Oklahoma energy asset acquisition, UAE digital asset mining MOU with Greenbelt Industries, and equity financing from Aegis Capital advance integrated energy and infrastructure strategy IBG and BlockFuel continue to progress toward completion of previously announced merger, expected to close by end of Q1 2026 pending Nasdaq listing approval SYDNEY, Jan. 20, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Innovation Beverage Group Ltd (“IBG” or “the Company”) (Nasdaq: IBG), an innovative developer, manufacturer, and marketer of a g ...

Core Insights - Newmark Group, Inc. has facilitated a significant industrial lease of 1.4 million square feet with DrinkPAK at The Bellwether District in Philadelphia, marking it as one of the largest industrial transactions in the city's history since 2020 [1][3] Company Overview - Newmark Group, Inc. is a leading commercial real estate advisor and service provider, operating globally with over 170 offices and more than 8,500 professionals [6] - For the twelve months ending September 30, 2025, Newmark generated revenues exceeding $3.1 billion [6] Industry Impact - DrinkPAK's lease at The Bellwether District is expected to drive job creation, supply chain expansion, and regional economic growth in Greater Philadelphia [3] - The development site, previously a refinery, is being transformed into a 1,300-acre hub for innovation and manufacturing, featuring state-of-the-art infrastructure and multimodal connectivity [4][5] Development Details - Construction at The Bellwether District has begun, with an anticipated move-in date in the first half of 2027 [4] - The site is strategically located near Philadelphia International Airport and major highways, enhancing its position as a logistics gateway on the East Coast [5]

Core Insights - Golden Triangle Ventures has established Snapt Beverages as its manufacturing and brand development division, enhancing its position as a vertically integrated consumer products platform [1][4] - The company has taken control of a fully operational Florida manufacturing facility, which supports multiple beverage categories [2][3] Company Operations - Snapt Beverages operates an approximately 11,000-square-foot manufacturing facility in Florida, which is currently producing various beverage products [3] - The facility is equipped for multi-category beverage manufacturing, including quality assurance, packaging, warehousing, and logistics coordination, providing immediate operational capacity and scalability [3][4] Strategic Focus - The internal manufacturing of Go Fast Sports & Beverage is a key component of the company's strategy, aimed at supporting a national retail rollout in 2026 while enhancing cost efficiency and long-term profitability [5] - Snapt Beverages also serves as a platform for external partners, offering services from formulation and branding to manufacturing and launch execution [6] Future Growth - The CEO of Golden Triangle Ventures emphasized the importance of manufacturing, scale, and execution, indicating that 2026 will focus on collaborations with major names in sports and entertainment [7] - The company is committed to disciplined execution and infrastructure-led growth, aiming to build enduring brands and long-term shareholder value [8]

Core Insights - Golden Triangle Ventures has established Snapt Beverages as its manufacturing and brand development division, enhancing its position as a vertically integrated consumer products platform [1][4] - The company has taken control of a fully operational Florida manufacturing facility, which supports multiple beverage categories and provides immediate operational capacity [2][3] Company Operations - Snapt Beverages operates an approximately 11,000-square-foot manufacturing facility in Florida, currently producing various beverage products, including functional beverages and THC/CBD-infused drinks [3][4] - The Florida facility is designed for multi-category beverage manufacturing, including quality assurance, packaging, warehousing, and logistics coordination, ensuring continuity of production and scalability for future growth [3][4] Strategic Focus - A key component of Golden Triangle Ventures' strategy is the internal manufacturing of Go Fast Sports & Beverage, aimed at supporting a national retail rollout in 2026 while enhancing cost efficiency and long-term profitability [5] - Snapt Beverages also serves as a platform for external partners, providing services from formulation to launch execution, facilitating efficient product market entry [6] Future Growth Plans - The CEO of Golden Triangle Ventures emphasized the importance of manufacturing, scale, and execution, indicating that 2026 will focus on collaborations with major names in sports and entertainment [7] - The company is committed to disciplined execution and infrastructure-led growth, aiming to build enduring brands and long-term shareholder value, with further updates expected in 2026 [8]

Core Viewpoint - Forte Group's subsidiary, Naturo Group Enterprises Inc., has obtained a Liquor Co-Packing Licence, enabling the company to expand its beverage alcohol co-packing operations within a licensed area of its manufacturing facility [1] Group 1: Licensing and Operations - The Liquor Co-Packing Licence allows the company to operate within a designated 10,000-square-foot area of its 40,000-square-foot facility in Bridesville, British Columbia [1] - This licence enhances the company's manufacturing capabilities and positions it to explore future contract manufacturing opportunities with licensed beverage alcohol brands [1] Group 2: Revenue Opportunities - The company aims to leverage its broader production platform to support potential new revenue verticals, including non-alcoholic "mock" or zero-proof liquor-style beverages [1] - Increased facility utilization is anticipated as a result of the new licensing and operational capabilities [1]

Core Insights - Barfresh Food Group Inc. has successfully commenced manufacturing its core product portfolio at the acquired Arps Dairy facility, which represents approximately 90% of the company's total revenue [2][4] - The company has received final approval for a $2.4 million government grant to support the construction of a new 44,000-square-foot manufacturing facility in Defiance, Ohio, expected to enhance production capabilities [3][4] Operational Progress - The existing 15,000-square-foot facility is now operational, producing bottled beverages and carton products in various formats, contributing significantly to revenue [2] - The acquisition of Arps Dairy has allowed for rapid integration of production operations, marking a critical milestone in transitioning to an integrated manufacturing model [2][4] Future Plans - The new manufacturing facility is set to finalize construction and install specialized equipment necessary for full-scale production operations, anticipated to begin in 2026 [3] - The CEO expressed confidence that the Arps Dairy acquisition will be accretive to earnings in fiscal year 2026, enabling sustainable and profitable growth while reducing dependency on third-party manufacturers [4]

