European defence contractor navigating rearmament amid global tensions
G7 leaders have pledged tougher sanctions and stepped-up industrial support for Ukraine after meetings in Evian, but U.S.-led mediation has stalled while President Trump has shifted focus to the Middle East. Russia has accused the U.S. of abandoning neutral mediation, and Russian strikes and Ukrainian long-range drone attacks have recently hit Russian infrastructure and Kyiv's historic Lavra monastery.
Germany has agreed with France to take a large stake in Franco‑German defence group KNDS and to set joint governance, clearing the way for a potential IPO. Berlin has said it intends to buy roughly 40% from family shareholders to secure long‑term influence over a firm that supplies tanks and armoured vehicles and supports European rearmament.
Prologis has made an all-share approach worth 925p a Segro share, valuing Segro at about 3.6bn. Segro’s board has rejected the bid as “a long way short” of value, arguing the US bid undervalues the business. Shares have rallied on the news, while broader property stocks are buoyed by falling gilt yields and hopes of cheaper financing.
The Defence Investment Plan has been revised to prioritise frontline equipment, drones and rapid-reaction forces. Dan Jarvis has secured additional funding and the plan emphasizes high-speed boats, strike drones and uncrewed vessels, with a focus on the High North amid rising Russian activity. The plan aims to equip troops faster while addressing concerns about funding gaps and the pace of modern warfare.
Lime has priced its IPO at $25 per share and sold 6.68 million shares, valuing the company around $1.66 billion. Trading has begun on Nasdaq under the ticker LIME, with the stock showing initial strength amid a volatile market for micro-mobility firms.
NATO leaders reaffirm an Article 5 commitment while European defence spending rises. Trump criticises allies over Iran war and defence budgets, threatening trade measures and debates over Greenland. Ukraine receives new aid and weapons deals are announced, but unity appears fragile as divisions persist.
NATO allies have announced more than $50 billion in new procurements and cross-border production deals, signaling a rapid buildup in military hardware and cooperation. The moves include drones, airborne warning aircraft, and a transatlantic push to expand European manufacturing capacity. Analysts say the money is real and the pace will accelerate, with continued questions about political turnout and legitimacy.
China has restricted exports of dual-use items to 14 European organizations and barred foreign firms from supplying them with such items, in a response to EU sanctions on Russia. The measures cover firms spanning Czech, Italian, German and French industries, and come as Brussels expands penalties against Moscow.