting its patented, state of the art AI and metaverse technology into Candy’s high-profile IP including over 4M digital collectibles and a massive customer base of over 1.5M accounts. 

“Brands like MLB and DC Comics already sit at the intersection of digital and real-world fandom,” said Aaron McDonald, Co-Founder and CEO, Futureverse. “By bringing them into Futureverse’s ecosystem, we can leverage our technology to build the kind of immersive experiences that enhance brand loyalty and create a new format for great brands, beloved characters and world class stories to deepen their user  engagement. 

“Candy combines emerging technology with purpose-driven design to create loyalty programs, digital ticketing, on-chain gaming, and fan marketplaces that reward participation and strengthen fan communities,” said Matt Novogratz, Co-Founder and SVP of Candy Digital. “It’s a natural move for us to join forces with Futureverse who are true industry leaders with patented technology that is defining how brands will engage in this ever-evolving digital world where most interactions take place.”

Candy’s premium IP and expansive content library will be integrated into The Root Network, Futureverse’s layer 1 blockchain, which will address brand concerns around AI, creative rights, and ownership. No longer relying on outdated legal frameworks, Futureverse embeds IP protection directly into its technology—giving these brands the power to unlock new revenue and allow their protected assets to be safely used across gaming and new digital experiences in this next phase of the internet. 

Futureverse’s tech stack will open new doors for Candy’s partners to engage with fresh, digitally native audiences, fostering creativity. Futureverse is creating the ultimate next-generation fan experience—one where digital ownership is real, gameplay is truly interoperable, and accessibility is easy for everyday people.

Candy Digital is backed by industry-leading investors, who are now welcomed to the Futureverse ecosystem, including Galaxy Digital, ConsenSys Mesh, HENI, 10T Holdings, Microsoft, Griffin Gaming, RRE Ventures, Arcadia, Martis Capital, Third Kind Venture Capital, Warner Brothers, The Lao, Wakem Digital, and Jay Street Holdings, among others.

Turin, New York, Bergamo – April 16, 2025 – Comau has signed a binding agreement for the acquisition of Automha, an Italian company operating in the warehousing and intralogistics automation industry, owned by Trasma. The closing of the transaction is subject to the satisfaction of customary conditions precedent in transactions of this type, including necessary regulatory approvals, and is expected to occur in the second quarter of 2025. Under the terms of the agreement Comau will acquire 100% of Automha shares, paving the way for new opportunities within the rapidly growing warehousing and logistics sector and establishing a further step toward the creation of a forward-focused Italian industrial automation hub able to innovate and compete in multiple markets.

To ensure business continuity, Automha will continue to operate with the same structure, management and strategic vision, keeping people, quality and innovation at its core. Franco Togni will retain his position as CEO while Gianni Togni and Roberta Togni, in addition to continuing in their current roles, will join the Comau Executive Committee to contribute to the ongoing development of both companies.

This binding agreement is coherent with the strategy behind the recent change in Comau’s shareholder structure – whose majority share is now held by One Equity Partners, an international private equity firm – which has allowed Comau to become a standalone company. With this acquisition Comau reconfirms and strengthens its Italian roots and operations, while enhancing its global offer and international presence. In parallel, Automha will be able to scale-up and further develop its business by leveraging an enhanced geographical footprint and in-house technology competencies. Furthermore, given that Comau and Automha are fully complementary, the relationship will strengthen the mutual portfolio of projects.

“Expanding our reach, know-how and technology portfolio through the acquisition of innovative companies such as Automha is a crucial step in Comau’s growth strategy, as defined when we became a stand-alone company and implemented immediately after the closing phase,” said Pietro Gorlier, CEO of Comau. “In addition to capitalizing on the strong growth potential of warehousing and intralogistics markets, the integration of Automha within Comau will allow us to leverage our combined expertise and resources, to accelerate innovation and growth across a wide range of global industrial sectors.”

“When we invested in Comau, we saw a clear path forward to help the company expand strategically and gain scale. M&A is a main driver for this, and we identified warehouse, logistics and handling automation systems as a significant opportunity for this business,” said Ante Kusurin, Partner at One Equity Partners. “The acquisition of Automha is a move toward diversification of Comau’s operations and further taps the company into industrial automation trends improving productivity across many industries. We are excited for the opportunity ahead of us as these two complementary companies join forces.”