Core Insights - Greene Concepts Inc. has achieved Preferred Partner status on the Keychain platform, enhancing its visibility and credibility within the consumer packaged goods (CPG) industry [1][2][3] Group 1: Partnership and Recognition - The Preferred Partner status places Greene Concepts among a select group of vetted manufacturers, reflecting the strength and scalability of its bottling facility in Marion, North Carolina [1][4] - This recognition follows the announcement of the Greene Concepts-Keychain partnership on September 25, 2025, indicating a strategic collaboration aimed at enhancing production capabilities [1][2] Group 2: Benefits of Preferred Partner Status - Greene Concepts will benefit from enhanced visibility to over 20,000 brands and retailers, facilitating access to high-value projects and private-label opportunities [2][3] - The partnership includes AI-driven project matching, which aligns Greene Concepts' capabilities with ideal partners, thereby accelerating onboarding and creating new revenue opportunities [3][4] - KeychainOS will streamline operations by improving communication, document sharing, and project execution, ultimately reducing bottlenecks and enhancing speed-to-production [4] Group 3: Company Overview and Vision - Greene Concepts is focused on providing high-quality, healthy beverage choices, with its flagship product, Be Water™, being a premium artesian bottled water sourced from the Blue Ridge Mountains [6] - The company aims to support total body health and wellness through its products, emphasizing quality, transparency, and scalability in its operations [6]

Group 1: Wealthsimple - Wealthsimple has successfully closed a C$750 million (approximately $536 million USD) equity funding round, achieving a post-money valuation of C$10 billion (approximately $7.15 billion USD) [2][8] - The funding round was co-led by GIC and Dragoneer, with participation from notable investors such as CPP Investments, IGM Financial, Power Corporation of Canada, ICONIQ, Greylock, and Meritech [2][8] - The capital raised is intended to support Wealthsimple's expansion, product development, and team growth [2] Group 2: Keurig Dr Pepper - Keurig Dr Pepper has raised $7 billion to finance its $18 billion acquisition of JDE Peet's, with funding from private equity firms Apollo Global Management and KKR [3][8] - The investment includes a $4 billion commitment for a new K-Cup pod and single-serve manufacturing joint venture, and a $3 billion convertible preferred stock investment in Keurig Dr Pepper [5][8] - Following the funding announcement, Keurig Dr Pepper raised its annual sales forecast, expecting full-year net sales to grow in a high-single-digit range, an upgrade from the previous mid-single-digit projection [4][8] - The company plans to split into two independent publicly traded entities, a "Beverage Co." and a "Global Coffee Co.," post-acquisition to optimize capital structures and enhance long-term value [5][8]

Executive Appointments - The Walt Disney Company appointed Michael Moriarty as executive vice president and chief financial officer of Disney Experiences, overseeing theme parks, resorts, and cruise ships [2] - Ulta Beauty named Christopher DelOrefice as finance chief, who will start on December 5, succeeding interim CFO Chris Lialios [3] - Liquid Death hired Ricky Khetarpaul as chief financial officer, succeeding Karim Sadik-Khan, who left for another beverage company [4] - TD Bank appointed Andre Ramos as U.S. chief financial officer, effective December 1, transitioning from JPMorgan Chase [5] Background of New CFOs - Michael Moriarty has nearly two decades of experience at Disney, previously serving as CFO at Walt Disney Imagineering and Hong Kong Disneyland Resort [2] - Christopher DelOrefice has over 20 years of experience in finance leadership roles, including at Becton Dickinson and Johnson & Johnson [3] - Ricky Khetarpaul has a strong background in finance, having held positions at Health-Ade, Sabra Dipping Company, and PepsiCo, where he managed a beverage portfolio exceeding $5 billion [4] - Andre Ramos has 11 years of experience at JPMorgan Chase in various business CFO roles, including consumer banking CFO [5]

Core Viewpoint - Innovation Beverage Group Ltd (IBG) has entered into a definitive agreement for a reverse triangular merger with BlockFuel Energy Inc (BFE), aiming to leverage BFE's energy innovation and Bitcoin mining capabilities, with the transaction expected to close in Q4 2025 and the combined entity to trade on Nasdaq under the ticker "FUEL" [1][2][5] Group 1: Transaction Details - The merger will result in BFE becoming a wholly owned subsidiary of IBG, with BFE's owners expected to hold 90% of the post-transaction ordinary shares of IBG [2] - The post-transaction combined entity is projected to have an equity valuation between US$220 million and US$343 million, significantly increasing IBG's implied post-transaction equity value from US$2.9 million to US$6.3 million to a range of US$22 million to US$34.3 million [2][5] Group 2: Leadership Changes - Upon closing, Daniel Lanskey, the current President and CEO of BFE, will become the Chairman and CEO of the new combined entity, while Sahil Beri, the current CEO of IBG, will transition to President of a newly formed beverage subsidiary [4] Group 3: Strategic Importance - The merger is seen as a pivotal milestone for IBG, providing a public vehicle for BFE to access capital markets and enhancing IBG's growth potential as a subsidiary of BlockFuel [5][6] - The integration of IBG's market presence with BFE's energy and Bitcoin mining technologies is expected to create long-term value and opportunities in the digital asset and energy sectors [6]