A landmark $4 billion joint venture between BT Group and Verizon dominated the technology news, while the small-cap space delivered its own deal flow: Cloudified Holdings moved to acquire a sports media business in a reverse takeover, Arcontech landed an £800,000 European bank contract, and Trustpilot unveiled a deepened partnership with Shopify.
BT and Verizon merge international enterprise units in $4 billion joint venture
BT Group and Verizon agreed to combine their international enterprise operations into a 50:50 joint venture, creating a major multinational connectivity business with a combined implied value of $4 billion. Verizon will pay BT a $625 million equalisation payment as part of the deal, reflecting the relative contributions of the two sides.
The transaction marks a significant strategic shift for BT, which has been seeking to extract more value from its global enterprise division. By pooling resources with Verizon, the combined entity will target large multinationals requiring seamless cross-border connectivity, a market where scale and geographic reach are decisive competitive advantages.
Cloudified targets PowerPlay sports media business in reverse takeover
Cloudified Holdings (AIM: CHL) announced it is seeking to acquire PowerPlay, a commercialisation company focused on women's and combat sports, in a reverse takeover. PowerPlay holds distribution deals spanning the MENA and Sub-Saharan Africa regions, giving the enlarged group an immediate foothold in high-growth emerging markets. The shares edged up 2.27% to 2.25p on the news.
Cloudified, which has been operating as an AIM cash shell, said a fundraise would follow shortly after the transaction. PowerPlay's focus on underserved sports verticals, women's sport and combat disciplines, positions it in a segment attracting increasing commercial attention from broadcasters and sponsors globally.
Arcontech wins £800k European bank contract as full-year results meet expectations
Arcontech Group (AIM: ARC) secured a three-year, £800,000 contract with a new major European bank customer, adding to its roster of financial institutions using its real-time market data software. The company simultaneously confirmed that full-year revenue and profit came in line with market expectations, providing a clean set of signals for investors. The shares rose 7.74% to 83.5p.
The contract win is notable both for its size, meaningful relative to Arcontech's scale, and for the fact it represents a new customer rather than a renewal, demonstrating the firm's ability to expand its client base in a competitive financial data infrastructure market.
Trustpilot gains preferred partner status in deepened Shopify deal
Trustpilot Group (LSE: TRST) announced an expanded partnership with Shopify, under which it has been designated a preferred product partner for reviews on the e-commerce platform. The arrangement positions Trustpilot as a primary trust signal for Shopify merchants at a moment when AI-driven commerce is intensifying demand for credible, third-party verification. The shares climbed 6.19% to 254.0p.
Preferred partner status on Shopify's platform gives Trustpilot privileged distribution access to a vast global merchant base, strengthening its competitive position against rival review platforms. The deal underscores the growing commercial value of authenticated consumer feedback as automated and AI-generated content erodes trust in first-party claims.