“In Comau we have found a partner who shares our values of quality, innovation, and commitment to customer success,” added Franco Togni, Founder of Automha. “This new chapter represents not only a moment of growth for Automha but also a continuation of the journey that began in 1979. I look forward to the future that lies ahead, knowing that together with Comau, we will continue to build excellence, expand our global impact and to reach a proper size to keep a leading position in a market that is increasing competitiveness and project dimensions.”

National, 16th April 2025: The Nagarsheth Group presents Nagarsheth Heritage—a luxurious boutique development stylishly combining age-old architectural refinement with tastefully crafted living quarters. Located on a sprawling 5-acre property in the heart of Diu, this ready-to-move-in complex celebrates the merchant culture of Gujarat, revitalized through the eyes of contemporary living and resilient community spirit. It is a new generation in heritage-inspired residential development.

Conveniently located within nearby distance of Diu’s most popular landmarks—Gangeshwar Mahadev Mandir, St. Paul’s Church, and the historic Diu Fort—Nagarsheth Heritage offers a rare opportunity to live amidst the whispers of the past. The project includes more than 150 semi-furnished row homes, bungalows and apartments, along with bespoke boutique commercial space. Every home is designed to reflect the coziness of modern living, coupled with traditional aesthetic details. The development is also enriched by contemporary amenities like exclusive parking, landscaped spaces, and overall security— making Nagarsheth Heritage an unparalleled proposition in luxury heritage living.

“At Nagarsheth Group, we see Diu not just as a destination, but as a rich heritage landscape with immense potential for cultural and economic revitalization,” said Dhaval Upendrakumar, Founder, Nagarsheth Group. “With our long-standing connection to this part of the country, we aim to revive its historical heritage while making it a future-focused investment destination. Nagarsheth Heritage is the beginning of this odyssey—synthesizing the old town’s traditional Portuguese architecture with modern engineering to save the essence of the past.”

Nagarsheth Heritage is ideal for discerning homeowners, entrepreneurs, and creative professionals. A boutique homestay, an artist’s workshop, a heritage café, or a serene weekend retreat, the project offers versatile spaces for fulsome, experiential usage. This project is a standard for the preservation and reimagining of heritage. With the age of mindful travel and mindful living, Nagarsheth Heritage presents a rare chance to invest in a legacy—personal and historical.

Apart from the Nagarsheth Heritage project, The Group would like to throw light on Branco Royal. This venture is committed to the celebration and rejuvenation of colonial-era architecture, with a focus on the Indo-Portuguese style that is an integral part of the region’s cultural heritage. With the Branco Royal, the Group has visualized the building of a township of Indo-Portuguese style villas—each a reflection of enduring elegance and offering contemporary comfort. This upcoming development is reflective of the Group’s focus on delivering sustainable, long-term value by way of meaningful design and development.

The vision of Nagarsheth Group is in consonance with the leadership of Hon’ble Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modiji and Hon’ble Administrator Shri Praful Patelji in achieving the larger cause of developing

India’s Union Territories as successful, self-contained ecosystems that honor their heritage while embracing the future.

Chandigarh, April 16, 2025: Godrej Industries’ Chemicals Business today announced the completion of a Business transfer with Savannah Surfactants Limited, with the acquisition of their Food Additives Business. As a leading player in Oleochemicals, Surfactants, Specialities and Biotech sectors, this transaction will help the company expand its product offerings to the Food & Beverages Industry globally.

Vishal Sharma, Executive Director and Chief Executive Officer, Godrej Industries (Chemicals) said,” We are glad to have completed this transaction at the start of the fiscal year. This acquisition is in line with our vision and strategy to grow in a profitable and sustainable manner. The Savannah business will be part of our Speciality chemicals sector. The addition of this Food Additives Business will expand our speciality offerings and build a larger speciality business going forward.”

Located at Goa, Savannah Surfactants Limited has a manufacturing capacity of 5,200 MTPA of finished products.